Changes: I Won't Dance

Music by	Jerome Kern
Lyrics by	Oscar Hammerstein II & Otto Harbach, Dorothy Fields and Jimmy McHugh
Date	1935
Source	Roberta (film)
Publisher	Cotton Club Publishing, Aldi Music Company, and Universal Polygram International

Latest revision as of 13:58, 24 April 2019

"I Won't Dance," from the 1934 London musical Three Sisters, was written by Jerome Kern with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and Otto Harbach. When RKO decided to add the song to the 1935 film version of the Broadway musical Roberta as a dance number for Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, the lyrics were rewritten by Dorothy Fields and Jimmy McHugh. All four lyricists' names are credited for this version of the song, which became a hit.

Kermit and Miss Piggy performed this updated version of "I Won't Dance" in episode 210 of The Muppet Show. The song was performed At the Dance and featured the recurring sketch's setting, introduction music, and dancers.

Oscar the Grouch makes reference to the song in A Brief History of Motion Pictures when director Prairie Dawn demands everyone dance in the new widescreen format. Oscar objects and shouts "I won't dance! Don't ask me!" then he ducks back into his trash can. Gonnigan makes the same remark in the "Dance Recital" episode of Abby's Flying Fairy School. Similarly in Episode 4508, Bert says "I don't dance. Don't ask me."

Releases

Video

The Kermit and Piggy Story (1985)

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+{{song|image=Iwontdance.jpg|composer=[[Jerome Kern]]|lyricist=[[Oscar Hammerstein II]] & [[Otto Harbach]], [[Dorothy Fields]] and Jimmy McHugh|date=1935|source=''Roberta'' (film)|publisher=Cotton Club Publishing, Aldi Music Company, and Universal Polygram International}}
-{{talk}}
-{{song|writer=|composer=[[Jerome Kern]]|lyricist=[[Oscar Hammerstein II]] & [[Otto Harbach]], [[Dorothy Fields]] and [[Jimmy McHugh]]|date=1935|source=''Roberta'' (movie)|publisher=Cotton Club Publishing, Aldi Music Company, and Universal Polygram International}}
-"'''I Won't Dance'''," from the [[London]] musical ''Three Sisters'', was written by [[Jerome Kern]] with lyrics by [[Oscar Hammerstein II]] and [[Otto Harbach]].  When RKO decided to add the song to the film version of the [[Broadway]] musical ''Roberta'' the following year as an extra dance number for [[Fred Astaire]] and [[Ginger Rogers]], the lyrics were rewritten by [[Dorothy Fields]] and [[Jimmy McHugh]], and all four lyricists' names were retained in the credits.
+"'''I Won't Dance'''," from the 1934 [[London]] musical ''Three Sisters'', was written by [[Jerome Kern]] with lyrics by [[Oscar Hammerstein II]] and [[Otto Harbach]]. When RKO decided to add the song to the 1935 film version of the [[Broadway]] musical ''Roberta'' as a dance number for [[Fred Astaire]] and [[Ginger Rogers]], the lyrics were rewritten by [[Dorothy Fields]] and Jimmy McHugh. All four lyricists' names are credited for this version of the song, which became a hit.
-[[Kermit]] and [[Miss Piggy]] performed the version of "I Won't Dance" written for ''Roberta'' in [[Episode 210: George Burns|episode 210]] of ''[[The Muppet Show]]''.  The song was performed [[At the Dance]] and featured the recurring sketch's setting, introduction music, and [[dancers]].  The sketch was included on the [[Playhouse Video]] compilation ''[[The Kermit and Piggy Story]]''.
+[[Kermit the Frog|Kermit]] and [[Miss Piggy]] performed this updated version of "I Won't Dance" in [[Episode 210: George Burns|episode 210]] of ''[[The Muppet Show]]''. The song was performed [[At the Dance]] and featured the recurring sketch's setting, introduction music, and [[dancers]].
+[[Oscar the Grouch]] makes reference to the song in ''[[A Brief History of Motion Pictures]]'' when director [[Prairie Dawn]] demands everyone dance in the new widescreen format. Oscar objects and shouts "I won't dance! Don't ask me!" then he ducks back into [[Oscar's trash can|his trash can]]. [[Gonnigan]] makes the same remark in the "Dance Recital" episode of ''[[Abby's Flying Fairy School]]''. Similarly in [[Episode 4508]], [[Bert]] says "I don't dance. Don't ask me."
+==Releases==
+;Video
+*''[[The Kermit and Piggy Story]]'' (1985)
+__NOWYSIWYG__
 [[Category:Muppet Songs]]
 [[Category:Muppet Show Songs]]
+[[Category:Musical References]]


Music by	Jerome Kern
Lyrics by	Oscar Hammerstein II & Otto Harbach, Dorothy Fields and Jimmy McHugh
Date	1935
Source	Roberta (film)
Publisher	Cotton Club Publishing, Aldi Music Company, and Universal Polygram International