THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

385-Fred Astaire with Johnny Greene’s Orchestra-Let’s Face the Music and Dance.

1936-It has never charted in the UK. There was no UK chart until 1952.

Best Bit-At 0.50. Fred Astaire died of pneumonia on June 22nd, 1987, at the age of 88. Shortly before his death Astaire said,’ I didn’t want to leave this world without knowing who my descendant was, thank you Michael,’ referring to Michael Jackson (see also best songs (812-511-249-191 and 137.)

‘Let’s Face the Music and Dance’ is another classic from the pen of Irving Berlin, (1888-1989) (see also best songs 731-457 and 100) who some have called the greatest songwriter of all time. Berlin wrote the song for the 1936 American musical comedy ‘Follow the Fleet’ starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers (1911-1995) in the fifth of their 10 film collaborations as dance partners. Other songs written for the movie by Berlin, and recorded by Fred Astaire which also became hits were ‘Let Yourself Go,’ and ‘I’m Putting All My Eggs In One Basket.’

Fred Astaire was born Frederick Austerlitz on May 10th, 1899, in Omaha, Nebraska, United States, he is widely considered the greatest dancer in film history. It was Astaire’s mother who first pushed Fred and his sister Adele in to show business as a singing and dancing double act, she changed the family name from Austerlitz, as she felt ‘Austerlitz’ was reminiscent of the ‘Battle of Austerlitz,’ Family legend attributes the name to an uncle with the surname ‘L’Astaire.’ Fred Astaire appeared in 34 film musicals, and eight films non musical, he also made many television appearances, including ‘The Fred Astaire Show’ in 1968. It is said that away from the cameras Fred Astaire was an intensely private person and was rarely seen on the Hollywood social scene, preferring to devote his spare time to his family and his hobbies, which included horse racing, playing the drums, songwriting, and golfing. His first wife was the New York socialite Phyllis Potter, (1908-1954) who died of lung cancer at the age of 46. He would marry again in 1980, at the age of 81, to the American Robyn Smith who was 45 years his junior and a jockey. Fred Astaire’s life has never been portrayed on film, as he refused permission for such portrayals, saying, ‘However much they offer me, and offers come in all the time, I shall not sell.’ His will included a clause requesting that no such portrayal should ever take place, he commented, ‘It is there because I have no particular desire to have my life misinterpreted, which it would be.’

Fred Astaire is best remembered for his ground breaking dance routines, but many critics have rated his singing as among the finest of his era, although the extremely modest Astaire frequently claimed that he could not sing. Irving Berlin considered Fred Astaire the equal of any male interpreter of his songs, ‘As good as Jolson, (see also best songs 310) Crosby (see also best songs 934-457 and 259) or Sinatra, (see also best songs 877-567-469-120 and 73) not necessarily because of his voice, but for his conception of projecting a song.’ Jerome Kern (1885-1945) (see also best songs 687 and 82) considered him the supreme male interpreter of his songs.

Irving Berlin was born Israel Beilin, on May 11th, 1888, in Tolochin, Russian Empire, which is now Belarus, he died in his sleep on September 22, 1989, of a heart attack, and natural causes at the age of 101. Berlin was held in the highest esteem by his peers, the American composer George Gershwin (1898-1937) (see also best songs 286 and 231) said,’ I frankly believe that Irving Berlin is the greatest songwriter that has ever lived. He has had a greater influence upon American music than any other man. It was Irving Berlin who was the very first to have created a real, inherent American music. Irving Berlin was the first to free the American song from the nauseating sentimentality which had previously characterised it.’

‘Let’s Face the Music and Dance’ has been recorded by many artists over the years, the first recording just ahead of Fred Astaire in January 1936 was by Vincent Lopez (1895-1975) and His Orchestra, while perhaps the most famous recording was made by Nat King Cole (1919-1965) (see also best songs 988-327-226 and 161) for his Album ‘Let’s Face the Music’ in 1964, whose version after being used in a 1994 television commercial reached Number 30 in the UK.

‘Let’s Face the Music and Dance’ has a message, it tells the listener to enjoy yourself while you can, because trouble could be just around the corner, which was apt, as it was written in 1936.

‘There may be trouble ahead, but while there’s moonlight and music and love and romance, let’s face the music and dance.’