Let's Face the Music and Dance

The song was composed and written by Irving Berlin. Berlin's repertoire of Hollywood compositions was growing at the time, as he ‘adapted’ to the trends and ideas in vogue in Hollywood.[1] “Let’s Face the Music and Dance’s” debut as an original song for the Hollywood film, Follow the Fleet, signified the popularisation of jazz, demonstrating a notable example of jazz on the silver screen.

This jazz composition adheres to the typical conventions within the genre of jazz in the 1930s paradigm, classed as part of the ‘classical age.'[2] “Let’s Face the Music and Dance,” having been composed in 1936, follows the syncopation and rhythmic nuance of the swing period which was dominant at the time.[2] Berlin's conflation of swing and classical jazz cultivates an original sound which “Let’s Face the Music and Dance” presents. The influence of 1930s jazz on the song is evident in its ‘idiomatic features’ which includes the simultaneous presence of specific melodic hooks and syncopated rhythms.[2] Such a genre allowed for flexibility in creative expression, markedly for Berlin's composition "Let’s Face the Music and Dance" in the 1936.[3]

Irving Berlin, 1937

Having written songs which resonated with audiences of his time, Berlin displayed a ‘chameleon-like ability’ to craft lyrics inspired by Hollywood's most prevalent and wanted ideas and values – with "Let’s Face the Music and Dance" exploring the trending feel-good, romance topic.[1]

Berlin's lyrical acquisition is classed by critics as an art form – disparate from the poetry of ‘speculating philosophically,’ and rather broadly, exploring the conflict between poetry and lyrics.[4]

"Let’s Face the Music and Dance," follows the tonal balances as most of Berlin's compositions displayed in the 1920s and 1930s.[5] The song contains ‘a deft alternation between C minor and C major,' originally published in an Eb major key.[5][6]

Such an aspect in Berlin’s composition, amongst his other work from the 1920s and 30s was classed as particularly “Jewish” by critics, particularly in Manhattan, although music critics in retrospect have shown such elements were typical for Eurocentric musical compositions for decades preceding Berlin's compositions.[5] However, critics like Lehman saw such compositions of music by Berlin to be an ode to America and an adoption of the American cultural values, shifting away from Berlin's Jewish origins and roots.[7]

"Let’s Face the Music and Dance," debuting as part of Follow the Fleet, was a film produced by Pandro Berman and RKO Pictures; Berlin scored himself a deal with RKO Radio Picture productions that enabled him to take the reins for artistic and creative control – allowing him to produce originals such as "Let’s Face the Music and Dance."[1]

Director of the film Follow the Fleet, Herbert Ross, spoke of his decision in featuring “Let’s Face the Music and Dance” for the Astaire and Ginger dance, saying, “It [Berlin's composition] suited the scene perfectly. I was anxious to use as lip-synch a soundtrack, instead of just recorded material. I felt that the number was the perfect dramatic choice."[8]

Being the 12th most covered song of all recordings from 1936, “Let’s Face the Music and Dance,” amasses 194 versions and 2 adaptations since its first recording by Vincent Lopez and His Orchestra on January 21, 1936.[20] The song's hit versions in 1936 were by Fred Astaire and by Ted Fio Rito & His Orchestra (vocal by Stanley Hickman).[21]

On the 23rd of January 1936, Al Bowlly recorded a rendition of Berlin's composition in New York, Studio 3, with Bowlly as the tenor vocalist and Ray Noble Orchestra as the jazz/dance band musical group.[22]

Urbie Green and his Orchestra cover a trombone jazz rendition of “Let’s Face the Music and Dance” as the first track in 1958 album titled under the song's name. Featured styles in this cover include ‘Bop, Jazz instrument and Trombone Jazz.’[23]

Actress and singer, Doris Day, in her studio album Hooray for Hollywood, pays homage to Hollywood through covering various popular jazz hits of the 20th century, including Berlin's "Let's Face the Music and Dance." The album was released on the 20th of October, 1958, where Day collaborates with Frank De Vol and His Orchestra.[24]

Released on vinyl in 1960, singer Steve Lawrence covered Berlin's composition as one of two tracks in his vinyl record.[25]

Frank Sinatra covered Berlin's "Let’s Face the Music and Dance," within a more pop-jazz genre, released in his 1961 album Ring-A-Ding Ding! under Reprise Records, with the composition arranged by Johnny Mandel.[26] Sinatra went on to record a reprise of the song in 1979.[27] Ella Fitzgerald included this song in her landmark Verve Records release Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Irving Berlin Songbook.

In 1962, Shirley Bassey released her studio album titled, Let’s Face the Music, which featured a ‘ballad, easy listening style’ rendition of “Let’s Face the Music and Dance.”[28]

Nat King Cole's 1964 swing rendition of the song, with the album titled under the song's name, had inspired "Let’s Face the Music and Dance" to be covered by many other artists including Diana Krall and Robbie Williams.[29][30] Diana Krall released a cover of Nat King Cole's version, as the first song on her album When I Look in Your Eyes on June 8, 1999.[29]  Robbie Williams covered "Let’s Face the Music and Dance" about a decade later, in 2001, from his album Swing When You're Winning.[30]

English singer, Matt Monro, collaborates with Nelson Riddle in his 1967 classic TV concert album Matt Sings, Nelson Swings, which features a rendition of "Let's Face the Music and Dance" as the fourth track.[31]

Kenny Clarke and Francy Boland Big Band released their album Let's Face the Music in the style of a jazz big band, featuring a rendition of Berlin's "Let's Face the Music and Dance" as the first track on the album.[32]

In 1984, German musician, Taco, released a synth-pop rendition of Berlin's composition in his album titled Let's Face the Music.[33]

Paying tribute to her late father, Nat King Cole - Natalie Cole covers her father's rendition of "Let's Face the Music and Dance" in her 1996 album Stardust.[34]

With her album titled under the song's name, Susannah McCorkle covers Berlin's “Let’s Face the Music and Dance” as the second track in her 1997 album of Berlin's composition covers in a folk & country style.[35]

In a contemporary easy-listening style, actress and singer Jane Krakowski sings a rendition of Berlin's composition in her 2010 album The Laziest Gal in Town. The cover was recorded live at Feinstein's at Loews Regency in New York on the 17th of October 2009.[36]

French singer Julien Clerc adapted Irving Berlin's song in 2003, translating and performing it in French, titled "Laisse Faire la Musique et Danse."[37]

In 2013, country singer, Willie Nelson, covers Berlin's composition with a conflation of underlying ‘sweet and sinister’ tones in his album titled Let’s Face the Music and Dance.[38]

In 2014, Scottish singer Todd Gordon recorded a duet with New York-based jazz singer Sunny Kim included on the album Love dot com. In 2018, it appeared in (and gave its title to) an episode of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.[39]

In 2017, UK's pop duo, Right Said Fred, released an ‘Electro Swing Mix’ of Berlin's classic “Let’s Face the Music and Dance,” amassing over 600,000 plays on Spotify.[40]

In his second album released in 2019, Jeff Goldblum collaborates with Sharon Van Etten to present a sultry, jazzy rendition of "Let’s Face the Music and Dance," as the first single on the album.[41]

Amidst the 2020 global coronavirus pandemic, swing band, Down for the Count Concert Orchestra covered Nat King Cole's arrangement of "Let’s Face the Music and Dance" and created their “Orchestra in Lockdown,” compiling a virtual video, performing a rendition of the song.[42] The intention of their rendition was to raise awareness for the efforts of the NHS and spread positivity amidst the panic of the pandemic. The tribute video amassed over 52,000 views within the first two days of its release, with audiences making a notable acknowledgment of the song's feel-good, positive message which endorses living in the moment and enjoying the present – a concept needing to be reinforced amidst the uncertainty of the pandemic, as Down for the Count UK infers.[42]

In a contemporary swing rendition, singer Emm Gryner covers "Let's Face the Music and Dance" in her album titled Just for You, released on the 4th of September 2020.[43]

Robbie Williams performed Irving Berlin's "Let's the Music and Dance" amongst other popular jazz songs like Dean Martin's "Ain't That a Kick in the Head" and Richard Rodger's "Have You Met Miss Jones?" in the Royal Albert Hall in October 2001. The recording of his performance was soon after available on DVD in December 2001, titled: Robbie Williams: Live at the Albert.[44]

On the 27th January 2010, Rufus Wainwright performed a cover of "Let’s Face the Music and Dance" in the Allen Room of Frederick P. Rose Hall, New York.[45]

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In New York's jazz club, Birdland, American jazz pianist and vocalist, Barbara Carroll, performed Berlin's composition on the 17th January 2015, adhering to the swing tones of the original song.[46]

Jeff Goldblum debuted his rendition of Berlin's "Let’s Face the Music and Dance," featuring Sharon Van Etten, in 2019 on his Glastonbury set.[47]

Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga’s rendition of Berlin’s “Let’s Face the Music and Dance” in their collaborative album, Cheek to Cheek, reached number 1 on Billboard charts in 2014.[48] This version was also nominated for and went onto win the 57th Annual Grammy Award in 2014 for the Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.[49]

In a 2011 Concord Theatricals Musical, Top Hat, titled after the 1935 RKO Productions film Top Hat - being a Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dance musical, features “Let’s Face the Music and Dance” as a key song. The Classic Broadway, jazz style musical won the 2013 Laurence Olivier Awards for Best New Musical, Best Costume Design and Best Choreography as well as the 2013 Evening Standard Award for Best Night Out.[50]