Day's film career began during the latter part of the Classical Hollywood Film era with the 1948 film Romance on the High Seas, and its success sparked her twenty-year career as a motion picture actress. She starred in a series of successful films, including musicals, comedies, and dramas. She played the title role in Calamity Jane (1953), and starred in Alfred Hitchcock's The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956) with James Stewart. Her most successful films were the bedroom comedies she made co-starring Rock Hudson and James Garner, such as Pillow Talk (1959) and Move Over, Darling (1963), respectively. She also co-starred in films with such leading men as Clark Gable, Cary Grant, David Niven, and Rod Taylor. After her final film in 1968, she went on to star in the CBS sitcom The Doris Day Show (1968–1973).
Day was usually one of the top ten singers between 1951 and 1966. As an actress, she became the biggest female film star in the early 1960s, and ranked sixth among the box office performers by 2012. In 2011, she released her 29th studio album, My Heart, which became a UK Top 10 album featuring new material. Among her awards, Day has received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and a Legend Award from the Society of Singers. In 1960, she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress, and in 1989 was given the Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement in motion pictures. In 2004, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George W. Bush followed in 2011 by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association's Career Achievement Award. She was one of the last surviving stars of the Golden Age of Hollywood.
Her death was announced by her charity, the Doris Day Animal Foundation, on Monday 13th May 2019.
Discography
chart hits
Year Title Chart Positions
US CB UK
1945 "Sentimental Journey" (w/ Les Brown) 1 — —
"My Dreams Are Getting Better All the Time" (w/ Les Brown) 1 — —
"'Tain't Me" (w/ Les Brown) 10 — —
"Till the End of Time" (w/ Les Brown) 3 — —
"Aren't You Glad You're You?" (w/ Les Brown) 11 — —
"Come to Baby Do" (w/ Les Brown) / 13 — —
1946 "You Won't Be Satisfied (Until You Break My Heart)" (w/ Les Brown) 4 — —
"Day by Day" (w/ Les Brown) 15 — —
"I Got the Sun in the Mornin' (and the Moon at Night)" (w/ Les Brown) 10 — —
"The Whole World Is Singing My Song" (w/ Les Brown) 6 — —
1947 "The Christmas Song" (w/ Les Brown) 12 — —
"Sooner or Later" (w/ Les Brown) 13 — —
"Papa, Won't You Dance With Me" 21 — —
1948 "Thoughtless" (w/ Modernaires) 24 — —
"Love Somebody" (w/ Buddy Clark) / 1 — —
"Confess" (w/ Buddy Clark) 16 — —
"Put 'em in a Box, Tie 'em with a Ribbon, and Throw 'em in the Deep Blue Sea" / 27 — —
"It's Magic" 2 — —
"My Darling, My Darling" (w/ Buddy Clark) 7 — —
1949 "Powder Your Face with Sunshine" (w/ Buddy Clark) 16 — —
"Again" 2 — —
"Everywhere You Go" 22 — —
"Let's Take an Old-Fashioned Walk" (w/ Frank Sinatra) 17 — —
"Now That I Need You" 20 — —
"Canadian Capers" 15 — —
"Bluebird on Your Windowsill" 19 — —
1950 "Quicksilver" 20 — —
"I Said My Pajamas (and Put on My Prayers)" 21 — —
"Enjoy Yourself (It's Later than You Think)" 24 — —
"Hoop-Dee-Doo" 17 — —
"Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered" 9 — —
"I Didn't Slip, I Wasn't Pushed, I Fell" 19 — —
"A Bushel and a Peck" 16 — —
1951 "It's a Lovely Day Today" 30 — —
"Would I Love You (Love You, Love You)" 10 — —
"Shanghai" 7 — —
"Domino" 21 — —
1952 "A Guy Is a Guy" 1 — —
"Sugarbush" (w/ Frankie Laine) 7 12 8
"When I Fall in Love" 20 — —
"No Two People" (w/ Donald O'Connor) 25 — —
"My Love and Devotion" — 31 10
"The Cherries" — 39 —
"A Full Time Job" (w/ Johnnie Ray) / 20 21 11
"Ma Says, Pa Says" (w/ Johnnie Ray) 23 28 12
1953 "Mister Tap Toe" 10 11 —
"When the Red, Red Robin (Comes Bob, Bob, Bobbin' Along)" 29 — —
"Candy Lips" (w/ Johnnie Ray) / 17 18 —
"Let's Walk That-a-Way" (w/ Johnnie Ray) — 31 4
"Kiss Me Again, Stranger" / 30 — —
"A Purple Cow" 25 — —
"Choo Choo Train (Ch-Ch-Foo) 20 — —
1954 "Secret Love" 1 1 1
"The Black Hills of Dakota" — — 7
"Lost in Loveliness" — 25 —
"I Speak to the Stars" 16 17 —
"Someone Else's Roses" — 32 —
"If I Give My Heart to You" / 3 2 4
"Anyone Can Fall in Love" 27 41 —
"Ready, Willing, and Able" / — 31 7
"Hold Me in Your Arms" — 39 —
1955 "Foolishly Yours" — 25 —
"Love Me Or Leave Me" — — 20
"I'll Never Stop Loving You" 13 14 17
"Ooh Bang Jiggily Jang" 83 — —
1956 "Let It Ring" 51 — —
"Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)" 2 3 1
"Julie" / 64 40 —
"Love in a Home" 79 — —
"The Party's Over" 63 47 —
1957 "Twelve O'Clock Tonight" 68 — —
1958 "Teacher's Pet" 56 36 —
"A Very Precious Love" — — 16
"Everybody Loves a Lover" 6 6 25
"Tunnel of Love" 43 53 —
1959 "Love Me in the Daytime" 100 51 —
1960 "Any Way the Wind Blows" 50 109 —
"Please Don't Eat the Daisies" 102 102 —
"A Perfect Understanding" 111 — —
1962 "Lover Come Back" 98 — —
1964 "Move Over Darling" — — 8
"Send Me No Flowers" 135 — —
1967 "Sorry" * — — —
* "Sorry" made the US AC charts at #19.
Albums
10" LP
You're My Thrill (1949)
Young Man with a Horn (1950, soundtrack with Harry James)
Tea for Two (1950, soundtrack)
Lullaby of Broadway (1951, soundtrack)
On Moonlight Bay (1951, soundtrack)
I'll See You in My Dreams (1951, soundtrack)
By the Light of the Silvery Moon (1953, soundtrack)
Calamity Jane (1953, soundtrack)
Young at Heart (1954, soundtrack with Frank Sinatra)
12" LPs
Love Me or Leave Me (1955, soundtrack)
Day Dreams (1955, expanded re-issue of You're My Thrill)
Day By Day (1956)
The Pajama Game (1957, soundtrack)
Day by Night (1957)
Hooray for Hollywood (2 volumes, 1958)
Cuttin' Capers (1959)
What Every Girl Should Know (1960)
Show Time (1960)
Listen to Day (1960)
Bright and Shiny (1961)
I Have Dreamed (1961)
Duet (with André Previn, 1962)
You'll Never Walk Alone (1962)
Billy Rose's Jumbo (1962, soundtrack with film cast)
Annie Get Your Gun (1963, with Robert Goulet)
Love Him (1963)
The Doris Day Christmas Album (1964)
With a Smile and a Song (1964)
Latin for Lovers (1965)
Doris Day's Sentimental Journey (1965)
The Love Album (recorded in 1967, released in 1994)
My Heart (2011)
Singles
Hit records:
(with Les Brown's Band of Renown)
"Sentimental Journey"
5,000,000+ sales
"My Dreams Are Getting Better All The Time"
1,000,000+ sales
(As a solo performer)
"It's Magic"
1,000,000+ sales
"Again"
"Love Somebody" (duet with Buddy Clark)
1,000,000+ sales
"Confess" (duet with Buddy Clark) (also done by Patti Page)
"Bewitched"
1,000,000+ sales
"Shanghai"
"Sugarbush" (duet with Frankie Laine)
1,000,000+ sales
"Mister Tap Toe"
"Secret Love"
1,000,000+ sales
"If I Give My Heart to You" (also done by Denise Lor)
"I'll Never Stop Loving You"
1,000,000+ sales
"Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Sera, Sera)" ("Que Sera, Sera")
1,000,000+ sales
"Everybody Loves a Lover"
"Move Over Darling"
It's Better to Conceal Than Reveal
Doris Day Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Das ist die grosse Mausefalle
Mitten in Paris.
Pigalle, Pigalle,
Der Speck in dieser Mausefalle
Schmeckt so zuckersuess.
Da sieht man Tuerken, Perser, Inder und Chinesen,
Wer auf der Welt was auf sich haelt ist dagewesen.
Das ist die grosse Mausefalle
Mitten in Paris.
Oh la la, ich bin da.
In der herrlichen Stadt an der Seine.
Oh ich finde Paris ja so schoen,
Und heut' nacht hab ich was tolles gesehn.
Pigalle, Pigalle,
Das ist die grosse Mausefalle
Mitten in Paris.
Pigalle, Pigalle,
Der Speck in dieser Mausefalle
Schmeckt so zuckersuess.
Da sieht man Daenen, Deutsche, Schweizer und auch Schweden,
Die dann ein Leben lang von dieser Reise reden.
Pigalle, Pigalle,
Das ist die grosse Mausefalle
Mitten in Paris.
Oh la la, ich war da.
Gerne denk ich zurueck an die Zeit,
Bin zu jeder Beratung bereit.
Wer was wissen will, dem sag ich Bescheid.
Pigalle, Pigalle,
Das ist die grosse Mausefalle
Mitten in Paris.
Pigalle, Pigalle,
Der Speck in dieser Mausefalle
Schmeckt so zuckersuess.
Da sieht man Menschen aller Nationalitaeten,
Es rollen Dollars, D-Mark, Franken und Peseten.
Pigalle, Pigalle,
Das ist die grosse Mausefalle
Mitten in Paris.
The song "Pigalle" by Doris Day is a cheerful, upbeat tribute to the famous and notorious Pigalle district in Paris. The lyrics describe the district as a "Mausefalle" or mouse trap – a place where people of all nationalities and walks of life come to experience the excitement and passion of Paris. The focus of the song is on the delicious food and the beautiful sights one can see in the Pigalle district.
The singer speaks of the diverse range of people who visit Pigalle, from Turks and Persians to Danes, Germans, and Swedes. No matter where one comes from, the allure of Paris and its famous nightlife is too great to resist. The "Speck" (the bacon or pork of the district) is described as "zuckersüss" or sweet as sugar, providing a delicious taste of Parisian culture.
Despite the lighthearted and carefree tone of the song, Pigalle district can also be interpreted as a place of temptation and danger. The district, while famous for its cabarets and other forms of entertainment, is also known for its shady and even criminal elements. The song's lyrics suggest that while it is better to conceal than to reveal, it is impossible to resist the temptation of Pigalle.
Line by Line Meaning
Pigalle Pigalle, Pigalle,
The singer is excitedly mentioning the location of Pigalle in Paris.
Das ist die grosse Mausefalle Mitten in Paris.
Pigalle is a notorious area of Paris known for being a trap that people get caught up in.
Der Speck in dieser Mausefalle Schmeckt so zuckersuess.
The pleasures one can indulge in at Pigalle are very enticing and addictive.
Da sieht man Tuerken, Perser, Inder und Chinesen,
People from all over the world come to Pigalle, from Turks and Persians to Indians and Chinese.
Wer auf der Welt was auf sich haelt ist dagewesen.
Pigalle is a destination for people who consider themselves to be important and successful in the world.
Oh la la, ich bin da.
The singer is expressing excitement and pleasure at being in Pigalle.
In der herrlichen Stadt an der Seine.
Pigalle is located in the beautiful city of Paris on the Seine River.
Oh ich finde Paris ja so schoen,
The artist loves Paris and finds it to be a beautiful city.
Und heut' nacht hab ich was tolles gesehn.
The artist had an exciting experience in Pigalle the previous night.
Da sieht man Daenen, Deutsche, Schweizer und auch Schweden,
People from various European countries visit Pigalle, including Danes, Germans, Swiss, and Swedes.
Die dann ein Leben lang von dieser Reise reden.
These visitors will talk about their experience at Pigalle for the rest of their lives.
Oh la la, ich war da.
The artist is reminiscing about their previous visit to Pigalle.
Gerne denk ich zurueck an die Zeit,
The singer enjoys remembering the time they spent at Pigalle.
Bin zu jeder Beratung bereit.
The singer is willing to offer advice to anyone who wants to know about Pigalle.
Wer was wissen will, dem sag ich Bescheid.
The singer is willing and eager to share their knowledge about Pigalle with others.
Da sieht man Menschen aller Nationalitaeten,
People from all nationalities can be found in Pigalle.
Es rollen Dollars, D-Mark, Franken und Peseten.
Visitors to Pigalle spend money in various currencies, including Dollars, D-Marks, Francs, and Pesetas.
Pigalle, Pigalle, Das ist die grosse Mausefalle Mitten in Paris.
The chorus repeats the idea that Pigalle is a trap that people are drawn to in the heart of Paris.
Pigalle, Pigalle, Der Speck in dieser Mausefalle Schmeckt so zuckersuess.
The chorus reinforces the idea that the attractions at Pigalle are enticing and addictive.
Contributed by Dominic K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Dayniac4324
Thank you Samantha -- Megan will be so thrilled !! The fireworks effects go great with th song !! Loved it !!
@dorisdayno1
Thanks Nadia, I was putting this 1 on a couple of months ago but didn'tI noticed megan wanted to hear it to, so i decided to put it on here after i found the cd. So glad You Liked !
@dorisdayno1
Your welcome megan, i'll let you into a little secret i was putting this 1 on anyway at the summer but forgot and then i saw your posts of how much you liked the song and it reminded me that i hadn't put this 1 on. There are so many doris songs to choose from but i thought this 1 was different because she was duetting with another female singer. Thanks ,Glad you enjoyed !
@Dayniac4324
Oh no -- I'm so happy that you did -- I know Megan will be thrilled !! Thank you !
@DorisDayFanatic
That was fantastic Samantha!! I've never heard this one before, I love it. =)
@nellykevbbc
rare track by two great artists--also in u.s.a on early 33rpm single record columbia.circa1949...7"size heavy vinyl...columbia were so advanced sound wise..great label
@dorisdayno1
Thankyou for your comment !
@dorisdayno1
Thankyou, she also sings "You Can Have Him" with dinah shore.
@dorisdayno1
Thanks Nicki, i was putting this one in July and didn't then i noticed megan wanted Toni to put it on but i don't think it's 1 of toni's favourites so i put it on anyway once i found the cd that the song was on, Toni can of course still put it on if she wants of course. Thanks For Your nice comment !
@dorisdayno1
Thanks Toni, the song is a little different. As far as i'm aware that i can think of just now and that's dinah shore was her only female singer that she duetted with. I really hope you don't me putting this on for megan, i know the song isn't 1 of your favourotes - Thanks.