"Singing in the Bathtub" | |
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Song | |
Published | 1929 |
Writer | Herb Magidson Ned Washington |
Composer | Michael Cleary |
Singing in the Bathtub is a song written in 1929 by Michael H. Cleary, with lyrics by Herb Magidson and Ned Washington for the film The Show of Shows.[1] The Show of Shows was Warner Bros.' answer to MGM's The Hollywood Revue of 1929, and "Singing in the Bathtub" spoofs Hollywood Revue's song "Singin' in the Rain".[2] In Show of Shows, the number features an enormous bathtub and is performed by Winnie Lightner and a chorus of male and female performers wearing antiquated bathing suits.[3]
The song was recorded by many performers of the time, including Guy Lombardo,[4] Dorothy Provine,[5] Dick Robertson,[6] King Ben Nawahi,[7] Gracie Fields,[8] Vaughn DeLeath,[9] The Georgians,[10],Ed Smalle & Jerry Macy, and Danny Kaye, and more recently by Robert Crumb,[11] John Lithgow,[12] and Mandy Patinkin.[13] In Vaughn DeLeath's rendition of the song, she sings the line "the ring around the bathtub is a rainbow to me" as "a rainbow from me", substantially changing its meaning.[14]
The lyrics include a quotation of the title air from "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles".
Contents |
"Singing in the Bathtub" is featured in the first-ever Looney Tunes animated short, "Sinkin' in the Bathtub" (1930). The song appeared in 21 Warner Bros. animated shorts in total: Warner Bros.' ownership of the copyright saved royalty payments. The song is frequently sung by Tweety Bird.
Singing in the Bathtub is also the 1993 re-release title of an album by R. Crumb and the Cheap Suit Serenaders. The album was originally released in 1978 as R. Crumb and his Cheap Suit Serenaders No. 3.[11]
Track listing:
Singin' in the Bathtub is additionally the title of a children's album released in 1999 with songs performed by John Lithgow.[15]
Track listing: