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