Cole Porter - You're the Top - A Visual Guide Video

Cole Porter loved to write songs with lists of various items. "You're the Top" is probably the best known of these list songs. It was written for the Broadway show "Anything Goes" in 1934. Porter composed it during a cruise on Germany's Rhine River. He asked his fellow passengers to tell him what they considered important in their lives, or important in general, and Porter worked them into the lyric. For the record, he names an astonishing 37 persons, places and things in the course of the song. I've included a visual reference to every item he mentions.


Actually there are many variations on "You're the Top," with the list changing with the times. This version is the one Porter himself recorded in 1934. It's been digitally remastered and cleaned up and sounds about as good as it did the day he laid down the track. Porter wasn't much of a singer, but he more than makes up for that with his enthusiasm and sense of fun.

Tell your friends:

derfrekahtoot: The slide show was great for young people who do not understand the references!

heeder200: Super post and thanks for the very detailed background info!

Faint26: I love this song! I dedicated it to my girlfriend haha. People think im weird for listening to oldies because im only 20 but I love this stuff

ImGodOfCanada: I liked the turkey dinner LOL

george77772moons: interesting song; porter made some really creative and clever analogies, but every1 I know would take "mickey mouse" as an insult after they; still a rlly good song; 5/5

dougd1015: Ha, I beet you by another 4 years.

larrylofquist: I'm sure Cole Porter himself would have enjoyed this "visual guide." It really helps us appreciate the genius of this lyrist / composer. Deserving of wider recognition.

Author: bobtoomey; Uploaded: Jul 4, 2009; Duration: 3:23; Views: 2632

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