Nathaniel Adams Coles, also known as Nat King Cole, was one of the most prominent figures in the jazz music genre. Nat King Cole was a pioneer in many areas, being the first African American variety TV host and a visionary for jazz music’s further development. Famous for his uniquely smooth “velvet” voice and good sound articulation skills, Nat King Cole had several popular hits which remained loved by the public even after he died in 1965 (Moore). This research will define the historical role of Nat King Cole’s song Nature Boy.
Nature Boy, one of Nat King Cole’s major hits songs surrounded by an aura of enchantment, was released in 1948. The lyrics referred to the group of Americans camping “under the Hollywood sign” who later became known as hippies (Moore). Focused on the idea of love being “the greatest thing” people will “ever learn,” the song shaped the perception of the hippie countercultural movement long before its formal development (Marques). The promotion of the hippie culture in Nature Boy favored the integration of African American artists into the popular music genre.
Furthermore, the song referred to universal concepts which crossed the boundaries of social and moral perceptions. Thus, the song’s association with a large audience favored Nat King Cole’s career development and rising popularity among the white population. The song was even acknowledged as “an instant beloved standard” (Zollo). Nature boy was recorded later by many other famous artists, such as Frank Sinatra. Therefore, besides having a significant influence on Nat King Cole’s career, the song also presents an object of historical value with its ability to unite different groups of people.
In conclusion, this research defined the role of Nat King Cole’s song Nature Boy in his career and the song’s influence on society. The themes and ideas discussed in Nature Boy were universal, contributing to the song’s success and popularity among a broad audience. Nat King Cole’s performance of the song opened new opportunities for new generations of African American musicians in pop music. The song’s further popularity among different musicians presents proof of its historical contribution to achieving peace and mutual understanding between people.
Works Cited
Moore, Rick. “Behind the Song: Nat King Cole, “Nature Boy.” American Songwriter, 2019.
“Nat King Cole, Nature Boy.” YouTube, Uploaded by Hugo Marques, 2007.
Zollo, Paul. “Behind the Song: “Nature Boy” by eden ahbez.” American Songwriter, 2020.