Song of the Day: A Shine On Your Shoes

The song of the day for Saturday, May 9, 2015 is “A Shine On Your Shoes.”

About This Song

“A Shine On Your Shoes” was composed by Arthur Schwartz with lyrics by Howard Dietz for the 1932 Broadway musical Flying Colors. The same song was used for the 1953 movie The Band Wagon, which starred Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse.

About This Version

Today is the second day in a row for a song by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz and the second day in a row for a song from The Band Wagon. No wonder — the songs are great and so was this movie.

I love this great, upbeat number as Bennett sings it. Every time I hear it, I think of that funny scene in The Zen of Bennett where he discovers that shoe shine person at the hotel put brown polish on his black shoes and then he breaks out into the Irving Berlin song “I Used To Be Color Blind.”

Mr. Bennett has a great time with this song. The opening with just the bass and drum played with brushes is really excellent. I dare anyone to be in a bad mood after listening to this song. If you do listen and are still in bad mood, then proceed directly to the video.

“A Shine On Your Shoes,” as well as Steppin’ Out, is available from iTunes.

Today’s video features our song of the day as sung and danced by Fred Astaire. Astaire wanted to perform this number with a bootblack. Director Vincent Minnelli found Leroy Daniels, an actor dancer who was supporting himself as a bootblack. Their number is magic.