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.
Makin' Whoopee
Julie London Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Another sunny honeymoon
Another season, another reason
For makin' whoopee
A lot of shoes, a lot of rice
The groom is nervous, he answers twice
Its really killin' that he's so willin'
Picture a little love nest
Down where the roses cling
Picture the same sweet love nest
Think what a year can bring
He's washin dishes and baby clothes
He's so ambitious he even sews
But don't forget folks,
Thats what you get folks, for makin' whoopee
He doesn't make much money
Five thousand dollars per;
Some judge who thinks he's funny
Says, "You pay six to her."
He says, "Now judge, suppose I fail?"
The judge says, "Budge, right into jail.
You'd better keep her
I think it's cheaper
Than making whoopee."
In Julie London's song "Makin' Whoopee", the lyrics are discussing the societal expectation of marriage, specifically focusing on the traditional honeymoon after a June wedding. The beginning of the song starts with the repetition of "another bride, another June / another sunny honeymoon", emphasizing the idea of a cyclical event that happens many times over. The lyrics then mention "makin' whoopee", playing off the double entendre of a sexual act and the joyous celebration that traditionally follows a wedding.
However, as the lyrics progress, it becomes clear that the song is criticizing the societal pressure for marriage and the unrealistic expectations it places on couples. The lyrics depict a scenario where the groom is nervous and willing to do anything, even wash dishes and sew, to live up to these expectations. The second half of the song takes a darker turn, as the lyrics describe a judge making a ruling on financial compensation after a divorce. The judge forces the groom to pay more money than he can realistically afford and threatens jail time for non-payment. The final line of the song suggests that it may have been better for the couple to never get married at all, as "making whoopee" has caused them more trouble than happiness.
Overall, the lyrics of "Makin' Whoopee" are a commentary on the societal pressure for marriage and the unrealistic expectations placed on couples. While outwardly celebrating the joys of a traditional wedding and honeymoon, the lyrics subvert this narrative by describing the difficulties faced by the couple after the honeymoon is over.
Line by Line Meaning
Another bride, another June
It's a common occurrence for people to get married in June, and there's another bride in the equation.
Another sunny honeymoon
It's sunny and all that matters is that the honeymoon is taken; it's a new beginning for another couple's life.
Another season, another reason
It's a new day, and there's always a reason to celebrate something.
For makin' whoopee
To make love, or be promiscuous.
A lot of shoes, a lot of rice
There are plenty of shoes for the wedding, and there are a lot of rice grains showering the couple.
The groom is nervous, he answers twice
The groom is apprehensive and is asking for affirmation; he is not confident.
Its really killin' that he's so willin'
It's not healthy to be too willing.
To make whoopee
To make love, or be promiscuous.
Picture a little love nest
Imagine a cozy place with roses around.
Down where the roses cling
The roses cling and perfume the air.
Think what a year can bring
At some points, it's important to think of what benefits a year brings.
He's washin dishes and baby clothes
He's doing his share of housework, even washing the children's clothes.
He's so ambitious he even sews
He is ambitious and even sews. Sewing is traditionally not a skill exemplified by men.
But don't forget folks,
It's wise to remember this fact.
Thats what you get folks,
That's what happens when people partake in such relations.
For makin' whoopee
To make love or be promiscuous.
He doesn't make much money
He brings home a small amount of money compared to others.
Five thousand dollars per;
He makes five thousand dollars yearly.
Some judge who thinks he's funny
A judge who thinks he's humorous.
Says, "You pay six to her."
He is instructed to give six thousand dollars to his partner.
He says, "Now judge, suppose I fail?"
He is concerned about the outcome if he fails to provide six thousand dollars to his partner.
The judge says, "Budge, right into jail.
The judge says abruptly that he would go to jail.
You'd better keep her
He is advised by the judge to keep his partner.
I think it's cheaper
He is opining that it would cost less money to keep the relationship going than to separate.
Than making whoopee.
The judge thinks that it's less expensive than having sex casually.
Lyrics © DistroKid, DONALDSON PUBLISHING CO, TOBAGO MUSIC COMPANY, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Walter Donaldson, Gus Kahn
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind