"Do It Again" is an American popular song by composer

George Gershwin George Gershwin (; born Jacob Gershwine; September 26, 1898 – July 11, 1937) was an American composer and pianist whose compositions spanned popular, jazz and classical genres. Among his best-known works are the orchestral compositions ' ...

and lyricist

Buddy DeSylva George Gard "Buddy" DeSylva (January 27, 1895 – July 11, 1950) was an American songwriter, film producer and record executive. He wrote or co-wrote many popular songs and, along with Johnny Mercer and Glenn Wallichs, he co-founded Capitol Recor ...

. The song premiered in the 1922 Broadway show ''The French Doll'', as performed by actress

Irène Bordoni Irène Bordoni (16 January 1885 – 19 March 1953) was a Franco-American actress and singer. Early years Bordoni was born in Paris, France, to Sauveur Bordoni, a tailor, and Marie Lemonnier. The 19th-century painter Francis Millet was a great ...

Background

Gershwin recounted the origin of the song in 1934: Gershwin began playing the song, at parties. Upon hearing the song,

insisted that she perform the song in her show. "Do It Again" first appeared in the

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 ...

play ''The French Doll'', which premiered on February 20, 1922 at the

Lyceum The lyceum is a category of educational institution defined within the education system of many countries, mainly in Europe. The definition varies among countries; usually it is a type of secondary school. Generally in that type of school the t ...

and ran for a total of 120 performances.

Construction

Edward Jablonski Edward Jablonski (March 1, 1922 – February 10, 2004) was the author of several biographies on American cultural personalities, such as George Gershwin, Harold Arlen, Alan Jay Lerner, and Irving Berlin, as well as books on aviation history. ...

's book ''Gershwin: With a New Critical Discography'', he writes that "Do It Again" has "bar-to-bar modulations, distinctive harmonies and un-Tin Pan Alley long-lined melody that mark it as one of Gershwin's finest creations."

Success

Bordoni, the actress who performed the song in ''The French Doll'', earned praise and success with the song's premiere.

Alice Delysia Alice Henriette Lapize (3 March 1889 – 10 February 1979), better known by her stage name, Alice Delysia and sometimes Elise Delisia, was a French actress and singer who made her career in English musical theatre. After performing in the cho ...

's performance of the song (retitled as "Please Do It Again") in the 1922 London revue ''Mayfair and Montmartre'' was also well received. That same year, the

Paul Whiteman Paul Samuel Whiteman (March 28, 1890 – December 29, 1967) was an American bandleader, composer, orchestral director, and violinist. As the leader of one of the most popular dance bands in the United States during the 1920s and early 1930s, W ...

Orchestra's recording found success and helped forge an "auspicious association" between the bandleader and Gershwin. While Bordoni never recorded the song, Delysia did in 1933. Other notable performances include

Marilyn Monroe Marilyn Monroe (; born Norma Jeane Mortenson; 1 June 1926 4 August 1962) was an American actress. Famous for playing comedic " blonde bombshell" characters, she became one of the most popular sex symbols of the 1950s and early 1960s, as wel ...

's 1952 live rendition before thousands of

marines Marines, or naval infantry, are typically a military force trained to operate in littoral zones in support of naval operations. Historically, tasks undertaken by marines have included helping maintain discipline and order aboard the ship (refle ...

Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton is the major West Coast base of the United States Marine Corps and is one of the largest Marine Corps bases in the United States. It is on the Southern California coast in San Diego County and is bordered by O ...

Southern California Southern California (commonly shortened to SoCal) is a geographic and cultural region that generally comprises the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. It includes the Los Angeles metropolitan area, the second most populous urban a ...

, which caused a "near riot", as well as the version that appears on

Judy Garland Judy Garland (born Frances Ethel Gumm; June 10, 1922June 22, 1969) was an American actress and singer. While critically acclaimed for many different roles throughout her career, she is widely known for playing the part of Dorothy Gale in '' The ...

's 1961 live album ''

Judy at Carnegie Hall ''Judy at Carnegie Hall'' is a double-LP (re-released decades later as an extended, two-disc CD) live recording of a concert by Judy Garland at Carnegie Hall in New York, with backing orchestra led by Mort Lindsey. This concert appearance, on the ...

''.

Notable recordings

* June Christy – 78 rpm single, with Shorty Rogers and His Giants, recorded September 11, 1950 in Los Angeles (1950), '' Day Dreams'', Blue Note/Capitol CD compilation (reissued 1995), ''

Cool Christy ''Cool Christy'' is a 2002 double-CD compilation of recordings by jazz vocalist June Christy from 1945 to 1951. Disc one # "Tampico" ( Gene Roland) # "It's Been a Long, Long Time" ( Jule Styne, Sammy Cahn) # " It Ain't Necessarily So" (George Ge ...

'' Proper Records CD compilation (reissued 2002) * Sarah Vaughan – ''

Sarah Vaughan Sings George Gershwin ''Sarah Vaughan Sings George Gershwin'' is a 1958 studio album by Sarah Vaughan, of the music of George Gershwin. Vaughan would release another all-Gershwin album, ''Gershwin Live!'', in 1982. Track listing # "Isn't It a Pity?" – 3:53 # "Of Th ...

'' (1958) and ''

Gershwin Live! ''Gershwin Live!'' is a 1982 live album by Sarah Vaughan, of music composed by George Gershwin, accompanied by the Los Angeles Philharmonic, conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas. The album was arranged by Marty Paich. Vaughan's performance won he ...

'' (1982) *

April Stevens April Stevens (born Caroline Vincinette LoTempio; April 29, 1929) is an American singer best known for her collaborations with her younger brother, Nino Tempo. Biography Stevens has recorded since she was twenty two years old. Her most popula ...

– ''

Teach Me Tiger April Stevens (born Caroline Vincinette LoTempio; April 29, 1929) is an American singer best known for her collaborations with her younger brother, Nino Tempo. Biography Stevens has recorded since she was twenty two years old. Her most popula ...

'' (1960) *

– ''

'' (1961, reissued many times since) * Julie London – ''

Whatever Julie Wants ''Whatever Julie Wants'' is an LP album by Julie London, released by Liberty Records under catalog number LRP-3192 as a monophonic recording and catalog number LST-7192 in stereo in 1961. For the cover photograph of this release Julie London had ...

'' (1961) (reissued 2012) *

Shirley Horn Shirley Valerie Horn (May 1, 1934 – October 20, 2005) was an American jazz singer and pianist. She collaborated with many jazz musicians including Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Toots Thielemans, Ron Carter, Carmen McRae, Wynton Marsalis and ot ...

– '' Loads of Love'' (1963) *

Carol Channing Carol Elaine Channing (January 31, 1921 – January 15, 2019) was an American actress, singer, dancer and comedian who starred in Broadway and film musicals. Her characters usually had a fervent expressiveness and an easily identifiable voice, ...

– ''Thoroughly Modern Millie'' film soundtrack (LP 1967), (CD 1992) * Nancy Wilson – '' But Beautiful'' (1969) *

Michael Feinstein Michael Jay Feinstein (born September 7, 1956) is an American singer, pianist, and music revivalist. He is an archivist and interpreter for the repertoire known as the Great American Songbook. In 1988 he won a Drama Desk Special Award for cele ...

– '' Michael & George: Feinstein Sings Gershwin'' (1998) *

Diana Krall Diana Jean Krall (born November 16, 1964) is a Canadian jazz pianist and singer known for her contralto vocals. She has sold more than 15 million albums worldwide, including over six million in the US. On December 11, 2009, ''Billboard'' maga ...

– ''

When I Look in Your Eyes ''When I Look in Your Eyes'' is the fifth studio album by Canadian singer Diana Krall, released on June 8, 1999, by Verve Records. It was nominated for a Grammy Award for Album of the Year, the first time in 25 years that a jazz album was nominate ...

'' (1999) *

– ''The Essential George Gershwin'' (2002) *

Linda Eder Linda Eder (; born February 3, 1961) is an American singer and actress. She made her Broadway debut in the musical '' Jekyll & Hyde'', originating the role of Lucy Harris, for which she was nominated for the Drama Desk Award. Eder has performe ...

– '' By Myself: The Songs of Judy Garland'' (2005) *

Rufus Wainwright Rufus McGarrigle Wainwright (born July 22, 1973) is a Canadian-American singer, songwriter, and composer. He has recorded 10 studio albums and numerous tracks on compilations and film soundtracks. He has also written two classical operas and set ...

– ''

Rufus Does Judy at Carnegie Hall ''Rufus Does Judy at Carnegie Hall'' is the sixth album (and first live album) by the Canadian-American singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright, released through Geffen Records in December 2007. The album consists of live recordings from his sold-out ...

'' and '' Rufus! Rufus! Rufus! Does Judy! Judy! Judy!: Live from the London Palladium'', concert album and DVD (2007) *

Mark Isham Mark Ware Isham (born September 7, 1951) is an American musician and film composer. A trumpeter and keyboardist, Isham works in a variety of genres, including jazz and electronic. He is also a film composer, having worked on numerous films and ...

and

Kate Ceberano Catherine Yvette Ceberano ( or , born 17 November 1966) is an Australian singer and actress who performs in the soul, jazz, and pop genres, as well as in film and musicals such as ''Jesus Christ Superstar''. Her song "Pash" received a gold sa ...

– '' Bittersweet'' (2009)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Do It Again (George Gershwin And Buddy Desylva Song) 1922 songs Judy Garland songs Nancy Wilson (jazz singer) songs Songs with lyrics by Buddy DeSylva Songs with music by George Gershwin

Background

Construction

Success

Notable recordings

See also

References