The song was performed by Julie Andrews, who starred in the film as the titular character. Released as a single by Decca Records, it features "Jimmy" as the B-side.[2] According to William Ruhlmann of AllMusic, "Thoroughly Modern Millie" is an upbeat, jazzy number that mirrors the film's lighthearted tone. At the same time the lyrics playfully depict the protagonist's embrace of modernity.[3] In 1996, the song, along with the instrumental track "Prelude", was included in Andrews' Rhino compilation album The Best of Julie Andrews: Thoroughly Modern Julie.[4]
Critical reception
Cash Box named it a "Pick of the Week", praising the track's upbeat, lighthearted energy and Andrews' ability to bridge pop and middle-of-the-road audiences. The publication noted that the A-side's playful, jazz-infused style contrasted effectively with the B-side, "Jimmy", which offered a smoother, more romantic tone.[5]
Record World echoed this enthusiasm, selecting the song as a "Single Pick of the Week" and later awarding it a "Four Star" rating. The two reviews emphasized its "pristine perkiness" and infectious, "jingle-like quality", suggesting it would resonate widely due to its ties to the upcoming film. Further reinforcing its reception, Record World described the single as a "darling title ditty", predicting its success with mainstream audiences.[6][7]
In his review of the film's soundtrack for Cast Album Reviews, David Barbour awarded just one out of five stars, dismissing it as a "bizarre camp exercise" - yet made sure to highlight that the admittedly catchy title track and the ballad "Jimmy" stood as rare noteworthy moments amidst an album full of questionable choices.[8]
On March 25, 1967, the single made its first appearance on the Billboard's Easy Listening chart—now known as the Adult Contemporary chart.[11] The song eventually reached its peak position at number 3 on April 22.[12] It remained on the chart for a total of 12 weeks.[11]Additionally, it peaked at number 5 on the Record World Top Non-Rock chart.[13]
Charts
Weekly chart performance for "Thoroughly Modern Millie"
↑ Barbour, David (28 August 2015). "Thoroughly Modern Millie". Cast Album Reviews. Archived from the original on 30 January 2019. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
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