Peggy Lee Is That all There Is? (1969)
In 2008, the German label Get Physical released a rather unexpected CD. Known primarily for publishing sluggish electronic dance music, the label surprised listeners with a compilation that featured everything from ambient and new wave to free jazz, surf rock and Latin American folk.
It wasn’t just the eclectic tracklist that raised eyebrows; the concept behind the compilation was equally striking: the label asked DJs and producers to choose a song they would want played at their own funeral.
The resulting selections, released under the title Final Song #1, were remarkably diverse, ranging from deeply moving to delightfully irreverent. Falling into the latter category was Ewan Pearson’s pick. The English producer said he’d like to depart this world to Peggy Lee’s 1969 song “Is That All There Is?”—a cabaret-infused blend of big band jazz and spoken word.
Why choose such an ironic (or perhaps cynical) farewell? Pearson explained his reasoning to Resident Advisor at the time of the compilation’s release: “Peggy Lee had her second big hit with this song in which Lieber and Stoller turn a Thomas Mann short story into an existential justification for lives spent in nightclubs and soaked with booze. I hope it would raise a wry smile among my loved ones, and the sentiment is actually pretty wise—your present life is all you have so best enjoy it!"
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