Almost Like Being in Love explained
"Almost Like Being in Love" is a show tune with music by Frederick Loewe and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner. It was written for the score of their 1947 musical Brigadoon.[1] The song was first sung by David Brooks and Marion Bell, in the Broadway production. It was later performed in the 1954 film version by Gene Kelly.[2]
Michael Johnson version
"Almost Like Being in Love" was revived in a downbeat ballad version by singer Michael Johnson (U.S. no. 32, 1978). His rendition became a Top 10 Adult Contemporary hit in both the U.S. (no. 4) and Canada (no. 10).
Other versions
- There were three hit versions of the song in the United States in 1947: Frank Sinatra's version[4] was the highest charting at no. 20. Mildred Bailey and Mary Martin both charted with the song at no. 21 that year.
- Nat King Cole recorded more than one version of the song, including a later version that was used as the closing song in the 1993 movie Groundhog Day starring Bill Murray. Cole's version, in the key of G major like the original, features a ii–V–I turnaround (2-5-1) in G, a pair of similar 2-5-1 sequences in E major and D major for the bridge, after which it raises the refrain a half-step with a 2-5-1 in A flat major.
- Frank Sinatra rerecorded the song for his 1961 album Come Swing with Me!.
- The song was also made popular by Shirley Bassey. Like Judy Garland, Bassey performed this song as a medley with the song, "This Can't Be Love".
- Bradley Walsh recorded his version of the song for his 2016 debut album Chasing Dreams.
- Red Garland recorded his version with Paul Chambers and Art Taylor on his 1957 album Red Garland's Piano.
- Ella Fitzgerald recorded a version with Dizzy Gillespie and his orchestra, released on her 1962 album, Ella Sings Broadway.
- Erroll Garner recorded a version of the song for his 1966 live album Campus Concert.
- Seth MacFarlane recorded his version of the song for his 2017 album In Full Swing.
- Diana Krall included the song in her 2020 album This Dream of You.
- Vic Damone recorded an excellent version of the song in 1956.
- Rod Stewart with Jools Holland recorded a version on the 2024 Swing Fever
- Bleachers (band) recorded a version for the soundtrack of The New Look (TV series), produced by Jack Antonoff.[6]
In popular culture
- It was sung by Dennis Day in the ′Don Invites Gang to Dinner′ episode of The Jack Benny Program in 1956.
- In the 1957 Goon Show episode, "The Great Regent's Park Swim", Eccles parodies the song, singing "with a smile on my face for the whole human race, it's almost like being insane."
- A portion of the song was sung by Jack Soo’s character Detective Nick Yemana in the third season episode of Barney Miller entitled ‘Hash’ in 1976.
- The song was used in the 1993 movie Groundhog Day (film).
- The song was used in the 1995 movie Grumpier Old Men.
- It was sung by the ant Z (voiced by Woody Allen) in the 1998 Dreamworks animated film Antz.[7] [8]
- The song was used in the 2003 movie The Cooler.
- It was performed in an episode of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel by Darius de Haas.[9]
Notes and References
- Book: Hischak, Thomas S.. The Oxford Companion to the American Musical: Theatre, Film, and Television. Oxford University Press. 2008. 978-0195335330. 93.
- Web site: Jazz Standards: Almost Like Being in Love. Jazz Standards.
- Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 -
- Web site: Gilliland, John. . Pop Chronicles 1940s Program #19 - All Tracks UNT Digital Library . Digital.library.unt.edu . 2020-03-23 . 2021-01-21.
- Web site: www.allmusic.com . July 26, 2023.
- https://www.nme.com/news/music/bleachers-release-almost-like-being-in-love-from-jack-antonoffs-soundtrack-for-the-new-look-3612901
- Book: Brigham . William . Historical Dictionary of Woody Allen . 2019 . Rowman & Littlefield . Lanham, Maryland . 9781538120200 . 23 . October 18, 2021.
- Book: Neupert . Richard . John Lasseter . 2016 . University of Illinois Press . Urbana, Illinois . 9780252098352 . 141 . October 18, 2021.
- Web site: All The Songs In 'The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel' Season 3 . Bustle . 2 January 2020.
