Happy Talk

Ella Fitzgerald, Gordon Jenkins

About Happy Talk

"Happy Talk" is a show tune from the 1949 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical South Pacific. It is sung by Bloody Mary to the American lieutenant Joe Cable, about having a happy life, after he begins romancing her daughter Liat. Liat performs the song with hand gestures as Mary sings. Ella Fitzgerald recorded this song with Gordon Jenkins and his orchestra for Decca and it was included on her album Miss Ella Fitzgerald & Mr Gordon Jenkins Invite You to Listen and Relax. "Happy Talk" is occasionally cut from productions of South Pacific on the grounds that the song is racist, citing the fake pidgin in which it is written. It was omitted from the made-for-TV remake of South Pacific in 2001. 


Year:
1995
2:26
128 
#2

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Happy talk, keep talkin' happy talk,
Talk about things you'd like to do.
You got to have a dream,
If you don't have a dream,
How you gonna have a dream come true?

Talk about the moon floatin' in the sky
Lookin' at a lily on the lake;
Talk about a bird learnin' how to fly.
Makin' all the music he can make.

Happy talk, keep talkin' happy talk,
Talk about things you'd like to do.
You got to have a dream,
If you don't have a dream,
How you gonna have a dream come true?

Talk about the sparrow lookin' like a toy
Pickin' through the broaches of a tree;
Talk about the girl, talk about the boy
Countin' all the ripples on the sea.

Happy talk, keep talkin' happy talk,
Talk about things you'd like to do.
You got to have a dream,
If you don't have a dream
How you gonna have a dream come true?

Talk about the boy sayin' to the girl:
"Golly, baby, I'm a lucky cause."
Talk about the girl sayin' to the boy:
"You an' me is lucky to be us!"

Happy talk, keep talkin' happy talk,
Talk about things you'd like to do.
You got to have a dream,
If you don't have a dream
How you gonna have a dream come true?

If you don't talk happy,
And you never have dream,
Then you'll never have a dream come true!

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Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April 25, 1917 – June 15, 1996), also known as the "First Lady of Song", "Queen of Jazz", and "Lady Ella", was an American jazz and song vocalist. With a vocal range spanning three octaves (D♭3 to D♭6), she was noted for her purity of tone, impeccable diction, phrasing and intonation, and a "horn-like" improvisational ability, particularly in her scat singing. more »

11 fans

Written by: OSCAR II HAMMERSTEIN, RICHARD RODGERS

Lyrics © IMAGEM U.S. LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Genre Classification
"Happy Talk" is classified as both jazz and pop. Ella Fitzgerald is widely known for her jazz music, but this song gained popularity in the mainstream pop culture.
Historical Context
"Happy Talk" is originally from the 1949 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical "South Pacific." Ella Fitzgerald covered it in her 1951 album "Ella Sings Broadway."
Unique Vocal Characteristics
Ella Fitzgerald is famous for her wide vocal range, perfect pitch, and a tone that she could manipulate to add color and character to her songs. These qualities are prominently featured in "Happy Talk."
Album Success
"Ella Sings Broadway," the album in which Fitzgerald's version of "Happy Talk" appeared, was critically acclaimed and well-received by the public.
Collaborations
Fitzgerald frequently collaborated with other top musicians of her era. Though not in "Happy Talk," she had performed with greats like Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington.
Song Interpretation
Fitzgerald's version of "Happy Talk" is described as breezy and cheerful with her incredible scat singing, a vocal improvisation with wordless vocables, nonsense syllables, or without words at all.
Lyrics
The lyrics of "Happy Talk" are full of optimism, emphasizing the importance of sharing dreams and happiness with loved ones, making it a popular song choice for many types of celebrations.
Song Recognition
While "Happy Talk" is widely performed and covered by other artists, Ella Fitzgerald's version stood out for the exceptional clarity of her voice and her unique interpretation of the song.
Awards and Honors
Ella Fitzgerald, known as the "First Lady of Song," has won 13 Grammy awards and sold over 40 million albums. Even though she didn't win any award specifically for "Happy Talk," the song contributed to her global fame.
Legacy
"Happy Talk," along with other songs from Ella's repertoire, continues to be used in modern films, advertisements, and television shows, showcasing Ella Fitzgerald's timeless appeal.

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