The Lady in Red

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"The Lady in Red" is the name of at least two popular songs.

One version is by Mort Dixon (words) and Allie Wrubel (music), a Latin-sounding tune featured in the soundtrack of a 1935 film called In Caliente (also known as Viva Señorita) [1]. This love story was set in Mexico and featured Pat O'Brien and Dolores Del Rio. The song took on a life of its own, becoming a staple of Warner Bros. cartoons, as composer/arranger Carl Stalling would include it in the underscore anytime a female character would appear in a red outfit (such as the loud-mouthed girl in Little Red Riding Rabbit). The song was initially promoted by Warner through its Merrie Melodies cartoon entry, The Lady in Red. Possibly its earliest use by Stalling was in a 1937 Porky Pig cartoon, Picador Porky, which was also set in Mexico and which additionally included the title tune from In Caliente.

Another version is a 1986 love song by Chris De Burgh. It went to #1 in 25 countries. The song was written in reference to (though not specifically about) his wife Diane De Burgh and was released on the album Into the Light, peaking on the Billboard charts at #3 in 1987. The song appears briefly in the 2000 film adaptation of American Psycho when Patrick Bateman, played by Christian Bale, is listening to it in his office on his walkman. A spoof version appeared in the TV sketch show That Mitchell and Webb Look, which had a snooker theme, sung by the characters Ted and Peter.

Preceded by: "Papa Don't Preach" by Madonna

UK number one single (Chris De Burgh version) July 27, 1986

Succeeded by: "I Want To Wake Up With You" by Boris Gardiner