"Applause" is the title song from the

1970 Events January * January 1 – Unix time epoch reached at 00:00:00 UTC. * January 5 – The 7.1 Tonghai earthquake shakes Tonghai County, Yunnan province, China, with a maximum Mercalli intensity scale, Mercalli intensity of X (''Extrem ...

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

musical Musical is the adjective of music. Musical may also refer to: * Musical theatre, a performance art that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance * Musical film and television, a genre of film and television that incorporates into the narr ...

Applause Applause (Latin ''applaudere,'' to strike upon, clap) is primarily a form of ovation or praise expressed by the act of clapping, or striking the palms of the hands together, in order to create noise. Audiences usually applaud after a performanc ...

'', with music by

Charles Strouse Charles Strouse (born June 7, 1928) is an American composer and lyricist best known for writing the music to such Broadway musicals as ''Bye Bye Birdie (musical), Bye Bye Birdie'', ''Applause (musical), Applause'', and ''Annie (musical), Annie''. ...

and lyrics by

Lee Adams Lee Richard Adams (born August 14, 1924) is an American lyricist best known for his musical theatre collaboration with Charles Strouse. Biography Born in Mansfield, Ohio, Adams is the son of Dr. Leopold Adams, originally of Stamford, Connectic ...

, originally performed by Bonnie Franklin, who originated the role of Bonnie in the musical, and recorded as a single with orchestra and chorus conducted by Donald Pippin. The single was released with a B-side featuring the star of the production, Lauren Bacall, making her musical theatre debut, performing "Something Greater" together with

Len Cariou Leonard Joseph Cariou (; born September 30, 1939) is a Canadian actor and stage director, best known for his portrayal of Sweeney Todd in the original cast of '' Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street'', for which he won the Tony Award ...

. The single's popularity led to Franklin's being invited to perform it on the 24th Tony Awards broadcast on television, where the show gained Best Musical, Bacall Best Leading Actress in a Musical, but Bonnie Franklin missed out on the best supporting actress to

Melba Moore Beatrice Melba Hill or Beatrice Melba Smith (sources differ) (born October 29, 1945), known by her stage name Melba Moore, is an American singer and actress. Biography Early life and education Moore was born Beatrice Melba Hill or Beatrice Melba ...

Music and lyrics

The composer, Strouse, called in

Marvin Hamlisch Marvin Frederick Hamlisch (June 2, 1944 – August 6, 2012) was an American composer and conductor. Hamlisch was one of only seventeen people to win Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards. This collection of all four is referred to as an " EGOT ...

to write the arrangement for the title song "Applause", which was sung during the first act of the show by Franklin as waiters danced on tables. The song was reprised at the end of the show. The song has Franklin's character, a waitress-cum- chorus dancer named Bonnie, asking her fellow waiter-performers: "What is it that we're living for?"—then providing the answer: "Applause, Applause! / Nothing I know / brings on the glow / like sweet applause."

Reception

Franklin's single was not only the most successful song from the stage production, but also the most successful of any Broadway song that season among 14 new shows. For the stage performance New York reviews, including ''Time'' magazine, ''Plays and Players'' and ''The Outer Circle'', commented favorably both on Franklin and her performance of the song "Applause". Though some critics were puzzled at the giving of this "rousing, toe-tapping title song" to a supporting actress rather than the lead actress. Norman Lear, who later cast and directed Franklin on TV, recalled "I loved the stride, the purposeful way she moves across a stage,". ''The Encyclopedia of the Musical Theatre'' (2001) notes that the song's success overshadowed a similarly named - and themed - song "Applause, Applause" by

Burton Lane Burton Lane ( Levy; February 2, 1912 – January 5, 1997) was an American composer and lyricist primarily known for his theatre and film scores. His most popular and successful works include '' Finian's Rainbow'' in 1947 and ''On a Clear Day You ...

and

Ira Gershwin Ira Gershwin (born Israel Gershovitz; December 6, 1896 – August 17, 1983) was an American lyricist who collaborated with his younger brother, composer George Gershwin, to create some of the most memorable songs in the English language of the 2 ...

in the film

Give a Girl a Break ''Give a Girl a Break'' is a 1953 American musical romantic comedy film directed by Stanley Donen, starring Debbie Reynolds and the dance team of Marge and Gower Champion. A young Bob Fosse has a featured role. As Martin Gottfried wrote in his ...

(1953), which had been sung by

Gower Champion Gower Carlyle Champion (June 22, 1919 – August 25, 1980) was an American actor, theatre director, choreographer, and dancer. Early years Champion was born on June 22, 1919, in Geneva, Illinois, as the son of John W. Champion and Beatrice Car ...

and

Debbie Reynolds Mary Frances "Debbie" Reynolds (April 1, 1932 – December 28, 2016) was an American actress, singer, and businesswoman. Her career spanned almost 70 years. She was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Newcomer for her portra ...

. ''The Oxford Companion to the American Musical'' (2008) describes Franklin's song as "celebratory" leading of "Broadway gypsies." The influence of Bonnie Franklin's performance of the title song remained strong enough 30 years later that in a New York magazine article in 2001 men's style editor Hal Rubenstein made reference in New York restaurant review to "a future Bonnie Franklin working here who's gonna sing "Applause" atop a table."New York - Volume 34 2001 -- Page 128 "RESTAURANTS HAL RUBENSTEIN Not Tony Enough Restaurant row used to be more about plucky waiters than daring menus. ... paraphernalia, and swear that there's a future Bonnie Franklin working here who's gonna sing "Applause" atop ..."

References

{{authority control 1970 songs Songs from musicals Songs with music by Charles Strouse Songs with lyrics by Lee Adams 1970 singles ABC Records singles