Gertrude Lawrence sings Gershwin "DO-DO-DO" (1926)

[Shabannie]

I enjoyed your sweet tribute!

--------Ellen 

[iVenge]

I agree with the comments about the tempo being right on this version. For example, Helen Morgan's version is too rushed, and as a result the song loses its weight and depth.

[bsgs98]

@iVenge Gertrude Lawrence recorded this again a year later in London, a duet with her singing partner Harold French and it was noticeably a faster tempo. It was probably much closer to her stage performance, but still slower than Helen Morgan.

[BrOkEnCyDebitchh]

I just realized i dont give a fuck who wrote the tempo. THIS SONG IS AMAZING!!! love it!!

[thechinadesk]

I am a sucker for early Broadway show tunes, sung straight without excess embellishment, preserving the original spirit of the song as written by the composers and lyricists.

Absolutely love it!

[zzenzero]

Thank you for upload and nice collage of pictures.

This is indeed the tempo that Gershwin intended.Rather like the Jolson Swanee debate with his 1924 recording being the intended tempo there.

Gertrude is oozing personality in this song and like Fanny Brice was first and foremost a comedienne.It's rather sweet to hear her going to 'town' here and to have seen her on stage must have been a remarkable experience.

Thanks again,bsgs98 and keep 'do'-ing it.

:)

[bsgs98]

@zzenzero Thanks for your nice remarks. She also recorded this as a duet with Harold French in London. I think he may have co-starred with her in the London production of "Oh, Kay!"

[bigred997]

song is better done in more uptempo- sorry. there are a couple excellent renditions done as such.

[yelanates]

I disagree. This is the intended tempo as written by Gershwin, and I think it fits.

[thechinadesk]

@yelanates

The score of "Do, Do, Do" that I have in front of me reads "moderato grazioso."

I prefer the slower Gertrude Lawrence version of 1926 over the faster Helen Morgan version of 1927.

But both are good. Both honor the original phrasing. Both refrain from "deconstructing" the song.

[yelanates]

@thechinadesk I would consider this recording to be moderato. *shrug*

[thechinadesk]

@yelanates

That was my guess too.

I don't mind the slightly faster Helen Morgan rendition. She merely picked up the pace. She didn't distort the overall shape of the song. She didn't destroy its melodic "spine."

What irks me is singers who go too far in "interpreting" a song. A friend of mine called it the "Mel Torme treatment." Barbra Streisand is often guilty of this.

[claudiojosino2009]

Impecável e imperdível. Música, nos dias atuais, é confundida com ruídos e gritos.

[predlycon]

where did you find this recording? awesome! hey, do you have a recording of gertrude lawrence's rendition of "someone to watch over me" (also from "Oh, Kay!")?

[bsgs98]

I have two versions of Gertrude doing "Someone to Watch Over Me." She did it in New York, 1925, with piano accompaniment and in London, 1927, with orchestral accompaniment. Which do you prefer?

[predlycon]

cool! both would be good. i think that the 1925 recording would be interesting. thanks!

[bsgs98]

I just posted the 1927 London recording. Check my channel. I was mistaken about the 1925 version. It was actually 1926.

[predlycon]

no worries. you have the 1926 recording, too? that would also be nice to hear. thanks!

[predlycon]

i can't wait to hear 1926 recording too :)

[titanicpiano14]

Check out my tribute to Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue on the Rhapsody Steinway!

[valderande]

Thanks a lot for this video. I am a Frenchman and fan of the Gershwin's music, songs etc., since 40 years! This record is very interesting ! I didn't know this version. The voice is so nice and the accompaniment judicious too. (Sorry, my English is perhaps bad....)

[bsgs98]

Gertrude Lawrence was the first to perform this song and I'm am sure she sang with the Gershwins' approval, in her special delightful way.