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How Important Can It Be?
Joni James Lyrics

How Important Can It Be
That I tasted other lips?
That was long before you came to me
With the wonder of your kiss
So the story got around
Of na old romance and me
But it happened oh! so long ago

How Important can't it Be?
Mine was a young and a foolish heart

Seeking love at every turn
But I have grown so much wiser now
Even foolish hearts can learn
Let the past just fade away
Why get lost in yesterday?
The important thing is here and now
And our love is here to stay

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., IMAGEM MUSIC INC
Written by: BENNIE BENJAMIN, GEORGE DAVID WEISS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on specific lyrics, highlight them

Joni James was born Giovanna Joan Carmella Babbo on Sept. 22, 1930 in Chicago, IL. In her early years, she studied drama & ballet. After high school she toured Canada with a dance group. After taking a job as a chorus girl, she decided to pursue a singing career. MGM executives saw her in a TV commercial and she was signed by MGM in 1952.

She was the first American singer to record at Abbey Road Studios in England. Her fan base even included Asia and the Philippines. Read Full BioJoni James was born Giovanna Joan Carmella Babbo on Sept. 22, 1930 in Chicago, IL. In her early years, she studied drama & ballet. After high school she toured Canada with a dance group. After taking a job as a chorus girl, she decided to pursue a singing career. MGM executives saw her in a TV commercial and she was signed by MGM in 1952.

She was the first American singer to record at Abbey Road Studios in England. Her fan base even included Asia and the Philippines. She had 7 top hits, including "Why Don't You Believe in Me?", "Your Cheating Heart," "Almost Always," and "Have You Heard?"

She married composer Tony Acquaviva in 1956. In 1964, she dropped out of the public eye to take care of him and did so until 1986, when Mr. Acquaviva passed away. She began to tour again in the 1990's. She was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

sauquoit13456

48w↑2

Exactly sixty five years ago today on March 24th, 1955, "How Important Can It Be?" by Joni James peaked at #2 {for 1 week} on Billboard's 'Most-Played By Jockeys'* chart, for the week it was at #2, the #1 record for that week was "Sincerely" by the McGuire Sisters...
Also at the time "How Important Can It Be?"" was at #10 on Billboard's Best-Sellers In Stores chart and at #8 on the Most-Played On Juke Boxes chart...
Between 1952 and 1960 the Chicago, Illinois native had thirty two records on the Billboard charts, seven made the Top 10 with one reaching #1, "Why Don't You Believe Me?" for six weeks in December of 1952...
Joni James, born Joan Carmella Babbo, will celebrate her 90th birthday in six months on September 22nd, 1930...
* And from the 'For What It's Worth' department, the remainder of the Most-Played By Jockeys' Top 10 on March 24th, 1955:
At #3. "Ballad of Davy Crockett" by Bill Hayes
#4. "Melody of Love" by Billy Vaughn
#5. "Tweedle Dee" by Georgia Gibbs
#6. "Ko Ko Mo" by Perry Como
#7. "Crazy Otto Medley" by Johnny Maddox and the Rhythmasters
#8. "Ballad of Davy Crockett" by 'Tennessee' Ernie ford
#9. "Earth Angel" by the Crew Cuts
#10. "Darling Je Vous Aime" by Nat 'King' Cole

All comments from YouTube:

ucruci2

51w↑3

I heard the song for the first time in the movie, "LA Confidential." I had to look for the song.

bob lake

2y↑4

I fell in love with her through the radio ,

Lois Winters

1y↑5

All the boys loved her in the 50s and 60s,

Jonah Ferguson

3y↑8

You are now listening to araabmuzik

Ray In Brooklyn

7y↑2

Reminds me of my mother; she loved to listen to Joni James. My God bless her for the wonderful musical gift!

Fernando Marquez

5y↑11

Wow, this is a great song. I still can't believe Araabmuzik flipped this sample the way he did.

Frank D

3y↑4

Araab brought me here!

MATHINVOKER

4y↑4

his best beat!

clarence fender

8y↑3

I really love listening to Joni James! She was a big favorite of my wife, also. Thanks for posting!

frdjr252

43w↑1

Check out Joni's Christmas album, "Merry Christmas From Joni". It's on YT. Just discovered it this past holiday season and I loved it!

Bernard

32w↑3

Loved her since I was a kid in the 50s

chuck acker

6y↑6

shes easy on the ears easy on the eyes, a talent with beauty

Clay White

4y↑3

What a doll; our troops loved her.

Ronald Vaughan

6y↑7

This song made history in several ways....I heard that it was the last pre-rock song played on "American Bandstand". The next song played was Bill Haley's "Rock Around The Clock"...go figure!

Eileen Hudson

7y↑3

LOve JOni James....always loved her voice..even when I was 10...The summer of 1956 changed when I fell "in love" with Elvis,Doowop, Rock and Roll.But..today I still remember Joni James, Doris Day, Frank Sinatra, Nat KIng cole.,McGuire sisters...all great talents....

Yukimi Kasaki

33w↑1

So I said when I junked my '63 Comet wagon. How important can it be 🐝?

Gydinglight12

8y↑3

For a long time I avoided most of early 50s pre-Elvis singers like Joni and Teresa Brewer; I thought they were for Mom and Dad and Your Hit Parade. Now I have changed my mind totally.

Elissa Braitman

10y↑1

This was on the soundtrack of L.A. Confidential :)

Stan Pinnegar

9y↑1

Loved it, I remember when it first came out.Thank you.

catman916

9y↑1

@waynebrasler I think that it is one of her best early recordings, Wayne. It was good to see it featured in LA Confidential.

Duane Xavier

14w

As a Teenager I was in Love with qJoni James! I bought all her Records and still have them on 45 RPM!

Ruby Wells

4y↑1

Love this song. My mum used to sing it so beautifully.

Sean Rojas

42w

Damn I wanna know the story behind how Araamuzik found this song!! Such a good song and so is The Hope

Albert Lucarini

6y↑1

FIRST LOVE AT MIDWAY HIGH SCHOOL 1955

Kinseydsp

9y↑1

She will always be my favorite Girl singer. She has such a wonderful voice and she has always been a wonderful Person Too!

Bobby Wason

4y↑1

I've looked for this tune since I've first hear it for the first time on Demand Radio 79 in Houston, Texas in 1965 and I've loved it ever since. Thank you Catman 916 & YouTube for uploading it for all to share.

Fatma M. Tawfik

5y↑9

I want to live in the time when a beauty like this exists.

frdjr252

43w↑1

I was a 3 year old toddler in 1955 when this song was on the radio. My mom had lots of pre-rock 45s that I grew up listening to. Love those records just as much as I loved Elvis, doo wop and later The Beatles and Motown.

Paul Coughlan

3y↑1

It was a wonderful time to be young. And Joni entertained us with melodies like this.

Henry Chinaski

3y↑1

Adorable, Fatma

April Black

4y↑1

Flux Capacitors anyone:)

catman916

5y↑1

+Fatma Mta I did some research, Fatma. Timi Yuro recorded '"Make the World Go Away" in 1963. 'Here is a link to an upload on You Tube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u40r9dBEQtE

4 More Replies...

sauquoit13456

48w↑2

frdjr252

43w

WOW!!!! I know my mom had several Joni James 45s in her collection, but I don't think she had this one. Beautiful song!

marilyn callachan

3y↑1

HAUNTING MY FAVORITE MEMORIES!!!!♡♡♡♡😘

Francis Alan Wormald

42w↑1

AT 83 I AM BACK IN HI-SCHOOL!!! JONI WAS A MAJOR SOURCE OF LOVE & PAIN...SAW HER LIVE!!!!

Joann Oriol

2y↑1

My father sang this all the time.

King Snyp

33w

Araab did the damn thing with this!

Kinseydsp

4y↑2

catman916 Thank you always loved Hearing Joni sing every song she sang I loved. Great person retired to take care of her sick Husband and many years Later came back for a little while to sing with the same Beautiful voice!

catman916

10y

@Fegen Thanks, John. You are always a source of information about Joni James.

plank ton

7y↑1

...antidote to a sour wife?

Ronald Vaughan

5y↑2

TRULY A BLOCKBUSTER,MONUNENTAL SONG. ON THE LIST OF GREATEST SONGS OF ALL TIME.

catman916

+Ronald Vaughan It still sounds great after more than 60 years.

missohio83

10y

This is a great song!

1912fld

4y↑1

I wasn't even born when this came out, but it makes me reflect on how this country was once great - all history, never more. I wish I could take a time machine to go back to this time. I imagine my parents both listened to this at one time. Thanks for posting.

Kinseydsp

There is no one Like Joni her voice is just plain awesome! God Bless her!

joe a smythe

10y

My all-time favorite, Joni is the gold standard of singers.

sauquoit13456

On this date in 1955 {Feb. 19th} "How Important Can It Be?" entered Billboard's Best Sellers chart; eventually it peaked at #2 {for 1 week} and spent 16 weeks in the Top 100... Other 1955 versions; Sarah Vaughan {#12} and Teresa Brewer {B/side of "Pledging My Love"} Featured in the 1997 movie "LA Confidential"...

Wolfsky9

19w

My Dad LOVED Joni ------------I just wonder why MGM didn't put her in any of their 50's films. ? ----------Wolfsky9, 74 y/o

RICARDO D. GARCIA

best seller

Russ Johnson

6y↑1

she had her big hits in her twenties, but her looks were better in her thirties!

Wayne Brasler

9y↑1

The "How Important Can It Be" recording session I always felt marked a turning point in Joni's musical journey and she confirmed to me that she was at the time "looking for a new sound on record." That session also included the ravishing "This Is My Confession," beautiful "I Lay Me Down to Sleep" and one of her greatest singles "You Never Fall In Love Again." Those songs became the flip sides of "How Important," "You Are My Love" and "My Believing Heart."

Brody Pasieka

Wayne Brasler j

Wayne Brasler

Written in 1954. Intended for Joni James. But she had a rising hit in "When We Come of Age" and so, after recording this song at the same session, felt she had time to refashion it from a big ballad production to a shuffle beat. Meanwhile, she discovered Sarah Vaughan had covered it, and Teresa Brewer, and Lou Monte. She did re-record it and M-G-M Records rushed out her version, which became the big hit. Usually her own harshest critic, she was very happy with this record.

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