Bobby Darin - Mack The Knife (Live) (1959) In the 1950s music scene, Bobby Darin's version of "Mack The Knife" emerged as a standout, showcasing the era's musical diversity. Originally from the 1928 German drama "The Threepenny Opera" by Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht, the song was transformed by Darin in 1959 into a jazz-pop classic. Darin's rendition juxtaposed the song's dark narrative about the sinister Mack with an upbeat tempo and charismatic performance, making it both catchy and vibrant.