I Got Rhythm - Wikipedia I Got Rhythm This article is about the song. For the album by Teddy Wilson, see I Got Rhythm ( album ). `` I Got Rhythm '' Song Published 1930 Composer ( s ) George Gershwin Lyricist ( s ) Ira Gershwin `` I Got Rhythm '' is a piece composed by George Gershwin with lyrics by Ira Gershwin and published in 1930, which became a jazz standard. Its chord progression, known as the `` rhythm changes '', is the foundation for many other popular jazz tunes such as Charlie Parker 's and Dizzy Gillespie 's bebop standard `` Anthropology ( Thrivin ' on a Riff ) ''. Contents 1 Composition 2 History 3 Other recordings 4 See also 5 References 6 Sources 7 External links Composition The song came from the musical Girl Crazy which also includes two other hit songs, `` Embraceable You '' and `` But Not for Me '', and has been sung by many jazz singers since. It was originally written as a slow song for Treasure Girl ( 1928 ) and found another, faster setting in Girl Crazy. Ethel Merman sang the song in the original Broadway production and Broadway lore holds that George Gershwin, after seeing her opening reviews, warned her never to take a singing lesson. The piece was originally penned in the key of D ♭ major. The song melody uses four notes of the five - note pentatonic scale, first rising, then falling. A rhythmic interest in the song is that the tune keeps behind the main pulse, with the three `` I got... '' phrases syncopated, appearing one beat behind in the first bar, while the fourth phase `` Who could... '' rushes in to the song. The song 's chorus is in a 34 - bar AABA form. Its chord progression ( although often reduced to a standard 32 - bar structure, for the sake of improvised solos ), is known as the `` rhythm changes '', and is the foundation for many other popular jazz tunes. The song was used as the theme in Gershwin 's last concert piece for piano and orchestra, the Variations on `` I Got Rhythm '', written in 1934. The song has become symbolic of the Gershwins, of swing, and of the 1920s. As usual, George Gershwin wrote the melody first and gave it to Ira to set, but Ira found it an unusually hard melody for which to create lyrics. He experimented for two weeks with the rhyme scheme he felt the music called for, sets of triple rhymes, but found that the heavy rhyming `` seemed at best to give a pleasant and jingly Mother Goose quality to a tune which should throw its weight around more. '' Finally he began to experiment with leaving most of the lines unrhymed. `` This approach felt stronger, '' he wrote, `` and I finally arrived at the present refrain, with only ' more - door ' and ' mind him - find him ' the rhymes. '' He added that this approach `` was a bit daring for me who usually depended on rhyme insurance. '' Ira also wrote that although the phrase `` who could ask for anything more ? '' is repeated four times in the song, he decided not to make it the title because `` somehow the first line of the refrain sounded more arresting and provocative. '' History An instrumental arrangement for piano and orchestra appears in the 1945 Hollywood Victory Caravan. The song is featured in the 1951 musical film An American in Paris. Gene Kelly sang the song and tap - danced, while French - speaking children whom he had just taught a few words of English shouted the words `` I got '' each time they appeared in the lyrics. This version finished at # 32 in AFI 's 100 Years... 100 Songs survey of top tunes in American cinema. It is also featured in the film Mr. Holland 's Opus, during a scene in which students are trying out for a Gershwin revue. Also featured in the movie `` My Girl '', during a dinner scene when the grandmother sang it, oblivious of the others. A complete list of notable singers who have recorded this song would take up several pages. The most popular versions are those of The Happenings ( # 3 on the US charts in 1967 ), Judy Garland, Ethel Merman, Ella Fitzgerald, and more recently, Jodi Benson. It is a very popular jazz standard. Many songs use its chord progression, such as Duke Ellington 's `` Cotton Tail ''. Charlie Parker alone based many songs on its chord progression, e.g. `` Moose the Mooche ''. Gary Larson referenced the song in the Far Side. In 1939, I Got Rhythm was arranged and orchestrated by Bruce Chase for a premiere performance by the Kansas Philharmonic, now the Kansas City Symphony. A version of the song set to a disco beat was recorded by Ethel Merman for her Ethel Merman Disco Album in 1979. Another version of the song was arranged for solo guitar by Ton Van Bergeyk. It appears on the album Black and Tan Fantasy. Mike Oldfield and Wendy Roberts performed a version on Oldfield 's Platinum album. The song was satirized in an episode of The Muppet Show where Rowlf and Fozzie attempt to perform it but Fozzie is unable to keep in tempo. To compensate Rowlf has him change the lyrics to `` I do n't got Rhythm ''. The song has appeared in several film versions of Girl Crazy : Girl Crazy ( 1932 ), performed by Kitty Kelly Girl Crazy ( 1943 ), performed by Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney with Six Hits and a Miss, The Music Maids and Tommy Dorsey with his Orchestra When the Boys Meet the Girls ( 1965 ), performed by Harve Presnell and Connie Francis Other Recordings This section may contain indiscriminate, excessive, or irrelevant examples. Please improve the article by adding more descriptive text and removing less pertinent examples. See Wikipedia 's guide to writing better articles for further suggestions. The Puppini Sisters on the album Hollywood ( 2011 ) Ernestine Anderson Fred Astaire Count Basie on Basie 's Beat Jodi Benson Don Byas and Slam Stewart ( 1945 ) David Campbell, ( 1997 ) Taking the Wheel Karen Carpenter - part of I Got Rhythm medley on special The Carpenters : Music, Music, Music Chris Connor - Warm Cool : The Atlantic Years ( 2000 ) Bing Crosby - in 1975 for his album At My Time of Life Ella Fitzgerald on Ella Fitzgerald Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Songbook ( 1959 ) Benny Goodman Judy Garland ( solo recording for her Decca label ) and in the film Girl Crazy ( 1943 ) The Happenings from the album Psycle ( 1967 ) Lena Horne ( Remix feat. Q - Tip ) Jovanotti for Gershwin compilation Red Hot + Rhapsody Gene Kelly Lorna Luft - recorded for the 1990 studio cast recording of Girl Crazy Ethel Merman ( several times ), including a disco version for The Ethel Merman Disco Album ( 1979 ) Mike Oldfield in his album Platinum ( 1979 ), featuring vocals by Wendy Roberts Robert Palmer for the Gershwin tribute album The Glory of Gershwin ( 1994 ) Charlie Parker John Pizzarelli The Residents recorded the song for George & James, and also done live for their 13th Anniversary Tour in 1986 ( available on The 13th Anniversary Show Live in the U.S.A. ) Rita Reys ( 1961 ) Kate Smith with the Ben Selvin Orchestra ( 1930 ) Barbra Streisand recorded the song for... And Other Musical Instruments, as a medley with a number of other songs Martin Taylor recorded the song for Martin Taylor. Hiromi Uehara for the album Beyond Standard ( 2008 ) Leslie Uggams for her album More Leslie Uggams on TV as a medley with Fascinating Rhythm Ton Van Bergeyk Sarah Vaughan on Sweet ' n ' Sassy ( 1963 ) Fats Waller ( December 4, 1935 ) Ethel Waters 's performance is the one that is selected in the compilation The Essential George Gershwin. Wendi Williams & Bill Elliott Swing Orchestra recorded the song for the film and soundtrack of Introducing Dorothy Dandridge ( 1999 ). In the beginning of the film, Dorothy Dandridge ( portrayed by Halle Berry ) performs the song in a racially segregated Miami nightclub. Brian Wilson released his take on Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin ( 2010 ). His version contains an interpolation of his former band the Beach Boys ' 1962 song `` Farmer 's Daughter ''. The interpolation was suggested and sung by Wilson 's then - guitarist and longtime Beach Boys sideman Jeffrey Foskett. Nikki Yanofsky from the album Nikki ( 2010 ). Uri Caine, on album Rhapsody in Blue ( 2013 ). Renée Geyer on Swing ( 2013 ) See also List of 1930s jazz standards References Jump up ^ Covach, John ( 2005 ), `` Form in Rock Music : A Primer '', in Stein, Deborah, Engaging Music : Essays in Music Analysis, New York : Oxford University Press, p. 70, ISBN 0 - 19 - 517010 - 5. ^ Jump up to : Gershwin, Ira ( 1959 ). Lyrics on Several Occasions ( First ed. ). New York : Knopf. OCLC 538209. Jump up ^ Hollywood Victory Caravan and Bond Rallies, in Hollywood Goes to War : Collector 's Edition, 2004 pressing, Diamond Entertainment, Disk 1. Jump up ^ `` See You in September '', Billboard. Accessed October 3, 2007. Jump up ^ `` '' Violinist Arranges Laughter at Symphony : '' ' ' The Milwaukee Sentinel ' ', April 11, 1984 ``. News.google.com. 1984 - 04 - 11. Retrieved 2012 - 02 - 23. Jump up ^ The Ethel Merman Disco Album, Track 7. 1979 recording reissued on CD in 2002 by Universal Music Enterprises, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc. Jump up ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32j8M5G1f8o Jump up ^ `` Hollywood - The Puppini Sisters Songs, Reviews, Credits AllMusic ''. AllMusic. Retrieved 2017 - 10 - 24. Jump up ^ `` The Happenings Official Website - Discography ''. Thehappenings.com. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 01. Jump up ^ Ethel Merman with Orchestra Directed by Jay Blackton. Recorded December 12, 1947, New York City, Master # 74230 - A, originally released on Decca single 24453 B and Ethel Merman : Songs She Made Famous, album DA - 681, June 28, 1948. Source notes from Front Row Center : The Broadway Gold Box, 1935 - 1988. Four Compact Disc Set, Broadway Gold / MCA Classics, MCAD4 - 11353 ( 1996 ) Jump up ^ Barbra Streisand and Other Musical Instruments, Columbia Records / CBS, Inc. ( 1973 ) Sources Greenberg, Rodney ( 1998 ). George Gershwin. Phaidon Press. ISBN 0 - 7148 - 3504 - 8. Gershwin, George ( 1996 ). The Complete Gershwin Keyboard Works. Warner Brothers Publications. ISBN 978 - 1 - 57623 - 743 - 4. External links Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, Guy Bolton and Jack McGowan 's Girl Crazy ( 1930 ) Adaptations Girl Crazy ( 1932 film ) Girl Crazy ( 1943 film ) When the Boys Meet the Girls ( 1965 film ) Crazy for You ( 1992 musical ) Songs 1930 musical `` Bidin ' My Time '' `` Embraceable You '' `` Sam and Delilah '' `` I Got Rhythm '' `` But Not For Me '' `` Treat Me Rough '' `` Boy ! What Love Has Done To Me ! '' 1992 musical `` I Ca n't Be Bothered Now '' `` Things Are Looking Up '' `` Someone to Watch Over Me '' `` Slap That Bass '' `` The Real American Folk Song is a Rag '' `` Stiff Upper Lip '' `` They Ca n't Take That Away from Me '' `` Nice Work If You Can Get It '' Related `` You 've Got What Gets Me '' Variations on `` I Got Rhythm '' George Gershwin Albums Gershwin Plays Gershwin : The Piano Rolls Ballets An American in Paris Gershwin Piano Concerto Three Preludes Who Cares ? List of stagings Operas Blue Monday ( 1922 ) Porgy and Bess ( 1935 ) Orchestral works Rhapsody in Blue ( 1924 ) Concerto in F ( 1925 ) An American in Paris ( 1928 ) Second Rhapsody ( 1931 ) Cuban Overture ( 1932 ) Strike Up the Band ( 1934 ) Hoctor 's Ballet ( 1937 ) Piano compositions Three Preludes ( 1926 ) French Ballet Class ( 1937 ) Songs `` Are n't You Kind Of Glad We Did ? '' `` ( I 've Got ) Beginner 's Luck '' `` Bidin ' My Time '' `` Blah Blah Blah '' `` Boy Wanted '' `` Boy ! What Love Has Done To Me ! '' `` But Not for Me '' `` By Strauss '' `` Clap Yo ' Hands '' `` Do It Again '' `` Doin ' Time '' `` Embraceable You '' `` Fascinating Rhythm '' `` A Foggy Day '' `` For You, For Me, For Evermore '' `` Funny Face '' `` ' The Half of It, Dearie ' Blues '' `` He Loves and She Loves '' `` How Long Has This Been Going On ? '' `` I Ca n't Be Bothered Now '' `` I Got Rhythm '' `` I Was Doing All Right '' `` I 've Got a Crush on You '' `` Is n't It a Pity ? '' `` Just Another Rhumba '' `` Let 's Call the Whole Thing Off '' `` Let 's Kiss and Make Up '' `` Liza ( All the Clouds 'll Roll Away ) '' `` Looking for a Boy '' `` Lorelei '' `` Love Is Here to Stay '' `` Love is Sweeping the Country '' `` Love Walked In '' `` The Man I Love '' `` My Cousin in Milwaukee '' `` My One and Only '' `` Nice Work If You Can Get It '' `` Of Thee I Sing '' `` Oh, Lady Be Good ! '' `` Oh, So Nice ! '' `` The Real American Folk Song ( is a Rag ) '' `` 'S Wonderful '' `` Sam and Delilah '' `` Slap That Bass '' `` Somebody from Somewhere '' `` Somebody Loves Me '' `` Someone to Watch Over Me '' `` Soon '' `` Stairway to Paradise '' `` Stiff Upper Lip '' `` Strike Up the Band '' `` Summertime '' `` Swanee '' `` That Certain Feeling '' `` They All Laughed '' `` They Ca n't Take That Away from Me '' `` Things Are Looking Up '' `` Tra - la - la '' `` Treat Me Rough '' `` Walking the Dog '' `` Who Cares ? '' `` You 've Got What Gets Me '' Tribute albums Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin By George Ella Fitzgerald Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Song Book Ella Sings Gershwin Gershwin Live ! Gershwin 's World The Glory of Gershwin Ira, George and Joe Nice Work If You Can Get It Oscar Peterson Plays the George Gershwin Songbook Red Hot + Rhapsody : The Gershwin Groove Rosemary Clooney Sings the Lyrics of Ira Gershwin Related articles Gershwin Prize Ira Gershwin ( brother ) Arthur Gershwin ( brother ) Frances Gershwin ( sister ) Gershwin Theatre List of compositions by George Gershwin Category : George Gershwin Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=I_Got_Rhythm&oldid=815717419 '' Categories : 1930 songs 1930s jazz standards 1967 singles Songs with music by George Gershwin Songs with lyrics by Ira Gershwin Songs from Girl Crazy Ella Fitzgerald songs Barbra Streisand songs Jazz compositions in B - flat major Hidden categories : Articles with too many examples Talk Contents About Wikipedia Català Deutsch Español Esperanto Français Italiano ქართული 日本 語 Norsk Русский Suomi 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 16 December 2017, at 17 : 19. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. About Wikipedia

Question: who wrote the jazz classic i got rhythm
Answer: George Gershwin