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My Favorite Judy

Her Hits, Ranked (Weakest to Greatest)

(4) "The Man That Got Away." I think this song would not fare well if it were released today, because it really isn't a self-empowerment anthem. But I love how desperate the heroine is. She just wants her man back! Who could fail to relate?

I particularly like when the heroine attempts self-delusion: "Good riddance! Goodbye! Every trick of his you're on to...But fools will be fools. And WHERE'S HE GONE TO?

 I also love the repetition of "up." "With hope you burn up....tomorrow, he might turn up...THERE'S JUST NO LET-UP...!" Take THAT, Cardi B!

(3) "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." I'm no great fan of Oz. And heaven knows this song is over-used. Also, how serious is the speaker? Does Dorothy really think there's a land "above the chimney tops"? In other words, is she struggling with lunacy?

In any case, I like the troubles "melting like lemon-drops." And the bird metaphor. (Birds will pop up again in this list.) I like to think Sondheim was updating "Rainbow" when he used a bird metaphor of his own in "Sweeney Todd": "If I cannot fly...let me sing...."

(2) "Any Place I Hang My Hat Is Home." THIS is how you write a bridge. Take note, Taylor Swift. The speaker, a person of "loose morals," is reflecting merrily on how she likes to abandon her friends and move to new towns. Embrace the free life! At the climax of the song, the speaker looks to nature to support her argument:

Birds roosting in the trees
Pick up and go--
And the going proves...
That's how it oughta be!
I pick up, too...
When the spirit moves me...

 The melody climbs higher and higher--almost as if the notes themselves were birds, lifting up out of the trees. There's a final big orgasmic release on the word "Cross." "CROSS the river! Round the bend...Howdy, Stranger! So long, Friend..." Great writing.

(1) "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." This is Judy at her best. I love how sad the song is. And I love the dramatic reference to the "Fates."

I hate when modern-day celebrities include the line about "hanging the shining star upon the highest bough." That's a travesty. The line is: "We all will be together....Until then, WE'LL HAVE TO MUDDLE THROUGH SOMEHOW..." But listeners today apparently can't tolerate real talk around Christmastime. The reference to the highest bough makes very little sense in context, and it doesn't match the melody. Deeply upsetting.

Go back to Judy. Go back to the source. Every time.




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