“Patty Andrews, the lead singer of the Andrews sisters group was born in Mound, Minnesota on February 16, 1918 in a house that occupied the property where The Gillespie Center stands today.
During the 1920’s Laverne, Maxene and Patty Andrews spent their summers in Mound, living with their parents in a house across the street from the grocery store that was owned by Pete and Ed Sollie, bachelor uncles of the three girls. (Today, Green T Accounting occupies the Sollie grocery store building and The Gillespie Center is on the land where the Andrews Sisters’ house once stood.)” - From a commentary by Tom Rockvam that appeared in The Laker Newspaper during 2005.
They started their career as imitators of an earlier successful singing group, the Boswell Sisters. After singing with various dance bands and touring on Vaudeville, they first came to national attention with their recordings and radio broadcasts in 1937. Their music entertained Allied troops worldwide during World War II, sold war bonds, appeared in several films (including a few Abbott and Costello features), and performed for soldiers serving overseas. Their first film with Abbott and Costello, the pre-war comedy Buck Privates, introduced their best-known recording, "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" which would win Best Song at the Academy Awards.
They also recorded many songs with Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye and other popular artists of the era. Their popularity was such that after the war they discovered that some of their records had actually been smuggled into Germany after the labels had been changed to read "Hitler's Marching Songs."
After a brief hiatus after the war, the sisters regrouped, performing in clubs throughout the United States and Europe. They broke up in 1953, with Patty's choice to go solo. Their last appearance together was in 1962 on The Dean Martin Show. Laverne, who had cancer, retired soon after; she died five years later, in 1967 at the age of 55.
After a long silence, the two surviving sisters had something of a comeback when Bette Midler recorded a cover of their song "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy." Maxene and Patty appeared both together and separately throughout the 1970s, with Maxene releasing a solo album in 1986. Their most notable comeback; however, was in the Sherman Brothers' nostalgic World War II musical: "Over Here!" which premiered on Broadway at the Shubert Theatre in 1974. The musical featured the two then living sisters (Maxene and Patty) and was written with them in mind for the leads. It launched the careers of many, now notable theater and film icons (John Travolta, Marilu Henner, Ann Reinking, et al). Ironically it was the last major hurrah of the sisters and was cut short due to a frivolous lawsuit initiated by Patty's husband to the show's producers.
Throughout their long career, the sisters had sold over 60 million records. The group was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1998.
The last of the three sisters Patty Andrews died of natural causes at her home in Northridge, California on January 30, 2013, just 17 days before her 95th birthday. The sisters were interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California, close to their parents.
Just a Simple Melody
The Andrews Sisters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Designed to haunt your memory
It's bound to get you instantly
Oh, it doesn't help you to beware
Before you even know it's there
You're swaying to its catchy air
He will hold you closer still
And suddenly you'll both agree
That dancing can be heavenly
To just a simple melody
De de de, that melody
De de de, keeps haunting me
It's just a simple melody
De de, de de de, de de
Duh duh, doo doo, de de
De de, de de, doo doo de
Oh, da da doo, dum de, doo doo, melody
In this song, The Andrews Sisters sing about the irresistible power of a simple melody. The lyrics describe how the melody can quickly and effortlessly get stuck in your head, swaying to its catchy air and inspiring you to dance. The melody seems to be a kind of magic, capable of bringing people together and creating a feeling of heavenly joy.
The chorus of the song, with its repetitive "de de de" and "doo doo" sounds, adds to the infectiousness of the melody. The Andrews Sisters' tight harmonies and playful vocal style make this song as delightful now as it was when it was first released in 1940.
Overall, "Just a Simple Melody" is a celebration of the power of music to bring people together, lift their spirits, and create a lasting impression.
Line by Line Meaning
It's just a simple melody
This tune is straightforward, but it will do its job in leaving an impression in your mind.
Designed to haunt your memory
This song is crafted to stick in your head long after it's over.
It's bound to get you instantly
This melody will have you hooked from the very beginning.
Oh, it doesn't help you to beware
Even if you're trying to avoid it, there's no defense against the power of this tune.
Before you even know it's there
You won't realize you're hooked until it's too late.
You're swaying to its catchy air
The rhythm will have you moving before you even realize it.
Dancing with your favorite thrill
This tune will make you want to dance with your favorite partner.
He will hold you closer still
This melody will bring you and your dance partner closer together.
And suddenly you'll both agree
The magic of this song will create a shared experience between you and your partner.
That dancing can be heavenly
This melody will make you feel like you're in paradise while you dance.
To just a simple melody
All it takes is this simple tune to create a romantic moment on the dance floor.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SAMMY CAHN, SAUL CHAPLIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
N3rd on F1re
Nice song :D i usually would hear dubstep but as the fact that i'm playing fallout and other games on steam a lot makes me have fun with this kind of music... I really enjoy, thanks
Jim Stone
Bobby Hackett plays cornet on this 1937 recording.