"Puttin' On the Ritz" - history, facts, covers

Everyone has heard this lively song. In our country it was introduced thanks to the program "Morning Post"Later it became firmly associated with the name of our president, in jest rather than in earnest.

In "Puttin' On the Ritz" There really isn't a hint of Vladimir Putin, and it's a 1920s jazz standard! And yes: one of those compositions whose relevance has not been exhausted after a century...

The song becomes a jazz standard and enters the hearts of listeners

Today almost everyone knows this song - from small to large. At different times. "Puttin' On the Ritz" The song was played in such popular movies as "Alvin and the Chipmunks" and "Family Guy," and even today it actively travels on the radio waves. But the composition appeared as far back as the 1920s! It was written by Irving Berlin - American composer who was born in the Russian Empire! In the 1890s his family left Tobolsk for New York. It was there that Irving announced himself as a talented composer. But that's all a preface.

So: Irving wrote the future hit song in 1927, at the age of almost 40. The song was published two years later, but it was quickly picked up and released. Already in the early 1930s it had gained fans thanks to the picture "My money's on the Ritz.". But the true success came after the work was performed Fred Astaire. His version made the tune a jazz standard, and the title has not been erased by the passage of time - on the contrary, it has only grown stronger with each decade.

Taco, whose version became a big worldwide hit

"Puttin' On the Ritz" The song has been performed so many times that the exact number of interpretations, alas, cannot be counted. But one cover overshadowed all versions - and it belongs to the Dutch pop singer Taco Okesi! The future star was born in 1955 in Indonesia. He grew up in Germany, where he started dancing and acting. When Taco started performing in clubs, he focused on image: he invariably went on stage in glamorous classic costumes and performed American dance classics. His entire repertoire was nothing but covers. But what a...

We don't know if Taco placed any bets on this song, but shortly after "Puttin' On the Ritz" came out on his debut album, it became big hit on the radio! The old jazz standard reached the top 5 of the Billboard Hot 100, but was also recognized as one of the worst songs of the 1980s by Rolling Stone. Oakesy himself became famous as one hit performer.

To a large extent, the frenzied popularity was due to the upbeat music video, which was actively played on MTV. However, it was not without scandals. A lot of people didn't like "black faces" in the frame - well, really, this is, after all, "a song about luxury and glamour, a Hollywood anthem, etc." Anyway, the situation was handled by using Gary Cooper masks on the dancers. But the American aristocracy, of course, was left with a residue. Well...

What's the point, and how "Puttin' On the Ritz" became the anthem of Hollywood stars

To understand why this song means so much to America's white rich, let's explore its meaning. The expression "Puttin' On the Ritz" instantly became a catchphrase. It was firmly associated with Hollywood stars, for the phrase translates as "Dress like Ritz."That is to say "Dress rich.". Ritz-Carlton - a chain of luxury hotels, where the cream of society - in particular, Hollywood actors, who had a lot of money! They were, of course, dressed to their hearts' content. So much for the song idea!

"Dressed like an actor worth a million dollars.
I try my best to look like Gary Cooper.
(just super).
Let's go mingle with the Rockefellers, who
Walking with gloves and canes or umbrellas.
Dressed very fashionably..."

Remarkably, the lyrics of the song changed after World War II. If originally it still mentioned poor people spending their last money on expensive clothes, in the updated version there was no mention of them. Only chic, only rich people from New York.

The most successful versions

Despite the fact that the rhythmic pattern of "Puttin' On the Ritz" is considered one of the most difficult in history, few people stop it on the way to their own interpretation. As a final treat, here's one for you the most successful and interesting versions a Hollywood hit that has been performed for decades by almost everyone from Michael Jackson to Philip Kirkorov!