Download    How many times have you heard Bing Crosby sing the original dreary version of this song? And that insane whistling toward the end?  Please stop!! Oh, I know it’s a classic, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it. Such a nice melody – ruined by a singer who seemed half asleep ALL the time. Obviously, I’m not a fan of ol’ Bing.  I did kinda like the movie though.

The movie itself had its problems with casting.  It was supposed to pair up Crosby and Fred Astaire as the two male stars.  After reading the script, however, Astaire declined.  Not enough dancing, Fred?  Then Donald O’Conner was signed to do it, but he dropped out because of illness.  Finally, Danny Kaye filled the spot and demanded $200,000 plus 10% of the gross – and he got it.  The producers were undoubtedly desperate to get this show on the road.

A couple years ago I saw Michael Buble do a goofy, doo-wop version and I loved it.  So I set about arranging it that way as best I could (with Buble’s crazy jazz vocal line) and this is how we do it today – just for fun.  Some people really don’t like it though, so we revert to the sleepy “Bing” style and everybody’s happy.  The trombone ending is worth waiting for… and nobody whistles a note.