She Didn't Say Yes Explained

"She Didn't Say Yes" is a 1931 song composed by Jerome Kern, with lyrics by Otto Harbach.

It was written for the show The Cat and the Fiddle (1931) and introduced by Bettina Hall.^[1] A popular recording in 1932 was by Leo Reisman & His Orchestra (vocal by Frank Luther).^[2] Other 1931/1932 recordings were by Chick Bullock, Smith Ballew and Ben Selvin.^[3]

The Cat and the Fiddle was filmed in 1934 and "She Didn't Say Yes" was performed in the film by Jeanette MacDonald.^[4]

Other notable recordings

• Ella Fitzgerald - Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Jerome Kern Songbook (1963)^[5]
• Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gormé - for their album Cozy (1961).^[6]
• Peggy Lee - recorded September 23, 1946, for Capitol Records.^[7]
• Margaret Whiting - Margaret Whiting Sings the Jerome Kern Songbook (1960)
• Harold Macmillan - In 1962, the British prime minister quoted several lines from the song in his conference speech, mocking the supposed indecisiveness of a political opponent. The satirical magazine Private Eye took a recording of his words, put a backing track to it, and published it as a disc.^[8]
• Al Bowlly

Notes and References

1. Web site: Internet Broadway Database . ibdb.com . May 5, 2019.
2. Book: Whitburn . Joel . Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954 . 1986 . Record Research Inc. . Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin . 0-89820-083-0 . 364 . registration .
3. Web site: Honking Duck . honkingduck.com . May 6, 2019.
4. Web site: Internet Movie Database . imdb.com . May 6, 2019.
5. Web site: www.discogs.com. discogs.com. June 21, 2024.
6. Web site: Discogs.com . Discogs.com . August 3, 1961 . May 5, 2019.
7. Web site: Peggy Lee Discography . peggyleediscography.com . May 5, 2019.
8. http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/features/desert-island-discs/castaway/ebd1a958#p009nc6f "Richard Ingrams"