Wednesday, February 9, 2022

Songs from 1928

 


My mom's birthday is tomorrow, February 10th and she was born in 1928 so I thought I would cover 3 musical pieces that were big hits from that year. Sorry for the weird photo but I took this from a photo already in an album I created for her. This was taken in 1985 when she was 57 and I am now 57 and can't believe that I thought she was older then (not old as she was never old). My mom loved to clown and she often had her mouth open in pictures from eating to talking. How I miss her...

1. I WANNA BE LOVED BY YOU SUNG BY HELEN KANE


OK, I don't think my mom cared for this song because she thought it was stupid and hated when women talked like a baby..to babies and to men especially. She just thought it was the dumbest thing and "to act your age." I had to put this one in because I find it funny and it was a huge hit from the musical "Good Boy" where the great Helen Kane sang it. This became her signature tune and, in the clip above, it is Kane's voice, not Debbie Reynolds (from the film "Three Little Words"-1950) that you hear although Debbie makes me laugh every time she grabs this guy's shirt and pops his bowtie (well, that sounds suggestive) Carleton Carpenter was the young man who just passed away on Jan. 31st. The film was written by Herbert Stothart & Harry Ruby with lyrics by Bert Kalmar (yeah, I don't know them either) and has been sung many times over the years. One of the more famous times is Marilyn Monroe singing it in "Some Like It Hot." By the way, Helen Kane became the inspiration for Betty Boop!

2. BOLERO COMPOSED BY MAURICE RAVEL


You know my mom  loved Andre Rieu and I was so happy that I could bring her to see him twice. Later, when she was in a long-term care home, she called him her boyfriend and would smile like a little devil. This is one of my favourite pieces of music which fits since the Olympics are on and Torvill & Dean won the Gold Medal ice dancing to this piece. When I watched this with my mom, we were floored! It's a great piece of music done many times over.

3. DIE MORITAT VON MACKIE MESSER OR MACK THE KNIFE SUNG BY LOTTE LENYA


I could have gone with the famous version done by Bobby Darin or Frank Sinatra etc.. but this song was composed by Kurt Weill, with lyrics by Bertholt Brecht, for his wife Lotte Lenya. This song was featured in the musical "The Threepenny Opera" and  which, thankfully, came out before the man who shall not be named. rose to power. I know my mom was not a lover of this song either but, hey, it came out the year she was born and was a huge hit in Germany and everywhere else. By the way, Lotte Lenya played the evil Gal in the James Bond film, "From Russia With Love." 

19 comments:

  1. Hi, Birgit!

    It's sweet of you to remember your mother and mark the anniversary of her birth by posting songs from 1928, her birth year. Your mother was almost exactly ten years younger than mine. Your opening paragraph made me smile. You reminded me of the old family photos in my albums. There were always a couple of members of the family whose mouths were open as pictures were taken, reminding me that they were gregarious and talkative. It was refreshing to see and hear "I Wanna Be Loved By You" performed by someone other then MM who famously purred the song in Some Like It Hot. The Helen Kane scene reminds me that, when I was young, women in movies and TV series were often depicted as the aggressors in a romantic relationship, throwing themselves at men, while the boys/men acted bored, aloof and coy, as if they had no interest whatsoever in romance and sex. On TV, Zelda Gilroy was always coming on to Dobie Gillis making him uncomfortable. In Some Like It Hot, MM drapes herself all over Tony Curtis on the yacht trying to thaw him out and win his heart and other body parts. This was especially true in scenarios involving a young woman and a much older man. My point is that such narratives seemed much more common in the early and mid 20th century. Do you agree?

    Thanks for sharing memories of how your mother's eyes would twinkle whenever she would speak of Andre Rieu and how this majestic piece, Bolero, was used by T & D for their ice dancing long program, earning them a Gold. It is indeed a thrilling composition.

    Yessum, I am most familiar with the Bobby Darin version of song #3 in which he mentions Lotte Lenya. I enjoyed hearing her earlier rendition from Threepenny Opera. I had no idea Lotte is the actress who played the meany in From Russia With Love. She had those poisonous spikes coming out of her shoes/boots, right?

    Thank you for sharing music and memories of your dear mother as you observe the date of her birth this week. Have a good one, dear friend BB, and I'll see you tamale in the balcony "At the Movies!"

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    1. Yes, I didn’t want to use the MM and version so I’m glad you like this one. Yes, they did often show women after guys like Frank Sinatra being chased by Betty Garrett..hahahaaa. I have seen many where the man went after the girl but in a way that would not be agreeable with many nowadays.

      My mom’s birthday is tomorrow but I’m so glad you can relate to such a gregarious nature since you had relatives who also loved to have fun. I miss her every day. I’m glad you enjoyed this Rieu version of Bolero.
      I wanted to showcase Lotte Lenya here since she was such a major star in Germany as a cabaret singer and yes, she was the evil gal with the nasty shoe. When I saw the young picture of years back, I couldn’t believe she was the same person.

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  2. I wasn't around in 1928 but I know those songs. Maybe I am old at heart. And I wanted to say thanks for your comments yesterday about my studio project. You spoke to me because my husband is good at starting projects and not finishing them. I am rather stressed about finishing this studio so I can work in it, and like you, we have a bathroom partially started and not finished. Thanks for the words of support! They were much appreciated. Happy day early birthday to your mom, wherever her spirit is now. Today would have been my Dad's 98th. Hugs-Erika

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    1. Oh you are so welcome! Never fret asm New day, this will all be done...fingers crossed😁. I’m glad you enjoyed the music and happy birthday to your dad.

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  3. You and your mom look alike, don't you? I know you miss her. I'm glad you have such wonderful memories to keep her alive in your heart.

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    1. Yes, my one friend said I am looking more and more like her but I know I still have some of my dad but my brother looks more like my dad. Thank you so much for what you wrote. You touched my heart.

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  4. Happy birthday to your mother, wherever she might be celebrating ;) You do look a bit like her.

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    1. Thank you so much, people have been saying that,

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  5. You have lovely memories of your Mum Birgit, and seems she likes some fabulous pieces of music and songs. I too love Andre Rieu, and would love to go to one of his concerts, hoping all is well with you, Kate x

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    1. I do have great memories and she made special days even more special. If you ever get a chance to see Andre Rieu, you must go.

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  6. Kslmar and Ruby did music for a few Msrx Brothers movies and were the subject of the movie "Three Little Words."

    Lotte Lenya spent a lot of her later years reminding people of the music of Kurt Weill. When Bobby Darin covered "Mack The Knife," he mentions her among the victims of Mackie Messer...

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    1. Yes, I saw this film a few years back and didn’t realize they did some music for the Marx Bros.
      I knew Lotte Lenya wanted to keep her husband’s talent and memory alive but I had no idea she was one of the victims that Bobby Darin sang. I have to really try and listen to those words..hardest part for me. I have to admit, when albums started putting the lyrics down for each music piece on the inside sleeve, I love it.

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  7. I can see her in you. I know all the music, but would not have connected them as being from the same era, they are all so different.

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    1. So many have said I look like my mom and I am happy. I know! The music is all very different and, to be honest, I had no idea where Mack the Knife came from.

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  8. May the memories of your mom give you comfort, especially on her birthday. She looks like a fun-loving, free spirit (and you do resemble her)! ♥ The first song creates quite the earworm. I remember it from the movie, now it won't get out of my head. ☺ Bolero is a great tune and Torville and Dean's performance was amazing! My late friend Corrie also loved Andre Rieu and I will forever think of her when I see his name. I didn't know Mac The Knife is that old, or the history behind it. It was fun to hear Lotte Lenya sing it in German! She made an excellent villian in To Russia With Love. The scene with the dagger in her shoe comes to mind.

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    1. She was fun loving and went by her own code. Torville & Dean were so great. Yes, whenever I hear Andre Rieu I think of my mom. I had no idea that song was that old either and she was quite striking looking so I was surprised to see her in James Bond.

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  9. Hmmm... 1928. That year also saw the debut of "Ol' Man River" and I'm pretty sure mom liked that song as well. I've always loved Bolero ever since being exposed to it in the movie "10." And didn't Ginger sing "I Wanna' Be Loved by You" to Gilligan at some point?

    Happy birthday, Mom. I'm sorry you had to endure so much pain and loss in your life. I do know her time with Dad (and us) were the years that meant the most to her. I miss her too.

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    1. I was all ready to use Ol' Man River from the 1954 film, Show Boat but then I read it actually debuted in 1927. I was quite bummed by it because this was one of mom's favourites. Bolero is a great song and, yes, Ginger (Tina Louise is 88 years old today-Saturday) did sing this song to Gilligan.
      Mom's life is the life of legends. She packed so much in her life especially the first 28 years. Her second act, with Daddy and us were her happiest. How I miss her.

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  10. The Julliard School created an extraordinary video of "Bolero" early in the pandemic. Let me see if I can find it...

    Enjoy: https://youtu.be/rqzkn-jX-JU

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