This is the main love theme from the 1958 film of the same name. Leslie Caron played the lead in this American musical set in Paris at the turn of the 20th Century. The music was composed by Frederick Loewe, and the lyrics were written by Alan Jay Lerner, who also wrote the screenplay. Gigi is based on a 1944 book by Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette (1873-1954).

The song is sung by Louis Jordan (the actor, not the bandleader), who plays the wealthy Gaston; Gigi is the granddaughter of Gaston's elderly woman friend. The two have a sibling type relationship until he realizes he regards the somewhat younger girl as more than a sister. It is at or shortly after this point that he bursts into song. The film won a total of nine Oscars, picking up best picture, which it may have deserved and best song for "Gigi" itself. Whatever the merits of the film, it is difficult to see how "Gigi" was considered Oscar material when "Thank Heaven For Little Girls" from the same film is surely far more memorable. >>

Billy Eckstine took this song to #8 in the UK with his 1959 recording.