Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend

By Jule Styne and Leo Robin
1949

Although today connected permanently with Marilyn Monroe thanks to her performance in the 1953 film version of Gentleman Prefer Blondes, this playful number was introduced by Carol Channing, who played the original Lorelei Lee on stage in 1949. It later became a standard among female vocalists, and was even alluded to by Madonna in the music video for her 1984 hit, "Material Girl", and performed by Nicole Kidman in the 2001 musical, Moulin Rouge.

Lyrics:

The French are glad to die for love,

They delight in fighting duels,

But I prefer a man who lives and gives
Expensive jewels.

A kiss on the hand maybe quite continental

But diamonds are a girl's best friend

A kiss may be grand.. but it won't pay the rental on your humble flat

Or help you at the automat



Men grow cold as girls grow old

And we all lose our charms in the end

But square cut or pear shape these rocks don't lose there shape 

Diamonds are a girl's best friend



... Tiffany's!
... Cartiea!
Black, Starr, Frost Gorham

Talk to me Harry Winston tell me all about it!

There may come a time when a lass needs a lawyer

But diamonds are a girl's best friend

There may come a time when a hard boiled employer thinks you're awful nice

But get that ice or else no dice



He's your guy when stocks are high but beware when they start to descend

Because that's when those louses go back to their spouses

Diamonds are a girl's best friend

I've heard of affairs that are strictly platonic

But diamonds are a girl's best friend

And I think affairs that you must keep the masonic are better bets

If little girls get big bagettes

Time rolls on and youth is gone and you can't straighten up when you bend

But stiff back or stiff knees you stand straight at.. Tiffany's...

diamonds... diamonds... I don't mean rhinestones.. but diamonds... are a girls best... best friend.

Recorded By:

Lena Horne
Jo Stafford
Julie London
Eartha Kitt
Ethel Merman

Some Enchanted Evening

By Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein II
1949

One of the most recognized of all Rodgers & Hammerstein compositions, it was introduced in the classic musical South Pacific by Italian operatic bass Ezio Pinza, who became a mainstream American favorite because of it. Hammerstein's lyric expresses a carpe diem attitude through a series of action verbs, and Rodgers melody is gorgeous as usual. A touch on the schmaltzy side, but then again, that's Rodgers & Hammerstein, after all.

Lyrics:

Some enchanted evening
You may see a stranger,
you may see a stranger
Across a crowded room
And somehow you know,
You know even then
That somewhere you'll see her
Again and again.

Some enchanted evening
Someone may be laughin',
You may hear her laughin'
Across a crowded room
And night after night,
As strange as it seems
The sound of her laughter
Will sing in your dreams.

Who can explain it?
Who can tell you why?
Fools give you reasons,
Wise men never try.

Some enchanted evening
When you find your true love,
When you feel her call you
Across a crowded room,
Then fly to her side,
And make her your own
Or all through your life you
May dream all alone.

Once you have found her,
Never let her go.
Once you have found her,
Never let her go!

Recorded By:

Perry Como
Frank Sinatra
Jo Stafford
Bing Crosby
Al Jolson

Bali Ha'i

By Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein II
1949

Written for the musical South Pacific, the song was meant to evoke the dreamlike, exotic quality of the fictional volcanic island for which it is named. The island was inspired by the real Pacific island of Ambae, mentioned by James Michener in the novel on which the play was based. It was performed by Juanita Hill on stage and in the film version, and first recorded by Perry Como. In the 1950s, it would become predictably popular during the exotica movement, thanks to its Oriental, mystical sound.

Lyrics:

Most people live on a lonely island,
lost in the middle of a foggy sea
most people long for another island
one where they know they would like to be.

Bali Ha'i may call you,
Any night, any day,
In your heart you'll hear it call you,
"Come away, come away . . ."

Bali Ha'i will whisper,
On the wind of the sea,
"Here am I your special island"
"Come to me, come to me . . ."

Your own special hopes,
Your own special dreams,
Bloom on the hillside,
And shine in the streams . . .

If you try you'll find me
Where the sky meets the sea
Here am I your special island
Come to me, come to me . . .

Bali Ha'i
Bali Ha'i
Bali Ha'i

Someday you'll see me,
Floating in the sunshine,
My head sticking out from a low flying cloud . . .

You'll hear me call you,
Singing through the sunshine
Sweet and clear as can be . . .

"Come to me, here am I"
"Come to me"
"Come to me"

Bali Ha'i . . .

Recorded By:

Frank Sinatra
Martin Denny
Stacey Kent
Tak Shindo
Perry Como

That Lucky Old Sun

By Beasley Smith & Haven Gillespie
1949

In honor of Labor Day, I give you this soulful ballad of the working man. With words by James Lamont "Haven" Gillespie, lyricist for "You Go to My Head" and "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town" of all things, it was introduced in the summer of '49 by Frankie Laine, who took it all the way to number one. That very same year, it was jumped on by the likes of Vaughan Monroe, Louis Armstrong and Frank Sinatra.

Lyrics:

Up in the mornin',
Out on the job,
Work like the devil for my pay.
But that lucky old sun,
Got nothin' to do,
But roll around heaven all day.

Fuss with my woman,
Toil for my kids,
Sweat till I'm wrinkled and gray.
While that lucky old sun,
Got nothin' to do,
But roll around heaven all day.

Dear Lord above, don't you know I'm pining,
Tears all in my eyes?
Send down that cloud with the silver lining,
Lift me to Paradise!

Show me that river,
Take me across,
Wash all my troubles away.
Like that lucky old sun, give me nothing to do,
But roll around heaven all day.

Recorded By:

Frankie Laine
Sarah Vaughan
Brian Wilson
Ray Charles
Johnny Cash