Do-Re-Mi

Album: The Sound of Music Soundtrack (1965)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song is used by Julie Andrews' character, Maria, in the film and stage production of The Sound Of Music, to teach the notes of the major musical scale to the Von Trapp children. Nowadays this is frequently one of the first songs that children will learn to play on simple musical instruments.
  • An 11th century monk Guido D'Arezzo wrote the words to the mnemonic, although the original, taken from a medieval Latin poem, begins "ut (rather than do), re, mi, fa, so, la." D'Arezzo's tune was different from the Sound Of Music version, but used the same system of ascending notes. He based his tune on an anthem for Saint John.
  • The musical scale Do-Re-Mi sings the notes of the C major scale, but this song is actually in another key, which is B flat. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Miguel - Guayaquil - South America
  • Here's the Saint John's Anthem where Guido D'Arezzo created the musical notes:

    UTqueant laxis
    REsonare fibris
    MIla gestorum
    FAmuli tuorum
    SOLve polluti
    LAbii reatum
    Sanct Ioannes
  • Madonna references this song in her 1992 track "Deeper and Deeper" with the lyrics "When you know the notes to sing, you can sing most anything."
  • Judy Collins sang this during a season 2 appearance on The Muppet Show as a piano/vocal duet with Rowlf the Dog. It showed up again the following season when Kermit and the Glee Club sang a version that spiraled out of control.
  • This was used in the Full House episode "Terror In Tanner Town" (1990) when Danny attempts to gather the family to meet his new girlfriend and her son. Jesse says, "What is this, a Julie Andrews movie?," leading the group to mock Danny's efforts with a singalong of the tune.
  • In a 1993 episode of the Canadian sketch comedy show Kids In The Hall, the cast sang this to cheer up a boy who lost his dog.

Comments: 6

  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn March 2nd 1965, the movie 'The Sound of Music' had its world premiere in New York City...
    The film was nominated for ten Academy Awards and won five; 'Best Picture', 'Best Actress' {Julie Andrews}, 'Best Director' {Robert Wise}, 'Best Editing', and 'Best Musical Score'...
    On November 7th, 1965 the movie’s soundtrack album peaked at #1 {for 2 weeks} on Billboard’s Top 200 Albums chart…
    Three covered versions of songs from the film have made Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; "Climb Ev'ry Mountain" by Tony Bennett {#74}, "Do-Re-Mi" by Mitch Miller {#70}, and "The Sound of Music" by Patti Page {#90}.
  • Cesarcosio from Guadalajara, Mexicoan excelent new version is now very popular trough youtube as a marketing promo at metro stations around the world
  • Cyberpope from Richmond, CanadaHomer Simpson's version:
    Dough. . . the stiff that buys me beer
    Ray. . . the guy who pous my beer
    Me. . . the guy who's drinking beer
    Fa. . . a long way rto go get beer
    So. . . I'll have another beer
    La. . . la la I'm drinking beer
    Tea. . . no thanks, I'm drinking beer
    . . .& that brings us back to (looks into empty beer mug) D'Oh!
  • Louise from Newcastle, United KingdomNot a huge fan of this musical, but this was cute.
  • Miguel from Guayaquil, South AmericaIt's not Guuido D'Abruzzo... It's Guido D'Arezzo. And it's not the Ode to Phyllis, it's the Saint John's Anthem...
  • Mark from Lancaster, OhIf the song is indeed used for music instruction, it's probably the only instructional song written by a major Broadway songwriting team. The copyrights must be interesting.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Lace the Music: How LSD Changed Popular Music

Lace the Music: How LSD Changed Popular MusicSong Writing

Starting in Virginia City, Nevada and rippling out to the Haight-Ashbury, LSD reshaped popular music.

Billy Gould of Faith No More

Billy Gould of Faith No MoreSongwriter Interviews

Faith No More's bassist, Billy Gould, chats to us about his two new experimental projects, The Talking Book and House of Hayduk, and also shares some stories from the FNM days.

Kerry Livgren of Kansas

Kerry Livgren of KansasSongwriter Interviews

In this talk from the '80s, the Kansas frontman talks turning to God and writing "Dust In The Wind."

Gene Simmons of Kiss

Gene Simmons of KissSongwriter Interviews

The Kiss rocker covers a lot of ground in this interview, including why there are no Kiss collaborations, and why the Rock Hall has "become a sham."

How The Beatles Crafted Killer Choruses

How The Beatles Crafted Killer ChorusesSong Writing

The author of Help! 100 Songwriting, Recording And Career Tips Used By The Beatles, explains how the group crafted their choruses so effectively.

Sarah Brightman

Sarah BrightmanSongwriter Interviews

One of the most popular classical vocalists in the land is lining up a trip to space, which is the inspiration for many of her songs.