Song 121 - Stay with me by Sam Smith

I feel like a girl interrupted at the moment and I need to say sorry for those who have been enjoying a song a day and haven't got one. Life has been rather complicated in the last few weeks and music has been on an unexpected pause. But hopefully now I'm back to pick up the song a day. Unfortunately I am in a spin as the plan for today was to feature the Oscar Winning Song for 2015 that was announced at last night's Oscar Awards Ceremony, but I've already put Sam Smith's Writing's on the wall into the jukebox during my James Bond section last year so can't repeat the song. It is quite funny as many people didn't particularly think that the song was as strong as the previous Bond films. Sam Smith is only the second artist to pick up the Best Original Song Award with a Bond theme  song, after Adele's Skyfall.

However, it is only fair to give Sam Smith his credit by putting another of his songs into the jukebox and I am going to put his 2014 hit Stay with me into the jukebox. Stay with me is a gospel-inspired ballad with the protagonist pleading with his one-night stand not to leave him. The song was written by Smith, James Napier and William Phillips together with Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne, who won the rights of co-writer credits due to the song's similarity of Petty's single I won't back down.

Released from Smith's debut studio album In the Lonely Hour, Stay with me is Smith's most successful single to date and Darkchild's remix version of the single won two Grammy Awards for record for the year and song of the year to go with the Awards for Best New Artist and Best Pop Vocal Album. 2014 was an epic year for Sam Smith, as he won both the BBC Sound of 2014 and the Brit Critics' Choice Award,  and his album was the second best selling album of the year after Taylor Swift.  For me, his haunting voice range makes the lyrics speak straight to my soul. Whether you like him or not, he is an artist with a very bright future ahead of him.

Listen to the song here:
Stay with me by Sam Smith

Written by Sam Smith, James Napier, William Phillips, Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne
Released: May 2014
Album: In the lonely hour

Song 120 - Baby, it's cold outside by Frank Loesser

Written by Frank Loesser in 1944, Baby, it's cold outside has become a Christmas Song by default, but was original recorded for the film, Neptune's daughter. Winning the Academy Award for best song in 1949, it had been originally written to be a duet between Loesser and his wife Lynn Garland to be sung at their hotel housewarming party, Garland was furious when their song was sold to MGM film studios.

The technical term for the type of duet Baby, it's cold outside, is a call and response duet. In this case it is the male voice trying to convince the female voice to stay with him  for a romantic evening because the weather is cold and the trip would be difficult. It is often seen as a cat and mouse situation, where depending on how you wish to listen to the lyrics, the male could be seen as a sexual predator trying to lure the female into bed against her will. When you think about the issue of date rape and spiking drinks, the line What's in this drink  takes on a whole different meaning.

Perhaps taking the lyrics to this type of level is too much especially as we know that this was a song written by a man to his wife, and perhaps, there is a danger of taking a playful song (which is how I've always seen it) and turning it into something far less pleasant than it is meant to be. Also when you look at the plot of Neptune's Daughter, it is a romantic comedy set around a swimming costume company starring Red Skelton and Esther Williams and with the two performances of the song in the movie, the roles are reversed between the main characters. I think there is a place for equality in music and for slapping down songs that are so obviously in their subject matter, but I think it is pretty harsh to put this song into this category given its origins and history.

Anyway, whatever you think of the song, here's the original from Neptune's Daughter

Baby, it's cold outside

Best original song: 1949

Written by Frank Losser

Film: Neptune's Daughter

Song 119 - You'll never know by Harry Warren and Mack Gordon

Based on a poem written by a young Oklahoma war bride named Dorothy Fern Norris, You'll never know won the 1943 Academy Award for Best Original Song, beating nine other songs in the category for that year.

With the music written by Harry Warren and the lyrics by Mack Gordon, the song was first introduced in the film Hello, Frisco Hello  where it was sung by Alice Faye. The film tells the story of vaudeville performers in San Francisco during the period of 1915 Panama Exposition when Alexander Graham Bell made the first transcontinental phone call from New York to San Francisco. The film is a remake of King of Burlesque (1936). It was the last musical that Faye worked with Fox on as they were promoting Betty Gables as her successor. Released in the height of war, it became Faye's highest grossing film.  Faye would also perform it in the 1944 film Four Jills and a Jeep.

Like many of the Oscar winning songs that the blog has covered already You'll never know should have been classed as Faye's signature song; but there are two reasons why this didn't really happen; one, Faye never released a recording of the song and it has been covered by many other artists including Frank Sinatra and Dick Haymes. 

As the original version is not available, I have found a version by Vera Lynn, who's own version was very popular during World War 2.

You'll never know, performed by Vera Lynn

Best original song: 1943

Written by Harry Warren and Mack Gordon

Film: Hello, Frisco, Hello

Song 118 - Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah by Alice Wrubel and Ray Gilbert

Written for the 1946 Disney live action and animated movie Song of the South, Zip-a-Dee-do-Dah won Disney their second Academy Award for best original song after When you wish a upon a star from Pinocchio (already in the jukebox) in 1940.

Written by Alice Wrubel and lyrics by Ray Gilbert, it is sung by James Baskett in the film.  The film is based on the Uncle Remus stories collected by Joel Chandler Harris. It is the first Disney film to use both live action and animation together. James Baskett was given an honorary Academy Award  for his portrait of Uncle Remus. The first to be given to a male African-American.

For many years the song was part of an opening theme medley for the Wonderful World of Disney television program and it has often been used in other TV and video productions by the studio. It is one of many popular songs that features a bluebird ("Mr. Bluebird on my shoulder"), epitomised by the Bluebird of Happiness, as a symbol of cheer. 

 The song is influenced from the chorus of the pre- Civil War folk song Zip Coon, a  turkey  in the Straw variation: "Zip a duden duden duden zip a duden day".The term "Zip Coon" is now considered racist as it plays on a derogatory slang term for African Americans. This somewhat changes the message of the song and the film itself is considered racist by a number of critics who have condemned the film's depiction of former slaves. The film has never, because of this, been released in its entirety on home video.

Here is the original song:

Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah

Best original song: 1947

Written by Alice Wrubel and Ray Gilbert

Film: Song of the South

Song 117 - Moon River by Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer

What better song is there to celebrate Valentine Day than putting Moon River into the jukebox. Written for the 1961 film Breakfast in Tiffany's, starring the timeless Audrey Hepburn, there is nothing more romantic than dancing to this tune with the one you love. I think the hairs on the back of my neck has always stirred at the line, my Huckleberry friend, Moon River and me. For me love is one of the greatest adventures of all and this, for me, is captured in the lyrics of this song.

Written for Hepburn's vocal range, Johnny Mercer used memories of his own carefree childhood memories and you can feel the freedom in the melody and when people first fall in love; they are often swept away into a world of endless possibilities. For me; some might say that this a a romantic view of love and I don't mind that, because love is endless and even if it doesn't lead you to travel around the  world in a green pea boat made for two; true love will always give adventure, support and friendship whatever your life together has in store.

Moon River won the Oscar at the 1962 ceremony and became the signature tune for Andy Williams, who first performed  the song at the forementioned Oscar ceremony. But as my Valentine present to you; here's Audrey singing the original from the film.

Moon River, sung by Audrey Hepburn

Oscar for Best Song: 1961.

Written by Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer

Film: Breakfast in Tiffany's

Song 116 - The last time I saw Paris by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II

Composed by Jerome Kern, with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, The last time I saw Paris was first published in 1940 and used in the 1941 film Lady be good.   This would be Kern's second award for Best Original Song after winning the oscar for The way you look tonight.  In winning his second Oscar,  Kern actually changed the eligibility for this award going forward.

The issue was that  The last time I saw Paris had been a single in its own right, with Kate Smith singing it in 1940. The song was originally written as a reaction to the occupation of France by Germany during the World War II. So when the song was released in the film and went on to win the Oscar, there was a question raised about whether already popular songs should be eligible for this away. The verdict was no and every song that has won since The Last Time I saw Paris  was the last song to win having been released previously. This is why in later years, songs like Unchained Melody (Ghost) and I will always love you (Bodyguard) weren't eligible to be nominated for this award.

Sung in the film by Ann Sothern, Lady be good is  about a struggling musician who can't find the lyrics for his tune.  Some have said that the film is based on the 1924 musical of the same name; but apart from using two Gershwin numbers in the film.

Here Kate Smith's original version:
The last time I saw Paris

Oscar for Best Song: 1941

Written by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II

Film: Lady be good. 

Song 115 - The Wizard of Oz - Harold Arln and E.Y.Harburg

I hope people don't think putting The Wizard Oz in as an album of the week is a cheat as I have already had Over the Rainbow as a song for the day, but I think it is wrong to have an Oscar month that fails to mention The Wizard of Oz.

As well as winning the Academy Award for Best Original Song, the score for the move won Best Original Score, it was Herbert Stothart who composed the instrumental underscore. Since its premiere, the music reaches a new set of hearts every time one of the songs is played on the radio, television or streamed through web.  Who doesn't love The Wizard of Oz? The journey that Dorothy takes with Scarecrow, Tin Woodman and the Lion is as a famous as any of the Grimm's Fairy tales and the Wicked Witch of the West is one of the most terrifying on-screen villains  for children.

Like I have said before; sometimes music is too precious for me to layer it up with my memories or associations with the song, it is also too widely written about to add any new other than saying this is a classic of musical film and if this soundtrack has been released in any year there is no doubt in my mind that this would have won the Oscar against any competing song or score in the whole oscar history.

To listen to the whole album again and have a magical start to the weekend:
Wizard of Oz full Soundtrack


Oscar for Best Song: 1939 for Over the Rainbow
Album: The Wizard of Oz
Written by Harold Arln, E.Y. Harburgh & Herbert Stothart. 

Song 114 - Thank you for the memory by Ralph Rainger and Leo Robin

It has been over a week since I posted a song for a day an for those who are reading this daily, please accept my apology for someone very near and dear to me pass away last week and despite having draft blogs prepared; I didn't feel like posting any music. It seems very fitting to be picking this blog back up with the track "Thanks for the Memory" as I have spent the last week thinking how lucky I was to have this person in my life and how much her passion for music inspired my own.

Written in 1938 by Ralph Rainger and Leo Robin, the song was introduced in the film The Broadcast of 1938. In the film it is sang by Bob Hope and Shirley Ross, who sing it as a divorced couple who encounter each other aboard a ship. Near the end of the film they poignantly sing one of the many versions of the song, recalling the ups and downs of their relationship. As well as winning the Oscar, the tune would become a theme tune of Hope's.

It is often said that this tune is a companion piece to Two Sleepy People, which was written by Frank Loesser and performed again by Hope and Ross in the 1939 film, Thanks for the memory. A film which was inspired by the original song.

To hear the song,

Thanks for the Memory sung by Bob Hope and Shirley Ross

Oscar for Best Song: 1938
Song title: Thanks for the memory
Written by Ralph Rainger and Leo Robin

Song 113 - The way you look tonight by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields.

1936 best original song was performed by.... Yes,  you guessed it, Fred Astaire in the film Swing Time, which was directed by George Stevens and Astaire's leading lady was Ginger Rogers. I am sensing a theme this week.  Written by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields, this song provided Astaire with his biggest hit single and has been a hit for many artists who have released this song including Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra.

Swing Time is often regarded as Astaire and Rogers' most acclaimed film for their performance in the movie. Together with their collaborator Hermes Pan, the four dance routines of the movie are regarded as masterpieces with Never Gonna Dance singled out as their most profound achievement in film dance.

It is said that when Dorothy Fields first heard the melody to her lyrics she wept buckets at the emotions he had created with his composing. I know when you listen to, you can hear the love in the lyrics and it doesn't even have to be conversation between lovers, anyone you are close too, there are moments in your life that you remember going through together and that is what makes this song a classic because it has an universal message on all levels. Due to this I am not going to put my own feelings or memories on the song into this blog, I am simply going to let you enjoy:

To hear Fred Astaire's timeless classic
The way you look tonight

Oscar for Best Song: 1936
Song title: The way you look tonight
Written by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields

Song 112 - Lullaby of Broadway by Harry Warren and Al Dubin

Pipping Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers' Cheek to Cheek to the award, Lullaby of Broadway was the second song to win Best Original Song at the 1935 Academy Awards. Taken from the film, Gold Diggers of 1935, this number salutes the nightlife of Broadway and the partying that went on till dawn.  Written by Harry Warren and Al Dubin, the song is probably the most famous item to come out of the Gold Diggers series of film written in the late 1920s and 30s.

The magic of this song and probably one of the main reason it has survived longer than the films in popularity is the image the lyrics and music gives of Broadway, and for anyone who has an artist bone in their body, Broadway is somewhere they want to experience. I know when I visited it a couple of years ago, I was starry eyes and it wasn't with famous people, it was the building and the iconic world of Broadway being a real place; rather than the mystical place I had heard of in the movies. 

Lullaby of Broadway is a dream sequence within the film, directed by Busby Berkely. The dream tells the story of a Broadway baby who plays all night and sleeps all days. The number starts with a head shot of Wini Shaw against a black background and as the camera moves back and up, Shaw's head becomes the Big Apple. As everyone else is going to work in the morning, she is returning home and when she awakes again at night, the audiences watches Shaw and her beau (Dick Powell) from club to club, with elaborate tap numbers playing out there seems to be little to stop this star until accidentally she is pushed off a balcony to her death. The song ends with a return to Shaw's head, as she sings the end of the song. It is cited that this was the favourite number of Busby Berkeley. 

Although I can't find a clip of the original, here's Gene Nelson and Doris Day singing Lullaby of Broadway  

Lullaby of Broadway

Oscar for Best Song: 1935

Written by Harry Warren and Al Dubin

Film: Gold Diggers of 1935

Originally sung by Wini Shaw in the film 

Song 111 - The Continental - Con Conrad and Herb Magidson

We've reached February and whilst the latest storm is hitting the UK, Jules's jukebox is turning its attention to the Oscars and for the next month will feature a selection of winners of the Best Original Song Category. I know that this year's Oscars have already created much debate over diversity in the choice of nomination, but this blog will stay away from politics and concentrate on the wonderful songs that have won Oscars over the years. For those who are following the Jukebox creation, you will already know that I have added a few Oscar winning songs to the Jukebox already as the relationship between score and screen is an important one for me in the journey of appreciating music.

To kick off the Oscar appreciation month of music; I am going to go back to the very beginning, which sounds like a line from Do-re-me, but I promise you it isn't. The first Oscar for best original song was given to The Continental, in 1934 taken from the film The Gay Divorcee. Written by Con Conrad and Herb Magidson, the song was introduced and sung by the lovely Ginger Rogers, Erik Rhodes and Lillian Miles; and also featured as a 20 minutes dance section between Ginger and Fred Astaire near the end of the film.

The film itself was up for best picture in the same year and is based on a 1932 musical called Gay Divorce by Dwight Taylor. Rogers plays Mini Glossop who is seeking a divorce from her husband who she hasn't seen in a number of years.  It was the 10th picture that Fred Astaire and Ginger Roger had performed in together.

To hear the timeless Ginger Roger
The Continental, sung by Ginger Roger

To watch the best dancers ever
Fred Astaire and Ginger Roger dance The Continental

Oscar for Best Song: 1934
Song title: The Continental
Written by Con Conrad and Herb Magidson