Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildered

by

traditional

Album: Best Of The Songbooks      Released: 1940

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This is from the hit 1940 Broadway stage show Pal Joey, starring Gene Kelly (a big break for him), June Havoc (who was immortalized as "Baby June" in "Gypsy") and Van Johnson. "Bewitched" was introduced by star Vivienne Segal. It was written by the team of Lorenz Hart and Richard Rodgers, better known as Rogers and Hart. When Hart died, Rodgers wrote with Oscar Hammerstein such shows as South Pacific, The King and I, and Sound of Music. (thanks, Janna - Los Angeles, CA)

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Comments:

In the film The History Boys, the film is sung from one young man to another, and I'm sure I've read somewhere that it was originally meant to be sung in a male homosexual context? It's extremely moving sung this way anyway, although I'm also a fan of the Ella Fitzgerald version.
- Sarah`, London, England

i was given several choices of music to choose for a solo, but as soon as i tried this song out (bewitched), i knew i had to choose it
- krys, langley, Canada

You have got to hear Ella Fitzgerald's rendition of this timeless jazz standard. It's so crisp and clear. You can actually FEEL the song. When you hear her sing it, you understand that this is not just a song of an older woman's affair with a younger man. It's a song of fancy, folly and bittersweet rememberance. I've heard almost every rendition out there and Ella's is without a doubt my favorite.
- PAM, Long Beach, CA

Second Refrain goes: I've seen a lot, I mean a lot But now I'm like sweet seventeen a lot -- Bewitched, bothered and bewildered am I. I'll sing to him, each spring to him, and worship the trousers that cling to him -- Bewitched, bothered and bewildered am I. When he talks he is seeking words to get off his chest. Horizontally speaking, he's at his very best. I'm vexed again, perplexed again, Thank God I can be oversexed again -- Bewitched, bothered and bewildered am I.
- Amy, Montreal, Canada

I've got some of those "racy" lyrics. It's meant to be sung by an older woman about a younger man. In the first refrain,: Lost my heart, but what of it? My mistake, I agree. he's a laugh, but I love it Because the laugh's on me. A pill he is, but still he is All mine and I'll keep him until he is Bewitched, bothered and bewildered Like me
- Amy, Montreal, Canada

i especially love rod stewart and cher's duet of this on the second volume of his "great american songbook"
- rachel, oxford, OH

I should have mentioned that "Bewitched" has had several versions, depending on what was acceptable to the general public. The song was originally considered worldly and second verses (which I don't at this time have access to--anyone else have them?) were Caberet/Broadway spiced with what was then considered New York sophicated. For example, one verse ended: "I'm vexed again, perplexed again, thank God I can be over-sexed again, Bewitched (etc)" When a movie--with all the grit taken out was made in squeeky-clean 1957 starring Frank Sinatra as Joey, Rita Hayworth (who didn't sing, so her movie songs were always dubbed) and Kim Novak (she probably didn't sing either, but I can't confirm that) they made cad Joey a nicer guy, more suitable for the audience. (I haven't seen the movie for years, so I don't know which lady performed it.) Really, it's the great jazz and torch singers who made the song a classic. Also, many show and movie songs were changed when they were released as music and singles. Show tune often don't make sense out of context. A good example it "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christms" which had quite sad lyrics in the movie "Meet Me in Saint Louis." The lyrics usually sung are much more upbeat.
- Janna, Los Angeles, CA

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