Look for the Silver Lining
Encyclopedia
"Look for the Silver Lining" is a popular
song
with music by Jerome Kern
and lyrics by B.G. DeSylva. It was written in 1919
for the unsuccessful musical
Zip, Goes a Million. In 1920
it was published and reused in the musical Sally
whence it was popularized by Marilyn Miller
. Among others, the song was later covered several times by Judy Garland
, whose version also became, and remains, well-known.
A 1949 biopic
with the same title
as the song is about Marilyn Miller.
The song was the basis for the ILGWU anthem "Look for the union label". It is lampooned by another song, "Look for a Sky of Blue," in the satirical 1959 musical Little Mary Sunshine
.
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...
with music by Jerome Kern
Jerome Kern
Jerome David Kern was an American composer of musical theatre and popular music. One of the most important American theatre composers of the early 20th century, he wrote more than 700 songs, used in over 100 stage works, including such classics as "Ol' Man River", "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man", "A...
and lyrics by B.G. DeSylva. It was written in 1919
1919 in music
-Events:*July 22 - The Ballets Russes gives the world premiere of Manuel de Falla's ballet El sombrero de tres picos in London.*August - Josef Matthias Hauer devises his own twelve-tone technique of composition....
for the unsuccessful musical
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
Zip, Goes a Million. In 1920
1920 in music
-Events:*January 19 - The Salzburg Festival is revived.*December 4 - Première of the opera Die tote Stadt by 23-year-old Erich Wolfgang Korngold...
it was published and reused in the musical Sally
Sally (musical)
Sally is a musical comedy with music by Jerome Kern, lyrics by Clifford Grey and book by Guy Bolton , with additional lyrics by Buddy De Sylva, Anne Caldwell and P. G. Wodehouse. It was originally produced by Florenz Ziegfeld, opening on December 21, 1920 at the New Amsterdam Theatre on Broadway...
whence it was popularized by Marilyn Miller
Marilyn Miller
Marilyn Miller was one of the most popular Broadway musical stars of the 1920s and early 1930s. She was an accomplished tap dancer, singer and actress, but it was the combination of these talents that endeared her to audiences. On stage she usually played rags-to-riches Cinderella characters who...
. Among others, the song was later covered several times by Judy Garland
Judy Garland
Judy Garland was an American actress and singer. Through a career that spanned 45 of her 47 years and for her renowned contralto voice, she attained international stardom as an actress in musical and dramatic roles, as a recording artist and on the concert stage...
, whose version also became, and remains, well-known.
A 1949 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...
with the same title
Look for the Silver Lining (film)
Look for the Silver Lining is a 1949 film directed by David Butler. It stars June Haver and Ray Bolger. It was nominated for an Academy Award in 1950.-Cast:*June Haver as Marilyn Miller*Ray Bolger as Jack Donahue*Gordon MacRae as Frank Carter...
as the song is about Marilyn Miller.
The song was the basis for the ILGWU anthem "Look for the union label". It is lampooned by another song, "Look for a Sky of Blue," in the satirical 1959 musical Little Mary Sunshine
Little Mary Sunshine
Little Mary Sunshine is a musical that parodies old-fashioned operettas and musicals. The book, music, and lyrics are by Rick Besoyan. The musical should not be confused with the 1916 silent film of the same name ....
.
Notable recordings
- Chet BakerChet BakerChesney Henry "Chet" Baker, Jr. was an American jazz trumpeter, flugelhornist and singer.Though his music earned him a large following , Baker's popularity was due in part to his "matinee idol-beauty" and "well-publicized drug habit."He died in 1988 in Amsterdam, the...
- Chet Baker SingsChet Baker Sings-Track listing:# "That Old Feeling" – 3:03# "It's Always You" – 3:35# "Like Someone in Love" – 2:26# "My Ideal" -Track listing:# "That Old Feeling" (Sammy Fain, Lew Brown) – 3:03# "It's Always You" (Jimmy Van Heusen, Johnny Burke) – 3:35# "Like Someone in Love" (Van Heusen, Burke) – 2:26# "My...
(1956). For several years a clip of Baker's rendition accompanied a bumper for Turner Classic MoviesTurner Classic MoviesTurner Classic Movies is a movie-oriented cable television channel, owned by the Turner Broadcasting System subsidiary of Time Warner, featuring commercial-free classic movies, mostly from the Turner Entertainment and MGM, United Artists, RKO and Warner Bros. film libraries...
' morning programming block, titled "Sunny Side of Life" and featuring animation inspired by the paintings of Edward HopperEdward HopperEdward Hopper was a prominent American realist painter and printmaker. While most popularly known for his oil paintings, he was equally proficient as a watercolorist and printmaker in etching...
. - Aretha FranklinAretha FranklinAretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...
- The Tender, the Moving, the Swinging Aretha FranklinThe Tender, the Moving, the Swinging Aretha Franklin"Aretha is a natural. No matter what she sings - new songs like Without the One You Love and Don't Cry, Baby or time-tested stadarts like Try a Little Tenderness and I Apologize - she is completely free, uninhibited and thrilling", Billy James, said."...Every step of the way, Aretha has grown. She...
(1962). - Susannah McCorkleSusannah McCorkleSusannah McCorkle was an American jazz singer much admired for her direct, unadorned singing style and quiet intensity.-Biography:...
From Broken Hearts to Blue Skies (1998), Most Requested Songs (1999) - Margaret WhitingMargaret WhitingMargaret Whiting was a singer of American popular music and country music who first made her reputation during the 1940s and 1950s.-Youth:...
- Margaret Whiting Sings the Jerome Kern SongbookMargaret Whiting Sings the Jerome Kern SongbookMargaret Whiting Sings the Jerome Kern Songbook is a 1960 studio album by Margaret Whiting, with an orchestra conducted and arranged by Russell Garcia, focusing on the songs of Jerome Kern...
(1960)