Judy by the Numbers: "Get Happy/Happy Days Are Here Again"
Wednesday, November 9, 2016 at 10:30AM Anne Marie has been chronicling Judy Garland's career chronologically through musical numbers...
Sometimes, magic happens. When the production team of The Judy Garland Show invited a budding Broadway star to film Episode 9, nobody could foresee the titanic future of the 21-year-old singer. With just one album under her belt - admittedly Billboard Top 10 album - she was perhaps slightly less famous than her co-guest stars, The Smothers Brothers. But when Barbra Streisand sat down to sing a duet with Judy Garland, it was impossible to ignore that something titanic was happening.
The Show: The Judy Garland Show Episode 9
The Songwriters: Various, arranged by Mel Torme
The Cast: Judy Garland, Barbra Streisand, The Smothers Brothers, directed by Norman Jewison
The Story: Barbra Streisand was invited on the show just as her star was rising. Already a well-loved New York cabaret singer, Streisand had stopped the show playing a put-upon secretary in her Broadway debut, I Can Get It For You Wholesale. That second-banana-star-turn brought her a Tony nomination and a lot of attention. Jule Styne started working on a musical for her, she recorded an album that charted, and her television dance card filled up as she made the rounds on a rotation of variety shows.
None was quite like The Judy Garland Show, though. Streisand has noted that Judy seemed nervous to perform, but onscreen that nervousness translated as excitement over the chance to share the stage with Streisand - a feeling that Streisand clearly shared. However, once they began singing together, the nervousness melted away. In its place was the musical meeting of giants - two of the greatest belters of the 20th century, singing signature standards together in harmony.
Look, there's a lot I wish I could write about this, but everything I say is going to fall short. Certain moments in music defy description. Aren't we lucky to have witnessed this one?
Reader Comments (11)
Two great stars in flight, one on the way up the other down, who intersected for a few brief moments and yes we are the fortunate ones who get to witness it. Thank heavens it was caught of film.
The idea for the interpolating of songs was Judy's idea. I forget if it was Mort Lindsay or Mel Torme whom she called when the idea came to her but she had which ever one it was come to her house and played Streisand's recording of Happy Days while she sang Get Happy and they recognized the opportunity.
This is the Urtext of my gaydom, as perfect a moment of diva singing as has ever existed and that will live forever in proudly bad sing-a-longs for generations. You are either a Judy or a Barbra. I always sing Judy.
I knew you were going to post this one today, Anne Marie. Just thought it would be under different circumstances.
Thanks for reminding me of this. It's strangely appropriate for what I'm feeling today. There's always heartbreak in Judy's voice, but also a kind of desperate commitment to hope.
I love this pairing. And today I cried and not from the nostalgia of the moment. Maybe repost on another day?
Somehow, this is just what I needed today. Pure magic. Thanks, Anne Marie.
Just... WOW. Haven't seen this in so long and it is pure magic.
i might need to play this every day for the rest of the year.
The timing of this is perfect. We need Barbra (and Judy in memory) to let us know that indeed life goes on and things can get better.
Does anyone know if it was recognized as the Meeting of the Voices at that time? Was it just a throwaway or did audiences know what they had witnessed?
PS I saw Audra & Patti sing this at the Hollywood Bowl and it was so well received that they went ahead and sang it a second time right after the first! :-)
Everyone - I'm glad Nathaniel decided to post this today. I guess we all needed it.
Dave in Hollywood - Yes to a degree, though Barba was only an ascending star at the time. Next week's clip seems to have gotten reviewers a bit more fired up.
I'm late to this, and just want to say that Anne Marie has done such great work with this series.
As for this duet, the only duo that matches Streisand & Garland is perhaps Armstrong & Fitzgerald.
They do it with the casual ease that only the truly gifted have. Such a perfect performance.
Btw. Norman Jewison was the director for this series.
Talk about a harmonic convergence. Judy's fragility and Barbra's power naturally become one in this historic cultural snapshot burned into our collective consciousness. I have seen this more times than I can count, owing to it having become a mainstay at Side Track in Chicago.