Makin' Whoopie

Album: Best of Eddie Cantor (1928)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "Makin' Whoopee" became one of Eddie Cantor's all-time popular hits, and according to Don Tyler in Hit Songs 1900-1955: American Popular Music of the Pre-Rock Era, it is about "the dangers of married life." Whoopee was a 1928 Broadway show set in California. The song has retained it popularity, and has been used in many films including Sleepless In Seattle, in which it was performed by Dr John.
  • Walter Donaldson composed the music, and Gus Kahn supplied the lyrics. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England, for above 2
  • Michelle Pfeiffer famously donned a red dress and crooned this song in The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989) while perched atop Jeff Bridges' grand piano.
  • Sometimes this is performed as a duet. Doris Day and Danny Thomas recorded it for their 1951 movie I'll See You In My Dreams; Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong covered it for their 1957 duets album, Ella and Louis Again; and Cyndi Lauper teamed with Tony Bennett on a version for her 2003 album, At Last.
  • Frank Sinatra recorded a swinging rendition for his 1956 album, Songs for Swingin' Lovers!

Comments: 1

  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn September 18th, 1957, the CBS-TV network's 'The Big Record Show' had its national debut {it was the network's answer to ABC-TV's 'American Bandstand'}...
    The show's hostess was Patti Page and it lasted for one season with 35 episodes...
    Eddie Cantor performed "Makin' Whoopee!" on the show; he first introduced the song twenty-nine years earlier in the 1928 Broadway musical 'Whoopee!'...
    Mr. Cantor, Edward Israel Iskowitz, passed away on October 10th, 1964 at the age of 72...
    May he R.I.P.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Holly Knight ("The Best," "Love Is A Battlefield")

Holly Knight ("The Best," "Love Is A Battlefield")Songwriter Interviews

Holly Knight talks about some of the hit songs she wrote, including "The Warrior," "Never" and "The Best," and explains some songwriting philosophy, including how to think of a bridge.

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillian

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillianSong Writing

A Soul Train dancer takes us through a day on the show, and explains what you had to do to get camera time.

John Parr

John ParrSongwriter Interviews

John tells the "St. Elmo's Fire (Man In Motion)" story and explains why he disappeared for so long.

Graham Bonnet (Alcatrazz, Rainbow)

Graham Bonnet (Alcatrazz, Rainbow)Songwriter Interviews

Yngwie Malmsteen and Steve Vai were two of Graham's co-writers for some '80s rock classics.

Wolfgang Van Halen

Wolfgang Van HalenSongwriter Interviews

Wolfgang Van Halen breaks down the songs on his debut album, Mammoth WVH, and names the definitive Van Halen songs from the Sammy and Dave eras.

Loreena McKennitt

Loreena McKennittSongwriter Interviews

The Celtic music maker Loreena McKennitt on finding musical inspiration, the "New Age" label, and working on the movie Tinker Bell.