A History and Analysis of “Puttin’ on the Ritz”

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8 ай бұрын

Despite its problematic past, “Puttin’ on the Ritz” is one of Origipop’s most enduring hits, maintaining its popularity even today, almost 100 years after it was first written.
It was used in such famous movies as “Young Frankenstein” and had a modern synth-pop cover by Taco which reached the top of the charts in 1983.
So let’s take a look at this song’s history, music and lyrics to learn more about how it became such an iconic piece of popular culture!

Пікірлер: 55

@dawidmamczur 8 ай бұрын

I love the disgusted look on Bertie's face at the end. Great video, I very much like your channel!

@premanadi 8 ай бұрын

Astaire's 1930 version was recorded in London, and includes a couple of lines of spoken dialogue from two actors during the tap dancing portion, which is a unique and mysterious feature - it makes it sound like it is taken from a film soundtrack, but it isn't. "Boys, look at that man puttin' on that Ritz!" "You look at him; I can't."

@OriginalPopularMusic 7 ай бұрын

Yeah, it's interesting!

@lbelgarlbelgar 8 ай бұрын

Great video!! Looking forward to learning about more origipop songs

@kendn01 8 ай бұрын

This was so interesting - hope your channel is successful.

@OriginalPopularMusic 8 ай бұрын

Thank you so much!

@mr.scottpowell 8 ай бұрын

Interesting thing about Fred Astair's popular recording of the song in 1930. That was three years before his first film. However he was a well-known dancer on Broadway at that time

@premanadi 8 ай бұрын

As well as a singer and actor.

@mr.scottpowell 8 ай бұрын

@@premanadi and a great singer too. It's just surprising to know he had a hit song well before he was even in movies

@Wishbone1977 7 ай бұрын

@@mr.scottpowell I mean, it's not _that_ uncommon for someone to have a hit song, having never been in a movie. Both Mark and Donnie Wahlberg managed it, somehow.

@mr.scottpowell 7 ай бұрын

@@Wishbone1977 true. Still from our perspective today he's so strongly associated with his movies, and Ginger Rogers,etc. that to learn he had a hit song before he was even in pictures was kind of a neat surprise, at least it for me.

@mr.scottpowell 7 ай бұрын

@@Wishbone1977 But no, not saying that it's unexpected for a singer to turn into a movie star

@lizadams7662 8 ай бұрын

This was another great video. I've subscribed and I hope your audience builds. I especially liked Bertie Wooster struggling with the rhythm!

@kathyastrom1315 8 ай бұрын

Herb Alpert and Lani Hall did a great cover of this ten years ago that was used in a fun group routine for that season’s premiere of So You Think You Can Dance that I highly recommend watching.

@OriginalPopularMusic 8 ай бұрын

Thanks, I'll check it out!

@Kitskacat 8 ай бұрын

The piano in the background is gorgeous!

@OriginalPopularMusic 8 ай бұрын

Thanks, it was my great grandmother's. It's out of tune and needs some restoration work but it makes for a great background!

@trethtower 8 ай бұрын

Well done informative video of one of my favorite Berlin tunes. All the best.

@malcolmboyd3503 8 ай бұрын

Wonderful

@janepage3608 8 ай бұрын

Fascinating to see the score and understand what Berlin did to get the jazz feel. Brilliant writer. I would have liked a snippet of the modern version you talked about a lot, but I suppose copyright forbade it.

@OriginalPopularMusic 7 ай бұрын

Yeah, I would have liked to include Taco's version but I was worried about copyright. The older versions aren't generally flagged but the more modern ones definitely are.

@clivematthew-wilson7918 8 ай бұрын

Given the casual acceptance of racism within mid-century America, a more plausible explanation for the 1946 lyric change is simply that the old lyrics would have been almost incomprehensible to a mass market, especially outside of America. For example, in Europe, 'Harlem' (with a different spelling) was almost exclusively viewed as a place in Holland. Many Europeans had never heard of the American Harlem and had no concept of its cultural significance. The incomprehensible lyrics of the original version would have made it much harder to sell the music globally (as with any film associated with it).

@janepage3608 8 ай бұрын

Not sure about that. For most Americans, the only market they care - or know - about is America.

@clivematthew-wilson7918 8 ай бұрын

Actually, America has always been at the forefront of global movie exports. That's because they developed high quality talking movies before everyone else. But even f Hollywood had been only interested in America, remember that 1946 America was a vastly different place. Few people in places like America's South would understand references to places such as Harlem in New York city. But they understood phrases such as 'putting on the ritz'. @@janepage3608

@deadman746 8 ай бұрын

I'm fascinated by this song, mostly the syncopation, but this is the first time I learned the original was _where _*_Harlem_*_ sits_ rather than *_fashion._* I balk at describing the lyrics as racism rather than commentary on racism. Berlin was a pretty ironic and subversive guy. It seems almost a miracle Berlin wasn't prosecuted under the Espionage and Sedition Acts for "Stay Down Here Where You Belong." He also made the two biggest Christian holidays into ones about snow and hats. I'm betting the lyrics changes were more like when Disney removed the lyric "where they cut off your nose if they don't like your face" in _Aladdin._ Thanks for properly pronouncing _Wodehouse._ Of course it's 4/4, but it has a sort of 5/4 miasma. Compare "The Black Page."

@Arripa-777 14 күн бұрын

What does "Puttin'" mean ? I love this song ! Great video !

@petermansel9114 7 ай бұрын

I came here from your Jeeves and Wooster music review - that series was so great. Really enjoying the channel thank you!

@OriginalPopularMusic 7 ай бұрын

Glad you're enjoying it! Thanks!

@CassAndKirk 7 ай бұрын

Very interesting! Great video! Just subscribed.

@OriginalPopularMusic 7 ай бұрын

Awesome, thank you!

@kennyfrien-i 7 ай бұрын

Glad I clicked on this, will be checking out your other vids ....

@OriginalPopularMusic 7 ай бұрын

Glad you liked it! Thank you!

@blaxlandpianopathways 7 ай бұрын

Entertaining and enlightening. Thank you!

@OriginalPopularMusic 7 ай бұрын

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!

@Wishbone1977 7 ай бұрын

Fantastic video. You have a new subscriber.

@OriginalPopularMusic 7 ай бұрын

Thanks and welcome!

@brucequinn 8 ай бұрын

Really nice!

@OriginalPopularMusic 8 ай бұрын

Thanks!

@davidsilverman1741 7 ай бұрын

A really interesting video and filled with great information, many thanks! I've always thought the 1953 "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" got its melodic and rhythmic flavor from this classic. Certainly the initial melody, a minor chord arpeggio, is the same.

@OriginalPopularMusic 7 ай бұрын

Glad you liked it, thanks! And you're right, there are some similarities between those songs. I hadn't made that connection before!

@Nonamearisto 2 ай бұрын

4:46 So that's where Rhett Butler went after leaving Scarlett.

@OriginalPopularMusic 2 ай бұрын

😂

@marlystilley9046 7 ай бұрын

Is the piano behind you a Wegman Piano Co AuburnN.Y.

@OriginalPopularMusic 7 ай бұрын

It's an Emerson from 1905. It belonged to my great-grandmother and is beautiful but needs some restoration work.

@joemedley195 7 ай бұрын

I think it’s worth pointing out that if Hugh Laurie isn’t actually playing in that clip, he’s absolutely more than capable of doing so.

@OriginalPopularMusic 7 ай бұрын

Good point; he's a very skilled pianist. My guess is he's actually playing it but intentionally messing up!

@geoffreypiltz271 8 ай бұрын

The original lyrics are a glimpse into the past, a past that we are working hard to erase, for good or ill.

@michaelstewart7285 8 ай бұрын

Shows how tastes and mores have changed--for the better!

@allocat586 8 ай бұрын

I can see why Clark Gable didn't become a big time musical actor lol

@carlob95 8 ай бұрын

Yeah, he was not good...

@geoffreypiltz271 8 ай бұрын

Better than Rex Harrison!

@BrokeBrain42 16 күн бұрын

It's nice that the problematic racial parts were rewritten, but even the new version, as heard in Young Frankenstein, can be triggering for differently-abled individuals.