I’ve Got You Under My Skin - Sinatra/Porter | Marco Motroni: Music I Like 4/22/25

Featuring an electric trombone solo from Will Wang ‘26.5

Music for me is remembered in moments. As was the case with many other songs on this program, I loved the idea of choosing songs that give me clear Middlebury memories. This is nowhere more apparent than with "I've Got You Under My Skin": a Cole Porter jazz standard adapted by Frank Sinatra and Count Basie. I rediscovered this song my sophomore year, while living in Milliken alongside my beloved football teammates. I always like to sing in the shower, but I need to choose my battles a lot of the time. I can't belt Phantom or Sweeney in a residential dorm, so instead I opted for the calmer of my music interests: smooth big band traditional pop. I always loved how this type of music was seen as "cool" among young people: not something that you can generally say about the music I listen to. And plus, my name being the most Italian thing ever doesn't hurt, so sometimes you play into the stereotype. Basically, I felt more at home singing this type of music around my buddies. And now, whenever I think about this song, I can't help but remember those good ol' days surrounded by some of my best friends.

Also, a quick word on Will Wang:
Will was someone who I had seen around a lot on campus, but never really knew. I had heard about his trombone ability, but he was never in orchestra (not his music style), so I never heard him play. He hopped onto this project thanks to the great Brett Sorbo who, when thinking of possible musicians, spoke extremely highly of him. After meeting and playing with Will, I was mad we hadn't connected sooner! He went on to absolutely crush this concert, as well as play alongside me in our song-cycle production of Hadestown. He also hosted our chamber music class at the Mill for a night of chamber music, which was one of the more unique, cooler music experiences I had at Midd.

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This clip was taken from my senior independent study aptly titled "Music I Like": performed at Middlebury College's Robison Hall on 4/22/25.

Here are some general notes that were included in the concert program:
Traditional Pop:
Jazz music - specifically the “traditional pop” genre that has come to define artists such as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, etc. - is pretty much the only genre of music that I love that is widely accepted among my friends. I have no problem playing a jazz tune being around teammates, and I think that speaks volumes about how the genre is perceived. It is associated with a classier vibe that I have always appreciated, and the songs I have chosen have come to reflect this. We start with a Sinatra tune that I would have “repeating in my eat” in the showers of our Milly 6 suite, moving then to a different take on a Nat King Cole standard, ending finally with a jazz tune from a musical called “The Band’s Visit”: a rare musical that my dad loves!