💃 Oldies but goldies, for Three Tune Tuesday 💃

Let me lead your attention into a little journey back in time. Again... never enough!

Ry Cooder, Manuel Galbán ~ Caballo Viejo

_{(videofeed from «Bitter Rice» movie, 1949)}

I fall in love with this tune momentarily after watching the video. It does have some powerful vibes... The song 'Caballo Viejo' (old horse) was written and composed by Venezuelan folk singer Simón Díaz; it became popular and today regarded as classic. In the video you see, the song is mixed with a fragment from the Italian film 'Bitter Rice' (1949): Silvana Mangano and Vittorio Gassman dancing. This fragment is dazzling, bittersweet, it seems to embrace in itself the whole life... Melody fits the video perfectly, as if they were born together. (In original movie was used another, more boring tune - the African dance Brave Heart).

Better video (but different arrangement):

Dinah Shore - Blue Canary

_{(original version from 1953)}

The song was written in 1953 by Italian-American Vince Fiorino specifically for Hollywood actress and singer Dinah Shore. Later, the song was performed countless times by many famous musicians, there exist many interesting versions and translations. Below is the most impressive Russian performance by Yulia Ziganshina:

The Andrews Sisters - Rum and Coca Cola

_{(1953; source of the song info, lyrics and its translation in Russian)}

This amazing pop hit was recorded back in 1944, became the top single of 1945 in US, and have been covered a lot of times since. But there is rather confusing and complicated story behind. I will put it both in English, and in Russian, for my Russian-speaking friend may enjoy it as well.

This composition in the Afro-Caribbean style of calypso first appeared at the island of Trinidad, where American troops were stationed during World War II. Local musician Lord Invader used a traditional folk ballad to create what we today would consider an anti-globalization and protest lyrics. (His song advertises alcohol as a problem solver, hints at prostitution, and between the lines the famous "Yankees, go home!" is clearly read.) His song was published under the name 'L'Annee Passee' and became a big hit in Trinidad.

Of course, grabbing hands are always stay frosty to steal a good thing. Soon the song was re-released in the USA with lyrics credited to Morey Amsterdam; Jeri Sullavan and Paul Baron were credited as composers. (Song's real author received a $150,000 settlement only after a 10-year litigation, but the thief still retained the song's copyright, thats a fact!)

This anti-american pop hymn became US hit #1 in 1945, when the song was recorded by 'The Andrews Sisters' at Decca label. Curios thing notable to mention that the performers did not pay any attention to the true meaning of the song's lyrics.

Maxine Andrews remembered how the song's recording took place: one fine day they were invited to the Decca studio, introduced to the tune, given a paper sheet with the lyrics and were told to sing: go-go-go, - there was no time for any reflections. By the way, for its dubious content the song was blacklisted from radio broadcasting -- but this did not affect its popularity :)

Эта композиция в афрокарибском стиле 'калипсо' (calypso) родилась на острове Тринидад, где во время Второй Mировой войны был размещен американский контингент. В отсутствие противника, солдаты в основном бухали и приставали к местным девушкам. Музыкант Lord Invader сочинил текст, который мы сегодня сочли бы антиглобалистским и протестным (песня рекламирует алкоголь как средство решения проблем, намекает на занятие проституцией и между строчек явственно слышно знаменитое: "Янки, убирайтесь домой!"). В качестве мелодической подкладки он использовал традиционную народную балладу. Песня была издана под названием 'L’Annee Passee' и стала в Тринидаде большим хитом.

Чего добру пропадать - к хорошей вещице всегда тянутся загребущие руки. Вскоре песню переиздали в США, указав автором слов Morey Amsterdam, а композиторами Jeri Sullavan и Paul Baron. (Настоящий автор получил компенсацию в $150,000 лишь после 10-летнего судебного разбирательства, но авторские права все равно присудили вору. О, волчий оскал капитализма!)

Настоящим хитом песня стала в 1945 году, когда ее исполнило трио «Сестры Эндрюс». Одна из сестёр рассказала, как происходила запись: одним прекрасным днем их пригласили в студию, дали в руки текст и велели петь - времени на обдумывание не предполагалось. Кстати, за сомнительное содержание песня была запрещена на радио, что не сказалось на ее популярности :)

So... today 'They don't do it like that anymore! The post goes for Three Tune Tuesday challenge run by @ablaze. Previous issues: 106 | 107 | 108 | 109 | 110 | 111

💃 Oldies but goldies, for Three Tune Tuesday 💃

Ry Cooder, Manuel Galbán ~ Caballo Viejo

Dinah Shore - Blue Canary

The Andrews Sisters - Rum and Coca Cola

All videos and music is copyrighted by the artists, not me!

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