After appearing in Vaudeville theater with her sisters, Judy was signed to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer as a teenager. There she made more than two dozen films, including nine with Mickey Rooney, and the film with which she would be most identified, "The Wizard of Oz" (1939). After 15 years, Judy was released from the studio but gained renewed success through record-breaking concert appearances, including a critically acclaimed Carnegie Hall concert, a well-regarded but short-lived television series, and a return to film acting beginning with "A Star Is Born" (1954).
Despite her professional triumphs, Judy battled personal problems throughout her life. Insecure about her appearance, her feelings were compounded by film executives who told her she was unattractive and overweight. Plied with drugs to control her weight and increase her productivity, Garland endured a decades-long struggle with addiction. Garland was plagued by financial instability, often owing hundreds of thousands of dollars in back taxes, and her first four of five marriages ended in divorce. She attempted suicide on a number of occasions. Garland died of an accidental drug overdose at the age of 47, leaving children Liza Minnelli, Lorna Luft, and Joey Luft.
Legacy
Judy Garland's legacy as a performer and a personality has endured long after her death. The American Film Institute named Garland eighth among the "Greatest Female Stars of All Time". She has been the subject of over two dozen biographies since her death, including the well-received "Me and My Shadows: A Family Memoir" by her daughter, Lorna Luft. Luft's memoir was later adapted into the multiple award-winning television mini-series, "Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows", which won Emmy Awards for two actresses portraying Garland (Tammy Blanchard and Judy Davis).
Garland was posthumously awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997. Several of her recordings have been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. These include "Over the Rainbow," which was ranked as the number one movie song of all time in the American Film Institute's "100 Years...100 Songs" list. Four more Garland songs are featured on the list: "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (#76), "Get Happy" (#61), "The Trolley Song" (#26), and "The Man That Got Away" (#11).
Judy Garland has twice been honored on U.S. postage stamps, in 1989 (as Dorothy) and again in 2006 (as Vicki Lester from A Star Is Born).
Minnie from Trinidad
Judy Garland Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There lives a lassie named Minnie Breeze;
And all the natives agree that she's
The hottest thing in Trinidad!
When Minnie dances, I guarantee
With every move of her vertebrae
The temperature jump up ten degree!
Aye aye aye, they call her Minnie from Trinidad,
Aye aye aye, they all love Minnie from Trinidad,
Aye aye aye, and all the natives would be so sad
If Minnie ever left Trinidad!
Although the natives love Minnie so,
Minnie had herself a steady beau;
A fellow known as Calypso Joe,
And Minnie swore they'd never part!
But fate stepped in only as fate could,
Min won a contest for dancing good,
So she went away to Hollywood;
When Joe heard that it broke his heart!
In Hollywood Minnie traveled far,
They changed her name to Minnie La Mar,
And pretty soon she became a star,
The siren of the picture show!
But one day Minnie got awful mad,
a guy got fresh and she said, "You cad!
My heart belongs to my Trinidad,
My Trinidad Calypso Joe".
Aye aye aye, they call her Minnie from Trinidad,
Aye aye aye, in Hollywood Minnie met a cad;
Aye aye aye, but there is only one native lad
Gets chinny with Minnie from Trinidad!
So Minnie gave up her dough and fame,
And she went back to from where she came;
And when she got there she heard with shame
That her Calypso Jo was dead!
When she heard that, she almost died,
She got a gun to try suicide!
But as she started to shoot, she cried,
"I think I'd rather live instead!".
But now the natives are mighty glad,
'Cause Minnie came back to Trinidad!
Aye aye aye aye,
Aye aye aye aye aye aye aye,
Aye aye!
Aye aye!
The song "Minnie from Trinidad" is about a woman named Minnie Breeze who lives on an island in the Southern Seas called Trinidad. Minnie is known for her amazing dancing skills, which can raise the temperature by ten degrees with every move of her vertebrae. She is beloved by the natives and is considered the hottest thing in Trinidad. However, Minnie has a steady boyfriend named Calypso Joe, whom she promises never to leave. Nevertheless, she wins a dancing contest and decides to pursue a career in Hollywood, which causes Joe's heart to break. In Hollywood, she becomes a star, but one day, she gets into a dispute with a man who gets fresh with her, and she realizes that her heart belongs to Trinidad and Calypso Joe. She gives up everything and returns to Trinidad, only to find out that Joe is dead. She contemplates suicide but decides that she would rather live and returns to her homeland.
Line by Line Meaning
Down on an island in the Southern Seas,
Amidst the Southern Seas lies a place where the story of Minnie takes place.
There lives a lassie named Minnie Breeze;
The singer in this tale is a young woman named Minnie Breeze.
And all the natives agree that she's
The locals of the island collectively acknowledge that Minnie is
The hottest thing in Trinidad!
the most alluring person around in Trinidad.
When Minnie dances, I guarantee
I provide assurance that when Minnie dances,
With every move of her vertebrae
every physical gesture that she makes with her spine,
The temperature jump up ten degree!
causes an increase in temperature by ten units. In Trinidad, this is considered tolerable.
In Trinidad that isn't bad!
This incremental rise in temperature is reasonable within the culture of Trinidad.
Aye aye aye, they call her Minnie from Trinidad,
Her cultural affiliation is so strong that Minnie is known as Minnie from Trinidad.
Aye aye aye, they all love Minnie from Trinidad,
Minnie from Trinidad is universally adored.
Aye aye aye, and all the natives would be so sad
If Minnie ever left Trinidad, the folks living there would be despondent,
If Minnie ever left Trinidad!
which is why Minnie must continue living on the island.
Although the natives love Minnie so,
The admiration that the locals hold for Minnie is demonstrable,
Minnie had herself a steady beau;
Minnie has a long-term boyfriend,
A fellow known as Calypso Joe,
Calypso Joe is Minnie's significant other.
And Minnie swore they'd never part!
Minnie made a declaration that they would always stay togetherish.
But fate stepped in only as fate could,
Destiny had other plans for Minnie and Calypso Joe.
Min won a contest for dancing good,
Minnie had won a competition for dancing with great skill.
So she went away to Hollywood;
As a result, she left Trinidad for Hollywood.
When Joe heard that it broke his heart!
This news devastated Joe emotionally.
In Hollywood Minnie traveled far,
Minnie goes to Hollywood, traverses the distance.
They changed her name to Minnie La Mar,
In Hollywood, she changes her name to Minnie La Mar.
And pretty soon she became a star,
Soon enough, Minnie becomes a celebrity.
The siren of the picture show!
She is the most captivating person in the movie business.
But one day Minnie got awful mad,
A situation arising that agitates Minnie,
a guy got fresh and she said, "You cad!
where a man acting inappropriately, and she called him the derogatory name:"cad"
My heart belongs to my Trinidad,
She announces that her loyalty lies with Trinidad.
My Trinidad Calypso Joe".
and especially with Calypso Joe who is a vital part of Trinidad.
So Minnie gave up her dough and fame,
Minnie decides to abandon her money and her stardom.
And she went back to from where she came;
She goes back to her hometown of Trinidad.
And when she got there she heard with shame
When she arrives in the place where she grew up, she hears the news of Joe's passing with sadness,
That her Calypso Jo was dead!
and it turns out that Calypso Joe has passed away.
When she heard that, she almost died,
upon hearing this, she is devastated.
She got a gun to try suicide!
Minnie then tries to kill herself with a firearm.
But as she started to shoot, she cried,
But before she can do herself harm, she shouts out,
"I think I'd rather live instead!".
that she would instead like to continue living.
But now the natives are mighty glad,
But now people in her community are more than happy to reconciliate with her.
'Cause Minnie came back to Trinidad!
For the reason that Minnie has returned to her birthplace of Trinidad.
Aye aye aye aye,
The song ends with repetitive "Aye Aye Aye Aye" sounds.
Aye aye aye aye aye aye aye,
Aye aye!
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ROGER EDENS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@natangodinho8694
This is Judy Garland, my dear friend!
She’s really the best, I’m a big fan of her <3
She’s It started to sing when she was 2 years old, and her voice is the best Of all time!
If you are going to see her videos of all your life path on stage, you will see that her voice has never been bad... Even in her last moments her voice, talent and strength of mind were the best, because that was her!
I don’t understand how they didn’t see her the way she really was....
I think it’s ironic, because everyone says that MGM made Judy famous and made her a star, but Judy was born to be that... It could be the least prestigious studio of the time, but she would shine the same way!
The truth is that Judy gave fame to MGM, because they created role scenarios, but she was the one who shone!
@dannychavez7876
Judy is so beautiful in this. I probably watched it 50 times before I even noticed she had a parrot on her left shoulder .
@mickeymouse2able
Shows you how amazing the designers were in those days. They probably had so much fun designing costumes they got carried away. The producers probably said "here's the money, go crazy!". I never noticed the butterfly on Glinda's dress on the shoulder in "Wizard of Oz" or the fact the wicked witch has a veil on the back of her big pointy hat. The producers of the Broadway show "Wicked" claim they were not copying the 1939 movie, but come on, really? The costumes for the main characters of that show look similar to the ones in the movie.
@richriverz8037
she's wearing blue and white stripes. I have that colored photo in my instagram
@bigjonisback
I dont know which is more amazing - her voice or the way she puts the lyrics across
@CharlieChilders-wm9gb
She must have come from another planet. Her earth shattering talent was absolutely limitless!! There was nothing she could not do and she could do it better than anyone else! She was a gift from God and look how the world treated her! I'm sure God was not happy. Thank goodness she is now with God and she is appreciated and respected! Sadly, she was not here a few years later to see how she is loved and appreciated more than ever today. All my love to you, Judy Garland.😇🤗👍♥️💞♥️💞♥️♥️
@user-mn4kg3jb4j
This classic number is one of my favorites! Thel legendary adorable, very pretty, very intelligent and extremely talented Judy Garland performs this perfectly! I love this!
@TheTransatlanticExchange
Spectacular! Thank you so much for sharing a stereo version of this largely forgotten gem from Ziegfeld Girl in 1941. Judy Garland was a performer whose output exceeded what's beyond anything we could ever see today. She not only sang, but she danced - very well - and performed in dramatic vehicles, such as in "Judgment at Nuremberg." She also had a television show and did so much more. Like so many other amazing vocal artists, like Michael Jackson, George Michael, Prince, Whitney Houston, Edith Piaf and Amy Winehouse, she was taken from us far too soon.
@boinx1234
Thanks - it was hard to make, since the stereo version was an alternate take!
@szembekk
Bruce B Chin I agree with you when it comes to Judy. The others you mentioned, except for Miss Piaf, are not in the same league. Let's not mix pop legends of two decades with timeless legends. Apples and oranges.
@brianoyler4777
@szembekk thank you for your reply to Chin. Some of these younger ones who comment do not realize that the times when these performers lived and died were different. Even the thought and caliber of people were different. It is just too difficult to compare a Judy Garland to a Whitney Houston or Michael Jackson. No comparison. Thanks...