What a year. The road got rocky but the trip was worth it. One lesson I re-learned and wish to pass on is this: Make the people in your life who are significant feel significant. Let your loved ones know they are loved -- even if they occasionally work your last good nerve. Make a call, send a note, give a hug...whatever. If there are folks who don't make you feel significant or loved -- move on. Gain the strength to be kind. Now let's have some music that's perfect for this weekend.
"What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?" was written by Frank Loesser, the man who gave us the terrific classic Broadway score to GUYS AND DOLLS. Here, it's sung by Margaret Whiting. She was a very popular recording star of the 1940s & 50s. I've got some movie trivia. Margaret and Judy Garland were pals in the 40s. In the 60s, Judy was hired to play a veteran Broadway musical star in the film version of VALLEY OF THE DOLLS. She pre-recorded a song written for her to do. Judy was fired and replaced by Susan Hayward. Margaret Whiting dubbed Hayward's singing voice doing the song originally written for Judy.
Irving Berlin won a Best Song Oscar for "White Christmas." Bing Crosby introduced it in Paramount's hit 1942 musical comedy, HOLIDAY INN, co-starring Fred Astaire. The movie is full of music by Berlin. Here's another one he wrote for Bing to sing. Fred dances with Marjorie Reynolds.
Songwriters John Kander and Fred Ebb wrote songs for Liza Minnelli to introduce in a Martin Scorsese movie. The movie was 1977's NEW YORK, NEW YORK co-starring Robert De Niro. She played a former big band singer who becomes a top Hollywood movie star. On her way to that stardom, she marries and divorces an abusive musician. Liza sings the title tune, a tune that went on to become enormously popular -- especially in New York.
Every year, when the Times Square ball drops to bring in the new year, ABC TV always plays the Frank Sinatra cover of the song which landed in many jukeboxes. However ... Frank flubbed a lyric line or two. Here's Liza in Scorsese's film introducing the song and getting all the lyrics correct.
Hard to believe this tune did not get a Best Song Oscar nomination. The Oscar winner for that year was "You Light Up My Life." Here's Liza in NEW YORK, NEW YORK.
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