The Big Apple: “Don’t Rain On My Parade” (1964, 1968)

A plaque remaining from the Big Apple Night Club at West 135th Street and Seventh Avenue in Harlem.

Above, a 1934 plaque from the Big Apple Night Club at West 135th Street and Seventh Avenue in Harlem. Discarded as trash in 2006. Now a Popeyes fast food restaurant on Google Maps.

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Above, Big Apple Corner at 54th Street and Broadway in Manhattan. Google Maps.

Above, John J. Fitz Gerald, from the Aug. 15, 1931, Binghamton (NY) Press, pg. 14.

Listen to Robert Emmerich introduce "The Big Apple," a hit song from 1937. Music written by Bob and performed by Tommy Dorsey's Clambake Seven with Bob on piano. Lyrics written by Buddy Bernier and sung by Edythe Wright. Audio provided by Dorothy Emmerich.

Also listen to a 1937 "The Big Apple" song by Ozzie Nelson and his Orchestra. See a 1929 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald and a 1931 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald.

This site is edited by Barry Popik.

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Entry from November 30, 2004

“Don’t Rain On My Parade” (1964, 1968)

The song "Don't Rain On My Parade" was in the Broadway musical (1964) and movie (1968) Funny Girl, about the New York performer Fanny Brice. Funny Girl had music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Bob Merrill, and "Don't Rain On My Parade" was performed by someone named Barbra Streisand.

New York City has many parades, and the title of this song soon became a slang phrase as well. There is an apple lyric in the song.

12 April 1964, New York Times, pg. 78:
"Miss Streisand...breaks your heart with her closing 'Don't Rain On My Parade'."

ttp://www.lyricsfreak.com/b/barbra-streisand/12809.html
But whether I'm the rose
Of sheer perfection,
Or freckle on the nose
Of life's complexion,
The cinder or the shiny apple of it's eye,
I gotta fly once,
I gotta try once,
Only can die once, right, sir?
Ooh, love is juicy,
Juicy, and you see
I gotta have my bite, sir!
Get ready for me, love,
'cause I'm a comer,
I simply gotta march,
My heart's a drummer.
Don't bring around a cloud
To rain on my parade!

Posted by Barry Popik
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus • (0) Comments • Tuesday, November 30, 2004 • Permalink