"Something's Gotta Give" is a

popular Popularity or social status is the quality of being well liked, admired or well known to a particular group. Popular may also refer to: In sociology * Popular culture * Popular fiction * Popular music * Popular science * Populace, the total ...

song with words and music by Johnny Mercer in 1954. It was published in 1955. It was written for and first performed by

Fred Astaire Fred Astaire (born Frederick Austerlitz; May 10, 1899 – June 22, 1987) was an American dancer, choreographer, actor, and singer. He is often called the greatest dancer in Hollywood film history. Astaire's career in stage, film, and tele ...

in the 1955 musical film '' Daddy Long Legs'', and was nominated for an Academy Award in 1955 as Best Original Song, losing to " Love is a Many Splendored Thing" from the film of the same name.

Background

The song playfully uses the irresistible force paradox – which asks what happens when an irresistible force meets an immovable object – as a metaphor for a relationship between a vivacious woman and an older, world-weary man. The man, it is implied, will give in to temptation and kiss the woman. The song's lyrics echo the plot of ''Daddy Long Legs'', in which a reserved man in his 50s (Astaire) falls in love with a woman in her early 20s (

Leslie Caron Leslie Claire Margaret Caron (; born 1 July 1931) is a French-American actress and dancer. She is the recipient of a Golden Globe Award, two BAFTA Awards and a Primetime Emmy Award, in addition to nominations for two Academy Awards. She is one ...

Popular cover versions

*The biggest-selling version was recorded by

The McGuire Sisters The McGuire Sisters were a singing trio in American popular music. The group was composed of three sisters: * Ruby Christine McGuire (July 30, 1926 – December 28, 2018) * Dorothy "Dottie" McGuire (February 13, 1928 – September 7, 2012) * Ph ...

, reaching #5 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart in 1955 (see

1955 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1955. Specific locations * 1955 in British music * 1955 in Norwegian music Specific genres * 1955 in country music *1955 in jazz Events *January 1 – RCA Victor announces ...

). Whitburn, Joel (2004). ''The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits'', 8th Edition (Billboard Publications). *Likewise, in 1955,

Sammy Davis Jr. Samuel George Davis Jr. (December 8, 1925 – May 16, 1990) was an American singer, dancer, actor, comedian, film producer and television director. At age three, Davis began his career in vaudeville with his father Sammy Davis Sr. and the ...

had a popular competing version, which also made the Top 10 on the ''Billboard'' pop chart, peaking at #9. * Mel Tormé released a version on his ''Sings Fred Astaire'' album, in 1956. * Bing Crosby recorded the song in 1955 for use on his radio show and it was subsequently included in the box set ''The Bing Crosby CBS Radio Recordings (1954-56)'' issued by Mosaic Records (catalog MD7-245) in 2009. * Frank Sinatra recorded the song in 1959 on his album '' Come Dance with Me!'' *In 1964,

Ella Fitzgerald Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April 25, 1917June 15, 1996) was an American jazz singer, sometimes referred to as the "First Lady of Song", "Queen of Jazz", and "Lady Ella". She was noted for her purity of tone, impeccable diction, phrasing, timing, in ...

included this song on her Verve album ''

Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Johnny Mercer Songbook Ella may refer to: * Ella (name), most often a feminine given name, but also used as a surname Places United States * Ella, Kentucky, an unincorporated community * Ella, Oregon, an unincorporated community * Ella, Pennsylvania, an unincorporat ...

'', with arrangements by Nelson Riddle. *a French version, Ça Va Éclater, was recorded by early 1950 duo from Reims, Les Soeurs Etienne. Sisters, Louise died in 2016 (aged 92) and Odette in 2012 (aged 85)

In popular culture

*The Frank Sinatra recording was featured in the incomplete 37-minute 1962 film ''

Something's Got to Give ''Something's Got to Give'' is an unfinished American feature film shot in 1962, directed by George Cukor for 20th Century Fox and starring Marilyn Monroe, Dean Martin and Cyd Charisse. A remake of ''My Favorite Wife'' (1940), a screwball comedy ...

'', which was

Marilyn Monroe Marilyn Monroe (; born Norma Jeane Mortenson; 1 June 1926 4 August 1962) was an American actress. Famous for playing comedic " blonde bombshell" characters, she became one of the most popular sex symbols of the 1950s and early 1960s, as wel ...

's last work, the film being abandoned after her death. *Joanne Woodward sings "Something's Gotta Give" during a balloon striptease in the film,

The Stripper (film) ''The Stripper'' is a 1963 American drama film about a struggling, aging actress-turned-stripper, played by Joanne Woodward, and the people she knows. It is based on the play ''A Loss of Roses'' by William Inge. This was the feature film debut ...

(minute 1:22:20). *In the game '' Fallout: New Vegas'', Dean Domino from the ''Dead Money'' add-on sings this song, although it is a reused version of Bing Crosby's cover which can be heard in Radio New Vegas.

Notes

1955 songs Songs written for films Songs written by Johnny Mercer Fred Astaire songs The McGuire Sisters songs Sammy Davis Jr. songs {{1950s-pop-song-stub