SwingDJs

Does anyone have any idea what on earth the girl's singing about on this track

I think I've accurately transcribed the words -

'Some Like It Hot' by Gene Krupa

Long ago swung the young gorilla
Through the trees. Was a killer diller
Ever since, thanks to that gorilla
Some like it hot

Later on fiddled Mister Nero
Down in Rome he was quite a hero
Ever since, thanks to Mister Nero
Some like it hot

When the rooster first went 'peck, peck'
The community bent his neck
But did rhythm perish with him?
No no no no I should say not

Everywhere you can find survivors
Nowadays people call them jivers
Thanks to those senders and arrivers
Some like it hot

Whoa, that is so weird. I'm sitting at work, with my music playing and I *just* listened to that song . . .

zzzzoom wrote:Whoa, that is so weird. I'm sitting at work, with my music playing and I *just* listened to that song . . .

That's nearly as crazy as those lyrics

OKeh - what's the confusing part?

She's singing about the fanciful origins of hot swing music.

Who wrote the song and when? It most likely alludes to what ever current stuff was newsworthy at the time the song was written.

This is just a guess: there is a 1938 movie called Some Like It Hot (not the Billy Wilder one with Marilyn Monroe) starring Bob Hope (and here is the kicker) - there is an appearance by Gene Krupa (playing himself). Allmusic.com lists the song in question as being from 1938 . . . So my guess is that the song was written for the movie . . . But it's just a guess.

Edited to say: the movie was reissued as Rhythm Romance

I think Trev hit it. It isn't anything more than a novelty tune.

Emperor Nero seems to be a popular reference in lyrics of the time -

Rhythm Saved The World by Bunny Berigan

At the battle of Bunker Hill
All the men were tired until
The Drum and Fife gave them new life
And rhythm saved the world

And in France not so long ago
All the men were feeling low
The drummer man struck up the band
And rhythm saved the world

You'll find music where ever history's concerned
Nero fiddled while Rome was being burned

If the truth you're looking for
You'll find music won each war
Drum and Fife gave them new life
Drummer man struck up the band
A trumpet blow beat Jericho
And rhythm saved the world

I just watched "Rhythm Romance" with Bob Hope and Gene Krupa:

Rhythm Romance is the television title for the 1939 Bob Hope comedy Some Like It Hot (the change was made to avoid confusion with the 1959 Billy Wilder film of the same name).

The song, "Some Like It Hot", was written by Gene Krupa, Remo Biondi and Frank Loesser, so says the credits. So my guess is, it was written for the movie, which was a remake of a 1934 film called "Shoot the Works".

Basically the movie starts off on a carnival midway with Krupa and orchestra performing "Some Like It Hot" (but without the female vocalist - she comes later in the movie). Krupa and the boys want to get the 'sweet' band out of the Paradise Pavilion and get themselves (the hot band) in there to play for dancers.

I know, way more information than anyone needs . . . .

Thanks for the info Mary Ann . Rhythm Romance is now on my list of films to see if I get the chance.

I looked for SLIHot for years. It never seemed to run on TV in NY or LA. It finally came out on VHS. It's a bit of a misfire. Bob Hope comedies from this era are usually really funny, but not this one. Krupa and orch save the film and even GK doesnt get enough screen time.

So many elusive big band movies....so little time.

Eyeball wrote:I looked for SLIHot for years. It never seemed to run on TV in NY or LA. It finally came out on VHS. It's a bit of a misfire. Bob Hope comedies from this era are usually really funny, but not this one. Krupa and orch save the film and even GK doesnt get enough screen time.

So many elusive big band movies....so little time.

Here it is on Amazon, looks as though it's on VHS only at the moment ...

http://www.amazon.com/Gene-Krupa-Orches ... 0783230028

I searched for Youtube clips of 'Some Like It Hot/Rhythm Romance' without success, but I did come across this great one of Gene Krupa's band playing 'Drum Boogie' from the 1941 film "Ball of Fire"

That's a well remembered scene.

Sure do miss Gene Krupa.