My Foolish Heart (song)
"My Foolish Heart" is a popular song and jazz standard that was published in 1949.
Overview[edit]
The music was composed by Victor Young, and the lyric was written by Ned Washington. The song was introduced by the singer Martha Mears in the 1949 film of the same name. The song failed to escape critics' general laceration of the film. Time wrote in its review that "nothing offsets the blight of such tear-splashed excesses as the bloop-bleep-bloop of a sentimental ballad on the sound track."[1] Nevertheless, the song was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1949 but lost out to "Baby, It's Cold Outside" by Frank Loesser.
In addition to the numerous covers that have followed its official release, this song has entered fully what could be described as the collective unconscious. Artists such as Hozier have hinted at this song. The Irish singer has alluded the song in his own song called "Almost" published through the release of his sophomore album, Wasteland, Baby!, the lyrics being: "Be still "My Foolish Heart"/Don't ruin this on me".
Cover versions[edit]
- The song was also a popular success, with two recordings of the song listed among the top 30 on the Billboard charts in 1950. Gordon Jenkins's recording of "My Foolish Heart", Sandy Evans, vocal, reached the Top Ten on the charts. However, Billy Eckstine's version became a million-seller, spending 19 weeks on the charts and peaking at number 6. Other successful versions in 1950 were by Mindy Carson, Margaret Whiting, Richard Hayes and by Hugo Winterhalter.[2]
- Bing Crosby debuted his version on radio on The Bing Crosby – Chesterfield Show, broadcast Wednesday March 8, 1950.[3]
- Roberta Flack on her 1991 album Set the Night to Music, issued as the A-side and B-side#B-side to the single "You Make Me Feel Brand New"[4]
- Susannah McCorkle on her 1992 album I'll Take Romance[5]
References[edit]
- ^ "The New Pictures". Time. 1950-02-06. Retrieved 2007-04-05.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Wisconsin, USA: Record Research Inc. p. 554. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
- ^ Pairpoint, Lionel. "….And Here's Bing". bingmagazine.co.uk. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
- ^ "Set the Night to Music - Roberta Flack | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic".
- ^ "I'll Take Romance - Susannah McCorkle | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic".
External links[edit]
- "My Foolish Heart" - Lead sheet at wikifonia.org
