Crooner Andy Williams made some press last week for attacking President Obama. He accused the President of “following Marxist theory” and said Obama “wants the country to fail.” Yet in the long run, Williams will not be remembered for his own words, but the words of others. Among his most famous songs was “Moon River,” written by Johnny Mercer and Henry Mancini. The song was first performed by Audrey Hepburn for the movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s, but Williams sang it at the 1962 Academy Awards (where it won Best Original Song), and it became one of his standards. The lyric begin:
Moon river, wider than a mile
I’m crossing you in style some day
Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker
Wherever you’re goin’, I’m goin’ your way
Here are the full lyrics and a performance of the song.
David Chesler says:
Andy Williams is still alive?
October 4, 2009, 6:28 amDjDiverDan says:
David – not only is he still alive, I believe he’s still performing at his own theatre in Branson, Missouri – or at least was, just a couple of years ago. What was the name of his really hot french wife? The one who had an affair with, then killed, some professional skier?
October 4, 2009, 6:56 amMalvolio says:
Claudine Longet
October 4, 2009, 7:00 amBT says:
My favorite version of this song was by Jerry Butler.
October 4, 2009, 7:23 amCornellian says:
I’m guessing Andy Williams couldn’t tell the difference between Marxist theory and a bowl of Cheerios if his life depended on it.
October 4, 2009, 7:41 amDave N says:
Cornellian,
I am betting he as at least the same understanding of politics as that great social commentator Barbra Streisand.
October 4, 2009, 7:56 amDave N says:
And let’s not forget the political science genius Bruce Springsteen.
October 4, 2009, 7:57 amMike Sylwester says:
I recently wrote an article about this song.
I think the song is about pursuing one’s own endeavors independently. The singer is accompanied in his travels and endeavors only by Moon River.
October 4, 2009, 8:18 amArthurKirkland says:
The better lyric, one might argue, is the Rolling Stones’ bootlegged (too touchy for Emotional Rescue, apparently) gem, Claudine:
Claudine’s back in jail again
Claudine’s back in jail (again)
Claudine’s back in jail again
Claudine
She only does it at weekends
Claudine, Oh, Claudine
Now only Spider knows for sure
But he ain’t talkin’ about it any more
Is he, Claudine?
There’s blood in the chalet
And blood in the snow
Washed her hands of the whole damn show
The best thing you could do, Claudine
Shot him once right through the head
Shot him twice right through the chest
The judge ruled it was an accident
Claudine
Accidents will happen (In the best homes)
And Claudine’s back in jail again
Claudine’s back in jail again
Claudine’s back in jail again
Claudine
What about the children, baby?
Poor, poor children
Now I threaten my wife with a gun
I always leave the safety on
I recommend it, Claudine
Now she pistol whipped me once or twice
But she never tried to take my life
(What do you think about that) Claudine
The prettiest girl I ever seen
I saw you on the movie screen
Hope you don’t try to make a sacrifice of me, Claudine
(Don’t get trigger happy with me)
Don’t wave a gun at me, Claudine
Claudine’s back in jail again
She only does it at weekends
Keith, will you put that weapon down?
Oh Claudine
It is a very entertaining song. One of my favorite non-issued Stones works.
And who could forget Saturday Night Live’s Claudine Longet Invitational, featuring a series of skiers trying to reach the bottom of a slope, only to be “accidentally” shot by Claudine Longet?
October 4, 2009, 8:50 amBT says:
Malvolio, thanks for the link to Longet’s Wikipedia page. She has had, to say the least, an interesting life. One thing about Williams that I learned is that he and Longet were big supporters of Bobby Kennedy and were friends with others in the Kennedy family. So for what it is worth, my guess is that his politically incorrect views developed late in life.
October 4, 2009, 9:41 amCato The Elder says:
From Wikipedia: “…prosecutors did use the autopsy report to suggest that when Sabich was struck he was bent over, facing away, and at least 6 feet (1.8 m) from Longet…”
Damn.
October 4, 2009, 11:40 amChrisTS says:
Where might one purchase a full set of The Collected Political Essays of A. Williams?
October 4, 2009, 12:21 pmCornellian says:
I am betting he as at least the same understanding of politics as that great social commentator Barbra Streisand.
Talk about damning with faint praise…
October 4, 2009, 2:09 pmWill says:
If you like his Moonriver, I highly recommend his version of Danny Boy. The ending of which is phenomenal.
I’d take Williams over Sinatra any day.
October 4, 2009, 7:46 pmHarryEagar says:
Careful what you say about her. She was in her home, no criminal record.
Just the sort of person VC thinks should be armed with one or more guns at all times.
October 4, 2009, 8:55 pmChrisTS says:
I think Claudine is the perfect example of why NOT everyone should be armed.
October 4, 2009, 9:20 pmGlenn Bowen says:
is Mancini’s brother Rico still kickin’ in Cleveland?
October 5, 2009, 3:22 amDjDiverDan says:
Actually, Claudine does have a criminal record – she was convicted of criminally negligent homocide – a misdemeanor (or at least that’s how she was charged). I think she served all of 30 days. Under the Heller test, do you think the fact that someone who negligently killed another person with a revolver is enough that they can be denied the right to bear arms in their own home?
October 5, 2009, 4:27 amArthurKirkland says:
I think she served all of 30 days
According to the Stones — a reliable source in my book — she served her sentence on weekends.
October 5, 2009, 7:10 ammarkm says:
The Wikipedia article says that the judge allowed her to serve her sentence in installments, so she could take care of her children. Maybe that means on weekends.
Harry, as a libertarian, I think that in the first place the cops should have followed the law, and thus been able to use the evidence they collected. But since she was convicted only of having an accident with a gun, the only limitation on her gun rights that would make sense would be to require her to take and pass a gun safety course…
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September 16, 2010, 3:57 am