Tonight You Belong to Me (song)
Encyclopedia
"Tonight You Belong to Me" is a popular American song
, written in 1926 by lyricist Billy Rose
and composer Lee David. It was recorded in 1927
by Gene Austin
, although the first ever recording was by Irving Kaufman
in 1926
on Banner Records
. The song was revived by Frankie Laine
in 1952
, and subsequently recorded again in 1956
by Patience and Prudence
, who reached #4 on the Billboard charts
with their version, and also by Lawrence Welk
with The Lennon Sisters
and the duo of Karen Chandler
and Jimmy Wakely
, Ann Shelton and The Duprees.
In 1964 Tonight You Belong to Me was recorded by George Maharis
in a sweet swing-style under Epic label.
One of the most embarrassing moments in live 1950's television occurred during a Patience and Prudence performance on the Ed Sullivan show when the girls were lip syncing the song and the recording stuck on the word, "belong."
It was also recorded by country music singer Dottie West
in 1977, and was released as a single to the Country charts that year, reaching #30 on the Hot Country Songs
list in 1977. It was put on her 1977 album When It's Just You and Me.
It was also performed by Steve Martin
and Bernadette Peters
in the 1979 movie The Jerk
. Jazz ukulele player Lyle Ritz actually played the ukulele accompaniment for the scene. On the 26th Anniversary DVD re-release there is a tutorial by Ukulele Gal on how to play "Tonight You Belong to Me" on the ukulele.
In 2008, MJ O'Sullivan recorded a duet with his wife Theresa which is almost identical to the Steve Martin
and Bernadette Peters
performance. It appears on his album All I Need Is This Guitar (that's all I need) - the title derived from a scene from The Jerk.
The Honeys
covered the song in 1969 on a record produced by Brian Wilson
.
Alvin and the Chipmunks
covered the song for their 1965 album The Chipmunks Sing with Children
.
NRBQ
covered the song on their 1983 disc "Grooves In Orbit".
The expanded version of The Trash Can Sinatras
' 1990 disc Cake includes a cover of the song, as a bonus track.
Erin McKeown
and Josh Ritter
parodied the Martin/Peters version on the radio
show "The Whole Wide World with Rita Houston" on WFUV
, 30 April 2004. McKeown imitates a flügelhorn
during the instrumental section. They also perform this song on the Signature Sounds (a folk music label) 10th Anniversary CD and DVD.http://www.signaturesounds.com/index.cfm Josh Ritter has also recorded a version of the song with Blake Hazard of The Submarines
, which was released as a B-side on the Snow Is Gone single.
Guest opener Eddie Vedder
of Pearl Jam
sang the song as a duet with Janet Weiss
of Sleater-Kinney
at Sleater-Kinney’s last show on August 12, 2006. On his 2011 album, Ukulele Songs
, Eddie Vedder released this song as a duet with Cat Power
.
The Extraordinary Machine
release by Fiona Apple
includes a DVD featuring Apple, Jon Brion
and others performing "You Belong to Me" live at Cafe Largo in Los Angeles, California
.
Nancy Sinatra
covered it.
is currently used by eBay
as a commercial theme. One of the most embarrassing moments in live 1950's television occurred during a Patience and Prudence performance on the Ed Sullivan show when the girls were lip syncing the song and the recording stuck on the word, "belong."
The song was also featured in the credits of the 2004 film Birth
.
The Bird and the Bee
released their rendition of the track on their digital EP One Too Many Hearts which is available for purchase online.
In an episode of Boston Legal
, was sung as a duet between the 2 characters Edwin Poole and Attorney Melvin Palmer at a piano.
A live version of Viva Voce (band)
performing this song can be found on their 2007 compilation album "Lovers, Lead the Way!/The Heat Can Melt Your Brain" as track 33.
The song is featured in a 2009 TV commercial for U.S. Cellular.
The song was covered by John Hodgman
and Jonathan Coulton
on the audiobook edition of Hodgman's book More Information Than You Require
.
The song was covered by Eddie Vedder
and Chan Marshall (Cat Power
) on Vedder's second solo album, Ukulele Songs
(2011).
Actress Zooey Deschanel
and comedian Ben Schwartz
posted a Youtube
clip of themselves performing the song.
Was used for background music as the twins Troy and Byron begin trashing a house with baseball bats, for the Pilot Episode of American Horror Story on the FX Channel. (2011).
American popular music
American popular music had a profound effect on music across the world. The country has seen the rise of popular styles that have had a significant influence on global culture, including ragtime, blues, jazz, swing, rock, R&B, doo wop, gospel, soul, funk, heavy metal, punk, disco, house, techno,...
, written in 1926 by lyricist Billy Rose
Billy Rose
William "Billy" Rose was an American impresario, theatrical showman and lyricist. He is credited with many famous songs, notably "Me and My Shadow" , "It Happened in Monterey" and "It's Only a Paper Moon"...
and composer Lee David. It was recorded in 1927
1927 in music
-Events:* January 8 - Alban Berg's Lyric Suite is premiered in Vienna.* April 21 - Electric re-recording of George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue by Paul Whiteman's Orchestra directed by Nathaniel Shilkret, with Gershwin at the piano....
by Gene Austin
Gene Austin
Gene Austin was an American singer and songwriter, one of the first "crooners". His 1920s compositions "When My Sugar Walks Down the Street" and "The Lonesome Road" became pop and jazz standards.-Career:...
, although the first ever recording was by Irving Kaufman
Irving Kaufman (singer)
Irving Kaufman born Isidore Kaufman Syracuse, New York was a prolific early twentieth century singer, recording artist and Vaudeville performer...
in 1926
1926 in music
-Events:*January - Blind Lemon Jefferson makes his first recordings.*April 9 - Leopold Stokowski conducts the world premiere of Edgar Varèse's Amériques, with the Philadelphia Orchestra....
on Banner Records
Banner Records
Banner Records was a United States based record label of the 20th century.Banner Records was launched in January 1922 by the Plaza Music Company of New York City. Banner was an extremely popular label in the 1920s, concentrating on popular music of the day. To this day, Banners are often found all...
. The song was revived by Frankie Laine
Frankie Laine
Frankie Laine, born Francesco Paolo LoVecchio , was a successful American singer, songwriter, and actor whose career spanned 75 years, from his first concerts in 1930 with a marathon dance company to his final performance of "That's My Desire" in 2005...
in 1952
1952 in music
-Events:*February 26 - Jo Stafford marries bandleader/arranger Paul Weston.*March 21 - First reported Rock and roll riot breaks out at Alan Freed's Moondog Coronation Ball in Cleveland, Ohio...
, and subsequently recorded again in 1956
1956 in music
-Events:*January 26 – Buddy Holly's first recording sessions for Decca Records take place in Nashville, Tennessee*Roy Orbison signs with Sun Records*January 27 – Elvis Presley's single "Heartbreak Hotel" / "I Was the One" is released...
by Patience and Prudence
Patience and Prudence
Patience and Prudence McIntyre, known professionally as Patience and Prudence, were two sisters who were a young singing act in the 1950s.-Career:...
, who reached #4 on the Billboard charts
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
with their version, and also by Lawrence Welk
Lawrence Welk
Lawrence Welk was an American musician, accordionist, bandleader, and television impresario, who hosted The Lawrence Welk Show from 1955 to 1982...
with The Lennon Sisters
The Lennon Sisters
The Lennon Sisters are a singing group consisting of four siblings: Dianne , Peggy , Kathy , and Janet . They were all born in Los Angeles, California of German/Irish and Mexican ancestry. The original quartet were the eldest four in a family of twelve siblings...
and the duo of Karen Chandler
Karen Chandler
Eva Nadauld , known professionally as Karen Chandler, was an American singer of popular music during the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, best known for her 1952 hit, "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me".-Biography:...
and Jimmy Wakely
Jimmy Wakely
James Clarence Wakeley , better known as Jimmy Wakely, was an American country-Western singer and actor, one of the last crooning cowpokes following World War II...
, Ann Shelton and The Duprees.
In 1964 Tonight You Belong to Me was recorded by George Maharis
George Maharis
George Maharis is an American actor who portrayed Buz Murdock in the first three seasons of the TV series Route 66...
in a sweet swing-style under Epic label.
Other Renditions
The version sung by Patience and Prudence is currently used by eBay as a commercial theme.One of the most embarrassing moments in live 1950's television occurred during a Patience and Prudence performance on the Ed Sullivan show when the girls were lip syncing the song and the recording stuck on the word, "belong."
It was also recorded by country music singer Dottie West
Dottie West
Dottie West was an American country music singer and songwriter. Along with her friends and co-recording artists Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn, she is considered one of the genre's most influential and groundbreaking female artists...
in 1977, and was released as a single to the Country charts that year, reaching #30 on the Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
list in 1977. It was put on her 1977 album When It's Just You and Me.
It was also performed by Steve Martin
Steve Martin
Stephen Glenn "Steve" Martin is an American actor, comedian, writer, playwright, producer, musician and composer....
and Bernadette Peters
Bernadette Peters
Bernadette Peters is an American actress, singer and children's book author from Ozone Park, Queens, New York. Over the course of a career that has spanned five decades, she has starred in musical theatre, films and television, as well as performing in solo concerts and recordings...
in the 1979 movie The Jerk
The Jerk
The Jerk is a 1979 American comedy film. Directed by Carl Reiner, the film was written by Steve Martin, Carl Gottlieb and Michael Elias. This was Steve Martin's first starring role in a feature film. The film also features Bernadette Peters, M. Emmet Walsh and Jackie Mason.-Plot:The film begins...
. Jazz ukulele player Lyle Ritz actually played the ukulele accompaniment for the scene. On the 26th Anniversary DVD re-release there is a tutorial by Ukulele Gal on how to play "Tonight You Belong to Me" on the ukulele.
In 2008, MJ O'Sullivan recorded a duet with his wife Theresa which is almost identical to the Steve Martin
Steve Martin
Stephen Glenn "Steve" Martin is an American actor, comedian, writer, playwright, producer, musician and composer....
and Bernadette Peters
Bernadette Peters
Bernadette Peters is an American actress, singer and children's book author from Ozone Park, Queens, New York. Over the course of a career that has spanned five decades, she has starred in musical theatre, films and television, as well as performing in solo concerts and recordings...
performance. It appears on his album All I Need Is This Guitar (that's all I need) - the title derived from a scene from The Jerk.
The Honeys
The Honeys
The Honeys were a 1960s girl group, who recorded for Capitol Records, and were a kind of female counterpart to the Beach Boys; Beach Boy Brian Wilson served as their record producer and chief songwriter....
covered the song in 1969 on a record produced by Brian Wilson
Brian Wilson
Brian Douglas Wilson is an American musician, best known as the leader and chief songwriter of the group The Beach Boys. Within the band, Wilson played bass and keyboards, also providing part-time lead vocals and, more often, backing vocals, harmonizing in falsetto with the group...
.
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;...
covered the song 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"...
.
NRBQ
NRBQ
NRBQ is an American rock band founded in 1967. It is known for its live performances, containing a high degree of spontaneity and levity, and blending rock, pop, jazz, blues and Tin Pan Alley styles. Its best known line-up is the 1974–1994 quartet of pianist Terry Adams, bassist Joey Spampinato,...
covered the song on their 1983 disc "Grooves In Orbit".
The expanded version of The Trash Can Sinatras
The Trash Can Sinatras
The Trash Can Sinatras, now generally known as Trashcan Sinatras, are a Scottish band that was formed in Irvine, Scotland in 1986. The band's music makes frequent use of wordplay and pop harmonies.-Formation:...
' 1990 disc Cake includes a cover of the song, as a bonus track.
Erin McKeown
Erin McKeown
Erin McKeown is an American multi-instrumentalist and folk-rock singer/songwriter.McKeown began her career in the folk scene. She released her first album, Monday Morning Cold, on her own label , travelling throughout New England while still a student at Brown University in order to promote the...
and Josh Ritter
Josh Ritter
Josh Ritter is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist and author who performs and records with The Royal City Band. Ritter is known for his distinctive Americana style and narrative lyrics. In 2006 he was named one of the "100 Greatest Living Songwriters" by Paste magazine.- Early life :Josh...
parodied the Martin/Peters version on the radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
show "The Whole Wide World with Rita Houston" on WFUV
WFUV
WFUV, 90.7 FM in New York City, is Fordham University's 50,000-watt, non-commercial radio station, with studios on campus and its antenna atop nearby Montefiore Medical Center. First broadcast in 1947, WFUV has an airstaff which includes such New York radio veterans as Pete Fornatale , Dennis...
, 30 April 2004. McKeown imitates a flügelhorn
Flugelhorn
The flugelhorn is a brass instrument resembling a trumpet but with a wider, conical bore. Some consider it to be a member of the saxhorn family developed by Adolphe Sax ; however, other historians assert that it derives from the valve bugle designed by Michael Saurle , Munich 1832 , thus...
during the instrumental section. They also perform this song on the Signature Sounds (a folk music label) 10th Anniversary CD and DVD.http://www.signaturesounds.com/index.cfm Josh Ritter has also recorded a version of the song with Blake Hazard of The Submarines
The Submarines
-Band history:Working as solo artists in Boston, the two members of the band, John Dragonetti and Blake Hazard, were introduced through a mutual friend, Joe Klompus. Dragonetti and Hazard became partners and soon toured Europe together as members of the band. The relationship lasted for four...
, which was released as a B-side on the Snow Is Gone single.
Guest opener Eddie Vedder
Eddie Vedder
Eddie Vedder is an American musician and singer-songwriter who is best known for being the lead singer and one of three guitarists of the alternative rock band Pearl Jam. He is widely considered a cultural icon of alternative rock.He is also involved in soundtrack work and contributes to albums...
of Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam is an American rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990. Since its inception, the band's line-up has included Eddie Vedder , Jeff Ament , Stone Gossard , and Mike McCready...
sang the song as a duet with Janet Weiss
Janet Weiss
Janet Lee Weiss was the drummer of now defunct Sleater-Kinney and is currently a member of Quasi and Wild Flag. She was the drummer for Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, leaving after the album Mirror Traffic.-Early life:...
of Sleater-Kinney
Sleater-Kinney
Sleater-Kinney was an alternative rock band from Portland, Oregon that formed in 1994. Originally formed in Olympia, Washington, the group's name is derived from Sleater-Kinney Road, Interstate 5 off ramp #108 in Lacey, Washington, the location of one of their early practice spaces. They were a...
at Sleater-Kinney’s last show on August 12, 2006. On his 2011 album, Ukulele Songs
Ukulele Songs
Ukulele Songs is the second solo studio album by American singer and Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder. It was released on May 31, 2011. The album is composed of original songs and covers.-Track listing:-Cover art:...
, Eddie Vedder released this song as a duet with Cat Power
Cat Power
Charlyn Marie Marshall , also known as Chan Marshall or by her stage name Cat Power, is an American singer/songwriter and occasional actress and model. Cat Power was originally the name of Marshall's first band, but has come to refer to her musical projects with various backing bands...
.
The Extraordinary Machine
Extraordinary Machine
Extraordinary Machine is the third album by American singer-songwriter Fiona Apple, released by Epic Records in the United States on October 4, 2005. Produced by Jon Brion, it was expected to be released in 2003 but was delayed several times by the record label without explanation, leading to...
release by Fiona Apple
Fiona Apple
Fiona Apple McAfee Maggart is an American singer-songwriter and pianist. Apple met international acclaim for her 1996 debut album, Tidal, which was a critical and commercial success...
includes a DVD featuring Apple, Jon Brion
Jon Brion
Jon Brion is an American rock and pop multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, composer and record producer.-Early life:...
and others performing "You Belong to Me" live at Cafe Largo in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
.
Nancy Sinatra
Nancy Sinatra
Nancy Sandra Sinatra is an American singer and actress. She is the daughter of singer/actor Frank Sinatra, and remains best known for her 1966 signature hit "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'"....
covered it.
Commercial Usage
The version sung by Patience and PrudencePatience and Prudence
Patience and Prudence McIntyre, known professionally as Patience and Prudence, were two sisters who were a young singing act in the 1950s.-Career:...
is currently used by eBay
EBay
eBay Inc. is an American internet consumer-to-consumer corporation that manages eBay.com, an online auction and shopping website in which people and businesses buy and sell a broad variety of goods and services worldwide...
as a commercial theme. One of the most embarrassing moments in live 1950's television occurred during a Patience and Prudence performance on the Ed Sullivan show when the girls were lip syncing the song and the recording stuck on the word, "belong."
The song was also featured in the credits of the 2004 film Birth
Birth (film)
Birth is a 2004 film directed by Jonathan Glazer and starring Nicole Kidman, Lauren Bacall, Danny Huston and Cameron Bright.The story is about a young widow from a prominent Manhattan-based family named Anna who slowly becomes convinced that her husband, Sean, who died ten years previously, has...
.
The Bird and the Bee
The Bird and the Bee
The Bird and the Bee is an American indie pop musical duo from Los Angeles, California, consisting of musicians Inara George and Greg Kurstin...
released their rendition of the track on their digital EP One Too Many Hearts which is available for purchase online.
In an episode of Boston Legal
Boston Legal
Boston Legal is an American legal dramedy created by David E. Kelley, which was produced in association with 20th Century Fox Television for the ABC...
, was sung as a duet between the 2 characters Edwin Poole and Attorney Melvin Palmer at a piano.
A live version of Viva Voce (band)
Viva Voce (band)
Viva Voce is an American indie rock band from Portland, Oregon, formed by Kevin Robinson and Anita Robinson. Their music draws on several influences including psychedelic rock, classic rock, folk and R&B.-History:...
performing this song can be found on their 2007 compilation album "Lovers, Lead the Way!/The Heat Can Melt Your Brain" as track 33.
The song is featured in a 2009 TV commercial for U.S. Cellular.
The song was covered by John Hodgman
John Hodgman
John Kellogg Hodgman is an American author, actor, and humorist. In addition to his published written works, such as The Areas of My Expertise, More Information Than You Require, and That Is All, he is known for his personification of a PC in contrast to Justin Long's personification of a Mac in...
and Jonathan Coulton
Jonathan Coulton
Jonathan Coulton is an American singer-songwriter, known for his songs about geek culture and his use of the Internet to draw fans...
on the audiobook edition of Hodgman's book More Information Than You Require
More Information Than You Require
More Information Than You Require is a 2008 satirical almanac by John Hodgman. It is the follow-up to Hodgman's 2005 book The Areas of My Expertise. It was released October 21, 2008...
.
The song was covered by Eddie Vedder
Eddie Vedder
Eddie Vedder is an American musician and singer-songwriter who is best known for being the lead singer and one of three guitarists of the alternative rock band Pearl Jam. He is widely considered a cultural icon of alternative rock.He is also involved in soundtrack work and contributes to albums...
and Chan Marshall (Cat Power
Cat Power
Charlyn Marie Marshall , also known as Chan Marshall or by her stage name Cat Power, is an American singer/songwriter and occasional actress and model. Cat Power was originally the name of Marshall's first band, but has come to refer to her musical projects with various backing bands...
) on Vedder's second solo album, Ukulele Songs
Ukulele Songs
Ukulele Songs is the second solo studio album by American singer and Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder. It was released on May 31, 2011. The album is composed of original songs and covers.-Track listing:-Cover art:...
(2011).
Actress Zooey Deschanel
Zooey Deschanel
Zooey Claire Deschanel is an American actress, musician, and singer-songwriter. In 1999, Deschanel made her film debut in Mumford, followed by her breakout role as young protagonist William Miller's troubled older sister Anita in Cameron Crowe's 2000 semi-autobiographical film Almost Famous...
and comedian Ben Schwartz
Ben Schwartz
Ben Schwartz is a writer, actor and comedian. His feature film credits include Peep World with Rainn Wilson, Michael C. Hall and Sarah Silverman as well as Everybody's Fine with Robert DeNiro...
posted a Youtube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
clip of themselves performing the song.
Was used for background music as the twins Troy and Byron begin trashing a house with baseball bats, for the Pilot Episode of American Horror Story on the FX Channel. (2011).