Something's Gotta Give
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An Irresistable Force, An Immovable Object, and You
Johnny Mercer wrote Something's Gotta Give for Fred Astaire's movie "Daddy Long Legs", released in 1955. From there, the song has taken on a life of its own. It was covered and reimagined by The McQuire Sisters that same year and various versions from Ella Fitzgerald and her amazing voice, Sammy Davis, Jr., and the Royal Crown Revue have brought the song through to the 1990s. Crooners and swing bands still play and record versions of Something's Gotta Give, because the playful lyrics and up-beat rhythym make it a fun song for performers and audiences alike. If I've missed your favorite version, please share it in the guest book below.
My Favorite Version of Something's Gotta Give
The Modern Swing Sound of Royal Crown Revue
Something's Gotta Give
Amazon Price: (as of 06/03/2012)
Over the years, Somthing's Gotta Give seems to have gained energy. The Royal Crown Revue crew have breathed new life into this old standard, with blazing horns and pounding percussion. I like Sammy Davis, Jr. and I love Ella Fitzgerald, but the RCR really nails this song.
Lyrics for Something's Gotta Give
The Sammy Davis, Jr. Swing Version by Johnny Mercer
When an irresistible forceSuch as you
Meets an old immovable object like me,
You can bet, as sure as you live
Something gotta give
Something gotta give
Something gotta give.
When an irrepressible smile
Such as yours
Warms an old implacable heart
Such as mine,
Don't say no because I insist
Somewhere,
Somehow,
Someone's gonna be kissed.
So en garde!
Who knows what the fates have in store
From their vast, mysterious sky.
I'll try hard, ignoring those lips I adore.
But how long can anyone try?
Fight, Fight, Fight, Fight,
Fight it with all of our might.
Chances are some heavenly star-spangled night.
You'll find out, as sure as we live,
Something's really got to give.
Music Videos for Something's Gotta Give
From Country to Swing to Funk to Indie Music
I'm concentrating on the swing version of Something's Gotta Give, but I'd hate for you to miss out on the other versions that are available. The Fred Astaire version is pretty quiet but not to be missed. I'm desperately sad that the Sammy Davis, Jr. video has been removed not only from YouTube but from everywhere else on-line, even though he had a huge hit with the song. I couldn't find a single version to which I could even link here. If you know of one, please share it with me!
You'll have to listen to a two-minute intro on the Ella Fitzgerald video for Something's Gotta Give, but it's well worth the wait. The sound quality on the McQuire Sisters video leaves a bit to be desires, but it gives you a historical glimpse of the state of pop music in 1956. The John Butler Trio is an indie rock song about the state of the world, done with humor and empathy. The LeAnn Rimes version is a pretty straight-forward "yearning for love" song, but again done with more humor than the title would imply. The Afro Cuban Band is some beautimous funk laid behind a song about race relations.
You'll have to listen to a two-minute intro on the Ella Fitzgerald video for Something's Gotta Give, but it's well worth the wait. The sound quality on the McQuire Sisters video leaves a bit to be desires, but it gives you a historical glimpse of the state of pop music in 1956. The John Butler Trio is an indie rock song about the state of the world, done with humor and empathy. The LeAnn Rimes version is a pretty straight-forward "yearning for love" song, but again done with more humor than the title would imply. The Afro Cuban Band is some beautimous funk laid behind a song about race relations.
Sample Various Versions of Something's Gotta Give
Country, Jazz, Swing, Rock, and Pop Varieties
Not only can you hear the versions of Something's Gotta Give from the videos above, but you can find covers from Frank Sinatra, Rosemary Clooney, Johnny Mercer himself, The Four Freshmen, and a couple of dozen more singers and bands.
Which Version Is Your Favorite?
Share whether you like the crooners, the swing bands, the old-fashioned or the modern versions. If your favorite performer doesn't appear on this list, please add it in the guestbook at the bottom of this lens. Thank you!
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Find Sheet Music for Somthing's Gotta Give
From Johnny Mercer's 50s Classic to LeAnn Rimes' Recent Country Hit
With such a big sound, you can imagine that this song doesn't translate well to guitar. You can, however, find Something's Gotta Give sheet music for piano as well as musical scores for larger groups.
Other Cover Song Version Lenses
Standards and Cover Songs From the Past 100 Years
If you just can't get enough covers, you can check out the few below or try the whole list of my cover songs and standards page. As always, if you have a favorite that I've not yet addressed, please let me know and I'll make it a priority. Thank you and enjoy!
by Not-Pop
It's all about music - my song recommendations blog, cover songs, lyrics, and artist profiles. I also write about jazz and blues standards and include... more »
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