THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

286-Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong-They Can’t Take That Away from Me.

1956-It has never been released as a single in the UK.

Best Bit-At 1.32. When you have the music of George Gershwin, the lyrics of Ira Gershwin, and the mesmerising vocals of Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, the hard part isn’t trying to find a 1000 songs to fill this list, it’s having to choose which ones to leave out!

‘They Can’t Take That Away from Me’ was one of the songs written by George Gershwin (music) and his brother Ira Gershwin (lyrics) for the 1937 Musical Comedy ‘Shall We Dance,’ starring Fred Astaire, (see also best songs 385) and Ginger Rodgers. In the film the song is sung by Astaire to Rodgers, who remains silent throughout the performance, there is also no dance sequence performed. Astaire and Rodgers did perform a dance routine to the song when appearing in their 10th and final movie together in 1949, in ‘Barkleys of Broadway.’ This was also the only song that Astaire performed more than once in any of his movies.

George Gershwin (see also best songs 231) was born Jacob Gershwine on September 26th, 1898, in Brooklyn, New York City, United States, he died from a malignant brain tumor on July 11th, 1937, at the age of 38. Gershin was a prolific writer of music, composing several orchestral pieces including ‘Rhapsody in Blue.’ (1924) His Opera’s include ‘Porgy and Bess,’ (1935) and he also composed the music for 19 Broadway, and London Musicals, as well as the original scores for five films.

Ira Gershwin was born Israel Gershowitz on December 6th, 1896, in Brooklyn, New York City, United States, he died on August 17th, 1983, of heart disease at the age of 86. With his brother George he wrote many of the most memorable songs from the Broadway Musicals of the 1920’s, and 1930’s, including ‘I Got Rhythm,’ Embraceable You,’ and ‘Someone to Watch Over Me.’ After the death of his brother, Ira continued to write with others, including Kurt Weill, Jerome Kern, and Harry Warren.

Ella Fitzgerald (see also best songs 944-231 and 100) and Louis Armstrong (see also best songs 1039-767-231 and 100) had recorded together in the 1940’s for the Decca Records label. In 1956 they recorded the first of a further three Albums together, this time for the ‘Verve’ label. Their version of ‘They Can’t Take That Away from Me’ is featured on ‘Ella and Louis,’ which was the first of those three Albums, released in October 1956. The musicians who played on this song, and it’s parent Album were the ‘Oscar Peterson Quartet.’ In 1959 Ella Fitzgerald recorded the song again, this time as a solo artist, for her acclaimed Album ‘Ella Fitzgerald Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Song Book.’

‘The way your smile just beams, the way you sing off key. The way you haunt my dreams, no, no, they can’t take that away from me.’