MovieChat Forums > Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954) Discussion > Why didn't these songs become standards?

Why didn't these songs become standards?

posted 10 years ago by laxlon
4 replies | jump to latest

I agree with Pillowrock...

"Seven Brides for Seven Brothers does not have one of those songs that crossed over into the wider, more mainstream culture beyond fans of musicals."

But it does have some of the most memorable original songs for a film ever. Most of them are very sing-able and you like them the first time you hear them. The lyrics by Johnny Mercer are without equal, especially in "Spring Spring Spring". "Lonesome Polecat" is a treasure. My favorite is "Wonderful Wonderful Day". But I hate "When we're in Love", find it too sappy. It is surprising none became standards, so many are first rate.

The only other original songs for a film of the 1950s as good as these that I can think of are in "Hans Christian Anderson", 1952 with Danny Kaye, and several of them became standards. "Anywhere I Wander", No Two People Have Ever Been So in Love", "Wonderful Copenhagen" etc.

[–] richard.fuller1 10 years ago

My mother caught this once and when Millie began singing Goin' Courtin', mom, who is from Europe, said, "so that's where that song came from."

Now she had obviously seen the movie before, but I don't know if she bothered in her youth, but clearly somewhere she had come across the song.

Only thing I can imagine is either the radio or playing at a dance club.

In that MTV era, she wasn't going to go into detail, so she must have liked the song and the moment she heard it. Haha!

[–] RobbieCalifornia 9 years ago

I didn't care for the songs in this movie at all. They fit into the plot but I can't imagine ever hearing one on the radio, even in the 50s.

[–] jack_helltoy 9 years ago

The songs were unremarkable for the most part. The best ones had decent lyrics but we're lacking melody wise. There were no standout hooks that make standards stand out and catch on with the general public.

[–] dmnemaine 9 years ago

"Bless Your Beautiful Hide" had what I guess would be termed minor standard status.