The Lady Is A Tramp - 8th Big Band Festival of Szombathely in 2013, Hungary www.isisbigband.hu info@isisbigband.hu "The Lady Is a Tramp" is a show tune from the 1937 Rodgers and Hart musical Babes in Arms in which it was introduced by former child star Mitzi Green. This song is a spoof of New York high society and its strict etiquette (the first line of the verse is "I get too hungry for dinner at eight..."). It has become a popular standard. The song was also used in the film version of Pal Joey starring Frank Sinatra, Rita Hayworth and Kim Novak. Joey Evans (Sinatra) sings the song to Vera Simpson (Hayworth) as he tries to entice the wealthy widow Simpson into financing Evans's dream of owning his own night club. Early recordings from 1937 include one by Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra (featuring Edythe Wright on vocals), Midge Williams and Her Jazz Jesters, Sophie Tucker, and Bernie Cummins on the Vocalion records label (#3714). Lena Horne recorded the song with the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studio Orchestra on March 30, 1948. Her performance appeared in the film, Words and Music, a fictionalized biography of the partnership of Rodgers and Hart. It was recorded by Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald in 1950s and Shirley Bassey in the 1960s, becoming a signature song for each of them. Buddy Greco's version was a million seller in the 50s. Gaga and Bennett performed "The Lady Is a Tramp" as the opening number for a special performance of Gaga's, entitled A Very Gaga Thanksgiving, which was shown exclusively on ABC on November 24, 2011.[14] Talking about the performance herself, Gaga gushed to Katie Couric, "Oh Tony he's so handsome I feel terrible whenever his wife is around because he is so charming and such a gentleman." And it appears the feeling is mutual with the 'I Left My Heart in San Francisco' singer saying: "She is the most beautiful person I ever met but there is something very special about her."[15] The performance received positive reviews from critics and fans, with them particular praising the subdued and traditional feel Gaga brought to this special, which was directed to a family audience. Ken Tucker of Entertainment Weekly praised that, "[the performance] was disarmingly direct, sincere, and unpretentious. Turns out happiness is a warm Gaga."[16] "Lady Gaga put on a subdued holiday shindig for television viewers," agreed Sarah Anne Hughes of The Washington Post. "Regardless of what you thought this would be, Lady Gaga certainly pleased and surprised viewers this Thanksgiving night," said Matt's Movie Thoughts review. "She delivered herself more honestly than we usually get to see her. This is truly amazing because she knew exactly how to strike the right notes."[17] "Set in a cabaret Gaga played the part of a "tramp" with class and style she sang with Tony," said Darla Hanger of The Examiner. "It was a delightful production. The two had great chemistry as they sang and did a 'delish' remake of the original song. Grabbing Tony's red handkerchief out of his pocket, also taking off and showing her shoe to Tony and then throwing it over her shoulder was a playful touch. Lady Gaga's accent and acting while singing was perfect. Lady Gaga is able to "jive" with the best of them." "It was very carefully laid out -- warm and low-key, visually sumptuous but appropriately restrained without losing the Gaga-ness of it all," said Michael Sellers. "Other words that come to mind -- direct, unpretentious, sincere, and old school (as the holidays should be), with just a touch of carefully and sparingly applied edge. [It] had what were clearly Gaga-esque touches throughout, a set that would return throughout the how and provide an interesting, holiday, velvety vibe."[18] "That was...a tasteful, controversy-free Gaga for all in the family to enjoy on Thanksgiving. We'll gladly give a toast to that!" praised MTV's Sterling Wong. "She is unlikely to be Picasso," commented Hadley Freedman of the UK's The Guardian (in response to Bennett's comments), "but she could well turn out to be something far more interesting than one might have expected of a woman whose debut album was primarily influenced by 90s Swedish dance band Ace of Bass. Other critics stated that the success of this spectacle should make the viewing of such events become a Thanksgiving tradition for Americans.[19]

• published: 27 Sep 2013
• views: 6