She's Funny That Way
"She's Funny That Way"[1] or "He's Funny That Way" is a popular song, composed by Neil Moret, with lyrics by Richard Whiting.[2] It was composed for the short film Gems Of M-G-M in 1929 for Marion Harris, though the film was not released until 1931.[1] Harris sang it as "I'm Funny That Way".[3]
A torch song, according to Philip Furia and Michael Lasser, the "song begins self-deprecatingly—'I'm not much to look at, I'm nothing to see'—but "at the end of each chorus, it affirms the lover's good fortune: 'I've got a woman crazy 'bout me, she's funny that way'". They state that it is unusual as the song was written from a man's point of view, whereas most torch songs are written from the female perspective about a man who betrayed or abused the woman.[4]
The song has generally been more covered by female artists as "He's Funny That Way". Thelma Carpenter recorded it in the 1930s at the age of 19, "handling the vocal like a seasoned veteran" according to Dave Oliphant,[5] but it is most associated with Billie Holiday, who first recorded it in 1937.[6] Holiday later featured it on her 1953 album An Evening with Billie Holiday.[7] It was later covered by Mary Osborne with Mary Lou Williams,[8] Etta James for her 2001 album Blue Gardenia[9] and Liza Minnelli.[2]
Other recordings of "She's Funny That Way"
Dick Robertson, tenor, first recorded this tune; on an Edison Record, matrix 52478-R, probably in 1929 which is at the end of Edison Diamond Disc production. Robertson sang with a number of bands including early Benny Goodman orchestras. Actual record.
- Gene Austin - a big hit in 1929.
- Ted Lewis - also popular in 1929.[10]
- Frank Sinatra - recorded on December 19, 1944[11] and later for his album Nice 'n' Easy (1960)
- Bing Crosby recorded the song in 1955[12] for use on his radio show and it was subsequently included in the box set The Bing Crosby CBS Radio Recordings (1954-56) issued by Mosaic Records (catalog MD7-245) in 2009.[13]
- Frankie Laine - included in the album Lovers' Laine (1955).[14]
- Nat King Cole - included in his album The Swingin' Side of Nat King Cole (1962).[15]
- Sammy Davis Jr. recorded in 1962 and included in the compilation CD The Ultimate Rat Pack Collection: Live & Swingin' (2003).
- Tony Bennett - included in the album Tony Bennett on Holiday (1997)
- Rod Stewart - for the album Fly Me to the Moon... The Great American Songbook Volume V' (2010)
Other recordings of "He's Funny That Way"
- Margaret Whiting - recorded November 25, 1947.[16]
- Kay Starr - in her album In a Blue Mood (1955).[17]
- Georgia Gibbs - included in her album Music and Memories (1955).[18]
- Ella Fitzgerald - for her album Ella Swings Gently with Nelson (1961)
- Rosemary Clooney - for her album Here's to My Lady (1978)
- Diana Ross- included in the album Blue (2006).
- Bob Dylan - included on the compilation EP Universal Love - Wedding Songs Reimagined (2018)
Film and television appearances
- 1931 Freshman Love - sung by Ruth Etting.
- 1946 The Postman Always Rings Twice - played on guitar and sung by Cecil Kellaway.
- 1952 Meet Danny Wilson - performed by Frank Sinatra
- 1952 Rainbow 'Round My Shoulders - sung by Billy Daniels
- 1974 sung comically on The Carol Burnett Show by Carol Burnett and Roddy McDowall, with the latter wearing his prosthetic ape makeup from Planet of the Apes
- 1997 Deconstructing Harry - performed by Erroll Garner
References
- ^ a b Gracyk, Tim; Hoffmann, Frank W. (1997). The encyclopedia of popular American recording pioneers, 1895-1925. Tim Gracyk.
- ^ a b Hodges, Ben (1 November 2009). Theatre World 2008-2009: The Most Complete Record of the American Theatre. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 46. ISBN 978-1-4234-7369-5.
- ^ "Internet Movie Database". imdb.com. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
- ^ Furia, Philip; Lasser, Michael (12 May 2006). America's Songs: The Stories Behind the Songs of Broadway, Hollywood, and Tin Pan Alley. Routledge. p. 65. ISBN 978-1-135-47192-7.
- ^ Oliphant, Dave (1 January 2002). The Early Swing Era, 1930 to 1941. Greenwood Press. p. 329. ISBN 978-0-313-30535-1.
- ^ Yurochko, Bob (1993). A Short History of Jazz. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 90. ISBN 978-0-8304-1595-3.
- ^ Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 2 January 1954. p. 29. ISSN 0006-2510.
- ^ Kernodle, Tammy Lynn (2004). Soul on Soul: The Life and Music of Mary Lou Williams. UPNE. p. 118. ISBN 978-1-55553-606-0.
- ^ Jazz Education Journal. International Association for Jazz Education. 2001.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Wisconsin, USA: Record Research Inc. p. 577. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
- ^ "Frank Sinatra Discography". jazzdiscography.com. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
- ^ "A Bing Crosby Discography". BING magazine. International Club Crosby. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
- ^ "allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
- ^ "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
- ^ "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
- ^ "Margaret Whiting Discography". margaretwhiting.com. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
- ^ "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
- ^ "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
