Irving Berlin Singing


In this movie Irving Berlin sang his own composition. Though perhaps America's greatest songwriter ever, Irving was not a good singer, though he did work as a singing waiter early in his life. As his efforts concluded on the song "Oh How I Hate To Get Up In The Morning", one stagehand was overheard saying to another, "If the guy who wrote that could've heard how this guy just sang that song, he'd roll over in his grave."

Mike

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I'd have put that in the movie!

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Berlin wasn't the greatest singer, that's true. But think also of other great composers like Cole Porter, Ivor Novello, and many more and their voices weren't up to much either. I think I'd have put that in the film as well - it's a great in-joke for those who recognised Berlin.

"Fasten your seat belts, it's going to be a bumpy night" (Margo Channing in All About Eve)

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Hi,

Irving Berlin also sang "God Bless America" in 1968 on The Ed Sullivan Show. After he finished, he was presented with a cake in honor of his eightieth birthday.

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Does anyone remember what Burt Bacharach sounded like when he chirped on TV in the 60s and 70s? Made Irving Berlin sound like Ezio Pinza!
"May I bone your kipper, Mademoiselle?"

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It's a wonderful performance of the song. The best we have on film. His voice isn't big but it's true. And I don't believe the story about the stagehand.

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