London's 35-year acting career began in films in 1944 and included playing opposite Gary Cooper in Man of the West (1958) and Robert Mitchum in The Wonderful Country (1959). She achieved continuing success in the TV medical drama Emergency! (1972–1979), co-starring her real-life husband, Bobby Troup, and produced by her ex-husband, Jack Webb, in which London played the female lead role of nurse Dixie McCall. She and Randolph Mantooth, who played one-half of her medical students, a paramedic, in the series, were very close to her family, until her death in 2000.
Born in Santa Rosa, California, she was the daughter of Jack and Josephine Peck, who were a vaudeville song-and-dance team. When she was fourteen the family moved to Los Angeles. Shortly after that, she began appearing in movies. She graduated from the Hollywood Professional High School in 1945.
London began singing under the name Gayle Peck in public in her teens before appearing in a film. She was discovered by talent agent Sue Carol (wife of actor Alan Ladd), while working as an elevator operator. Her early film career, however, did not include any singing roles.
London recorded 32 albums in a career that began in 1955 with a live performance at the 881 Club in Los Angeles. Billboard named her the most popular female vocalist for 1955, 1956, and 1957. She was the subject of a 1957 Life cover article in which she was quoted as saying, "It's only a thimbleful of a voice, and I have to use it close to the microphone. But it is a kind of oversmoked voice, and it automatically sounds intimate."
London's debut recordings were for the Bethlehem Records label. While shopping for a record deal, she recorded four tracks that would later be included on the compilation album Bethlehem's Girlfriends in 1955. Bobby Troup backed London on the album, for which London recorded the standards "Don't Worry About Me", "Motherless Child", "A Foggy Day", and "You're Blasé".
London's most famous single, "Cry Me a River", was written by her high-school classmate Arthur Hamilton and produced by Troup. The recording became a million-seller after its release in December 1955 and also sold on reissue in April 1983 from the attention brought by a Mari Wilson cover. London performed the song in the film The Girl Can't Help It (1956), and her recording gained later attention in the films Passion of Mind (2000) and V for Vendetta (2006). The song "Yummy Yummy Yummy" was featured on the HBO television series Six Feet Under and appears on its soundtrack album. London's "Must Be Catchin'" was featured in the 2011 premiere episode of the ABC series Pan Am. Her last recording was "My Funny Valentine" for the soundtrack of the Burt Reynolds film Sharky's Machine (1981).
Other popular singles include "Hot Toddy", "Daddy", and "Desafinado". Recordings such as "Go Slow" epitomized her career style: her voice is slow, smoky, and playfully sensual.
She was married to Jack Webb, of Dragnet fame. Her obvious beauty and self-poise (she was a pinup girl prized by GIs during World War II) contrasted with his pedestrian appearance and stiff-as-a-board acting technique (much parodied by impersonators). This unlikely pairing arose from his and her love for jazz; their marriage lasted from July 1947 to November 1953. They had two daughters, one who was killed in a traffic accident in the 1990s and one who survived London. In 1954, having become somewhat reclusive after her divorce from Jack Webb, she met jazz composer and musician Bobby Troup at a club on La Brea Blvd. They married on December 31, 1959 and remained married until Troup's death in February 1999. Together, they had one daughter and twin sons.
London suffered a stroke in 1995, and was in poor health until her death in Encino, California, at the age of seventy-four, survived by four of her five children. She died on18th October 2000, and was buried in Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills Cemetery in Los Angeles.
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Julie London Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Simply because you're near me.
Funny, but when you're near me
I'm in the mood for love.
Heaven is in your eyes
Bright as the stars we're under
Oh! Is it any wonder
Why stop to think of whether
This little dream might fade?
We've put our hearts together
Now we are one, I'm not afraid!
If there's a cloud above
If it should rain we'll let it
But for tonight, forget it!
I'm in the mood for love
Julie London's song "I'm in the Mood for Love" expresses the emotions and feelings of a person who is completely in love. The lyrics suggest that the person is overwhelmed by the presence of the person they love and that being near this person changes their mood completely. The lines "simply because you're near me" and "funny, but when you're near me I'm in the mood for love" reflect this sudden shift in emotion that the person experiences.
Furthermore, the person sees heaven in the eyes of their loved one, and the brightness of their eyes is compared to the stars above them. The fact that the person says "Is it any wonder I'm in the mood for love?" suggests that the person is amazed at the feelings they experience when they are with their loved one.
Moreover, the lyrics suggest that the person is not worried about anything because they have found the one they love. The lines "we've put our hearts together, now we are one, I'm not afraid" reflect the person's confidence in their relationship. They seem to be content to live in the moment and enjoy the feeling of being in love. The lyrics also suggest that the person is willing to overlook any challenges that they may face, with the line "if there's a cloud above, if it should rain we'll let it".
Line by Line Meaning
I'm in the mood for love
I feel a romantic inclination because of your presence
Simply because you're near me.
It's a simple reason - my romantic feelings are triggered by your proximity.
Funny, but when you're near me
It's amusing how my feelings change when you're close.
Heaven is in your eyes
Your eyes hold a beauty and happiness that is like heaven.
Bright as the stars we're under
Your eyes shine as brilliantly as the stars above us.
Oh! Is it any wonder
It's no surprise that I'm feeling the way I do because of you.
I'm in the mood for love?
I feel love towards you.
Why stop to think of whether
Why should we pause and doubt our feelings?
This little dream might fade?
Why worry that our love might not last?
We've put our hearts together
Our hearts have united.
Now we are one, I'm not afraid!
We are united and nothing will harm our love.
If there's a cloud above
If there's something that might dampen our spirits.
If it should rain we'll let it
If there's hardship, we'll face it head on.
But for tonight, forget it!
But for tonight, we'll forget our worries and just enjoy each other.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Dorothy Fields, Jimmy Mchugh
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bogframe
It's amazing how Julie's simple but sexy rendition sounds so much better than the modern "Divas" with all their vocal gymnastics and glory notes!
Knott Shure
this is absolutely haunting. just flat-out incredible.....
strings52
What a wonderful smokey voice. So in tune no matter how delicate the note. thank you for posting.
Warren Kingston
What a woman, what a voice. Perfect. 10/10 100% Total.
accordeonsteve
A great lesson of singing: less is more! A real example of good taste! Thanks for this video!
mickyblue247
I've been listening to this great song since Julie first sang it. No one sings it better ! She was the greatest chanteuse of her day !
Wolfsky9
No one--but no one, ever did this like Julie did. This is what Torch singing was all about, & she was the queen . What a total babe she was. Wolfsky9
leadchick
She was an incredible vocalist!! Had no idea how gifted, until I stumbled upon an old episode of Emergency and then youtube. 25+ albums? I can still remember my mom performing this song at many venues! Didn't realize until now that both she and Julie had quite an influence over my singing style and ability! Wow, Julie was undeniably hot! Thanks for the post!
Chyix2
Ooh... I'm dreaming that I'm in a different era...this woman has star quality, the voice AND the looks!
Kerry Custom Knives
First heard this song way back in 1985. Still gives me the goosebumps. Love Julie's version ever since.