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"
Shanghai
Doris Day Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who's gonna thrill me
Who's gonna hold me tight
Tonight
Why did I tell you I was going to Shanghai
I wannna be with you tonight
Why did I holler I was going to Shanghai
It was just a little misunderstanding
That a kiss on the cheek could patch
I need you so badly, I'd gladly
Start all over from scratch
Oh, why did I tell you it was bye bye for Shanghai
I'm even allergic to rice
Why don't you stop me when I talk about Shanghai
It's just a lover's device
Now, who's gonna kiss me
Who's gonna thrill me
Who's gonna hold me tight
I'm right around the corner in the phone booth
And I wannna be with you tonight
Now, why did I tell you it was bye bye for Shanghai
I'm even allergic to rice
Why don't you stop me when I talk about Shanghai
It's just a lover's device
Now, who's gonna kiss me
Who's gonna thrill me
Who's gonna hold me tight
I'm right around the corner in the phone booth
And I wannna be with you tonight
Ooh ooh ooh who's gonna kiss me
Who's gonna thrill me
Who's gonna hold me tight
I'm right around the corner in the phone booth
And I wanna, yes I wanna
I wanna be with you tonight
The song "Shanghai" by Doris Day talks about a woman who made a big mistake by telling her lover that she was leaving for Shanghai, probably out of anger, only to realize later that she wishes to be with him. She asks who's gonna kiss her, thrill her, and hold her tight tonight, expressing her longing for her lover's company. She regrets her decision to leave and blames it on a little misunderstanding that a kiss on the cheek could patch up. She wants to start all over and wishes that her lover could stop her from talking about Shanghai, which she claims is just a lover's device.
The lyrics are indicative of a rocky relationship, where one partner acts on impulse and makes decisions in haste. The woman realizes that she needs her lover badly and is willing to start all over again. The lyrics are open to interpretation, but they most likely reflect the emotions of someone who has made a mistake and wants to take it back.
Line by Line Meaning
Who's gonna kiss me
Who will show their love and affection to me through a kiss
Who's gonna thrill me
Who will excite and stimulate me
Who's gonna hold me tight
Who will embrace and comfort me
Why did I tell you I was going to Shanghai
Why did I lie to you about leaving when I truly desire to be with you tonight
I wannna be with you tonight
I desire to be physically and emotionally close to you tonight
It was just a little misunderstanding
Our temporary separation could be resolved with a simple act of affection
That a kiss on the cheek could patch
Just a simple kiss on the cheek could fix everything
I need you so badly, I'd gladly
I yearn for your presence so strongly, I am willing to start over
Start all over from scratch
Begin our relationship anew, from the beginning
Oh, why did I tell you it was bye bye for Shanghai
Why did I lie to you about leaving, making you think it was over between us
I'm even allergic to rice
The idea of being away from you in Shanghai is unappealing
Why don't you stop me when I talk about Shanghai
You should tell me that you want me to stay with you instead of going to Shanghai
It's just a lover's device
The talk of going to Shanghai is only a way for a lover to spark a conversation about staying together
I'm right around the corner in the phone booth
I am nearby and available to be with you if you want me
And I wanna, yes I wanna
I desire to be physically and emotionally close to you
I wanna be with you tonight
I strongly desire to be with you tonight
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, AMY DEE MUSIC CORP., Cloud9, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Milton De Lugg, Bob Hilliard
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jessye2325
Who's gonna kiss me
Who's gonna thrill me
Who's gonna hold me tight
Tonight
Why did I tell you I was goin' to Shanghai
I want to be with you tonight
Why did I holler I was goin' to Shanghai
I want to be with you tonight
It was just a little misunderstanding
That a kiss on the cheek could patch
I need you so badly
I'd gladly start all over from scratch
Oh, why did I tell you it was bye-bye for Shanghai
I'm even allergic to rice
Why don't you stop me when I talk about Shanghai
It's just a lover's device
Now who's gonna kiss me
Who's gonna thrill me
Who's gonna hold me tight
I'm right around the corner in the phone booth
And I wanna be with you tonight
Now why did I tell you it was bye-bye for Shanghai
I'm even allergic to rice
Why don't you stop me when I talk about Shanghai
It's just a lovers device
Now who's gonna kiss me
Who's gonna thrill me
Who's gonna hold me tight
I'm right around the corner in the phone booth
And I wanna be with you tonight
Who-oo-oo-oo's gonna kiss me
Who's gonna thrill me
Who's gonna hold me tight
I'm right around the corner in the phone booth
And I wanna
Yes I wanna
I wanna be with you tonight...
@jessye2325
Who's gonna kiss me
Who's gonna thrill me
Who's gonna hold me tight
Tonight
Why did I tell you I was goin' to Shanghai
I want to be with you tonight
Why did I holler I was goin' to Shanghai
I want to be with you tonight
It was just a little misunderstanding
That a kiss on the cheek could patch
I need you so badly
I'd gladly start all over from scratch
Oh, why did I tell you it was bye-bye for Shanghai
I'm even allergic to rice
Why don't you stop me when I talk about Shanghai
It's just a lover's device
Now who's gonna kiss me
Who's gonna thrill me
Who's gonna hold me tight
I'm right around the corner in the phone booth
And I wanna be with you tonight
Now why did I tell you it was bye-bye for Shanghai
I'm even allergic to rice
Why don't you stop me when I talk about Shanghai
It's just a lovers device
Now who's gonna kiss me
Who's gonna thrill me
Who's gonna hold me tight
I'm right around the corner in the phone booth
And I wanna be with you tonight
Who-oo-oo-oo's gonna kiss me
Who's gonna thrill me
Who's gonna hold me tight
I'm right around the corner in the phone booth
And I wanna
Yes I wanna
I wanna be with you tonight...
@douglasporto6209
Who's gonna kiss me
Who's gonna thrill me
Who's gonna hold me tight
Tonight
Why did I tell you I was goin' to Shanghai
I want to be with you tonight
Why did I holler I was goin' to Shanghai
I want to be with you tonight
It was just a little misunderstanding
That a kiss on the cheek could patch
I need you so badly
I'd gladly start all over from scratch
Oh, why did I tell you it was bye-bye for Shanghai
I'm even allergic to rice
Why don't you stop me when I talk about Shanghai
It's just a lover's device
Now who's gonna kiss me
Who's gonna thrill me
Who's gonna hold me tight
I'm right around the corner in the phone booth
And I wanna be with you tonight
Now why did I tell you it was bye-bye for Shanghai
I'm even allergic to rice
Why don't you stop me when I talk about Shanghai
It's just a lovers device
Now who's gonna kiss me
Who's gonna thrill me
Who's gonna hold me tight
I'm right around the corner in the phone booth
And I wanna be with you tonight
Who-oo-oo-oo's gonna kiss me
Who's gonna thrill me
Who's gonna hold me tight
I'm right around the corner in the phone booth
And I wanna
Yes I wanna
I wanna be with you tonight...
@vondarling8858
My brother who passed away five years ago had this song stuck in his head for twenty years and had no idea what the song was called or who sang it. It turns out my grandmother used to play this when she babysat us. We only learned the songs identity after he passed away. I love this song.
@damienrecords
Me too. I remembered Shanghai word and Google it and it said Doris Day and had all the lyrics!
@manfreadstraw
She not only sounds great in this, but then the brass section comes in and it's white hot saxophone, cornet, trumpet - sensational !!! Great covers too - terrific job Toni !!!
@Dayniac4324
Thank you Jan and Susan ... I really hope you all are doing well !! Happy you enjoyed this fun Doris song ... I think she must have been on or in thousands of mags !! Have a lovely week !!!
@damienrecords
Love this song. My Grandpa in New Orleans would play it on his Victrola which he gave me when I grew up. Loved Doris Day all my life. And she answered her fan mail. I still have the autographed photo she sent. Miss her!
@Ashkan41
That's really wonderful. Unfortunately I didn't get the chance to get in contact with Ms. Day, but what can we say that's life!
@brownies4you
When teenagers in 1951 heard this song's first line of "Who's gonna kiss me?" bounce from a jukebox, there was a scream of approval and a rush to the dance floor.
@slc2466
According to Joel Whitburn's "Pop Memories," "Shanghai" entered the Billboard charts on June 30th, 1951, then spent 17 weeks in the top 40, peaking at #7.
@peterflapper
Hi Toni, another great Doris Day tune. I think Doris face appeared on more than 10.000 covers, she was so popular around the world. It probably never will be known how many covers/photo's of her are taken. But there are a lot, and most of them are great. Thank you for sharing! Have an nice DAY today. P
@joycemordoh4016
My mother used to play Doris Day records. This was always one of my favorite songs from her❣️