Born Margaretha Keller, she studied dance from the age of 8 followed by acting classes. Her début was in "Pavillon" in Vienna. She also appeared on Stage with Marlene Dietrich in "Broadway", in which she sang and danced. A recording contract with Ultraphon in 1929 her singing took her from Vienna to Prague and Berlin, where she had a big success with Peter Igelhoff and Peter Kreuder. For over 45 years, through a life of triumphs and tragedies, her voice a legend-in radio shows, films, revues, concerts and musicals, but above all her records circled the globe. First called 'The Great Lady Of Chanson' in her native Vienna, it followed her to London and America.
Career
Her lieder voice carried the charm of the Parisian women but never lost the heart of the girl from Vienna. Greta's singing in what some call "a style reminiscent of Marlene Dietrich" comes from the fact she was the model for how Marlene Dietrich developed her own voice. Greta Keller made recordings throughout the world and from the earliest days of "schellack" to the dawn of CDs. She spent many years in the United States, notably in hotel club rooms at the Waldorf and (later) the Stanhope in New York, where her show always included "My Way", composed by Paul Anka, and a number of Noel Coward numbers. A 'singer's singer', Keller often drew other performers to the room, including the Nordstrom Sisters, Beverly Sills and Hildegarde. Other regulars would book the same table most nights that she was performing which included photographer Edgar de Evia. Favorites of the Stanhope crowd were the songs of Cole Porter and Noel Coward, for their sexual innuendo and double entendres. These included "Miss Otis Regrets" and "I'm the Other Woman in His Life" by her close friend Elisse Boyd. She regularly returned to Vienna. The poet and singer Rod McKuen was introduced by her to an audience in Vienna. McKuen, in turn ,hosted a concert presenting her at Lincoln Center in the 1970s, and wrote the lyric "If You Go Away" to Jacques Brel's "Ne Me Quitte Pas", which she always sang.
Greta's greatest strength was in her adaptability. Each song, took the caress in her voice in a unique way. Her repertoire included songs from the 1930s through the war years as well as popular songs of the day. A few years before her death, her voice appeared in the Academy Award-winning movie, Cabaret (1972), for which she sang the song, "Heirat" (Married). The last years of her life, from 1973 to her death in November 1977 Greta lived, worked, and traveled with the last great love of her life, Wolfgang Nebmaier, who now lives in Southern Oregon.
Filmography
• Mann, der seinen Mörder sucht, Der (1931) (uncredited) .... Singer... aka Jim, der Mann mit der Narbe (Germany)... aka Looking for His Murderer
• Lied vom Leben, Das (1931) .... Singer... aka Song of Life (USA: informal literal English title)
• Melodie der Liebe (1932) .... Singer... aka Right to Happiness (USA)
• Abenteurer von Paris, Der (1936) .... Cabaret Singer... aka The Paris Adventure (USA)
• Reunion in France (1942) (uncredited) .... Baroness von Steinkamp... aka Mademoiselle France (UK)... aka Reunion
• Herz spielt falsch, Ein (1953) .... Chansonniere/Cabaret Singer ... aka A Heart's Foul Play (International: English title)
• Blaue Stunde (1967) .... Singer
• Cabaret (1972) her voice was heard on a record as the singer of: "Heirat"
Say It Isn't So
Greta Keller Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Say it isn't so
Everyone is saying you don't love me
Say it isn't so
Everywhere I go
Everyone I know
Whispers that you're growing tired of me
Say it isn't so
People say that you
Found somebody new
And it won't be long before you leave me
Say it isn't true
Say that everything is still okay
That's all I want to know
And what they're saying
Say it isn't so
You can't stop people from talking
And they're talking, my dear
And the things they're saying
Fill my heart with fear
Now I could never believe them
When they say you're untrue
I know that they're mistaken
Still I want to hear it from you
Say it isn't so
Say it isn't so
Everyone is saying you don't love me
Say it isn't so
They say you're tired of me
Say it isn't so
People say that you
Found somebody new
And it won't be long before you leave me
Say it isn't true
Say that everything is still okay
That's all I want to know
And what they're saying
Say it isn't so
Say it isn't so
In Greta Keller's song "Say It Isn't So," the singer is begging their lover to deny the rumors that they're growing tired of the relationship and have found someone new. The singer is hearing whispers of their partner's disinterest in them from everywhere they go, and it fills them with fear. They plead with their partner to say that the rumors aren't true, just so they can have peace of mind.
The lyrics of this song are relatable to anyone who has a fear of losing a loved one, whether it be due to rumors or actual evidence of their disinterest. We all want to believe the best in the people we care about, but sometimes we need reassurance that everything is okay.
The song was originally written by Irving Berlin in 1932, and Greta Keller's version was released in 1934. It has since been covered by many artists, including Billie Holiday and Jo Stafford.
Line by Line Meaning
Say it isn't so
Please tell me it's not true that you don't love me anymore
Say it isn't so
I'm hoping against hope that the rumors I'm hearing aren't true
Everyone is saying you don't love me
People are talking behind my back and saying that you don't have feelings for me anymore
Everywhere I go
No matter where I turn, I can't escape the rumors about us
Everyone I know
It seems like every person I interact with is aware of the gossip about us
Whispers that you're growing tired of me
The rumors suggest that you're losing interest in me and our relationship
People say that you
Others are claiming that you're seeing someone else
Found somebody new
The rumor mill is churning out stories about you having a new romantic interest
And it won't be long before you leave me
The rumors are leaving me feeling worried that you're going to break up with me soon
Say that everything is still okay
All I want is for you to tell me that everything between us is still fine
That's all I want to know
I just need reassurance that our relationship is okay
And what they're saying
I'm aware that people are talking about us, but I need to hear it from you
You can't stop people from talking
I understand that we can't control what others say about us
And they're talking, my dear
People are spreading rumors about us, even if they're not true
And the things they're saying
The gossip is causing me to worry and fear for the future of our relationship
Fill my heart with fear
The rumors are making me feel uncertain and scared
Now I could never believe them
I don't think the rumors about you are true
When they say you're untrue
I don't believe the claims that you're being unfaithful to me
I know that they're mistaken
I am confident that the gossip is unfounded
Still I want to hear it from you
Even though I don't think the rumors are true, I need to hear your reassurance
They say you're tired of me
The rumors suggest that you're getting bored of me as a partner
Say that everything is still okay
I need to hear from you that our relationship is still as strong as before
Say it isn't true
Please tell me that the rumors aren't real
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Irving Berlin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind