Mona Lisa
Natalie Cole · Unforgettable With Love [1991]
You're so like the lady with the mystic smile
Is it only 'cause you're lonely they have blamed you?
For that Mona Lisa strangeness in your style
Do you smile to tempt a lover, Mona Lisa?
Or is this your way to hide a broken heart?
Many dreams have been brought to your doorstep
They just lie there and they die there
Are you warm? Are you real, Mona Lisa?
Or just a cold and lonely, lovely work of art
Do you smile to tempt a lover, Mona Lisa?
Or is this your way to hide a broken heart?
Many dreams have been brought to your doorstep
They just lie there and they die there
Are you warm? Are you real, Mona Lisa?
Or just a cold and lonely, lovely work of art
Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa
Mona Lisa
Natalie Cole's rendition of "Mona Lisa" stands as a defining moment on her 1991 tribute album, Unforgettable With Love. Recorded to honor her late father, Nat King Cole, the track showcases her signature warmth and sophisticated phrasing within the classic pop and jazz idiom. This album marked a significant commercial resurgence for Cole, blending timeless standards with her own vocal maturity. Her interpretation of this enduring standard captures the romantic melancholy inherent in the composition while maintaining the polished production values associated with her later career. The recording remains a staple of her discography, illustrating her ability to reinterpret established material with fresh emotional depth. It serves as a testament to her enduring legacy as a vocalist capable of bridging generations through the Great American Songbook.