The Greatest Oldies Music

Oldies Musics

‘What A Wonderful World’ – Louis Armstrong

About the Song

Louis Armstrong, a towering figure in the world of jazz, transcended genres with his instantly recognizable gravelly voice and infectious charm. Among his vast repertoire, “What a Wonderful World” stands out as a beacon of optimism, a song that uplifts the spirit with its simple yet profound message of appreciating life’s everyday beauty.

Released in 1967, “What a Wonderful World” wasn’t originally written by Armstrong himself. The song sprang from the minds of songwriters Bob Thiele and George David Weiss, seeking to capture a sense of childlike wonder amidst a backdrop of social unrest. Armstrong, known for his optimistic spirit, became the perfect voice to deliver their message.

The song opens with a gentle melody, setting the stage for Armstrong’s signature gravelly vocals. “I see trees of green, red roses too,” he sings, his voice radiating warmth and sincerity. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a world brimming with color and life, from the towering trees to the delicate roses. “I see them bloom for me and for you,” he continues, emphasizing the universality of this beauty, a gift shared by all.

The heart of the song lies in the repeated refrain: “What a wonderful world.” It’s a simple statement, yet delivered with such genuine conviction by Armstrong that it becomes a powerful declaration of gratitude. He finds wonder in the everyday – the clear blue skies, the fluffy white clouds, the vibrant colors of the rainbow.

“I hear babies cry, I watch them grow,” Armstrong sings, acknowledging the natural cycle of life with a touch of tenderness. There’s a sense of acceptance and appreciation for the beauty of each stage, from the vulnerability of a newborn to the wisdom gained through experience.

“What a Wonderful World” isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. It acknowledges the complexities of life, yet chooses to focus on the positive. The song serves as a gentle reminder to slow down, to appreciate the simple things, and to find joy in the everyday miracles that surround us.

Even decades after its release, “What a Wonderful World” resonates with listeners of all ages. It’s a testament to the enduring power of music to uplift the spirit and to remind us of the beauty that exists in the world, if we only choose to see it. The song leaves us with a sense of optimism, a belief that even in the face of challenges, the world remains a wonderful place.

Video 

Lyrics: What A Wonderful World

I see trees of green
Red roses too
I see them bloom
For me and you
And I think to myself
What a wonderful worldI see skies of blue
And clouds of white
The bright blessed day
The dark sacred night
And I think to myself
What a wonderful worldThe colors of the rainbow
So pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces
Of people going by
I see friends shaking hands
Saying, “How do you do?”
They’re really saying
“I love you”I hear babies cry
I watch them grow
They’ll learn much more
Than I’ll never know
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world

Yes, I think to myself
What a wonderful world

Oh yeah

 

Related Post

Was Elvis Presley at his most elegant in a black tuxedo? Many fans would say yes. While the world often remembers him in dazzling white jumpsuits, there was something timeless about Elvis in a perfectly tailored black tuxedo. It revealed a different side of the King. Calm, confident, and effortlessly sophisticated.

In July 1970, just before his legendary Las Vegas comeback, Elvis Presley stepped into MGM Studios for a series of rehearsals that revealed a side of him few fans had ever seen. There were no screaming crowds or bright stage lights. It was simply Elvis, surrounded by his band, enjoying the music he loved.

Just weeks before his passing in the summer of 1977, Elvis Presley showed the world that his greatest gift was not his voice, but his heart. Although he was battling declining health, he never stopped caring about the people around him. Even in his most difficult days, kindness came naturally to him.

You Missed

Country

TWO MONTHS BEFORE ILLNESS SILENCED HIS VOICE, TOBY KEITH STOOD UNDER THE LAS VEGAS LIGHTS FOR ONE FINAL, DEFIANT STAND THAT NO ONE KNEW WAS A FAREWELL. In December 2023, after spending eighteen months largely away from touring while fighting stomach cancer, Toby Keith stepped onto the stage at Dolby Live in Las Vegas for three sold-out performances. He brought the exact same unapologetic humor, gritty confidence, and blue-collar pride that had carried him from Oklahoma oil fields to the summit of American country music. No one in the room—and perhaps not even Toby himself—realized that the final show on December 14 would mark his last public concert. For roughly two hours, he commanded the room, moving seamlessly through rowdy anthems, reflective storytelling, and the unmistakable anthems that defined his career. When the night reached its climax, he delivered a powerful encore with “American Soldier” and “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue.” Before striking the final chords, he urged the crowd never to apologize for loving their country—a parting message captured on fan-recorded footage that would soon echo around the world. It wasn’t a sentimentally scripted goodbye; it was pure, unvarnished conviction from an artist who refused to soften his edges or disguise what he believed. Less than two months later, on February 5, 2024, Toby passed away at the age of sixty-two. Only then did those Las Vegas nights take on the heavy, sacred weight of a final chapter. Las Vegas didn’t witness a legend surrendering to disease; it watched a working artist give everything he had left, stepping off the stage entirely on his own terms.

Country

EVEN AS STOMACH CANCER WHISPERED OF THE END, TOBY KEITH CLUTCHED THE MUSIC TILL HIS FINAL BREATH — LEAVING BEHIND A WORKING-CLASS CREED THAT NO ILLNESS COULD EVER SILENCE. Toby Keith never learned how to surrender quietly. When the bright lights of packed stadiums faded into the quiet, heavy shadows of an Oklahoma home, the fight didn’t stop; it just moved inward. Whether or not his hands literally gripped a battered wooden neck on his deathbed matters less than the hard, unvarnished truth of how he lived: a man who treated every lyric like a lifeline and every song like a handshake with the working people who built this country. He spent decades staring down critics, industry Nashville elites, and the brutal realities of front-line war zones without ever blinking. When cancer came knocking, he faced it with that same stubborn, blue-collar defiance—refusing to let the disease write his final verse. Even as his body wore down, his spirit remained anchored to the melodies that gave voice to factory floors, small-town front porches, and soldiers holding the line thousands of miles away. The room may have grown still, but the noise of his legacy never will. It echoes in every rowdy chorus, every uncompromised lyric, and every life touched by his quiet work for military families and kids fighting the same dark battles. Toby didn’t chase universal approval or play the Hollywood game; he stayed true to the grit that got him there, leaving behind an American soundtrack that will keep humming long after the dust settles.

Country

WHEN A SUDDEN THUNDERSTORM BROUGHT DOWN “GENTLEMAN JIM” REEVES IN 1964, NASHVILLE MOURNED A GLOBAL SUPERSTAR, BUT TEXAS TOOK BACK HER FAVORITE SON. Long before his velvet baritone was melting hearts across the globe with timeless crossover hits like “He’ll Have to Go” and “Welcome to My World,” Jim Reeves was just a kid from Galloway, Texas, with his sights set on a baseball diamond. When an arm injury abruptly ended his stint in the St. Louis Cardinals farm system, he pivoted to radio in Shreveport—landing his life-changing break on the Louisiana Hayride simply because another singer failed to show up for a slot. By July 31, 1964, Reeves sat at the absolute pinnacle of country music, a polished icon in a signature bow tie who sang soft while the rest of the genre hollered. But while flying home to Nashville from a business trip in Arkansas alongside his pianist and road manager Dean Manuel, a violent thunderstorm swallowed the sky. Disoriented in the murk, the single-engine plane plunged into the trees near Brentwood, Tennessee, silencing one of the smoothest voices in American music at just forty years old. The grief split across state lines, resulting in two separate farewells: Nashville held the industry service, but Carthage, Texas, claimed the man. They buried him three miles east of town on Highway 79, beneath a striking marble statue of him in his tuxedo, holding his guitar. And in a final, heartbreaking testament to loyalty, when his beloved collie Cheyenne passed away in 1967, she was laid to rest inside that exact same circle—positioned just a few feet back and to one side, right where she would have walked beside him.

Country

SCHOOL COUNSELORS WARNED A BLIND TEENAGE RONNIE MILSAP THAT MUSIC WOULD MAKE HIM A STATE BURDEN — UNTIL ONE ENCOUNTER WITH RAY CHARLES CHANGED THE ENTIRE TRAJECTORY OF HIS LIFE.Long before he captured forty country Top Ten hits and a permanent place in the Country Music Hall of Fame, Ronnie Milsap stood at a crossroads. Gifted with classical training but weighed down by advisors who urged him toward a “safe” path in law school, the young musician was ready to abandon his true calling. Everything shifted when he was taken backstage to meet his idol, Ray Charles.Asked to play something on the piano, Ronnie poured his soul into an original piece. When the final notes faded, Ray didn’t offer lukewarm advice or bureaucratic caution. He told him flat out that there was simply too much music inside his heart to ignore. That single sentence stripped away the doubt, steering Ronnie away from the courtroom and straight into the heart of American music history.Nearly six decades later, the full circle was completed when Ronnie stood inside that exact Hall of Fame to formally induct Ray Charles. The student who once needed permission to dream had become the master honoring the man who unlocked his voice.