MY FUNNY VALENTINE
Music: Richard Rodgers- Lyrics: Lorenz Hart
Year: 1937
Origin of the song
On 14 April 1937 Babes in Arms was released in the Shubert Theatre of New York, which obtained a significant success and had two hundred and eighty nine performances. In the first act of the play, Mitzi Green sang ‘My Funny Valentine’ to Ray Heatherton.
It was the first time that Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart wrote the whole script of a musical, with the dialogues, the music and the lyrics of the songs. Its plot combined a series of musical acts with a swift and uncomplicated storyline. He is also remembered for the brilliant ballet the choreographer George Balanchine created for the scene of the ‘dream’. The original production of Babes in Arms included as well the songs ‘Babes In Arms’, ‘I Wish I Were In Love Again’, ‘Where Or When’, ‘Lady Is A Tramp’ and ‘Johnny One Note’.
In 1939, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer adapted the musical for the big screen. Babes in arms was directed by Busby Berkeley and starring Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney; he only kept three songs from the original show, ‘Babes in Arms’, ‘I Wish I Were In Love Again’ and ‘Where Or When’.
Versions in the top charts
|
PERFORMERS |
DATE OF RECORDING |
DATE OF
ENTRANCE |
PERMANENCE WEEKS |
HIGH POSITION REACHED |
|
|
1944.12.29 |
1945.02.24 |
1 |
16 |
Ruth Gaylor (voc) |
Jazz. Outstanding performances
Instrumental
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PERFORMERS |
DATE OF RECORDING |
MUSICIANS WHO TOOK PART IN THE RECORDING
|
|
1952.09.02 |
Chet Baker (tp), Gerry Mulligan (bars), Carson Smith (b), Chico Hamilton (d) |
|
|
1953.05.20 |
Chet Baker (tp), Gerry Mulligan (bars), Carson Smith (b), Larry Bunker (d) |
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1954.02.25 |
Charlie Parker (as), Stan Kenton (p, dir), Sam Noto, Vince Minichelli, Buddy Childers, Don Smith, Stu Williamson (tp), Milt Gold, Joe Ciavardone, Frank Rosolino, George Roberts (tb), Charlie Mariano, Dave Schildkraut, Mike Cicchetti, Bill Perkins, Tony Ferina (r), Bob Lesher (g), Don Bagley (b), Stan Levey (d) |
|
|
1955.10.14 |
Ruby Braff (cnt), Ellis Larkins (p) |
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1956.10.26 |
Miles Davis (tp), John Coltrane (ts), Red Garland (p), Paul Chambers (b), Philly Joe Jones (d) |
|
|
1959.02.?? |
Art Farmer (tp), Gerry Mulligan (bars), Bill Crow (b), Dave Bailey (d) |
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1960.01.13 |
Bobby Timmons (p), Sam Jones (b), Jimmy Cobb (d) |
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1962.05.14 |
Bill Evans (p), Jim Hall (g) |
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1964.02.12 |
Miles Davis (tp), George Coleman (ts), Herbie Hancock (p), Ron Carter (b), Tony Williams (d) |
|
|
Paul Desmond Quartet |
1975.10.25 |
Paul Desmond (as), Ed Bickert (g), Don Thompson (b), Jerry Fuller (d) |
|
1980.10.11 |
Wynton Marsalis (tp), Bill Pierce (ts), Robert Watson (as), James Williams (p), Charles Fambrough (b), Art Blakey (d) |
|
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1988.02.?? |
Jim Hall (g), Steve La Spina (b), Joey Baron (d) |
|
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1989.05.03 |
Enrico Pieranunzi (p), Marc Johnson (b), Steve Houghton (d) |
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|
Fred Hersch Trio |
1992.12.?? |
Fred Hersch (p), Drew Gress (b), Tom Rainey (d) |
|
2002.06.21 |
Jacky Terrasson (p), Sean Smith (b), Eric Harland (d) |
Vocal
|
PERFORMERS |
DATE OF RECORDING |
MUSICIANS WHO TOOK PART IN THE RECORDING
|
|
1953.11.05 |
Frank Sinatra (voc), Nelson Riddle Orchestra |
|
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1954.02.15 |
Chet Baker (tp, voc), Russ Freeman (p), Carson Smith (b), Bob Neal (d) |
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1956.08.30 |
Ella Fitzgerald (voc), Buddy Bregman Orchestra |
|
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1957.03.06 |
Carmen McRae (voc), Ray Bryant (p), Ike Isaacs (b), Charles 'Specs' Wright (d) |
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1958.04.02 |
Anita O’Day (voc), Bill Catalano, Jules Chaiken, Phil Gilbert, Lee Katzman, Sam Noto (tp), Jim Amlotte, Bob Enevoldsen, Kent Larsen, Archie LeCoque, Ken Shroyer (tb), Lennie Niehaus, Bud Shank (as), Richie Kamuca, Bill Perkins (ts), Jack Dulong (bars), Marty Paich (p), Red Kelly (b), Mel Lewis (d), Russ Garcia (dir) |
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1973.09.24 |
Sarah Vaughan (voc), Carl Schroeder (p) |
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1997.12.02 |
Shirley Horn (voc, p), Charles Ables (b), Steve Williams (d) |
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|
Chucho Valdés |
1999.04.09 |
Chucho Valdés (p), Francisco Rubio Pampín (b), Raúl Pineda Roque (d), Roberto Vizcaíno Guillot (cng, d), Mayra Caridad Valdés (voc) |
On cinemas
The song 'My Funny Valentine' is included in the soundtrack of the following movies:
|
ORIGINAL TITLE |
TITLE IN SPAIN |
YEAR OF PRODUCTION |
PERFORMERS OF THE SONG IN THE FILM |
|
Gentlemen Marry Brunettes |
Los caballeros se casan con las morenas |
1955 |
Jeanne Crain (dubbed by Anita Ellis) |
|
Pal Joey |
Pal Joey |
1957 |
Kim Novak (dubbed by Trudy Erwin) |
|
Sharky’s Machine |
La brigada de Sharky |
1981 |
Chet Baker Quartet; Julie London |
|
Click, Click |
Click, Click |
1984 |
|
|
The Fabulous Baker Boys |
Los fabulosos Baker Boys |
1989 |
Michelle Pfeiffer |
|
Malice |
Malicia |
1993 |
Gene Harris |
|
When a Man Loves a Woman |
Cuando un hombre ama a una mujer |
1994 |
|
|
Waiting To Exhale |
Esperando un respiro |
1995 |
Chaka Khan |
|
The Talented Mr. Ripley |
El talento de Mr. Ripley |
1999 |
Chet Baker Quartet |
|
The Cooler |
The Cooler |
2003 |
Tierney Sutton |
|
The Company |
The Company |
2003 |
|
|
Perfect Stranger |
Seduciendo a un extraño |
2007 |
James 'D-Train' Williams |
|
Bikur Ha-Tizmoret |
La banda nos visita |
2007 |
|