Song of the Day 4/12: Stan Freberg, “C’est Si Bon”
Today was beautiful in Paris, sunny and 22°, so nobody seems worried about Marine Le Pen. As the song says, “It’s so good!”
My friend Geo. Stewart featured this version of an Yves Montand standard on a recent episode of Crazy College, his show dedicated to odd, silly and forgotten music that airs Sundays at 5 p.m. on WVUD-FM, 91.3 on your radio dial (it probably streams, too, but I wouldn’t know). You can also find him at his web site. Yes, this has been a shameless plug.
Montand’s version of “C’est Si Bon” was a hit in Europe in 1948, but Freberg is spoofing Eartha Kitt’s version, which camped up the Montand original in 1952. Freberg pounced the next year. Kitt added a few of her trademark lyrical touches. So did Freberg.
Montand rejected the tune when it was first offered to him, but when it proved popular he reconsidered. You can’t possibly hope to ever sound this suave.
Louis Armstrong heard the song on a European tour in 1950 and brought it back to the US, but it was Eartha Kitt whose version was most popular with American record buyers.
WVUD does indeed stream worldwide. Friends listen in Scotland. It’s http://www.wvud.org then click on “stream WVUD.”
So even the Scots know “Crazy College” is always worth a listen. Pretty sure George has something worked up on Harry Lauder.
George has definitely played Sir Harry Lauder in the past. 🙂
Have to say I prefer Eartha’s version — my semi-educated ear tells me she has a more than creditable accent, too. I do have to say, though, that Alby looks more like Yves Montand the longer he stays in La Belle France. C’est si bon!