History
Babes in Arms opened at the Shubert Theatre on Broadway, in New York City on April 14, 1937 and ran for 289 performances. [6] In the original play, a character named Billie Smith (played by Mitzi Green) sings the song to Valentine "Val" LaMar (played by Ray Heatherton). [7] The character's name was changed to match the lyric of this song. [8]
In the song, Billie describes Valentine's characteristics in unflattering and derogatory terms (at one point Billie describes Valentine's looks as "laughable", in keeping with the title), but ultimately affirms that he makes her smile and that she does not want him to change. The description of Valentine was consistent with Lorenz Hart's own insecurities and belief that he was too short and ugly to be loved. [9] The lyrics are sufficiently gender-neutral to allow the song to be sung about a person of any gender, and a large proportion of cover versions of the song have been by men describing a hypothetical woman.
Chart versions and covers
The song first hit the charts in 1945, performed by Hal McIntyre with vocals by Ruth Gaylor. [10] It only appeared for one week and hit No. 16. [11] Frank Sinatra recorded a hit version in 1955.
In addition to Chet Baker's 1954 recording, the song has also been covered by Elvis Costello, Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, Steve Goodman, Rickie Lee Jones, Julie London, Harpo Marx, Gerry Mulligan, and Josipa Lisac, amongst others. [12] [13] [4] [14]
In popular culture
The Chet Baker and the Julie London versions of the song were credited in the 1981 film Sharky's Machine , which Burt Reynolds starred in and directed. Doc Severinsen produced the soundtrack for the film, [13] along with Al Capps and Bob Florence. [15]
In the anime series Cowboy Bebop, the episode titled "My Funny Valentine" takes its name from Miles Davis' famous recording of the song. The episode focuses on the character Faye Valentine, exploring her mysterious past and themes of memory, identity, and loss, drawing a subtle parallel to the emotional depth of the song itself. This connection showcases the series' frequent use of jazz music and cultural references to enhance its narrative atmosphere.
In the popular manga title Steel Ball Run, the main antagonist Funny Valentine is named in reference to this song. [16]
The song inspired Ettore Sottsass in his choice of a name for the Olivetti Valentine typewriter. [17] [18]
Salman Rushdie, the author of the novel The Satanic Verses , has received a letter from the Iranian government every February 14 since 1990. [19] According to Rushdie, the message is intended to remind him of the Fatwa (Muslim legal ruling) issued on February 14, 1989 by the Muslim cleric and then-ruler of Iran Ruhollah Khomeini calling for the murder of Rushdie over content in The Satanic Verses that Khomeini claimed insulted Islam. [20] By 1999, Rushdie no longer feared the annual death threat or took it seriously and in an article he wrote for The New Yorker that year, Rushdie jokingly called the letter "My Unfunny Valentine" (which was also the title of the article) as a pun of My Funny Valentine and the fact that February 14 (the date he receives on) is also Valentine's Day, even comparing the letter to a "sort of Valentine's card". [21]
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