Crooner Culture

The Muppet Show – where every celebrity found themselves at some point in time. Jim Henson was a genius, and I was an addict. LOL
In this clip, Gonzo is feeling pretty low after Animal ruins one of his acts. He runs off the stage and into Ms. Horne’s dressing room, bangs his head on the door in despair, and is then consoled by Lena with these words:
“In this world of ordinary people, extraordinary people, I’m glad there is you
In this world of overrated pleasures, underrated treasures, I’m glad there is you…”

Incidentally, this is the song she sang on that episode …read more

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One of my favorite memories of Lena Horne on television was when she was on the 1985 episode of “The Cosby Show”, where Rudy Huxtable asked Lena if she could meet Kermit. What she was referring to was this clip from Classic Sesame Street, where Lena sang the song “It’s Not Easy Being Green” with Kermit. I remember watching this as a kid, and feeling just so sad for Kermit, you know? Sure, I didn’t “get” the whole meaning of the song back then, but it sure as heck related to poor Kermie in my mind.
There’s something about Ms. …read more

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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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Staying with this mood I’m in here… I’m posting “heartsongs” right now. Songs that make me feel like I could’ve written them myself, you know? Here’s the smoky-voiced Norah Jones’ “What Am I To You?” with lyrics posted below.

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Because I’m a sucker for piano, Alicia Keys, and songs that can be torturous to my heart, I’m posting this one by Alicia Keys…

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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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Posting this one for Brian Layman – she look stunning, and I love how she disguised her voice.
On September 29, 1957, John Daly was on vacation, so regular panelist Bennett Cerf filled in as moderator. This clip features Julie London as the mystery guest. The panelists are Dorothy Kilgallen, Ernie Kovacs, Arlene Francis, and Cesar Romero.

Whatever happened to “classy” television like this? I mean, just the other night I heard the word “ass” being thrown around on Family Guy, and yesterday afternoon I was watching some movie on TNT and the censors forgot to blurp (yes, my new word – …read more

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This is one of the finest examples of a female crooner I think anyone could find. Barbara Streisand, a bass, a little piano, a little cymbal, and some horns. Freaking fantastic! From “A Happening in Central Park”.
“Come on! Cry me a river! I cried a river over you!”

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