Great Songs of the 1920s: Part 2 Quiz

Answer: No, No, Nanette

Vincent Youmans and Irving Caesar wrote "I Want to Be Happy" for the 1925 Broadway musical "No, No, Nanette." It is used many times in the show; the first is when Jimmy sings it to Nanette. It was also used in several films, including two (1930 and 1940) versions of "No, No, Nanette".

Answer: Joy

George William Cook wrote "Joy in My Heart," also known as "I've Got the Joy, Joy, Joy." The song is sung fast, and the verse that says, "I've got the wonderful love of my blessed Redeemer way down in the depth of my heart," is especially fast.

After people sing the initial line, such as "I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart." People often ask "Where?" before the next line.

Answer: Baby

Walter Donaldson and Gus Kahn wrote "That's My Baby." The song may have been inspired by the sound of a mechanical pig they saw while visiting Eddie Cantor. The song has been recorded by hundreds of artists, including Margaret Young, Gene Austin, Eddie Cantor, Bing Crosby, and Frank Sinatra.

Answer: Are You Lonesome Tonight?

Roy Turk and Lou Handman wrote "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" in 1926. It was first recorded in 1927 by Charles Hart. The most successful recording of the song came in 1960 when Elvis Presley recorded it. In 1992, the Elvis version went double platinum.

The song was also used in the 1988 movie, "Elvis and Me," based on Priscilla Presley's book.

Answer: Watch

George and Ira Gershwin wrote "Someone to Watch Over Me" in 1926. They also had help from Howard Dietz, who came up with the title. The song was written for the Broadway musical "Oh, Kay!" It was initially written as a fast song, but singers started to sing it as a ballad over time. Lee Wiley first released this version in 1939. Ella Fitzgerald, Barbra Streisand, Ray Charles, and many others have since covered the song.

Answer: Tonight You Belong to Me

Lee David and Billy Rose wrote "Tonight You Belong to Me" in 1926. Irving Kaufman was the first to record it that same year. In 1927, when Gene Austin recorded the song, it became a hit.

Steve Martin and Bernadette Peters sang the song in the 1979 movie "The Jerk."

Answer: Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man

Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein wrote most of the songs from "Show Boat" together, "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man" is one of them. In 1946, Lena Horne sang the number in the semi-biographical movie of Jerome Kern, "Till The Clouds Roll By."

In "Show Boat," while different characters sing it, it is mainly associated with Julie, who turns out to be biracial. Queenie wonders why Julie knows the song since it was supposed to be a song that African-Americans sang. Julie is uncomfortable by this since she knows the truth that while she looks white, her biological mother is black, and therefore she is considered black as well.

Answer: in his hands

"He's Got the Whole World In His Hands" is a Spiritual folk song published in 1927. It became an international hit thirty years later when Laurie London recorded it. The song follows the formula "He's got ____ in His hands." For example, "He's got you and me, sister, in His hands."

Answer: Make Believe

"Make Believe" was written by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II. Gaylord is a drifting gambler, and Magnolia is a teenager. The song shows how they want to see things, not how they really are. Gaylord also sings it later to their daughter Kim before he abandons her and Magnolia because of his gambling addiction.

My favorite version of this song was done by Howard Keel and Kathryn Grayson from the 1951 film version of "Show Boat."

Answer: Side by Side

Harry M. Woods wrote "Side by Side." Woods was missing the fingers on his left hand but still composed all his songs on the piano. Perhaps the best-known recording of this song was done by Kay Starr in 1953.

Note: This is not the same song Sondheim wrote for "Company." That song is called "Side by Side By Side."