Saturday, December 11, 2010

seems we have met before

Most evenings, I have the TV set to Turner Classic Movies.  Last night Babes in Arms, 1939, was playing. I wasn't especially interested, but I left it on in the background, while I was puttering at other things, until the song "Where or When" jumped out and grabbed me. Of course, I've heard the song, but never paid much attention. I had to Google the lyrics. It's a gorgeous song, the words by Lorenz Hart and music by Richard Rodgers. I woke up this morning with the melody playing in my head, in stereophonic glory.

Their musical, Babes in Arms,1937, opened on Broadway at the Shubert Theatre on April 14, 1937. The film version, released in 1939, starred Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney. It was directed by Busby Berkeley, and is about a teen-age boy who puts on a show with his friends to avoid being sent to a work farm.



VERSE

Sometimes you think you've lived before
All that you live today
Things you do come back to you
As though they knew the way
Oh, the tricks your mind can play.

REFRAIN

It seems we stood and talked like this before
we looked at each other in the same way then,
But I can't remember where or when.
The clothes you're wearing are the clothes you wore.
The smile you are smiling you were smiling then,
But I can't remember where or when.

Some things that happend for the first time,
Seem to be happening again.
And so it seems that we have met before
and laughed before
and loved before,
But who knows where or when.


I couldn't find a video clip of Judy Garland singing the entire song from the movie, but being the old fashioned girl, I happen to adore Mario Lanza's version from December, 1951. It makes me weak in the knees.


But, just in case Lanza isn't exactly your cup of musical tea, I'm also including a great current rendition by Diana Krull. The song is brilliantly timeless.

64 comments:

  1. In almost every Garland/Rooney movie, they 'put on a show'. Great stuff; I never tire of them. Beautiful song too.

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  2. I'm not a huge Krall fan - I have NO idea why - but I like this rendition of the song a lot. It's very soothing...

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  3. One of my all time favorite songs. I have a version of that song sung by Mandy Patinkin. Unfortunately I don't see it on You Tube...

    Rick

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  4. Thank you for reminding me of this beautiful song....never knew it came from that musical/movie.

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  5. I've always loved the song, I love all renditions, and I love Diana Krall. As most men would say, I think, what's not to love?

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  6. Bug, I'm not a Krall fan, either. In fact, I think she has a rather non-voice. But, wanted to include a more up to date version. It really is a timeless piece.

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  7. a beautiful song. i've always loved Mario Lanza who was quite popular when i was a kid.

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  8. That is such a beautiful song...and with Kralls husky style it is perfection:)

    cheers

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  9. Definitely not a Krall fan. I like the Harry Connick Jr. version. The Patinkin version is ok, I just don't think the song lends itself to the heavy tremolo of his voice.

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  10. Lovely post. Just a nice pause. Thanks

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  11. I adore Diana Krall. She makes me swoon! This song reminds me of the movie When Harry Met Sally. I have the soundtrack with Harry Connick's version - which I think tops all these.

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  12. Rick and George, now I'm curious to hear the Patinkin version. I'm a huge opera fan, so I'm sure that's why I'm partial to Lanza's rendition.

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  13. Lanza knocked it out of the
    park, of course, but the song
    is a ballad, and he never was
    a ballad singer. As a kid,
    his old chestnut was sung
    by Perry Como, Eddie Fisher
    I think, Sinatra maybe on one
    of his hundred albums.
    Personally I would love
    to hear it sung by a non-singer
    like Leonard Cohen, or Tom
    Waits, or Dexter Gordon.
    The lyrics are luscious, almost
    new age with their timelessness
    and suggestion of deju vu and
    parallel or repetitive lives.
    A wonderful way to start my day!.

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  14. Oh I do love this song. I'm at work - I wonder if I should crank up the volume and treat my colleagues to Krall's version? :-)

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  15. I think Patinkin's version is on his "Experiment" album. That album was a bit of a let down from his self-titled first album.

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  16. What a treat! Sad to look at those two young fresh faces, just starting out, so talented, and all of what lay ahead still waiting. Love Diana Krall singing it too, hadnt heard her do that number before. Thanks so much!

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  17. Tess, the Patinkin version is from his album "Experiment". I had to dig through my CDs......

    Rick

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  18. I love the Diana Krall version. Love her voice.

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  19. Willow,
    I'm a great fan of Mario Lanza and I love Diana Krull.
    As I read the lyrics
    I was struck with a feeling of déjà vu all over again. ;)
    rel

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  20. Ah, beautiful, brings tears of joy every time.
    Thanks for digging these up and presenting them to us. A great present!

    Happy Holidays.

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  21. I love the lyrics. So many times we feel like we've known someone or done something before because they seem so familiar. It must be the in the genetic DNA somehow : )

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  22. I remember watching this movie on a Saturday morning when I was little like it was yesterday. Everyone else wanted cartoons but I was glued to the old black/whites. I'd like to see it again. I've been a Connick fan for decades but am now intrigued to hear Patinkin's version.

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  23. Ah yes, a wonderful reminder of a great song. Mario or Diana, bot give beautiful interpretations.

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  24. My favourite comes on tonight!!
    The Man Who Came to Dinner!!
    We love Monty Wooley here!

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  25. Doesn't Mario Lanza make every girl weak in the knees?

    It's a beautiful song, and Garland/Rooney were so much fun together. I am so grateful to TCM for having all those great movies available without commercials!

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  26. Margaret, TCM is a delicious treat.

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  27. seems nothing can beat the old b/w films and the great Garland -- like getting lost for hours in another time and place . . .

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  28. Kelly, yes, like time travel. They're magical.

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  29. Oh, I LOVE this song, and I never heard all three of these to compare them all--each is beautiful. It's a tear jerker, isn't it? Just touching. Thanks--I love these.

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  30. seems i've heard that song before--can't remember where or when--i wonder if kermit and miss piggy sang it?

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  31. Easily the most beautiful song about the feeling of déjà vu ever!

    Thank you! :-)

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  32. I seem to remember hearing this song when I was a kid. Hearing it again brings back happy memories. Oh, and I love Judy Garland's doe eyes!

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  33. I loved the Krall version! I might have to ask a couple people for that cd for Christmas...

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  34. I raise my hand for Krall's interpretation.

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  35. Wonderful stuff, both. Many thanks.

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  36. Not much of a Rooney/Garland Movie fan.....BUT....a huge fan of Rodgers and Hart! I adore this song..... oh yes...

    Thanks for the memories! (Ha-ha!)

    Love,

    ♥ Robin ♥

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  37. Beautiful song, Willow. I always love reading what you have to share. Hope all is well at the manor.

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  39. I love this song. I think Edward Woodward did a version - not sure. I wonder if Michael Buble has done it.

    I like Lanza's version very much but then again, I just love the song!

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  40. Thanks Tess. Even if Mario Lanza was short, I still love him. Remember his voice in "The Stupid/Student Prince? Have you heard his 'Guardian Angels Around my Bed?
    I have had that experience a couple of times in my life and the song always takes me back to those precious moments.

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  41. thank you for sharing this. it is a wonderful song. as my wife just said, "that's when they use to really write musics to be sung."

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  42. The Garland voice and stage presence - even with weakened vocal chords near the end of her life - fascinate me. Rooney had his place in movie history, but I don't think he stands up to the test of time. Enjoy the band with Krall - found I didn't have much patience with her voice. What's not to love about Lanza but LOVE Patinkin in whatever he does. Will have to get a hold of this song by him.

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  43. What a lovely post of memories, Tess.
    I have a version by Tony Bennett on vinyl that is knock-out too!

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  44. A true classic, that can be sung by so many people in different ways.

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  45. I'm happy to listen to Lanza anytime and Judy! Great song.

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  47. The Krall version gets my vote on this one.

    I saw that movie was on, but flipped on past. Now I wish I'd left it on.

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  48. I'm with R. Burnett Baker - Mandy Patinkin's version is wonderful!

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  49. Babes In Arms was my senior class play in high school..what memories :)

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  50. Give a listen to Peggy Lee's version of Where or When ... she sang it with the Benny Goodman band (on the album, "In the Beginning").
    I've listened to dozens of interpretations of the song and I always return to Lee's as my favorite.

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  51. The Peggy Lee version, with the Benny Goodman Trio, is wonderful, too. It seems as if she is speaking directly to you.

    It's available on YouTube.

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  52. I read this yesterday while at work and couldn't respond but have had this beautiful song in my head since then. Had to come back and tell you how much I loved this post.
    Love that header, too.

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  53. Those were the days - they don;t make songs like that any more.

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  54. I've heard recordings of Krall in better voice (very few could be as pure as Judy Garland), but I love her interpretation of the song as a Beguine. Thank you for this!

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  55. Thank you!! Love coming here! Hope you're having a great weekend!

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  56. A perfect song. Richard Rogers and Lorenz Hart had their ups and downs and really hated each other but what great songs they wrote together.

    I must rifle through my CDs now because I think Julie London recorded this song ...

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  57. One of my all time favorite songs!
    :)The Bach
    (Lord Thomas of Wellington)

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  58. I enjoyed all the versions of this beautiful song and now I want to find the Peggy Lee version, too. Thank you!

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  59. Love that you posted three versions of the song! Wonderful! Thank you! Perfect for my Sunday morning:)

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  60. Best Holiday Wishes, Willow. Love that wintery header/banner image!

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  61. Oh Willow, do I hear detect an air of Christmas romance at the Manor?!
    Millie ^_^

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  62. lovely--I am humming as I write!

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  63. Your post inspired me last week, mainly the title, "seems we have met before". I wrote a piece around that sentence titled 'Old friends". Take a read :-) http://www.workspacewritings.com/2010/12/old-friends.html

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Inject a few raisins of conversation into the tasteless dough of existence.
― O. Henry (and me)