Where or When

"Where or When" is a show tune from the 1937 Rodgers and Hart musical Babes in Arms. It was first performed by Ray Heatherton and Mitzi Green. That same year, Hal Kemp recorded a popular version. It also appeared in the film version of Babes in Arms two years later.

For the 2003 film, see Where or When (film).
"Where or When"
Song
Published1937 by Chappell & Co.
GenreShowtune
Composer(s)Richard Rodgers
Lyricist(s)Lorenz Hart

Babes in Arms

"Where or When" is the first number to appear in the original Broadway production of Babes in Arms. The musical opens in Seaport, Long Island on a hectic morning that finds most of the adult population embarking on a five-month vaudeville tour. Soon after his parents' departure, 20-year-old Valentine LaMar (played by Ray Heatherton) discovers at his doorstep a young hitchhiker named Billie Smith (played by Mitzi Green). Instantly smitten, he engages her in a discussion of movie stars, self-defense maneuvers, and Nietzsche's theory of individualism, at which point Val impulsively steals a kiss. Both admit to a powerful sense of déjà vu and sing "Where or When" as a duet.[1] MGM bought the screen rights to Babes in Arms in 1938, and the following year the studio released a film with that title, starring Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland, that bore little resemblance to its stage predecessor; the characters and plot were substantially revised (by 10 studio writers), and only two numbers were retained from the score.[1] "Where or When" was one that survived, appearing 37 minutes into the film,[2] sung by Betty Jaynes, Douglas McPhail and Garland in a scene depicting a rehearsal sequence, although Garland is cut short during her performance.[3]

Analysis of the lyrics

The lyrics of Where or When illustrate a memory anomaly known as déjà vu. The line "Some things that happen for the first time..." is often misunderstood or misheard as "Some things that happened for the first time..." which changes the meaning. Rather than recalling past events which actually "happened", the lyrics refer to present events which "happen" for the first time, but which falsely seem to be recurring.[4][5]

Recorded versions
"Where or When"
Single by Dion and the Belmonts
from the album Presenting Dion and the Belmonts
B-side"That's My Desire"
ReleasedDecember 14, 1959
GenreDoo-wop
Length2:37
LabelLaurie
Composer(s)Lorenz Hart
Lyricist(s)Richard Rodgers
Dion and the Belmonts singles chronology
"Every Little Thing I Do"
(1959)		 "Where or When"
(1959)		 "When You Wish upon a Star"
(1960)

  • In her Oscar-winning performance ,the song is sung by the Ellen Burstyn character in the 1974 film in Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore, Ellen Burstyn sings "Where or When" while playing her piano, shortly after the death of her husband from a trucking accident.
  • Danny Tanner, Joey Gladstone, and Jesse Katsopolis cover the song in the Season 7 episode of Full House titled "Too Little Richard Too Late".
  • The song appears three times, sung by Molly Johnson, in the made-for-TV movie ghost noir Gotham (1988). The second time it is played, Molly is shown singing it in a night club and Virginia Madsen (playing the ghost) recites the lyrics over her performance.
  • The song was used for the 1992 biopic Sinatra, starring Philip Casnoff; in the film, Frank Sinatra performs the song on stage at the Paramount Theatre.
  • The song appears at the end of American Dad episode "A Star is Reborn".
  • It is sung in the background of About Time, a film involving time-travel.

The Benny Goodman version of the song, with vocals by Peggy Lee, was featured in an NPR article discussing its recording at the start of World War II: [10]

  • The song appears as a recurring theme in the movie The Notebook (2004)
  • The song appears in the movie The Future (2011) as a signal between the two protagonists in case they ever forget who the other is.

See also
  • Where Or When (film), a film inspired by the song

References
  1. "Babes in Arms: History and Synopsis" (PDF). New World Records. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  2. "Film Review: Babes in Arms". Judy Garland Database. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  3. Burlingame, Sandra. "Where or When (1937)". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  4. Eli Marcovitz, M.D. , "The Meaning of Déjà Vu", Psychoanalytic Quarterly, vol. 21 (1952), pp.481-489
  5. Alan S. Brown, The déjà vu experience, Psychology Press, (2004), ISBN 0-203-48544-0, Introduction, page 1
  6. Whitburn, Joel (2013). Joel Whitburn’s Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012. Record Research. p. 241.
  7. MPS Records MPS 14.331 - Album A Capella III
  8. Helen Ward · Harry James & His Orchestra
  9. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKvZL7HmzMM
  10. https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1567043
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