Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? by Frank Sinatra

Album: High Society (1956)

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The 1956 musical High Society is a remake of the 1940 film The Phildelphia Story. By the time it was commissioned, Cole Porter can be said to have been in his twilight years, but as this duet between Frank Sinatra and Celeste Holm shows, he hadn't lost his touch.
This is another of Cole Porter's famous "list songs"; its theme is literally do you want to be a millionaire - or my lover? In spite of its apparent frivolity, there can be no doubt that he meant what he said, that there are some things that are more important than money. Although he was born into affluence, and by the time this song tripped off his pen, he had long been both wealthy and famous in equal measure, he was also unquestionably a very unhappy man. In October 1937 he was confined to a wheelchair after an horrific riding accident; this led to him having a series of operations on his legs, and left him in both constant pain and depression. In 1952 his mother died, and two years later his wife of over 30 years. In 1958, his right leg was amputated, and he died a virtual recluse in 1964. >>
Suggestion credit:
Alexander Baron - London, England, for above 2

Comments: 3

Richard Bradshaw from Thirsk, North Yorkshire, England"Who wants a private landing feel through" makes no sense. It's been misheard: the line should be "Who wants a private landing field too"
Tea Bag from Northern EnglandThis is an interesting one. Perhaps it depends on what you feel is the purpose of lyrics in a musical. Is it to produce a musical equivalent of the dialogue, or is it to reveal the secret thoughts of the characters?

Mike and Liz are co-workers at Spy magazine. We hear in their dialogue that Mike "misjudged" Liz at one time. I expect that means he made a pass at her and she rebuffed him. (I would say this interpretation is also backed up by Liz's later comment that Mike "has a lot to learn".) From their talk and behaviour, there can be no doubt: at this time, he does not think he has a chance with her. Yet, in the lyrics of this song, they both say "all I want is you!".

This could be the revelation of secret love between them - similar to the use of asides in a stage play - but as far as I can tell, that is not what Porter is doing with the lyrics of his other songs in this musical; the words always seem to be equivalent in meaning to the spoken dialogue that surrounds them. Therefore, I would say that the lyrics here are ironic. In fact, both Liz and Mike would love a 1950s millionaire's lifestyle. Being hip urban types, they play it cool and pretend to despise the wealth that surrounds them at the Lord residence. As the song goes along, they build up their confidence that nothing they say will be taken at face value, and so they add "all I want is you" as further insincerity.

Certainly Mike is not pining for Liz, because in later scenes we see that he has a roving eye.
Cyberpope from Richmond, CanadaI liked how she asked him, "Ask me if I would change places with (girl) & her money?"; Frank asks, "Can you trade places with (girl) & all her money?"

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