ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Great American Songbook

The Great American Songbook is like a big book full of songs that are really special and important in American history. These songs were written a long time ago, many of them in the 1920s, 30s, and 40s, and they were very popular when they were first written. They were usually sung by famous singers, like Frank Sinatra or Bing Crosby, and people loved to listen to them on the radio or at big parties.

The songs in the Great American Songbook are really different from the music we hear today. They are mostly about love and romance, and they have really pretty melodies and clever lyrics that are fun to sing along to. Some of the most famous songs in the Great American Songbook include "Someone to Watch Over Me," "Fly Me to the Moon," and "As Time Goes By."

Even though these songs were written a long time ago, they are still really important today. They have been recorded by lots of different singers over the years, and they are still played on the radio and in movies and TV shows. You might even hear your grandparents singing along to some of these songs!

So, in summary, the Great American Songbook is a collection of beautiful and classic songs that were written a long time ago but are still very special and loved today.