Too Darn Hot
Encyclopedia
"Too Darn Hot" is a popular
song
written by Cole Porter
for his musical Kiss Me, Kate
(1948). In the stage version, it is sung at the start of Act 2, and in the 1948 original Broadway production, it was sung by Lorenzo Fuller (as Paul) and Eddie Sledge and Fred Davis (as the specialty dancers). In the 1953 MGM Hollywood film version, it is moved to a much earlier point, and it is sung by Ann Miller
(as Lois Lane, Fred's new girlfriend, who is cast as Bianca). The song does not really contribute to the plot in either the stage or film versions, but in the film version it allows the audience to see Lois's fun-loving, risk-taking nature, and gave Ann Miller a chance to show off her dancing skills, specifically tap.
It was covered by Erasure
for the Red Hot + Blue
compilation (album and video versions) in 1990.
The song gained new currency in 2004 because of two film
s that came out that year. The first was the Porter biopic
De-Lovely
, and the second was the movie Kinsey
, which used the tune because Porter mentioned the Kinsey report
on American sexual attitudes in the song's bridge.
The line 'According to the Kinsey report
' (in the original stage production) was censored in the film version, having been changed to 'According to the latest report'.
Ella Fitzgerald
recorded the song for her album Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Songbook
(1956).
It was included by Stacey Kent
in her 2003 album The Boy Next Door
Popular music
Popular music belongs to any of a number of musical genres "having wide appeal" and is typically distributed to large audiences through the music industry. It stands in contrast to both art music and traditional music, which are typically disseminated academically or orally to smaller, local...
song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
written by Cole Porter
Cole Porter
Cole Albert Porter was an American composer and songwriter. Born to a wealthy family in Indiana, he defied the wishes of his domineering grandfather and took up music as a profession. Classically trained, he was drawn towards musical theatre...
for his musical Kiss Me, Kate
Kiss Me, Kate
Kiss Me, Kate is a musical with music and lyrics by Cole Porter. It is structured as a play within a play, where the interior play is a musical version of William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. The original production starred Alfred Drake, Patricia Morison, Lisa Kirk and Harold Lang.Kiss...
(1948). In the stage version, it is sung at the start of Act 2, and in the 1948 original Broadway production, it was sung by Lorenzo Fuller (as Paul) and Eddie Sledge and Fred Davis (as the specialty dancers). In the 1953 MGM Hollywood film version, it is moved to a much earlier point, and it is sung by Ann Miller
Ann Miller
Johnnie Lucille Collier, better known as Ann Miller was an American singer, dancer and actress.-Early life:...
(as Lois Lane, Fred's new girlfriend, who is cast as Bianca). The song does not really contribute to the plot in either the stage or film versions, but in the film version it allows the audience to see Lois's fun-loving, risk-taking nature, and gave Ann Miller a chance to show off her dancing skills, specifically tap.
It was covered by Erasure
Erasure
Erasure are an English synthpop duo, consisting of songwriter and keyboardist Vince Clarke and singer Andy Bell. Erasure entered the music scene in 1985 with their debut single "Who Needs Love Like That"...
for the Red Hot + Blue
Red Hot + Blue
Red Hot + Blue is the first in the series of compilation albums from the Red Hot Organization. The recording was the first in the Red Hot Benefit Series...
compilation (album and video versions) in 1990.
The song gained new currency in 2004 because of two film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
s that came out that year. The first was the Porter biopic
Biographical film
A biographical film, or biopic , is a film that dramatizes the life of an actual person or people. They differ from films “based on a true story” or “historical films” in that they attempt to comprehensively tell a person’s life story or at least the most historically important years of their...
De-Lovely
De-Lovely
De-Lovely is a 2004 musical biopic directed by Irwin Winkler. The screenplay by Jay Cocks is based on the life and career of Cole Porter, from his first meeting with Linda Lee Thomas until his death...
, and the second was the movie Kinsey
Kinsey (film)
Kinsey is a 2004 biographical film written and directed by Bill Condon. It describes the life of Alfred Kinsey , a pioneer in the area of sexology. His 1948 publication, Sexual Behavior in the Human Male was one of the first recorded works that tried to scientifically address and investigate...
, which used the tune because Porter mentioned the Kinsey report
Kinsey Reports
The Kinsey Reports are two books on human sexual behavior, Sexual Behavior in the Human Male and Sexual Behavior in the Human Female , by Dr. Alfred Kinsey, Wardell Pomeroy and others and published by Saunders...
on American sexual attitudes in the song's bridge.
The line 'According to the Kinsey report
Kinsey Reports
The Kinsey Reports are two books on human sexual behavior, Sexual Behavior in the Human Male and Sexual Behavior in the Human Female , by Dr. Alfred Kinsey, Wardell Pomeroy and others and published by Saunders...
' (in the original stage production) was censored in the film version, having been changed to 'According to the latest report'.
Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Jane Fitzgerald , also known as the "First Lady of Song" and "Lady Ella," was an American jazz and song vocalist...
recorded the song for her album Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Songbook
Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Songbook
Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Songbook is a 1956 album by the American jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald, accompanied by a studio orchestra conducted and arranged by Buddy Bregman, focusing on the songs of Cole Porter....
(1956).
It was included by Stacey Kent
Stacey Kent
Stacey Kent is a Grammy nominated American jazz singer.- Background :Kent attended Newark Academy in Livingston, New Jersey. Her paternal grandfather was Russian. She graduated from Sarah Lawrence College in New York, and moved to England after her graduation...
in her 2003 album The Boy Next Door
The Boy Next Door (Stacey Kent album)
-Musicians:* Stacey Kent - vocals* Jim Tomlinson – saxophones, backing vocals* Colin Oxley - guitar* David Newton – piano, keyboards, backing vocals* Dave Chamberlain – double bass* Matt Home - drums* Curtis Schwartz - backing vocals...