[Publius]

THE GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK

JEROME KERN

CAN’T HELP SINGING

Deanna Durbin is almost forgotten today. She started singing in movies in her teens but saw her career plummet due a combination of changing styles and Judy Garland’s rapidly rising star at MGM. This 1944 Technicolor musical was a combination comedy, Western and musical, and it was the most expensive film Universal had made up to that point. Jerome teamed with lyricist E. Y. “Yip” Harburg for the songs.

”CAN’T HELP SINGING”

From the beginning you can hear why Deanna’s style was wearing thin by the Forties. Her background is operatic, much like Irene Dunne’s, nurtured in the world that preceded electric recording. Thanks to the Big Bands and electric recording, Judy Garland’s pop-based style was becoming the rage. But Deanna hits that high A-flat squarely at the end, and you have to respect her vocal chops. This is a clip from the film.

Deanna Durbin: “Can’t Help Singing”

[left that other site]

A high A flat is nothing to sneeze at!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, Publius, for sharing more of Jerome Kern from The Great American Songbook...((HUGS))

In high school my Mom was in the orchestra (cello) for Deanna Durbin’s movie, That Certain Age.