Sing Books with Emily, the Blog

Easter Parade
Words and Music by Irving Berlin
Illustrated by Lisa McCue

This is a cute book illustration a wonderful song from one of the great American Movie Musicals by one of America’s great songwriters, Irving Berlin.  The MGM movie premiered in 1948, starring Judy Garland and Fred Astaire (among other wonderful performers).

It is a treat when Singable Picture Books include song introductions.  Most recordings do not include these introductions (which often so nicely set up the song that people know and love), but having the lyrics written into the book makes it extra special.

This is a YouTube clip of the song from the movie, sung by Judy Garland and Fred Astaire, and includes the song introduction.  You can use it to sing along with the book!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tFkVIG3slo

You can also enjoy singing along with Gene Austin who recorded this song in the 1930′s:
http://www.amazon.com/Easter-Parade/dp/B00138ION8/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1271860047&sr=8-3-fkmr0

Gene Austin’s “Easter Parade” vocal on YouTube:

**********************

Irving Berlin originally wrote “Easter Parade” in the 1930′s when the song was featured in the musical “And Thousands Cheer.”

The song was sung by Bing Crosby in the 1942 movie musical “Holiday Inn” before inspiring a the full length movie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcZWvjbSw7o

Read an informative blog about the song, “Easter Parade”: http://hummingadifferenttune.blogspot.com/2009/04/irving-berlin-easter-parade.html.
This article includes song clips, too.

Read an interesting wiki article about Easter Parade, the movie musical: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter_Parade_(film)

Read a short history about the real Easter Parade down Fifth Avenue in NYC: http://www.midmanhattan.com/articles/aEaster03.htm

**********************

EASTER PARADE
Words and Music by Irving Berlin

Never saw you look quite so pretty before
Never saw you dressed quite so lovely what’s more
I could hardly wait to keep our date this lovely Easter morning
And my heart beat fast as I came through the door

For, in your Easter bonnet, with all the frills upon it
You’ll be the grandest lady in the Easter parade

I’ll be all in clover and when they look you over
I’ll be the proudest fellow in the Easter parade

On the Avenue
Fifth Avenue
The photographers will snap us
And you’ll find that you’re
In the rotogravure

Oh, I could write a sonnet about your Easter bonnet
And of the girl I’m taking to the Easter parade.

**********************

VOCABULARY!
“Rotogravure” is a kind of printing process that was used to print photographs in the newspaper.

**********************

Read a terrific biography of Irving Berlin here:
http://parlorsongs.com/bios/berlin/iberlin.php

The GREAT Irving Berlin

**********************
2/9/2012
CBS Sunday Morning is one of my TOP favorite TV shows (hint: watch it on TiVo to skip the commercials).

I just watched our TiVo recording of the Sunday, April 8, 2012, CBS Sunday Morning episode with tears bubbling into my eyes with joy over things like the one handed major league pitcher Jim Abbott and the Eastern European craftsman that makes gorgeous art out of egg shells.

Then Charles Osgood appeared at the keys of a grand piano and presented a little tid-bit about one of my favorite Singable Picture Book songs, EASTER PARADE.

Turns out that Irving Berlin used a tune for his song “Easter Parade” that he’d originally written for the song “Smile and Show Your Dimple,”

SMILE AND SHOW YOUR DIMPLE
Words and Music by Irving Berlin 

Little girlie, you look sad
I’m afraid you’re feeling bad
Because he’s leaving
But stop your grieving, little girl
He don’t want you to feel blue
For it’s not the thing to do
It will soon be over
Then he’ll come marching back to you

Smile and show your dimple
You’ll find it’s very simple
You can think of something comical
In a very little while
Chase away the wrinkle
Sprinkle just a twinkle
Light your face up
Just brace up and smile

Little girlie, don’t you know
That your pearly teeth will show
If you start smiling
So keep on smiling, little girl
You can cut your cares in half
If you only try to laugh
Look into my cam’ra
I’m goin’ to take your photograph

Smile and show your dimple
You’ll find it’s very simple
You can think of something comical
In a very little while
Chase away the wrinkle
Sprinkle just a twinkle
Light your face up
Just brace up and smile

***********

A video for a 1918 phonograph recording of Sam Ash singing, “Smile and Show Your Dimple,” here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bAIEIWYBYc

A video of a player piano playing, “Smile and Show Your Dimple,” here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cuhgk5rVYwM

***********

From my Alama Mater Indiana University, you can download the original sheet music for, “Smile and Show Your Dimple”:
http://webapp1.dlib.indiana.edu/inharmony/detail.do?action=detail&fullItemID=/lilly/devincent/LL-SDV-013022

***********

**********************
Related Posts

*
EASTER
A list of Singable Picture Books that celebrate the Easter
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2011/04/20/singable-picture-books-for-easter/

*
EASTER PARADE, A SINGABLE PICTURE BOOK
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2010/04/26/easter-parade-a-singable-book/