Last Night When We Were Young

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"Last Night When We Were Young" is a 1935 popular song about nostalgia and young love [1] composed by Harold Arlen, with lyrics by Yip Harburg. Arlen regarded it as the favourite of the songs that he had written. [2]

Lawrence Tibbett recorded the song on October 9, 1935. [2] It was cut from his film Metropolitan but performed instrumentally behind the credits. [3]

"Last Night When We Were Young" was highly regarded by Judy Garland, who recorded it twice, and frequently performed it. [2] Composer Alec Wilder called it a "most remarkable and beautiful song" that "goes far beyond the boundaries of popular music." Continuing, he stated that "[i]t is unlike any other Arlen song that I have heard. However, it is unmistakably his." [3] Harburg did not know where he acquired the title, saying, "the juxtaposition of those two phrases is almost a whole world of philosophy". [2] Singer Tony Bennett, aged 95, gave an "emotional" performance of the song at his final concerts, in 2021. [4]

Notable recordings

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References

  1. ↑ Browne, Ray Broadus; Ambrosetti, Ronald J. (1993). Continuities in Popular Culture: The Present in the Past & the Past in the Present and Future. ISBN   9780879725938.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Jablonski, Edward (1998). Harold Arlen: Rhythm, Rainbows, and Blues . UPNE. p. 100. ISBN   978-1-55553-366-3. Google Book Search. Retrieved on March 20, 2010.
  3. 1 2 Wilder, Alec (1972). American Popular Song: The Great Innovators, 1900-1950 . New York: Oxford University Press. p.  26. ISBN   0-19-501445-6.
  4. ↑ https://eu.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2021/08/04/lady-gaga-tony-bennett-concert-new-york-one-last-time/5472882001/
  5. ↑ "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
  6. ↑ "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
  7. ↑ "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
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