Almost Like Being in Love

SteynonLine ^ | February 4, 2024 | Mark Steyn

[Twotone]

Happy Groundhog Day. I'm a fan of the Harold Ramis movie, and I especially treasure its cute little musical joke right at the very end. Bill Murray's weatherman leaves his Punxsutawney bed-and-breakfast and yes, at last it's the morning after Groundhog Day. And, as he and Andie MacDowell take off down the street (about 2-30 below), Nat King Cole sings:

What a day this has been

What a rare mood I'm in...

What a day this has been – over and over and over. The song is "Almost Like Being In Love", written for Brigadoon, a musical about a Scottish village that only comes to life for one day in every hundred years. What better number to end a movie about a guy who has to live one day again and again for what must have seemed like a hundred years?

American audiences heard "Almost Like Being In Love" for the very first time circa Groundhog Day 1947. The show was trying out in New Haven, ahead of two weeks in Boston, then on to Philly, and finally a Broadway opening at the Ziegfeld in March. Did theatregoers exposed to that brand new song for the first time realize they were getting in on the ground floor of an enduring popular standard? "The audience on opening night," Alan Jay Lerner recalled, "seemed to me more appreciative than enthusiastic, but perhaps I was too numb to distinguish the difference. I do remember, however, that during the second act there were several departures. It may have been less than half a dozen, but to me it seemed like a thundering herd."

[jocon307]

Thanks for posting! I love these Mark Steyn backstories on songs. They are fascinating!

[Twotone]

You should buy his book! But it is nice to read while listening to the audio he posts. :-)

[left that other site]

“Almost Like Being In Love” was a special kind of song that became a feature of nearly every Rodgers & Hammerstein Musical. It’s called a “Conditional” Love Song, and adds a little twist to what otherwise be just a standard Love Duet.

Some other examples would be “People Will Say We’re In Love” from “Oklahoma”, “ I Must Have Done Something Good” from “Sound of Music”, “If I Loved You” from “Carousel”, and “I Have Dreamed” from the “King and I”.

I love these stories! thanks for posting.

[jocon307]

Yes, I think I will buy it! Mark could use some support right now, that’s for sure.

[AppyPappy]

It’s Almost Like Being On Drugs

[John S Mosby]

The song was composed by Frederick Loewe,lyrics by Alan J. Lerner (or, Lerner & Loewe writing team, Brigadoon, Paint Your Wagon, My Fair Lady, etc.), not Rodgers & Hammerstein. You are correct that R&H saw a niche for these types of “crossing” songs part of their work. A trend if you will.

An especially moving version of the song was recorded by the pop artist and guitarist Michael Johnson. From one of his very early vinyl albums which featured a who’s who of future musician stars (Pat Metheny, Leo Kottke, Phil Keaggy, jazz bassists, etc). On his first vinyl recording Johnson did a very moving version of R&H’s South Pacific “You’ve Got to Be Carefully Taught”.

The song here is in a minor key with bridge in major key, haunting from the story of “Brigadoon” (great in its own right):

Almost Like Being in Love:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxSZPUi4kv4

You’ve Got to Be Carefully Taught (South Pacific):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ozobl1TmcXM

Am a great admirer of both writing teams.

Here is R&H introducing You’ve Got to Be Carefully Taught (a long time ago):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAls_gUhlQw

[left that other site]

I saw South Pacific on the Island of Kauai, performed by “Locals”, some of whom had been in the original movie.

Sorry about mixing up L & L and R & S. My whole childhood was filled with the music of both teams. :-)

Cheers!