I Thought About You: Choral Octavo Digital SoundPax
Words by Johnny Mercer, music by Jimmy Van Heusen / arr. Paul Langford
Item: 00-PK-0007032
$50.00
One moment…
Description
"I took a trip on a train, and I thought about you." This famous Mercer lyric was actually written while he was taking a train to his next gig. With a fun bossa nova feel throughout, this is a true Great American Songbook classic re-imagined!
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, I Thought About You: Choral Octavo Digital SoundPax comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Pop Choral Series
SKU:
00-PK-0007032
Instrumentation:
SoundPax
More about this title
About the Composer: Jimmy Van Heusen
Jimmy Van Heusen (1913-1990) was one of the most prolific composers of the Great American Songbook, with a catalog of over 1,000 songs written for film, Broadway, and popular recording artists. He collaborated frequently with lyricist Johnny Mercer, creating standards that remain central to jazz and popular music curricula. His melodies are known for their singability and harmonic sophistication, making his work ideal for choral arrangement and interpretation.
Why we love this
Paul Langford's arrangement captures the breezy charm of this Mercer-Van Heusen classic while grounding it firmly in a contemporary bossa nova groove. The orchestration breathes space around the voices, allowing the lyrics and melody to shine without sacrificing rhythmic vitality. This is the kind of standard that reminds singers why the Great American Songbook still matters.
What to expect
A daydream on rails. The piece captures that reflective, slightly romantic quality of watching scenery pass while your mind wanders to someone else. The bossa nova beat keeps things light and moving, preventing any saccharine nostalgia while honoring the wistful core of the story.
Who it's for
High school and college choirs looking to expand their songbook repertoire with accessible, engaging material that feels contemporary without losing its classic roots. Pop and jazz-focused vocal ensembles will connect with the bossa nova idiom and the friendly swing of Mercer's lyric.
How to get the most out of it
- Treat the bossa nova rhythm as conversational rather than rigid; the swing and sway should feel natural to the text, especially during the opening train imagery.
- Balance the charm of Mercer's storytelling with ensemble cohesion. The narrative flows best when soloists and full choir share the journey equally.
- Let the recorded accompaniment anchor your tempo and harmonic palette, but encourage singers to phrase through phrases rather than mechanically on beat.
- The Latin feel invites subtle dynamic shaping. Avoid making every section the same volume; let the arrangement breathe with natural peaks and valleys.
How to use it
Pair this with other Great American Songbook standards to create a themed concert segment, or program it as a palate cleanser between heavier choral works. The Latin feel and narrative warmth make it especially effective as a closer or as part of a pops concert that celebrates American music across decades.
Skills your students will build
- Phrasing across bossa nova rhythms
- Blending jazz-inflected harmony and contemporary articulation
- Storytelling through text and character in secular pop repertoire
- Rhythmic independence within a groove-based accompaniment