Tea for Two (song)
Encyclopedia
"Tea for Two" is a song
from the 1925 musical No, No, Nanette
with music by Vincent Youmans
and lyrics by Irving Caesar
. It is a duet sung by Nanette and Tom in Act II as they imagine their future.
described these features as being uncharacteristic of a great theatrical song but acknowledged the song's great success regardless.
The story may be apocryphal, but Irving Caesar indicated on Steve Allen
's radio show that the lyrics were intended to be temporary. Hoyt Axton
later did much the same thing with the "Jeremiah was a bullfrog" part of "Joy to the World
".
and was recorded by numerous bands and instrumentalists. One famous interpretation of the song is Tommy Dorsey
's cha-cha-cha
version, top ten in 1958, re-popularized in 2005 by adverts for McVitie's
biscuits. Another notable recording was made by Art Tatum
in 1939. Pianist Thelonious Monk
knew the song well, reharmonizing the song and recording it with a bebop-style melody in 1952 with the name "Skippy" and returning to the original melody with a charming arrangement for his 1963 album Criss Cross
. It was also used, with altered lyrics as the theme tune for BBC sitcom Next of Kin
(1995-7). Anita O'Day
's rendition of the song at the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival
was considered one of its highlights.
In October 1927, the conductor Nikolai Malko
challenged Dmitri Shostakovich
to do an arrangement of a piece in 45 minutes. His "Tea for Two" arrangement, Opus 16, was first performed on 25 November 1928. It was incorporated into Tahiti Trot from his ballet The Golden Age first performed in 1929.
The song was covered by Alvin and the Chipmunks
for their 1965 album The Chipmunks Sing with Children
.
The song was used in French comedy "Don't Look Now - We're Being Shot (La grande vadrouille). Louis de Funes and Bourvil starring.
Tommy Dorsey's version is used as an intermission on the 1997 album Ixnay on the Hombre
by California punk band The Offspring
.
"Tea for Two" was the most played song on The Lawrence Welk Show
. Played on 67 different shows in an over than 1000 show run.
A brief part of the song was used by Stewart Francis, comedian, for one of his one-liners concerning an over-active imagination and tap dancing chipmunks
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
from the 1925 musical No, No, Nanette
No, No, Nanette
No, No, Nanette is a musical comedy with lyrics by Irving Caesar and Otto Harbach, music by Vincent Youmans, and a book by Otto Harbach and Frank Mandel, based on Mandel's 1919 Broadway play My Lady Friends...
with music by Vincent Youmans
Vincent Youmans
Vincent Youmans was an American popular composer and Broadway producer.- Life :Vincent Millie Youmans was born in New York City on September 27, 1898 and grew-up on Central Park West on the site where the Mayflower Hotel once stood. His father, a prosperous hat manufacturer, moved the family to...
and lyrics by Irving Caesar
Irving Caesar
Irving Caesar was an American lyricist and theater composer who wrote lyrics for "Swanee," "Sometimes I'm Happy," "Crazy Rhythm," and "Tea for Two," one of the most frequently recorded tunes ever written. He was born and died in New York.Caesar, the son of Morris Keiser, a Romanian Jew, was...
. It is a duet sung by Nanette and Tom in Act II as they imagine their future.
Analysis
The song contains abrupt key changes between A-flat major and C-major. The song also consists mostly of dotted eighth and quarter notes. Alec WilderAlec Wilder
Alec Wilder was an American composer.-Biography:...
described these features as being uncharacteristic of a great theatrical song but acknowledged the song's great success regardless.
The story may be apocryphal, but Irving Caesar indicated on Steve Allen
Steve Allen
Steve Allen may refer to:*Steve Allen , American musician, comedian, and writer*Steve Allen , presenter on the London-based talk radio station LBC 97.3...
's radio show that the lyrics were intended to be temporary. Hoyt Axton
Hoyt Axton
Hoyt Wayne Axton was an American country music singer-songwriter, and a film and television actor. He became prominent in the early 1960s, establishing himself on the West Coast as a folk singer with an earthy style and powerful voice. As he matured, some of his songwriting efforts became well...
later did much the same thing with the "Jeremiah was a bullfrog" part of "Joy to the World
Joy to the World (Hoyt Axton song)
"Joy to the World" is a song written by Hoyt Axton, and made famous by the band Three Dog Night. The song is also popularly known by its opening words, "Jeremiah was a bullfrog"...
".
Uses
"Tea for Two" became a jazz standardJazz standard
Jazz standards are musical compositions which are an important part of the musical repertoire of jazz musicians, in that they are widely known, performed, and recorded by jazz musicians, and widely known by listeners. There is no definitive list of jazz standards, and the list of songs deemed to be...
and was recorded by numerous bands and instrumentalists. One famous interpretation of the song is Tommy Dorsey
Tommy Dorsey
Thomas Francis "Tommy" Dorsey, Jr. was an American jazz trombonist, trumpeter, composer, and bandleader of the Big Band era. He was known as "The Sentimental Gentleman of Swing", due to his smooth-toned trombone playing. He was the younger brother of bandleader Jimmy Dorsey...
's cha-cha-cha
Cha-cha-cha (music)
The Cha-cha-chá is a style of Cuban music. It is popular dance music which developed from the danzón in the early 1950s.- Origin :As a dance music genre, cha-cha-chá is unusual in that its creation can be attributed to a single composer, Enrique Jorrín, then violinist and songwriter with the...
version, top ten in 1958, re-popularized in 2005 by adverts for McVitie's
McVitie's
McVitie's is a snack food brand owned by United Biscuits. The name derives from the original Scottish biscuit maker, McVitie & Price, Ltd., established in 1830 on Rose Street in Edinburgh, Scotland. The firm moved to various sites in the city before completing the St...
biscuits. Another notable recording was made by Art Tatum
Art Tatum
Arthur "Art" Tatum, Jr. was an American jazz pianist and virtuoso who played with phenomenal facility despite being nearly blind.Tatum is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time...
in 1939. Pianist Thelonious Monk
Thelonious Monk
Thelonious Sphere Monk was an American jazz pianist and composer considered "one of the giants of American music". Monk had a unique improvisational style and made numerous contributions to the standard jazz repertoire, including "Epistrophy", "'Round Midnight", "Blue Monk", "Straight, No Chaser"...
knew the song well, reharmonizing the song and recording it with a bebop-style melody in 1952 with the name "Skippy" and returning to the original melody with a charming arrangement for his 1963 album Criss Cross
Criss Cross (album)
Criss Cross is Thelonious Monk's 26th album and his second with Columbia Records. The album consists of previously released Monk compositions that were re-recorded and re-released under Columbia Records by the Thelonious Monk Quintet.- History :...
. It was also used, with altered lyrics as the theme tune for BBC sitcom Next of Kin
Next of Kin (TV series)
Next of Kin is a British sitcom that aired on BBC1 from 1995 to 1997. It starred Penelope Keith in her last regular sitcom role. It was written byGavin Petrie and Jan Etherington....
(1995-7). Anita O'Day
Anita O'Day
Anita O'Day was an American jazz singer.Born Anita Belle Colton, O'Day was admired for her sense of rhythm and dynamics, and her early big band appearances shattered the traditional image of the "girl singer"...
's rendition of the song at the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival
Newport Jazz Festival
The Newport Jazz Festival is a music festival held every summer in Newport, Rhode Island, USA. It was established in 1954 by socialite Elaine Lorillard, who, together with husband Louis Lorillard, financed the festival for many years. The couple hired jazz impresario George Wein to organize the...
was considered one of its highlights.
In October 1927, the conductor Nikolai Malko
Nikolai Malko
-Biography:Malko was born in Semaky, Ukraine. His father was Ukrainian, his mother Russian. He studied philology at St Petersburg University. He published articles on music criticism in the Russian press and performed as a pianist and later a conductor. In 1906 he completed his studies in history...
challenged Dmitri Shostakovich
Dmitri Shostakovich
Dmitri Dmitriyevich Shostakovich was a Soviet Russian composer and one of the most celebrated composers of the 20th century....
to do an arrangement of a piece in 45 minutes. His "Tea for Two" arrangement, Opus 16, was first performed on 25 November 1928. It was incorporated into Tahiti Trot from his ballet The Golden Age first performed in 1929.
The song was covered by Alvin and the Chipmunks
Alvin and the Chipmunks
Alvin and the Chipmunks is an American animated music group created by Ross Bagdasarian, Sr. in 1958. The group consists of three singing animated anthropomorphic chipmunks: Alvin, the mischievous troublemaker, who quickly became the star of the group; Simon, the tall, bespectacled intellectual;...
for their 1965 album The Chipmunks Sing with Children
The Chipmunks Sing with Children
The Chipmunks Sing with Children is an album by Alvin and the Chipmunks with David Seville. It was released on January 1, 1965 by Liberty Records.- Side one :# "Do-Re-Mi"# "Rag Mop"# "Me Too "# "Mister Sandman"# "Hello Dolly"...
.
The song was used in French comedy "Don't Look Now - We're Being Shot (La grande vadrouille). Louis de Funes and Bourvil starring.
Tommy Dorsey's version is used as an intermission on the 1997 album Ixnay on the Hombre
Ixnay on the Hombre
-In popular culture:* "The Meaning of Life" is featured on the soundtrack to Tekken: The Motion Picture.* "All I Want", "Way Down the Line" and "Change the World" were all featured in 1999 video game Crazy Taxi....
by California punk band The Offspring
The Offspring
The Offspring is an American punk rock band from Huntington Beach, California, formed in 1984. Known as Manic Subsidal until 1986, the band consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Dexter Holland, lead guitarist Kevin "Noodles" Wasserman, bassist Greg K. and drummer Pete Parada...
.
"Tea for Two" was the most played song on The Lawrence Welk Show
The Lawrence Welk Show
The Lawrence Welk Show is an American televised musical variety show hosted by big band leader Lawrence Welk. The series aired locally in Los Angeles for four years , then nationally for another 27 years via the ABC network and first-run syndication .In the years since first-run syndication...
. Played on 67 different shows in an over than 1000 show run.
A brief part of the song was used by Stewart Francis, comedian, for one of his one-liners concerning an over-active imagination and tap dancing chipmunks