He first performed in a children's choir at his local Presbyterian church. Williams and his three older brothers Bob, Dick, and Don, formed a quartet, the Williams Brothers, in the late 1930s. The brothers performed on radio in the Midwest, first at WHO in Des Moines, Iowa, and later at WLS in Chicago and WLW in Cincinnati. Williams graduated from Western Hills High School in Cincinnati. They appeared with Bing Crosby on the hit record "Swinging on a Star" (1944). This led to a nightclub act with entertainer Kay Thompson from 1947 to 1951.
Williams's solo career began in 1952 after his brothers left the act. He recorded six sides for RCA's label "X," but none of them were popular hits. After landing a spot as a regular on Steve Allen's Tonight Show in 1955, he was signed to a recording contract with Cadence Records, a small label in New York run by conductor Archie Bleyer. His third single, "Canadian Sunset" (1956) hit the Top Ten, and was soon followed his only Billboard #1 hit, "Butterfly" (a cover of a Charlie Gracie record on which Williams imitated Elvis Presley). More hits followed, including "The Hawaiian Wedding Song," "Are You Sincere," "The Village of St. Bernadette," and "Lonely Street," before Williams moved to Columbia Records in 1961, having moved from New York to Los Angeles. In terms of chart popularity, the Cadence era was Williams's peak although songs he introduced on Columbia became much bigger standards. Two top ten hits from the Cadence era, "Butterfly" and "I Like Your Kind of Love" were apparently believed to not suit Williams's later style; they were not included on a Columbia reissue of his Cadence greatest hits in the 1960s.
During the 1960s, Williams became one of the most popular vocalists in the country and signed what was to that time the biggest recording contract in history. He was primarily an album artist, and at one time he had earned more gold albums than any solo performer except Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley. By 1973 he had earned as many as 17 gold album awards. Among his hit albums from this period were Moon River, Days of Wine and Roses (number one for 16 weeks in mid-1963), The Andy Williams Christmas Album, Dear Heart, The Shadow of Your Smile, Love, Andy, Get Together with Andy Williams, and Love Story. In these recordings Williams displays an incredible vocal technique along with an uncanny ability to make each song his very own, often rivaling or surpassing the version by the original artist. These attributes, along with his natural affinity for the music of the 1960s and early 1970s, combined to make him one of the premier easy listening singers of that era.
Williams forged an indirect collaborative relationship with Henry Mancini, although they never recorded together. Williams was asked to sing Mancini and Johnny Mercer's song "Moon River" at the 1962 Oscar Awards (where it won), and it quickly became Williams's theme song. This was repeated the next year with the pair's "Days of Wine and Roses" (which also won), Mancini's "Dear Heart" at the 1965 awards and "The Sweetheart Tree" (also written with Mercer) at the 1966 awards.
Williams also competed in the teenage-oriented singles market as well and had several charting hits including "Can't Get Used to Losing You," "Happy Heart," and "Where Do I Begin", the theme song from the 1970 blockbuster film, Love Story. Building on his experience with Allen and some short-term variety shows in the 1950s, he became the star of his own weekly television variety show in 1962. This series, The Andy Williams Show, won three Emmy Awards for outstanding variety program. Among his series regulars were the Osmond Brothers. He gave up the variety show in 1971 while it was still popular and retrenched to three specials per year. His Christmas specials, which appeared regularly until 1974 and intermittently from 1982 into the 1990s, were among the most popular of the genre. Williams has recorded eight Christmas albums over the years. He hosted the Grammy Awards for three consecutive years in the 1970s. He returned to television to do a syndicated half-hour series in 1976-77.
In the early 1990s, Williams gave up most of his touring schedule in order to open his own theatre in Branson, Missouri, the Andy Williams Moon River Theater. He continues to do 8 to 12 shows a week from September to December and occasionally makes tours of Europe earlier in the year.
His 1967 recording of "Music to Watch Girls By" was a surprise UK hit in 1999, when it reached number 9 after featuring in an advert (beating the original peak of number 33 in 1967). In 2002 he took part in a new duet of "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" with British actress and singer Denise van Outen. Nearly everything Williams ever recorded has now been made available on CD through a series of compilations from 1997 to 2004.
Williams met Claudine Longet when he pulled over to aid her on a Las Vegas road. She was a dancer at the time at the Folies Bergere. They married on Christmas Day, 1961, and had three children, Noelle, Christian, and Robert. They separated in 1969 and finally divorced 6 years later. In 1976 Longet was charged with fatally shooting her boyfriend, skier Vladimir "Spider" Sabich and Williams supported her. He married a second time in May 1991 to the former Debbie Haas. They make their homes at Branson, Missouri and La Quinta, California. Williams' homes have been featured in Architectural Digest, and he is a noted collector of modern art. Williams is an avid golfer. He hosted a major golf tournament in San Diego for many years, which was known as the Andy Williams San Diego Open during that time.
Williams' birthplace is a tourist attraction open most of the year.
My Favorite Things
Andy Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things
Cream colored ponies and crisp apple streudels
Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings
Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes
Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes
Silver white winters that melt into springs
These are a few of my favorite things
When the dog bites
When the bee stings
When I'm feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel so bad
When the dog bites
When the bee stings
When I'm feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel so bad
The lyrics to Andy Williams's song My Favorite Things is a joyful tribute to the simple pleasures in life that bring us comfort and solace. The song starts with a series of images that conjures up warmth and coziness - raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens, brown paper packages tied up with strings. These are the things that make the singer happy and create a sense of home and belonging.
The song progresses to other favorite things like cream-colored ponies and crisp apple strudels, doorbells and sleigh bells, and schnitzel with noodles. The singer's appreciation for the beauty of the natural world is also evident in the line about wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings. The third verse of the song centers on girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes, snowflakes that stay on the nose and eyelashes, and the magic of silver-white winters melting into springs.
The song's chorus tells us that life is not always perfect and that we all experience pain and sadness at times. However, the singer has a tried and true tactic for feeling better when things go wrong - he simply remembers his favorite things. By doing so, he is able to shift his focus away from his problems and towards the things that bring him joy and happiness.
Overall, the lyrics to My Favorite Things is a celebration of the beauty and richness of life. Through this song, the singer invites us to cherish the little things that make life meaningful and to remember that even in difficult times, there are always things that can bring us comfort and happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
I appreciate the beauty of nature and the innocent playfulness of animals.
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
I find comfort in simple everyday objects that bring a sense of warmth and coziness.
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
I delight in the joy of receiving thoughtful gifts that are carefully wrapped with care.
These are a few of my favorite things
These are some of the small pleasures that bring me happiness and contentment.
Cream colored ponies and crisp apple streudels
I find pleasure in savoring delicious food and admiring beautiful animals.
Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles
I enjoy the sounds and tastes that are unique to certain experiences, like a doorbell ringing or the jingle of bells on a sleigh ride.
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings
I find wonder and awe in the natural world, like the sight of geese flying in the moonlight.
Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes
I appreciate beauty in people, such as young women wearing white dresses with elegant blue sashes.
Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes
I enjoy the small but beautiful moments in life, like snowflakes gently landing on my body.
Silver white winters that melt into springs
I appreciate the changing of seasons and the beauty of each unique time of the year.
When the dog bites
Sometimes bad things happen unexpectedly in life, like when a dog bites.
When the bee stings
Other times, things can sting or hurt us, like a bee sting.
When I'm feeling sad
During moments of sadness or distress, it's helpful to think about and focus on positive things that bring joy and comfort.
I simply remember my favorite things
I try to recall the pleasurable moments and experiences in my life to help me through difficult times.
And then I don't feel so bad
By focusing on the good and positive things in life, I am able to feel better and find hope and strength to carry on.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, IMAGEM MUSIC INC
Written by: OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II, RICHARD RODGERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind