Wednesday, March 22, 2023

Oscar Songs-1941

 


It’s 1941 and  the World War is raging and the Oscars keep going strong. This year it was a bit of a controversy with the songs but I won’t say what for…yet. You know the drill, which one won, which was nominated and which was neither.  So, let’s get on with the show…

1. BOOGIE WOOGIE BUGLE BOY SUNG BY THE ANDREW SISTERS

These gals were big during the war years and this was one of their biggest hits, written by Hugh Prince, with lyrics by Don Raye. This song, performed by this legendary sister group was from the Abbott & Costello film, “Buck Privates.”

2. SO NEAR AND YET SO FAR SUNG BY FRED ASTAIRE

This is a lovely song written by Cole Porter for this wonderful musical, “You’ll Never Get Rich” starring Astaire and the lovely Rita Hayworth who, apparently, was Astaire’s favourite dance partner. I love the dancing.

3. THE LAST TIME I SAW PARIS SUNG BY ANN SOTHERN

This is just a beautiful song written by the great team of Jerome Kern (music) and Oscar Hammerstein 11 (lyrics), before Hammerstein met Rodgers. It’s been recorded several times and was written at a time when Paris fell so the sadness is all too real. This was from the film, “Lady, Be Good.”

So, which film won the Oscar, which was nominated and which got neither?


8 comments:

  1. Hi, Birgit!

    How are you this week, dear friend? How's my bow-wow buddy Harley?

    This brain buster of yours is going to be difficult for me because I haven't seen any of the films. However, I do recognize the titles of all three songs and already knew the melodies of #1 and #3. Maybe that's a clue. I figure, if I remember a song from childhood, it must have been particularly popular and therefore Oscar worthy. Yet, since there are gaping holes in my knowledge of musicals, I am going to resist the urge to go with the obvious.

    "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" by the Andrews Sisters was a big hit on the radio and in the move. The song is still covered to this day by retro style close harmony girl trios all over the world. YouTube is loaded with such covers. Yet, I am guessing that the ditty was not nominated for a Best Song award for two reasons. First, it is an up tempo song. I believe (perhaps incorrectly) that most nominated and winning songs of the period were ballads. Secondly, the song comes from an Abbott & Costello comedy film. I do not think comedies carried as much weight with the Academy as musicals and romantic dramas.

    Heavyweight composers Porter, Kern and Hammerstein wrote the other two songs, and I believe that is why they received nominations. Since I well remember "Last Time I Saw Paris" and do not remember "So Close," and because "Paris" is a poignant, gripping ballad while "So Close" is a faster tempo "gay" (original usage) song, I am going to guess that "So Close" was the nominated song and "Paris" was the irresistible Oscar Wiener.

    Have a wonderful Wednesday, dear friend BB. Please give my buddy Harley some skunk-flavored dog treats and tell him Shady sent them. I'll be here waiting for you again tamale in the balcony-- "At The Movies!"

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  2. I am guessing that The Last Time I saw Paris won. While I have seen the movie for your second choice, I can't remember ever hearing that song. Not nominated?

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  3. Such great songs. Absolutely love Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy but my guess would be The Last Time I Saw Paris won the Oscar..

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  4. I want to say "The Last Time I Saw Paris" won, just because of the times. Although, "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" does encapsulate the era pretty well, too.

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  5. I'll guess that "The Last Time I Saw Paris" won the Oscar, "So Near And Yet So Far" was a runner-up, and "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" wasn't nominated, because it was done in an Abbot and Costello movie and God knows they never get nominated...

    Rita Hayworth is one of the most beautiful women that ever walked the earth.

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  6. Ya got to love Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy:)
    Sandra sandracox.blogspot.com

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  7. Like most, I'd say Paris won, So Near was nominated and Bugle Boy wasn't. But then, stranger things have happened.

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