Don't Look at Me That Way (from "Paris"): Piano/Vocal/Chords

This volume captures Porter at his most inventive, before Hollywood and wartime injuries would slow his output. The 50 songs represent the foundation of his genius: smart harmonies, unforgettable melodies, and lyrics that still land with wit and elegance. For pianists and vocalists, these pieces offer the gold standard for understanding how American popular song should be written and performed.

Porter's early work glides between elegance and mischief. There is sophistication in every harmonic turn, yet the melodies are warm and singable, never pretentious. Whether the mood is romantic ("Easy to Love"), wry ("Miss Otis Regrets"), or effervescent ("Anything Goes"), his songs feel like conversations between clever people who genuinely enjoy each other's company.

This collection belongs in the hands of piano accompanists, jazz pianists studying the Great American Songbook, singers preparing audition material, and music students analyzing how to craft a song. It serves both the performer seeking reliable, beautiful material and the educator teaching song composition and arrangement.

• Approach the chord symbols not as simplifications but as precise harmonic blueprints. Porter's chromaticism and unexpected key shifts reward close attention to every voiced harmony.
• Sing or play the lyrics and melody as inseparably connected. Porter built his melodies around the natural phrasing of his words; rushing or forcing either one breaks his intention.
• Let silence serve as rhythm. Many of Porter's phrases have built-in breathing room; resist the urge to fill every beat, especially in the accompaniment.

Use individual songs from this collection to introduce students to standards-based repertoire in jazz, voice, or piano lessons. Pair selections with other Broadway composers to show the range and personality of 1930s musical theater. This volume works well as a reference text alongside performance preparation, allowing singers and pianists to deepen their understanding of Porter's harmonic and melodic language while building a lasting recital repertoire.

• Voice leading through chromatic harmony and unexpected modulations
• Interpreting jazz and blues inflections within a popular song context
• Coordinating melody, lyrics, and harmonic accompaniment as an integrated whole
• Understanding song form and how Porter structures verses, refrains, and bridge passages
• Recognizing and performing period-appropriate style and phrasing in American song