Puttin' on the Ritz

"Puttin' on the Ritz" is a popular song written and published in 1929 by Irving Berlin. The title derives from the American English slang expression "putting on the Ritz", meaning to dress very fashionably. The expression was inspired by the swanky Ritz Hotel.

Related Topics:
Popular song - 1929 - Irving Berlin - American English - Slang - Ritz Hotel

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The original version of Berlin's song referred to the then-popular fad of well-to-do white New Yorkers visiting African American jazz music venues in Harlem. Berlin later revised the lyrics to be more generally applicable to going out on the town in style.

Related Topics:
White - New Yorkers - African American - Jazz - Harlem

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Hit phonograph records of the tune in its original popularity of 1929-1930 were recorded by Harry Richman and Fred Astaire.

Related Topics:
Phonograph records - Harry Richman - Fred Astaire

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This tune has enjoyed a number of revivals including a hit swing music version by Benny Goodman, being sung and danced to by Fred Astaire in the 1946 film Blue Skies, being memorably and humorously used in the 1974 film Young Frankenstein, and returning to the hit parade again with a version by Taco Ockerse recorded in 1982. It was also referenced in an episode of the TV Show Family Guy with a duet between Stewie Griffin and his mind-controlled brother Chris.

Related Topics:
Swing music - Benny Goodman - Fred Astaire - 1946 - Blue Skies - 1974 - Young Frankenstein - Taco Ockerse - 1982 - Family Guy

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