One of the most distinguished lyric-writers of his time, Ira Gershwin wrote for his brother George as well as Jerome Kern, Kurt Weill, Harold Arlen and others. Limelight presents a selection of stage and screen lyrics written for sundry situations and now arranged in arbitrary categories, to which have been added many informative annotations and disquistions on their why and wherefore, their whom-for, their how, and matters associative. "Gershwin's comments, witty and irreverent, and his anecdotes about the making of many favorites, are invariably interesting and frequently surprising." Chicago Tribune
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Editorial Reviews
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Back in print at last, this 1959 book gives the lesser-known Gershwin brother (the one who wrote "the words") a chance not only to see his lyrics for such songs as "Embraceable You," "Someone to Watch over Me," and 102 others stand on their own, but also to tell the classic showbiz stories behind each one. Sometimes these take the form of name-dropping personal anecdotes, and sometimes they're accounts of peculiar lyric challenges and how he solved them. Gershwin reveals that the original "dummy" lyric for the tricky "I Got Rhythm" was "Roly-Poly/ Eating solely/ Ravioli/ Better watch your diet or bust." Either as showbiz memoir or pure poetry, Gershwin's book is a delight.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A musical comedy treasure,
By A Customer
This review is from: Lyrics on Several Occasions (Paperback)
Thank heaven this has finally been re-printed! No other lyricist of Gershwin's magnitiude ever took such a detailed and witty song-by-song look at his life's work. Wonderfully entertaining and informative. If you are interested in the craft of lyric writing or in the history of the musical, this book will be as essential as it is delightful.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
completely charming,
By john37481 (Seattle, USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Lyrics on Several Occasions (Paperback)
If you know the lyrics, you know George Gershwin's brother was a witty and warm-hearted writer of verses. His prose paints a self-portrait of a somewhat reserved, witty, erudite, unpretentious man who deeply loves (now, loved) his family, his friends, and his profession of lyric-writing. The stories behind the songs sketch a picture of show-biz life of the 1920s, before everybody had stereo systems; when anybody middle class or richer had a piano in the house; and when parties necessitated a piano recital from anybody willing and able to give one, as Ira's virtuoso brother usually was. Brief snapshots of life with his brother are shot through with almost heartbreaking poignancy as one recalls that George died young. The poignancy and his love for his brother shine the brighter as Ira never explicitly calls attention to them -- he shows, he doesn't tell. A beautiful book, with many droll observations & humorous anecdotes wittily told.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ira and George,
By
This review is from: Lyrics on Several Occasions (Paperback)
If this book had consisted just in the reprinting of the great lyrics Ira Gershwin wrote then it already would be a treasure. But it also contains his descriptions of how he wrote the songs, and is filled with stories of his long- song- writing career. He comes across as a decent, family- person somewhat reserved but basically a very , fine human being.
There are many trivial and forgettable lyrics here. But these are cancelled out by being among some of the greatest popular song lyrics ever written. Perhaps the lyricist is almost absolutely dependent on the quality of the ' melody' in order to have his words become memorable as part of a great song. Ira Gershwin in this was fortunate enough to work with some of the greatest of all writers of popular song, first of course and above all his brother, George. As I write this I am humming the melody of the Gershwins' classic " Embraceable you". How much pleasure and delight did these two great brothers give, and how much do they still give, to the world.
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