"Happy Talk" is a show tune from the 1949 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical South Pacific. It is sung by Bloody Mary to the American lieutenant Joe Cable, about having a happy life, after he begins romancing her daughter Liat. Liat performs the song with hand gestures as Mary sings.
"Happy Talk" | |
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Song | |
Published | 1949 |
Songwriter(s) | Oscar Hammerstein II |
Composer(s) | Richard Rodgers |
Ella Fitzgerald recorded this song with Gordon Jenkins and his orchestra for Decca and it was included on her 1955 album Miss Ella Fitzgerald & Mr Gordon Jenkins Invite You to Listen and Relax.
Happy Talk is often described as being racist due to the fake pidgin in which it was written.
"Happy Talk" | ||||
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Single by Captain Sensible | ||||
from the album Women and Captains First | ||||
Released | 26 June 1982 (1982-06-26) | |||
Genre | Synthpop, new wave[1] | |||
Length | 3:24 | |||
Label | A&M | |||
Composer(s) | Richard Rodgers | |||
Lyricist(s) | Oscar Hammerstein II | |||
Producer(s) | Tony Mansfield | |||
Captain Sensible singles chronology | ||||
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In July 1982, The Damned's guitarist Captain Sensible reached the No. 1 position on the UK Singles Chart for two weeks with his version of the song,[2] featuring backing vocals by the band Dolly Mixture. This version also peaked at number 35 in Australia.[3]
James A. Michener's Tales of the South Pacific | |
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