Svetlana Shmulyian: Night at the Movies

Russian-American singer Svetlana Shmulyian has blended an East Europe/Russia combination of elegant determination and delicate grit into the American Songbook on her debut recording Night at the Speakeasy (AO2 Records, 2016), and then film music on Night at the Movies (Starr Records, 2020). The artist surprised listeners by dropping an outtake from Night at the Movies, "Young and Beautiful" from The Great Gatsby (Warner Bros., 2013) in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic.

"Young and Beautiful" was composed by Lana Del Ray and Rick Nowells and performed by Del Ray for the remake of the movie starring Leonardo DiCapprio and Carey Mulligan. Svetlana's performance is the most contemporary in the Movies collection. It is understandable that it was not included in the final release as its forward-thinking performance is not consistent with the timelessness of the other selections. That is no knock to it or the singer. Sventlana's decision to release "Young and Beautiful" as a single is perfectly timed and placed. The vocalist's creamy voice is buffeted by Gil Goldstein's lush string arrangement for quartet. She is equal, if not superior to the commercial presentation. She is certainly more sincere. Sventlana beautifully addresses the hope in uncertainty and the love in the face of privation. It is nice to receive a present that one is not expecting and Svetlana has blessed us with a great one.