Those city sidewalks are CROWDED...
"Silver Bells", by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans, was frequently referred to by Livingston as "our annuity." It is sung here by Colbie Callait:
Video posted by Rita Spencer
And here is the same song as sung by Bob Hope and Marilyn Maxwell in the movie for which the song was written, The Lemon Drop Kid:
Video posted by TCBNS.*
The title, by the way, was originally "Tinkle Bells."
[I pause while you take that in.]
Then Livingston went home and told his wife about their new song and she said (presumably after she finished laughing), "Are you out of your mind? Do you know what the word 'tinkle' means to most people?" They changed the title (and lyrics) to "Silver Bells" forthwith.
***
Jay Livingston (born Jacob Levison) and Ray Evans were both born in 1915 and both were Jewish. They met in the University of Pennsylvania and, in the words of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, "began a lifelong collaboration that would become one of the legendary songwriting partnerships in the history of American popular music."
Together they won three Oscars for Best Original Song--for "Buttons and Bows," "Mona Lisa," and "Que Sera, Sera"--and were nominated for four more. They wrote the songs and scores for dozens of films and the theme and title songs for many TV shows, including Bonanza:
Video posted by IluvBenJoe*
and Mr. Ed:
Video posted by xoxzimichoxox
The Mr. Ed theme was sung by Livingston himself (wait for it) of course.
According to their official website, the two of them "have had twenty-six songs that have sold...a million records or more, and the total record sales of their songs has exceeded 400 million." (NOTE: You can find a far more extensive joint bio on their website, plus songs and award lists and so on, so if your interest has been piqued, check it out.)
***
* The Lemon Drop Kid clip comes complete with visual "jokes" based on ethnic stereotypes, none of which, it should be noted, are in the lyrics; the movie came out in 1951, which is no sort of an excuse but is an explanation of sorts, alas.
** The notes on some videos of the Bonanza theme say that the song was written by someone else and only performed by Livingston and Evans, but that is incorrect.
And here is the same song as sung by Bob Hope and Marilyn Maxwell in the movie for which the song was written, The Lemon Drop Kid:
The title, by the way, was originally "Tinkle Bells."
[I pause while you take that in.]
Then Livingston went home and told his wife about their new song and she said (presumably after she finished laughing), "Are you out of your mind? Do you know what the word 'tinkle' means to most people?" They changed the title (and lyrics) to "Silver Bells" forthwith.
Jay Livingston (born Jacob Levison) and Ray Evans were both born in 1915 and both were Jewish. They met in the University of Pennsylvania and, in the words of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, "began a lifelong collaboration that would become one of the legendary songwriting partnerships in the history of American popular music."
Together they won three Oscars for Best Original Song--for "Buttons and Bows," "Mona Lisa," and "Que Sera, Sera"--and were nominated for four more. They wrote the songs and scores for dozens of films and the theme and title songs for many TV shows, including Bonanza:
and Mr. Ed:
The Mr. Ed theme was sung by Livingston himself (wait for it) of course.
According to their official website, the two of them "have had twenty-six songs that have sold...a million records or more, and the total record sales of their songs has exceeded 400 million." (NOTE: You can find a far more extensive joint bio on their website, plus songs and award lists and so on, so if your interest has been piqued, check it out.)
***
* The Lemon Drop Kid clip comes complete with visual "jokes" based on ethnic stereotypes, none of which, it should be noted, are in the lyrics; the movie came out in 1951, which is no sort of an excuse but is an explanation of sorts, alas.
** The notes on some videos of the Bonanza theme say that the song was written by someone else and only performed by Livingston and Evans, but that is incorrect.
FUN!
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