Makin' Whoopie

Album: Best of Eddie Cantor (1928)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "Makin' Whoopee" became one of Eddie Cantor's all-time popular hits, and according to Don Tyler in Hit Songs 1900-1955: American Popular Music of the Pre-Rock Era, it is about "the dangers of married life." Whoopee was a 1928 Broadway show set in California. The song has retained it popularity, and has been used in many films including Sleepless In Seattle, in which it was performed by Dr John.
  • Walter Donaldson composed the music, and Gus Kahn supplied the lyrics. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England, for above 2
  • Michelle Pfeiffer famously donned a red dress and crooned this song in The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989) while perched atop Jeff Bridges' grand piano.
  • Sometimes this is performed as a duet. Doris Day and Danny Thomas recorded it for their 1951 movie I'll See You In My Dreams; Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong covered it for their 1957 duets album, Ella and Louis Again; and Cyndi Lauper teamed with Tony Bennett on a version for her 2003 album, At Last.
  • Frank Sinatra recorded a swinging rendition for his 1956 album, Songs for Swingin' Lovers!

Comments: 1

  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn September 18th, 1957, the CBS-TV network's 'The Big Record Show' had its national debut {it was the network's answer to ABC-TV's 'American Bandstand'}...
    The show's hostess was Patti Page and it lasted for one season with 35 episodes...
    Eddie Cantor performed "Makin' Whoopee!" on the show; he first introduced the song twenty-nine years earlier in the 1928 Broadway musical 'Whoopee!'...
    Mr. Cantor, Edward Israel Iskowitz, passed away on October 10th, 1964 at the age of 72...
    May he R.I.P.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Al Kooper

Al KooperSongwriter Interviews

Kooper produced Lynyrd Skynyrd, played with Dylan and the Stones, and formed BS&T.

Oliver Leiber

Oliver LeiberSongwriter Interviews

Oliver Leiber talks about writing and producing hits for Paula Abdul, and explains his complicated relationship with his father, the songwriter Jerry Leiber.

Harry Shearer

Harry ShearerSongwriter Interviews

Harry is Derek Smalls in Spinal Tap, Mark Shubb in The Folksmen, and Mr. Burns on The Simpsons.

Don Dokken

Don DokkenSongwriter Interviews

Dokken frontman Don Dokken explains what broke up the band at the height of their success in the late '80s, and talks about the botched surgery that paralyzed his right arm.

Gene Simmons of Kiss

Gene Simmons of KissSongwriter Interviews

The Kiss rocker covers a lot of ground in this interview, including why there are no Kiss collaborations, and why the Rock Hall has "become a sham."

Meshell Ndegeocello

Meshell NdegeocelloSongwriter Interviews

Meshell Ndegeocello talks about recording "Wild Night" with John Mellencamp, and explains why she shied away from the spotlight.