This season's wackiest, zany song - "Are you having any fun?" (Volkswagen commercial)

[UTUSN]

Imagine the surprise from the Search that the singer was Ms Elaine STRITCH, somebody I'd never really heard a complete song of, barely aware of as a balleyhooed stage performer, the glimpses of her only as a somewhat severe-looking elder. The original performers, FLANAGAN and ALLEN are said to be known for their "gentle humor," are one upped by the STRITCH raucous rendition.

More surprise that Tony BENNETT gave it his smooth threatment (with Elvis COSTELLO), not qualifying here as "zany."

**********QUOTE*****

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Are_You_Havin%27_Any_Fun%3F

"Are You Havin' Any Fun?"

is a song with lyrics by Jack Yellen and music by Sammy Fain. It featured in the Broadway revue series George White's Scandals in 1939.[1] A popular recording in 1939 was by Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra with vocals by Edythe Wright.[2] ....

British musical comedy duo Flanagan and Allen incorporated this in their popular Music Hall act of the 1930s and 1940s:[3]
Elaine Stritch's recording from her 1956 album Stritch[4] ....

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flanagan_and_Allen

Flanagan and Allen

were a British singing and comedy double act most active during the 1930s and 1940s. Its members were Bud Flanagan (1896 – 1968, born Chaim Weintrop) and Chesney Allen (1894–1982).[1] They were first paired in a Florrie Forde revue, and were booked by Val Parnell to appear at the Holborn Empire in 1929.[2] ....

Flanagan and Allen's songs featured the same, usually gentle, humour for which the duo were known in their live performances, and during the Second World War they reflected the experiences of ordinary people during wartime. Songs such as "We're Going to Hang out the Washing on the Siegfried Line" mocked the German defences (Siegfried Line), while others including "Miss You" sang of missing one's sweetheart during enforced absences. Other songs, such as their most famous, "Underneath the Arches" (which Flanagan co-wrote with Reg Connelly),[1] and the song "Umbrella Man" (which was used in many Merrie Melodies and Looney Tunes cartoons), had universal themes such as friendship. The music was usually melodic, following a binary verse, verse chorus structure, with a small dance band or orchestra providing the accompaniment. The vocals were distinctive because, while Flanagan was at least a competent singer and sang the melody lines, Allen used an almost spoken delivery to provide the harmonies and bass line. The duo appeared at the London Palladium at the first Royal Variety Performance in 1932.[1] ....

*******UNQUOTE*******

[elleng]

1. I've loved Elaine Stritch for AGES!!!

See from 10:26:

[UTUSN]

2. Well, of course, you're an aficionada!

As I say, only saw glimpses of her guesting on variety shows, and didn't stick around for her performances. She was always introduced as a mega-star from the stage, and she came across as being full of that status. So I clicked away out.

[UTUSN]

4. Hah! - "says 'clark' is a jark'!

[Brother Buzz]

3. Here's the VW commercial

Still, my all time favorite VW commercial, although dated, totally resonated with me; been there, done that

[elleng]

5. LOL!!!