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Where or When
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Wikipedia article
"'Where or When'" is a show tune from the 1937 Rodgers and Hart musical 'Babes in Arms'. It was first performed by Ray Heatherton and Mitzi Green. That same year, Hal Kemp recorded a popular version. The song also appeared in the film version of 'Babes in Arms' two years later.
Babes in Arms
"Where or When" is the first number to appear in the original Broadway production of 'Babes in Arms'. The musical opens in Seaport, Long Island on a hectic morning that finds most of the adult population embarking on a five-month vaudeville tour. Soon after his parents' departure, 20-year-old Valentine LaMar (played by Ray Heatherton) discovers at his doorstep a young hitchhiker named Billie Smith (played by Mitzi Green). Instantly smitten, he engages her in a discussion of movie stars, self-defense maneuvers, and Nietzsche's theory of individualism, at which point Val impulsively steals a kiss. Both admit to a powerful sense of dj vu and sing "Where or When" as a duet. MGM bought the screen rights to 'Babes in Arms' in 1938, and the following year the studio released a film with that title, starring Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland, that bore little resemblance to its stage predecessor; the characters and plot were substantially revised (by 10 studio writers), and only two numbers were retained from the score. "Where or When" was one that survived, appearing 37 minutes into the film, sung by Betty Jaynes, Douglas McPhail, and Garland in a scene depicting a rehearsal sequence, although Garland is cut short during her performance.
Lyrics
The lyrics of 'Where or When' illustrate a memory anomaly known as dj vu. The line "Some things that happen for the first time..." is often misunderstood or misheard as "Some things that happened for the first time..." which changes the meaning. Rather than recalling past events which actually "happened", the lyrics refer to present events which "happen" for the first time, but which falsely seem to be recurring.Eli Marcovitz, M.D. , "The Meaning of Dj Vu", 'Psychoanalytic Quarterly', vol. 21 (1952), pp.481-489Alan S. Brown, 'The dj vu experience', Psychology Press, (2004), , Introduction, page 1
Recorded versions
* Ronnie Aldrich
* Julie Andrews
* Ray Anthony
* Jan August
* Count Basie
* Shirley Bassey
* The Beach Boys
* Tony Bennett
* Jane Birkin
* Earl Bostic
* Ruby Braff
* Clifford Brown
* Dave Brubeck
* Michael Buble
* Charlie Byrd
* Herman Chittison
* Arnett Cobb
* Nat King Cole
* Natalie Cole
* Judy Collins
* Perry Como
* Harry Connick Jr.
* Ray Conniff
* Bing Crosby
* Sammy Davis Jr.
* Dennis Day
* Buddy DeFranco
* The Dinning Sisters
* Dion & The Belmonts released a successful cover of the song, which reached number 3 on the 'Billboard' Hot 100 in January 1960.
* Ray Eberle & his orchestra
* Dave Edmunds
* Duke Ellington
* Gideon Emery
* Percy Faith & his orchestra
* Robert Farnon orchestra
* Bryan Ferry
* Ella Fitzgerald
* The Flamingos
* Ralph Flanagan
* The Four Lads
* Red Garland
* Erroll Garner
* Judy Geeson
* Stan Getz
* Benny Goodman
* Morton Gould
* Stephane Grappelli
* Adelaide Hall
* Edmond Hall
* Lionel Hampton
* Todd Gordon
* Dick Haymes
* Ruthie Henshall
* Woody Herman
* Al Hibbler
* Stevie Holland
* Lena Horne, in 'Words and Music'
* Leslie Hutchinson
* Harry James
* Etta Jones
* Bert Kaempfert & his orchestra
* Stan Kenton & his orchestra
* Andr Kostelanetz & his orchestra
* Diana Krall
* Gene Krupa & his orchestra
* Julian Lage
* Mario Lanza
* Trio Lescano
* Steve Lawrence
* Turner Layton
* Peggy Lee
* The Lettermen released their version as a single, which peaked at number 98 on the Hot 100, 1n 1963.
* Julie London
* Vera Lynn
* Barry Manilow
* Dean Martin
* Mary Martin
* Johnny Mathis
* Daniel Matto
* Idina Menzel & Taye Diggs
* Susannah McCorkle
* George Michael from 'Songs from the Last Century'
* Jane Monheit
* Vaughn Monroe
* Marion Montgomery
* Red Norvo
* Patti Page
* Pasadena Roof Orchestra
* Mandy Patinkin
* Les Paul & Mary Ford
* Oscar Peterson
* Noah Preminger
* Rita Reys
* Cliff Richard
* Kenny Rogers
* Sonny Rollins
* Anton Schwartz
* Artie Shaw
* Anne Shelton
* Dinah Shore
* Carly Simon
* Frank Sinatra
* Singers UnlimitedMPS Records MPS 14.331 - Album A Capella III
* Johnny Smith
* Kay Starr
* Rod Stewart & Lisa Ekdahl
* Barbra Streisand from 'Color Me Barbra'
* The Supremes
* Dame Joan Sutherland
* Tierney Sutton
* Victor Sylvester
* Art Tatum
* Jack Teagarden
* Claude Thornhill & his orchestra
* Mel Torm
* Caterina Valente
* Frederica von Stade
* Helen Ward & Harry James & His Orchestra Helen Ward Harry James & His OrchestraArchived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/PKvZL7HmzMM Ghostarchive] and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20170405163630/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKvZL7HmzMM Wayback Machine]:
* Paul Weston & his orchestra
* Margaret Whiting
* Andy Williams
* Teddy Wilson
See also
* Where Or When (film), a film inspired by the song
References
Category:1937 songs
Category:1960 singles
Category:1963 singles
Category:Pop standards
Category:Songs from Babes in Arms
Category:Songs with music by Richard Rodgers
Category:Songs with lyrics by Lorenz Hart
Category:Dion DiMucci songs
Category:The Lettermen songs
Category:Lena Horne songs
Category:Barbra Streisand songs
Category:Andy Williams songs
Category:Caterina Valente songs
Category:Laurie Records singles
Category:Dave Edmunds songs
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