Rodgers & Hart’s musical lament over unrequited love has become a beloved standard, recorded by dozens of artists. Introduced by Doris Carson in On Your Toes in 1936, the song was not an instant hit, but over the ensuing decades it achieved success in recordings by many high-profile artists, including Sammy Davis, Jr., Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Barbra Streisand, Nancy … Read More
There’s A Small Hotel
In this charming love song, two lovers dream of a place where they can escape the troubles of their daily lives. Originally written for Rodgers & Hart’s 1935 musical Jumbo, the song officially debuted in 1936, when Ray Bolger and Doris Carson sang it in On Your Toes. The song became a gem in the Great American Songbook, recorded by … Read More
It’s Got to Be Love
In Junior Dolan’s music class, Frankie shares a love song she’s just finished composing. Like other comic love songs by Rodgers & Hart, “It’s Got to Be Love” is both a romantic number and a parody of one. The lyric, in which the singer lists all the possible reasons for feeling unwell, regards love as more of an ailment than … Read More
Sing For Your Supper
In this swinging trio from The Boys from Syracuse, neglected wives Adriana, Luciana and Luce commiserate about the sweet song they must sing to keep their marriages afloat. The song was introduced in 1938 by Muriel Angelus, Marcy Westcott and Wynn Murray singing a sophisticated vocal arrangement by Hugh Martin. Subsequent renditions include recordings by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra, … Read More
This Can’t Be Love
Infatuated with one another, Antipholus of Syracuse and Luciana can hardly believe what they’re feeling. This gem of the Great American Songbook was introduced by Eddie Albert and Marcy Wescott in the 1938 Broadway premiere of The Boys from Syracuse. A playful spoof of the “sick with love” trope commonly found in popular songs, “This Can’t Be Love” became one … Read More
Falling in Love with Love
Aching with loneliness due to the absence of her husband, Antipholus of Ephesus, Adriana ruefully reflects on her love life. First sung by Muriel Angelus in the 1938 Broadway premiere of The Boys from Syracuse, “Falling in Love with Love” became an American standard. Notable recordings include renditions by Helen Merrill, Dinah Shore, Vic Damone, Anita O’Day, Frank Sinatra, Sammy … Read More
Stan’ Up an’ Fight!
At Billy Pastor’s Café, the celebrated up-and-coming prize fighter Husky Miller makes a grand entrance, rousing the crowd and buying drinks for everyone. This inspiring number is Oscar Hammerstein’s American adaptation of one of Carmen‘s most famous arias, “The Toreador Song,” also known as “Votre toast, je peux vous le rendre” (“I toast you”).
Beat Out Dat Rhythm on a Drum
At Billy Pastor’s Café, Frankie leads the crowd in a spirited dance. This lively number, using the music from “Gypsy Song” in Bizet’s opera, is a rare moment of joy in the otherwise tragic Carmen Jones. Introduced by Jessica Russell in the original Broadway production, the song was sung by Pearl Bailey in the film adaptation.
Dere’s A Cafe on de Corner
After Carmen is caught fighting in the factory, Joe must deliver her to the jailhouse. When they stop midway on a rural road, Carmen sees an opportunity to regain her liberty. In this provocative, flirtatious song, she urges Joe to let her go and suggests that they instead go out dancing together. In the “Seguidilla” from Bizet’s opera Carmen, the … Read More
Dat’s Love
When the men in the factory vie for Carmen Jones’ attention, she declares that loving her would be the end of them. Oscar Hammerstein’s new lyric to Bizet’s “Habanera” (“L’amour est un oiseau rebelle” or “Love Is a Rebellious Bird”) maintains the original’s coquettish quality but adds a distinctly American flair. Like the original aria, “Dat’s Love” establishes Carmen as … Read More