There Is Nothing Like a Dame
Encyclopedia
"There is Nothing Like a Dame" is one of the songs from the musical South Pacific
. The song was written by Richard Rodgers
with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
. It is widely popular in the musical arts, often sung by men's choirs.
It is sung by the sailors (e.g. Sven Larsen) because they all long for women in their lives. The song is broken up in the middle when the nurses run by, and Billis gives Nurse Nellie Forbush her laundry. The song also has a sung recitative between the verses and the Chorus.
A comic version of this song was performed in the 1977 Christmas edition of the BBC's
Morecambe and Wise Show, as well as being performed in another Morecambe and Wise Show — one of their shows featured Cliff Richard
in the song. The parts of the sailors were all played by BBC newsreaders of the time with Peter Woods
getting to sing the distinctive last line.
Another comic version of the song was performed on The Goodies'
episode "For Those in Peril on the Sea
".
This song was covered by Californian ska punk
band Reel Big Fish
for their 1997 7" single Vacationing in Palm Springs
.
It was also used as the signature tune for ITV
's series The Dame Edna Treatment
.
South Pacific (musical)
South Pacific is a musical with music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and book by Hammerstein and Joshua Logan. The story draws from James A. Michener's Pulitzer Prize-winning 1947 book Tales of the South Pacific, weaving together characters and elements from several of its...
. The song was written by Richard Rodgers
Richard Rodgers
Richard Charles Rodgers was an American composer of music for more than 900 songs and for 43 Broadway musicals. He also composed music for films and television. He is best known for his songwriting partnerships with the lyricists Lorenz Hart and Oscar Hammerstein II...
with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Oscar Hammerstein II
Oscar Greeley Clendenning Hammerstein II was an American librettist, theatrical producer, and theatre director of musicals for almost forty years. Hammerstein won eight Tony Awards and was twice awarded an Academy Award for "Best Original Song". Many of his songs are standard repertoire for...
. It is widely popular in the musical arts, often sung by men's choirs.
It is sung by the sailors (e.g. Sven Larsen) because they all long for women in their lives. The song is broken up in the middle when the nurses run by, and Billis gives Nurse Nellie Forbush her laundry. The song also has a sung recitative between the verses and the Chorus.
A comic version of this song was performed in the 1977 Christmas edition of the BBC's
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
Morecambe and Wise Show, as well as being performed in another Morecambe and Wise Show — one of their shows featured Cliff Richard
Cliff Richard
Sir Cliff Richard, OBE is a British pop singer, musician, performer, actor, and philanthropist who has sold over an estimated 250 million records worldwide....
in the song. The parts of the sailors were all played by BBC newsreaders of the time with Peter Woods
Peter Woods
Peter Holmes Woods was a British journalist, reporter and newsreader.-Early life and career:Born in Romford, Essex, Woods was educated at Hull Grammar School and Imperial Service College, Windsor...
getting to sing the distinctive last line.
Another comic version of the song was performed on The Goodies'
The Goodies (TV series)
The Goodies is a British television comedy series of the 1970s and early 1980s. The series, which combines surreal sketches and situation comedy, was broadcast by BBC 2 from 1970 until 1980 — and was then broadcast by the ITV company LWT for a year, between 1981 to 1982.The show was...
episode "For Those in Peril on the Sea
For Those in Peril on the Sea (Goodies episode)
For Those in Peril on the Sea is an episode of the British comedy television series The Goodies — a BAFTA-nominated series for Best Light Entertainment Programme....
".
This song was covered by Californian ska punk
Ska punk
Ska punk is a fusion music genre that combines ska and punk rock. It achieved its highest level of commercial success in the United States in the late 1990s. Ska-core is a subgenre of ska punk, blending ska with hardcore punk.The characteristics of ska punk vary, due to the fusion of contrasting...
band Reel Big Fish
Reel Big Fish
Reel Big Fish is an American ska punk band from Huntington Beach, California, best known for the 1997 hit "Sell Out". The band gained mainstream recognition in the mid-to-late 1990s, during the third wave of ska with the release of the gold certified album Turn the Radio Off. Soon after, the band...
for their 1997 7" single Vacationing in Palm Springs
Vacationing in Palm Springs
Vacationing in Palm Springs is a split 7" from Californian ska punk band Reel Big Fish and Oregon ska-swing band the Cherry Poppin' Daddies, released in 1997 on Mojo Records.-Overview:...
.
It was also used as the signature tune for ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
's series The Dame Edna Treatment
The Dame Edna Treatment
The Dame Edna Treatment was a British, ITV talk show created by Barry Humphries and starring his characters Dame Edna Everage and Sir Les Patterson. It aired on ITV at various times. The theme tune was written and performed by Robin Gibb. It was based upon the 1997 British talk show Dr Dame Edna...
.