Taking A Chance On Love - Ethel Waters

[MrHumbles]

Such great lyrics squeezed perfectly into so few syllables per line. Such a beautiful, mournful tune in a major key i dont think anyone has ever wanted to play it fast. I'm bashful, too, because i only just found out now that Vernon Duke was in with Prokofiev and Diaghilev, was a Belorussian, and continually made (reputedly direct and ttuneful) "classical" music under his real name Dukelsky ! Thanks wiki, thanks to you soo much for uploading the original version !

[hazedus]

Ted Fetter is often credited as co-lyricist, but in fact he had written an earlier lyric for this song which Duke had dug out of the proverbial trunk and for which Latouche supplied a new lyric. In his book The American Musical Theatre Song Encyclopedia, Thomas S. Hischak says, “[Duke] and lyricist Ted Fetter had written a number called ‘Fooling Around with Love’ years before, but for the ‘Negro fable’ Cabin in the Sky lyricist John Latouche revised it into the sterling song known today.

[teenabnah]

im just in love with this music...yes..it makes me feel bashful too

[mylearningchannel1]

Did he just MOON WALK at 3:00???

[LoliLoli83]

When entertainment was ENTERTAINMENT!!!!

[Wolverine49456]

I agree, it's a great song sung by a true legend in a wonderful movie

[sdh74]

As part of my introduction to songs on Sunday morning, I am going to whistle as I play the organ before I bring the choir or the soloist . . . #BringinItBack

[ChristophePhilippe]

How much would you pay to have been in that first night audience in 1940?

[upphetsade]

The tap dancer is Bill Bailey.

[ladyjosephinelover]

damn that dude is tap dancin the hell out of that song and ethel has a pretty smile it's so damn big a genuine!

[vmfleming1]

Wish I could go back to days like this....even though I wasn't even close to being born yet! Great skills! Love it!

[middletech]

That third guy looked like a very young Nat King Cole. Who was he?

[devascoyanda]

beautiful



[tbfetter]

LOVE this song.  Of course, I'm biased - my grandfather Ted Fetter wrote the lyrics. But it's such a thoughtful, catchy tune that has stood the test of time.

[odysseetheater]

@tbfetter great that in your family a part of this song was "born".. i know it throughout so many years and was so happy as our broadcasting programm brought this movie somewhere about 2 in the morning.. but it is such a treasure that i opened my exes wide and looked at it... great that youtube can also bring this wonderful parts again, the great ethel..... still wonderful after all the years....

[SirChezarie]

@tbfetter Its a wonderful , hopeful song !

[ginseiron]

Beautiful !

[cubannaked]

She was so sweeeet in this song!

[livvyandlove]

I love her expression at 1:50, it's so... modern... somehow..?

[neaners613]

This makes me wish for a "Love" option.

[begrievingsnow]

this movie was so amazing...i was left speechless, full of those good, even great things you get when in love. and when i hear this song and 'happiness is just a thing called joe', i loose myself to that feelings again. <3

i get all bashful. :D

[ssbbw00]

love listening to these older black singers they sang with feeling and they had great voices I loved this movie a all black cast

[cjprentiss1]

You're right. It is Bill Bailey. In Liza Minnelli's Broadway show, "Minnelli On Minnelli", Liza said that in the early 1940's Hollywood offered her father, director Vincent Minnelli, many incentives to move from Broadway to direct musicals in Hollywood. Most important, they offered him the right to choose his own projects, The very first project Vincent Minnelli chose to direct was the Broadway show, "Cabin In The Sky". Thanks to Liza Minnelli's father, we now have this wonderful movie.

[cjprentiss1]

Who is the male dancer in this scene, along with Ethel Waters and Rochester?

[Wilmalody]

@cjprentiss1

That would be Bill Bailey who performed the first moonwalk ever caught on tape.

Wonderful movie, a groundbreaking production for its time due to the decision to use an all-African-American cast. Just love it!

[78bison]

I would like to see the "new jacks" try to dance like either of these men! (and check out the moonwalk!)

[Juliaflo]

Who could star in a remake of this today?

[78bison]

@Juliaflo  NO ONE! This classic needs to be left alone!

[whines63]

I would love to see a remake, can't see why it has not already been done.

[grenadian11]

@Juliaflo no one could star in a remake. Ethel Waters was so cute; loved her.

[begrievingsnow]

@grenadian11 agreed. i think if there was a remake of this, the film would loose its innocence, its purity.

[Blackjesus3]

i need this dvd

[cheyenne86]

I just love this, she has such a pretty voice

[friendsfamilyaccount]

thank you for posting! I just ordered the DVD of Cabin this morning. I love this!