Crooner Culture

According to a poll started Jan. 4th, and run on this site through today, Jan. 24th, 15 voters determined that Michael Buble has a better voice, hands down, over Bing Crosby given all other things considered. While I’m in agreement, in a way, I’m kind of surprised at that answer!
New poll is up on the sidebar: Does Harry Connick, Jr. truly deserve the nickname “Vice Chairman of The Board”? (see this post)

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Okay, so my first crooner week experiment probably shouldn’t have been on Bing Crosby. I mean, sure, I found that restaurant link, and some old videos on YouTube, but for the most part, he was a great performer on screen and stage, and had an amazing vocal talent. But when it comes to recordings, or finding mp3s to put up here, it’s pretty much either “White Christmas” or “Little Drummer Boy” with David Bowie.
Why are there not more albums around to post samples/music clips?
Why are there not more clips from movies? He was in at least 30 or 40 films…
Why …read more

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I thought I’d put a little collection of Bing Crosby videos from YouTube together here for your viewing pleasure, my dear readers! He was no doubt one heck of an entertainer, and it seems to me that the stars around him just shone brighter because of it, don’t you? Check ‘em out after the jump…

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I figured I’d post a collection of links and information around the web about Bing Crosby today as part of the very first Crooner Culture Crooner Week featuring Bing Crosby.

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Did you know that there is a Bing Crosby’s Restaurant? I didn’t! There’s a piano lounge, country club (dues are $125/year), and private dining, and right now you can enter to win a dinner for four for free by entering your name and email (subscribing to their newsletter)! They’re currently located in Walnut Creek and Rancho Mirage, California, with a third location to open in San Diego sometime this year. “Cool and hip never go out of style.” is the restaurant’s motto, and

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Okay, so I’m starting Bing Crosby week a day early today. (From now on, Crooner Weeks will start on Mondays.)
Bing sings “Moonlight Becomes You” in the film “Road To Morocco“, featuring Bob Hope, Dorothy Lamour, and Anthony Quinn.
One reviewer says:
“Road to Morocco, number three in the series of breezy comedies teaming Bing Crosby and Bob Hope, may be the funniest of the bunch. Bing and Bob find themselves Morocco-bound (“like Webster’s dictionary”), caught in an elaborately faked-up world of harems, palm trees, and other Arabian Nights bric-a-brac. Naturally, Dorothy Lamour is also there, as she was the customary target of …read more

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Reader Tom sends:
Hi Lara
Just found your great little website, today!!
If all things were equal with regard to their respective ages, looks, personalities, who has the best voice…Bing or Michael Buble?
Regards
TOM

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As part of b5media’s music channel list project, our theme this time around is “Top 10 artists/bands to invite to the holiday office party” and of course, I’m going to list crooners! This has to be one of those “alive or dead” things for this category, but here we go:
10. Marilyn Monroe – Yes, she’s a female crooner, and oh man, you can’t help but imagine she’d be a blast at a holiday party, maybe even drinking a Royal Stretch. I have a feeling she’d likely be the one making photocopies of her butt on the xerox machine, but what …read more

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From the movie “Holiday Inn” with Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, and Virginia Dale

Lyrics (less the buh-bu-bo-bom’s and scatting)
“I’ll Capture Your Heart”
[FRED:] Here she comes, down the street
[BING:] My, oh my, ain’t she sweet?
[FRED:] Why, here comes my hot toddy
[BING:] Over my dead body
[BING:] I’ll capture her heart singing
[FRED:] Just wait until she gets a load of my dancing
[BING:] Just wait till I start singing
[FRED:] I’ll take her strolling down the road with my dancing
[BING:]
I can’t go wrong, a tender song and she’ll discover my charms
[FRED:]
Some fancy taps and she’ll collapse and fall right into my arms
[BING:] I’ll capture her heart …read more

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Two totally classic voices – undeniable in identity. Gotta love this!
Bing Crosby & Louis Armstrong – “Now You Have Jazz” video

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