Vintage ad from Pop Massive
Last week the Capt was learning to play a new song, with a catchy tune and contagious syncopated rhythm. "Girl Talk" (from the 1965 movie "Harlow") was one of the hits that made Tony Bennett famous. I was intrigued, thinking it would be fun to sing, until he handed me the lyrics. "It's a bit...um...sexist," he remarked."Sexist" isn't even a word that was around in 1965. "Misogynist" might almost fit...it's a song for a man who chooses women for a particular combination of looks, immaturity and lack of intellect and then runs them down for their superficial interests. The last verse—the icing on the cake—turns it into a love song. Humph! I'm thinking of rewriting the whole thing. I may have no choice, can't get the tune out of my head!
They like to chat about the dresses
they will wear tonight
They chew the fat about their tresses
and the neighbours' fight
Inconsequential things that men
don't really care to know
Become essential things that
women find so apropos
But that's a dame
They're all the same
It's just a game
They call it girl talk, girl talk
They all me-ow about the ups and
downs of all their friends
The who, the how, the why,
they dish the dirt, it never ends
The weaker sex, the speaker sex,
we mortal males behold
But though we joke, we wouldn't
trade you for a ton of gold
So baby stay, and gab away
But hear me say
That after girl talk
Talk to me...
GIRL TALK
From the film "Harlow" (1965)
(Neal Hefti / Bobby Troup)
From the film "Harlow" (1965)
(Neal Hefti / Bobby Troup)