Irving Berlin Bombshells.....

September 22^nd – There’s many a rags to riches story that grace the annals of showbiz, many of them exaggerated by publicists in an effort to gain maximum coverage for their protégé, which is showbiz-speak for;

Someone with so little talent who needs all the help they can get, even if it does all come from sympathy.

One such tale that has no need of embellishment however is the start that Irving Berlin, who died this day in 1989, got to his song writing career. I quote from his biography by Laurence Bergreen:

As an adult Berlin admitted to no memories of his first five years in Russia except for one: he was lying on a blanket by the side of a road, watching his house burn to the ground. By daylight the house was in ashes.

Well, you gotta say, after that there really is only one way to go.

Think of any major recording star of the 40’s thro’ 80’s and I’ll bet a pound to a pinch of pig shit that Mr. Berlin has composed a song (usually a hit song) for them. Think of any of the great romantic pop songs of the 40’s thro’ 80’s and he probably had a hand in writing it. Think of any of the great stage musicals of the 40’s thro’ 80’s and he probably scored it. Think of any of the great film musicals of the 40’s thro’ 80’s and he probably wrote the libretto for it.

There should be a special Desert Island Discs programme where the guests get to choose their favourite Mr. Berlin piece from each discipline above and so, in the spirit of the suggestion, these are mine…probably…

Song: White Christmas – Just a perfect balance of nostalgia and pathos (without a hint of mawkishness) all wrapped up snugly with a blanket made of a longing for a simpler time.

Stage Musical: Annie Get Your Gun – A history lesson and a simple storyline rolled into one with songs like the tongue-in-cheek, You Can’t Get a Man with a Gun and Anything You Can Do together with showstoppers like There’s No Business Like Show Business…what’s not to like?

Film Musical: Really, really difficult this is…can I have two? No? Oh, OK, well, if I HAD to choose between Top Hat and Follow the Fleet I guess it’d be…erm…Top Hat. With Mr. Astaire and Ms. Rogers AND that Cheek to Cheek routine…or Isn’t This A Lovely Day To Be caught in the Rain…gotta be… Although, Follow the Fleet, with Mr. Astaire and Ms. Rogers AND the Let’s face the Music and Dance routine, the drama, those dresses…gotta be…although…with Mr. Astaire and Ms. Rogers AND the Top Hat, White Tie and Tails routine, the phrasing, both vocal and tap, the lyrics…and THAT shooting gallery…!…gotta be…although…

For those about to dance, Mr. Berlin, we salute you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZOJoV6H2UM