Thoroughly Modern Millie (song)
| "Thoroughly Modern Millie" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) 7-inch US single picture sleeve | ||||
| Single by Julie Andrews | ||||
| from the album Thoroughly Modern Millie | ||||
| B-side | "Jimmy" | |||
| Released | 1967 | |||
| Genre | Musical, show tune | |||
| Length | 2:30 | |||
| Label | Decca | |||
| Songwriters | Sammy Cahn, James Van Heusen | |||
| Julie Andrews singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Thoroughly Modern Millie" is a song composed by Sammy Cahn (lyrics) and Jimmy Van Heusen (music) for the 1967 musical film of the same name, a faux-1920s musical comedy directed by George Roy Hill and produced by Ross Hunter. The film starred Julie Andrews, Carol Channing, and Mary Tyler Moore, blending original compositions with period-appropriate standards.[1]
The song was performed by Julie Andrews, who starred in the film as the titular character. Released as a single by Decca Records, it features "Jimmy" as the B-side.[2] The song is an upbeat, jazzy number that mirrors the film's lighthearted tone. At the same time the lyrics playfully depict the protagonist's embrace of modernity.[3] In 1996, the song, along with the instrumental track "Prelude", was included in Andrews' Rhino compilation album The Best of Julie Andrews: Thoroughly Modern Julie.[4]
Critical reception
[edit]Cash Box described the track as a "bright, up-tempo, bouncy, light-hearted romp" and its b-side as a "smooth, easy-going romancer".[5] Record World selected the song as a "Single Pick of the Week", describing it as a "pristine perkiness",[6] and writing that it "should click with the masses".[7] Cast Album Reviews called the song "admittedly catchy.[8]
Accolades
[edit]"Thoroughly Modern Millie" was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song at the 25th Golden Globe Awards (1967). The other nominees in the category were: "If Ever I Would Leave You" from Camelot (performed by Richard Harris, music by Frederick Loewe, lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner), which won the award; "Talk to the Animals" from Doctor Dolittle (performed by Rex Harrison, music and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse); "Circles in the Water (Des ronds dans l'eau)" from Live for Life (Vivre pour vivre) (music by Francis Lai, lyrics by Norman Gimbel); and "Please Don't Gamble with Love" from Ski Fever (music by Jerry Styner, lyrics by Guy Hemric).[9]
The film's title song was also nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song at the 40th Academy Awards (1967). The other nominees were: "Talk to the Animals" from Doctor Dolittle, which won the Oscar; "The Eyes of Love" from Banning (music by Quincy Jones, lyrics by Bob Russell); "The Look of Love" from Casino Royale (music by Burt Bacharach, lyrics by Hal David); and "The Bare Necessities" from The Jungle Book (music and lyrics by Terry Gilkyson).[10]
| Year | Award | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 25th Golden Globe Awards | Best Original Song | Nominated | |
| 1968 | 40th Academy Awards | Best Original Song | Nominated | |
Commercial performance
[edit]On March 25, 1967, the single made its first appearance on the Billboard's Easy Listening chart—now known as the Adult Contemporary chart.[11] The song eventually reached its peak position at number 3 on April 22.[12] It remained on the chart for a total of 12 weeks.[11]Additionally, it peaked at number 5 on the Record World Top Non-Rock chart.[13]
Charts
[edit]| Chart (1967) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US (Billboard Easy Listening)[12] | 3 |
| US (Record World Top Non-Rock)[13] | 5 |
References
[edit]- ↑ Stirling 2007, p. 291-292
- ↑ Thoroughly Modern Millie (Media notes). United States: Decca Records. 1967. 32162.
- ↑ Ruhlmann, William. "Thoroughly Modern Millie - Original Soundtrack... | AllMusic". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 26 December 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
- ↑ McDonald, Steven. "The Best of Julie Andrews: Thoroughly Modern Julie". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 10 June 2012. Retrieved 2 April 2025.
- ↑ "Record Reviews" (PDF). Cashbox. Vol. XXVIII, no. 33. 4 April 1967. p. 16. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 July 2025. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
- ↑ "Single picks of the week" (PDF). Record World. Vol. 21, no. 1030. 4 March 1967. p. 1. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 July 2025. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
- ↑ "Singles reviews" (PDF). Record World. Vol. 21, no. 1030. 4 March 1967. p. 6. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 July 2025. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
- ↑ Barbour, David (28 August 2015). "Thoroughly Modern Millie". Cast Album Reviews. Archived from the original on 30 January 2019. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
- 1 2 "25th Golden Globes Awards (1968) - Movies from 1967". FilmAffinity. Archived from the original on 27 July 2025. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
- 1 2 "The 40th Academy Awards – 1968". Oscars.org | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
- 1 2 Whitburn 1993, p. 17
- 1 2 "Billboard Top 40: Easy Listening". Billboard. Vol. 79, no. 16. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 22 April 1967. p. 16. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
- 1 2 "Record World's Top Non-Rock" (PDF). Record World. 22 April 1967. p. 39. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 March 2025. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
Bibliography
[edit]- Stirling, Richard (2007). Julie Andrews: An Intimate Biography. London: Piatkus Books. ISBN 978-0-312-38025-0.
- Whitburn, Joel (1993). Joel Whitburn's Top Adult Contemporary 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 17. ISBN 978-0-89820-099-7.