You Make Me Feel So Young

Album: Songs For Swingin' Lovers! (1956)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Written by Josef Myrow (music) and Mack Gordon (lyrics), this classic love song debuted in the 1946 movie musical Three Little Girls In Blue. It was first performed by Vera-Ellen and Charles Smith, whose vocals were dubbed by Carol Stewart and Del Porter. That same year, it was recorded by Martha Tilton with Paul Weston and his Orchestra, and several other covers followed.

    Sinatra resurrected the tune for his 1956 album Songs For Swingin' Lovers, a collection of upbeat pop standards arranged by Nelson Riddle. In the song, the 40-year-old crooner is reinvigorated by a romance with a woman who makes him feel like a kid again. In reality, Sinatra's love life was on the rocks as he was in the midst of a separation from his second wife, Ava Gardner.
  • Songs For Swingin' Lovers was the first #1 album on the UK Albums Chart, which was established in July 1956. Sinatra topped the tally again in 1957 with A Swingin' Affair.
  • If his album titles are any indication, Sinatra was up for lots of swinging, but it's more innocent than it sounds. He's referring to the music genre and "swinging" as slang for having a good time, not the act of swapping sexual partners - a burgeoning phenomenon that became more prominent in the '60s and '70s.
  • Sinatra performed this often throughout his career and included it in his set for his 1966 live album, Sinatra At The Sands. He recorded a new version, arranged by Quincy Jones, for his 1993 Duets album with Charles Aznavour.
  • This was also recorded by Ella Fitzgerald, Joni James, Frankie Avalon, Paul Anka, Jack Jones, Barry Manilow, Steve Lawrence, Michael Buble, and Willie Nelson, among others. Indie-pop singer Ingrid Michaelson recorded a version for her 2024 album, For The Dreamers.
  • This was used in these TV shows:

    Glee ("New New York" - 2014)
    NYPD Blue ("Here Comes The Son" - 2002)
    The West Wing ("War Crimes" - 2001)
    Family Guy ("Dammit Janet" - 2000)
    The Simpsons ("I'm With Cupid" - 1999)

    And these movies:

    The King Of Staten Island (2020)
    Pixels (2015)
    The Savages (2007)
    In Her Shoes (2005)
    The Life And Death Of Peter Sellers (2004)
    Elf (2003)
    All The Way (2003)
    Picture Perfect (1997)
    Inventing The Abbotts (1997)
    Down Periscope (1996)
    Trapped In Paradise (1994)
    A Wedding (1978)
  • Comedian Horatio Sanz performed this on the May 5, 2001 episode of Saturday Night Live.
  • Josef Myrow and Mack Gordon also collaborated on the songs "You Do" (1947) and "Wilhelmina" (1950), both of which were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Randy Newman

Randy NewmanSongwriting Legends

Newman makes it look easy these days, but in this 1974 interview, he reveals the paranoia and pressures that made him yearn for his old 9-5 job.

Ralph Casale  - Session Pro

Ralph Casale - Session ProSongwriter Interviews

A top New York studio musician, Ralph played guitar on many '60s hits, including "Lightnin' Strikes," "A Lover's Concerto" and "I Am A Rock."

Gary Louris of The Jayhawks

Gary Louris of The JayhawksSongwriter Interviews

The Jayhawks' song "Big Star" has special meaning to Gary, who explains how longevity and inspiration have trumped adulation.

Tim McIlrath of Rise Against

Tim McIlrath of Rise AgainstSongwriter Interviews

Rise Against frontman Tim McIlrath explains the meanings behind some of their biggest songs and names the sci-fi books that have influenced him.

Is That Song Public Domain?

Is That Song Public Domain?Fact or Fiction

Are classic songs like "Over The Rainbow" and "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" in the public domain?

George Harrison

George HarrisonFact or Fiction

Did Eric Clapton really steal George's wife? What's the George Harrison-Monty Python connection? Set the record straight with our Fact or Fiction quiz.