Cole Porter - You're the Top - A Visual Guide

[rolandrog]

You're the top and I'm the bottom but without the meat in the middle, there wouldn't be a sandwich!

[whiteorangez]

Your The Tops People!

[Hawbitten]

Bioshock brought me here. Now I think I'm in love with Cole porter.

[irinka94]

thanks!

[VannDL]

No, you're the top Cole Porter

[mommacat25]

Nice job, Bob.



[Ezekiel199]

I was down at the Waldorf=Astoria today, and Cole Porter's piano still sits in the lobby there. A gold plaque on it says something like, "Some of the greatest music of the 20th century was produced on this piano by Cole Porter, Waldorf Resident (1933-1964) :)

[followthefleet1]

You made a needed contribution by posting the digitally enhanced version. I've heard only the much scratchier recording of Porter singing his song. I didn't know the story of its composition on a Rhine Cruise either. What a talent. But along with this talent is his human touch, and his empathetic understanding of the times he lived.

[TheMilagros59]

wonder magnificat

[soulet303]

Best Video Ever. Period.

[fenderperry]

One person is at the bottom.

[MrSwifts31]

I have never enjoyed "You're the Top" so much before!

I knew most of the references before,but it made it so much more pleasant to see them whilst listening to the lyrics.

What a genius Porter was with rhymes,almost as good as you with the images!

BTW Porter was one of the few composers that also wrote their own lyrics.

[MrsHarryStreet]

It's from Bioshock too!!!!

[travisbickle113]

A great song and a great job with the photos.

[klrietmann]

Thanks - that's not half bad. I always read that Porter was a mediocre pianist, maybe that was true after his riding accident.  Here he's more than serviceable, and like you say, his joie de vivre is very much to the fore here.

[MrGemod]

im 12 and i LOVE old music. especially cole porter and the inkspots

[RayButchPerry]

Cole Porter's just great. This song never loses it's charm. I wonder how many young people todays get references like "Your the pants on a Roxie usher?

[vicentcor]

Thanks for taking the time to produce a very nice and didactic video. Congratulations!

[zimnochmusic]

Wow! Now these are definitely the right changes!

[dabigdikdangler]

He wrote the hell out of that song. I wonder how long it took to come up with all that?

[cha5]

I'm going up to N.Y.C. to see the new Broadway revival of Anything Goes with Joel Grey in it, I've heard he's superb.

[Missing000Heart44354]

i love this song. (Disliked the play, but loved the song).  Every time i play this song it just gets me so happy.

[Kredeidi]

@AlexHeartsPorter guess we're the top

[decca003]

@MakeupJunkie4 the song was written for the 1934 production "anything goes"

[sandygrayhkg]

Nobodies loosin' here ok . it's win all round or not at all:)

[sil3nt5nypr1337]

I simply love the 20s, especially the jazz! I don't understand why no one likes it as much, I mean, I personally think its much better than most modern-day music.

[MsPeperonata]

I too was led to this by Russell Davies on the BBC last night (16 Jan 2011). He said "every time in this famous list song that Porter's acidulous voice itemises something ... an image of that thing is briefly shown and it's quite a silly experience to live through once or twice ... as Uncle Cole rumbles along at the keyboard, the verse at the start goes by with only a picture of Porter to sustain us ... it's in the chorus that the list gets going.

[ShutThatDoor]

This video was mentioned on BBC Radio 2's excellent programme from Russell Davies. Listen Again on the BBC IPlayer for the reference, it's at 0:41.35 in.

[jenRWfan]

May have been your vid that got a mention on BBC Radio 2 last night, 16th jan I Had to come take a look !

[maxreger100]

He's sings wonderfully! Great diction, pizazz and style. A bit like Fred Astaire--not a beautiful voice, but SO, SO rhythmic and musical.

[doodl3bugg13]

Haha, the "worthless check" was funny. :)

[zelig46]

Cole Porter è più sofisticato musicalmente di George Gershwin.

[BlandBoy]

Thumbs up to this, very good song by one of the best writers.

Pictures nicely done.

[adriennedesign]

lovely

[bsgs98]

Thank you! This video is the "Top." Wonderful collection of images that fit the lyric so well, and superb editing!

[Kalirain]

They don't make music like this anymore! Anyone remember Hawkeye singing this?

[greatdaibutsu]

Apologies! Friend's computer was set for headphones. Sounds great now.

[greatdaibutsu]

no sound

[bobtoomey]

@greatdaibutsu Sounds fine to me. Try again.  It's a lovely piece.

[PrikoChan]

I listened to so much anything goes as a kid {WHY DID WE LOSE THE CD?!}

I had all but forgotten but..... video games.... except not I'm fifteen and I KNOW delovely isn't a word ;D

love ya, cole porter~

[McGarvinStudios]

Thanks, I have to sing this song for one of my classes and the pictures oddly help me memorize the lyrics!

[Arkelk2010]

Good execution of a neat idea.

[xZippy38]

♫ But if baby, I'm the Plasmid, you're the EVE. ♫

[wsimpson100]

Such a great song with the cleverest of lyric. Popular music with clever words, and hardly any repetition. The music uses such great melodies , and everchanging jazz chords. Also great , 'Night and Day'

Wendy Simpson

[bjbinmke]

He didn't mention the dog.

[bamacarol]

A great example of putting photos to a song... delightful and delovely....

[RayButchPerry]

Smart.

[arkady116]

Always loved this song since I heard it playing on the radio in the fallout 3 mod ''more where that came from''. Thanks I didnt understand some of the refrences but I loved the song anyway :).

[markstar777]

LIKE IT ?

I FUCKING LOVE IT

[classicvinylbiz]

Ginny Simms with the Royale Orchestra, late 1940s - You're the Top:

watch?v=c6MgxOGD8_8

thanks and regards, david

[quintanarocks]

I don't know why I get such a kick out of this song, but I do.

[RayButchPerry]

I feel really old because I get all of the references. But then I am a Ph.D.

RayButchPerry

[1940semochild]

@RayButchPerry Im 21 and I got the refrences. What does that make me?

[coolkid1234533]

@1940semochild I'm 16 and I got the refrences. I guess I'm old too.

[llanto75]

i sung this on my mom's 90th B-D,but changed some of the wordings,liked you're an angel shinning in night,you're evita peron,you're crispy chitcharron,you're my mother teresa[thank you mom],you're a beautiful filipina.

[Jenniferde2007]

I love this song--Thanks Cole!

[mmeibos]

I think i was born n the wrong age... I should've been there when he actually sang this... I love this :)

[BuckshotLaFunke]

One of the few dandies the USA have produced.

[ishouldplayzelda]

cole porter is awesome!

[katandbaby]

this is fab, and i hadnt seen that particular photo of fred astaire before!

[buddmar]

Great images! Well done!

[LoudSoda]

Man this is amazing music. Wish song now where some thing like this. Instead of Drugs and blow jobs. But modern day suck. I wish i was born 50 years earlier. it would be october 19 1945

[177hender]

The many topical references locate this song in a time and place. Interesting to note that the "nimble thread of Fred Astaire's dancing feet" has lasted longer than the nose on the great Durante and cellophane as something great.

[ivelosthewilltolive]

Sensational, really well done.

[Morahman7vnNo2]

Maybe for 1:11 you could have put a still shoot from the original 1968 "The Producer."

[bobtoomey]

Hi, @Morahman7vnNo2

Interesting suggestion. You're referring to Mel Brooks' "The Producers," a very funny movie where a couple of dudes set out to deliberately produce a Broadway flop. And it's true that Porter mentions that he's a flop at that point in the video. But that doesn't quite fit in with what I was doing here. When Porter names an object, I illustrate it. But when he sings about himself, I show a picture of Porter, and that's what happens here. But thanks for watching.

[Morahman7vnNo2]

@bobtoomey Ah ha! Yes, now I understand your balancing technique, well done.

[TroyDowling4]

@bobtoomey Fantastic! Absolutely fantastic. Thank you!

[nelly7412]

@bobtoomey Y like the video very much. Y used it in order to help my childrens when Y teach them how to pronuce in English. And also they re travel thanks for the illustration. nelly 7412

[tjerked]

i really like this song and the visiual guide makes it even cooler

[JohnnyLeyenda]

Thanks so MUCH for the visual guide :P

I LOVE this song. It always makes me smile, and I can't get bored of it.

Now some people in the comments like to fight about things that have nothing to do with the song, but that's not gonna ruin it for me.

Mr. Porter was awesome.

[itismine100]

@JohnnyLeyenda , yes, he was a genius, full of life and did not live a dull life like most of the people I know.

Sue

[Foothilldan1]

@itismine100 lol. Fucking Sue.

[Mr99BOXER]

Terrific Video! What excellent visuals for this song! Wunderbar! Sehr, sehr gut !!!

Auf wiedersehen !

[TheKirk15]

What should being gay have to do with anything? It's a legendary song, and should be enjoyed, gay or otherwise.

[tommyshamrock]

Fascinating and educational , doffage to you sir.

[katandbaby]

first time ive heard the complete version, never been able to find it before, thanks very much for sharing :-)

[jkholtgreve]

His voice is endearing because he's so obviously gay; I'm truly surprised anyone ever considered him "closeted". Not to mention the lyrics, which have to be among the gayest in recorded history. I've read that the original had Mussolini in it (as he was a bit of a hero to the then-commie/socialist majority in Hollywood), but this version doesn't seem to survive in any recorded form.

[sukneh]

Porter was an outlier in the mostly Jewish and very heterosexual Tin Pan Alley crowd. His background, ironically, was far more representative of the country's population than the contemporary New York composer crowd. To keep this in perspective, Copeland was queer and Communist, but wrote what is widely considered the most quintisentially American music. So, I wonder about the alleged connection between personal hehavior and cultural contribution

[SmilingJack100]

Um, dude, fail, mussolini was a fascist, you know, the EXACT OPPOSITE of communism and socialism, you sir, fail.

*FAIL*

[SmilingJack100]

Secondly, the mussolini version was made after it was changed by a british composer because it was a more recognizable name to an english audience and it rhymed with "Mrs. Sweeny, another nbame more recognizable to the british"

[fieldsfan1]

How'd you get this his vocals without the Vince G. music? I'd really like to have that!

[Nkerklaan]

I actually really like his voice... I'm not quite sure what it is about it.... maybe it is just the sense that he's clearly enjoying himself.

[ElNick09]

What a great slide show to accompany this! Cole Porter really was a gem, still recognizable today.

[drxl44]

I agree about the visuals ... brilliantly done!

Great lyrics, too.

[caleellis]

i love lots of thing in current culture but the music o my god its a piece of shit. i mean the audio quaility in this song like the fuzzyness of it is what makes it awsome and the piano. "But if baby I'm the bottom you're the top!"

[DeathPonies]

@caleellis I couldn't agree more!

[followthefleet1]

The video really works with the music. A good idea well done. And the recording has more clarity than other versions on u-tube. It also shows just how clever, and intellectually far ranging, a lyricist, Porter was.

[royefarol]

this is great!

[jamarsano]

This is my favourite video - absolutely brilliant!

[charlottefayuca]

This is beautiful; thank you!!...

[Gangsterd00d]

im 9 years old and like this

[larrylofquist]

I'm sure Cole Porter himself would have enjoyed this "visual guide." It really helps us appreciate the genius of this lyrist / composer. Deserving of wider recognition.

[george77772moons]

interesting song; porter made some really creative and clever analogies, but every1 I know would take "mickey mouse" as an insult after they; still a rlly good song; 5/5

[ImGodOfCanada]

I liked the turkey dinner LOL

[Faint26]

I love this song! I dedicated it to my girlfriend haha. People think im weird for listening to oldies because im only 20 but I love this stuff

[dougd1015]

Ha, I beet you by another 4 years.

[tjerked]

@Faint26 people think the same of me only for being 16

[heeder200]

Super post and thanks for the very detailed background info!

[derfrekahtoot]

The slide show was great for young people who do not understand the references!

[LoudSoda]

@derfrekahtoot

Yeah im 14 and i get 80% of these references and 100% of "Anything Goes". But people say i have a old Soul.

[Octivated]

@derfrekahtoot like me

[MrGemod]

@derfrekahtoot im 12 and i LOVE old music. especially cole porter and the inkspots