June 19, 2020Blog, Uncategorized Show In this episode, we discuss the racist background of the 1983’s Puttin’ on the Ritz. While it was something of a novelty song when Dutch Indonesian singer Taco Ockerse took it to number 4, it has a long backstory. It was originally written by great American songwriter Irving Berlin in 1927 and popularized by the likes of Clark Gable and Fred Astaire. What was a song from the ’20s doing on the charts in the 1980s? Mel Brooks may have something to do with it. Is Puttin’ on the Ritz Racist?The original Taco video featured dancers inexplicably and terribly wearing blackface (below). It was replaced by a censored version that removed this element. One can only guess what they were thinking — something Jolson related?  What Does it Mean to “Put On the Ritz”?To “put on the Ritz” is to get all gussied up and is a reference to the famed Ritz Hotel in London. So fancy was this hotel that it had crackers named after it. Here’s a look inside the swank: Here’s some interesting background on Berlin, a one-man hit parade. Berlin was hailed as the “King of Tin Pan Alley” (what they called the popular songwriters of the early 20th century). While the version of Puttin’ on the Ritz that Taco recorded is about dressing up nice for a night out on Park Avenue, the original version of the song from the 1930’s was about folks wearing their finery on Lenox Avenue in Harlem, where jazz was hot. Clark Gable (pride of Cadiz, Ohio!) sang the original lyrics in the 1939 film “Idiot’s Delight.” They go: “Spangled gowns upon the bevy of high browns from down the levee” and “that’s where every Lulubelle goes every Thursday evening in her swell clothes, rubbin’ elbows.” “Lulubelle” was slang for a Black maid, and Thursday evening was traditionally the evening off. Have a listen, try not to cringe: I think at this point we’ve answered the question: Yes, Puttin’ on the Ritz is racist, and Taco’s blackface version is most certainly so. Let’s keep digging, shall we? Puttin’ on the Ritz was a hit for Fred Astaire in 1946 when he performed it in the film Blue Skies. Perhaps noting that the original lyrics had not aged well, Berlin changed them, and Astaire sang the “Park Avenue” lines instead. The Return of Puttin’ On the RitzDirector Mel Brooks chose the Fred Astaire version of Puttin’ on the Ritz for his work of brilliance, 1974’s “Young Frankenstein,” and that helped popularize the song again. Perhaps it even reminded a young Taco how catchy it is? Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein paid homage to Puttin’ on the Ritz Recommendations To learn more visit Songfacts.com. Grab a copy of “Even this I Get to Experience” by Brooks’ pal Norman Lear Why not enjoy a slice of delicious mock apple pie with this episode? Find the recipe here. Because even when you can’t find apples, you know everyone loves a Ritz Cracker (especially Harry Styles). Pages: 1 2 Tags: 1983 Photo by Elena Theodoridou on Unsplash When I need cheering up, humming a few bars of Irving Berlin’s “Puttin’ On the Ritz” to myself always does it. It brings
back memories of childhood Saturday afternoons with my grandfather. He was a big fan of Hollywood musicals and the “song and dance men” he’d seen in Glasgow’s music halls as a younger man. Who originally made Puttin on the Ritz?Irving BerlinPuttin' On the Ritz / Composernull
Did Irving Berlin wrote Puttin on the Ritz?Irving BerlinPuttin' On the Ritz / Composernull
Who covered Puttin on the Ritz?The classic Irving Berlin song 'Puttin' On The Ritz', covered by Swedish artist GRANT, is featured as theme song in season two of the Swedish TV series 'Blinded' (Fartblinda). Watch the trailer below.
When did Puttin on the Ritz come out?1982Puttin' On the Ritz / Releasednull
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Who did the original Puttin on the Ritz?
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