Composed by Kurt Weill with lyrics by Bertolt Brecht for "The Threepenny Opera" (1928), "Mack the Knife" portrays the amoral character Macheath. Originally titled "Die Moritat von Mackie Messer," its jazz adaptation by Louis Armstrong (1955) and Bobby Darin's hit (1959) transformed it into a global standard, ironically masking its sinister themes of crime and corruption.
"Mack the Knife" is a timeless jazz standard from Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht's The Threepenny Opera (1928). Its darkly playful lyrics and catchy melody made it a global hit, famously covered by Louis Armstrong and Bobby Darin.
"Mack the Knife" is the iconic opening number from Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht's "The Threepenny Opera" (1928), a satirical jazz-influenced work that became a symbol of Weimar Germany's cultural innovation.
Originally composed for Bertolt Brecht's "The Threepenny Opera," "Mack the Knife" (German: "Die Moritat von Mackie Messer") gained global fame through jazz interpretations by artists like Louis Armstrong and Bobby Darin. Its darkly ironic lyrics and catchy melody epitomize Weimar-era cabaret.
Originally composed as "Die Moritat von Mackie Messer" for The Threepenny Opera (1928), this song became a global jazz phenomenon through Louis Armstrong's interpretation.
