Some musical collaborations feel like they were simply meant to be—even when time and history make them seem impossible. That’s exactly the case with Susan Boyle and the legendary Nat King Cole, whose voices have been brought together in a breathtaking, once-in-a-lifetime duet. Through the magic of modern audio technology, Boyle’s angelic, emotive vocals seamlessly intertwine with Cole’s silky-smooth baritone, creating a duet that feels as if they were standing side by side in the same studio. The result?
Another Susan Boyle cover that is just lovely.
Two legendary vocalists, one swoon-worthy romantic song. For her 2016 album A Wonderful World, Britain’s Got Talent breakout superstar Susan Boyle recorded a very special version of “When I Fall in Love” featuring the one and only Nat King Cole. Take a listen farther down this article.
How Susan Boyle and Nat King Cole recorded an impossible duet
Cole’s vocals were lifted from an earlier recording and layered with Boyle’s, creating the illusion of a duet even though Cole passed away in 1965, when Boyle was four years old.
“As the first British artist to have been able to perform a duet with Nat King Cole’s vocals, it’s a real honour,” Boyle said just before the album’s release, per the Mirror. “Seven years on, I still get to surprise people.” The combination wowed fans, with one writing on YouTube, “I love this type of technology which allows us to be transported in time. Literally. What a treat!” Added another, “The time capsule of technology brings two different yet beautiful singers together, beautiful.”
This isn’t the first time Boyle has mixed and matched her own style with older recordings. She also has a classic Christmas hymn with the late Elvis Presley. It’s also not the first time she’s looked to the Nat King Cole oeuvre for inspiration; she previously recorded a version of Cole’s “The Christmas Song,” better known by its opening lyric, “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire…”
What to know about “When I Fall in Love”
Victory Young first composed the melody for the 1952 Korean War drama One Minute To Zero, per the AFI. After Edward Heyman added lyrics, it became a hit for Doris Day, and then for Nat King Cole in 1957. It’s since been covered by dozens of artists, including Celine Dion for the Sleepless in Seattle soundtrack.
Both the melody and lyrics are simple and stirring. The singer is saying that they only intend to fall in love once, and have the love last forever, because there is too much chaos otherwise.
“‘When I Fall in Love’ is about my mum and dad going out dancing in the 1950s. Very retro. You can see the glitterball, you can imagine the nice music, my mum and dad dancing. Very romantic,” Boyle told The Huffington Post of why she chose the tune. Romantic indeed!
