Newsgroup: it.cultura.linguistica.inglese
Titolo: A challenge to the music experts in this Ng

After a long time of silence (but in which I kept on reading you all), I'm
back with this question. I'm looking for the title and hopefully the singer
of an old song. It must have been popular in the fifties, I guess. It played
on different pronunciations between British and American English and the
only thing I remember about it it's something like: "You say tomato and I
say tomato and you say potato and I say potato" and so on. My candidates to
whom could have sung it are Ella Fitzgerald, or Bing Crosby, maybe Frank
Sinatra but to be honest I have no idea. Have I managed to make myself clear
?
I implore the kind and magnificent Queens for the care of my quest and ask
for the help of all the brave knights.
a kneeling Marina

George and Ira Gershwin
Let's call the whole thing off
wanna see the text?
cheers,
Peltio
Thalasse wrote in message
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They wrote it, but it was sung by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.
While I was double-checking on the web to make sure I'd remembered
correctly, I found the wonderful Killer Tomatoes web pages:
http://members.tripod.com/~mmonroe/tomato/addiction.html
http://www.killertomato.com/default4.htm
.
Mary
-- 
57 varieties and they can't even get tomato soup right.

 I'm looking for the title and hopefully the singer
Singers abound. I guess this is what they call a standard.
Probably you are right on every singer you mentioned.
May I suggest this wonderful CD?
Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong
"Ella and Louis again"
Verve (believe it or not this is a special priced cd!!!)
825-374-2
you'll find your song on track #7
BUT you can't buy this CD without buying the first one too, can you?
Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong
"Ella and Louis"
Verve (also a special priced cd, and they are unabridged)
825-373-2
cheers,
Peltio
PS
A search on Amazon for "Gershwin songbook" will open the door to a
different universe. Try it.

 They wrote it, but it was sung by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.
Ella is still the only person who sings this wonderful song  the way it
should be sung - in my opinion of course. I had the very good fortune of
seeing her perform at Radii City Music Hall shortly before she died and it
is still one of the most memorable experiences I have ever had.
I remain, as always,
Bambi
dtb

Mary
bye
Gennaro
---
Return of the Killer Tomatoes!
US (1988): Comedy/Science Fiction
Review
Sequel to the cult item Attack of the Killer Tomatoes, this is an
improvement, but still nothing much.
In a tomato-fearing world, mad scientist Astin is turning tomatoes into
people and vice-versa; our hero falls for an attractive one-time tomato. Too
long, too silly, but has its moments. Followed by Killer Tomatoes Strike
Back.
--
Per rispondere eliminare ".HELL" dall'indirizzo.
To reply remove ".HELL" from the end of the address.
------

Thank you all my kind queens and brave knights.
I didn't know why ;) but I knew it somehow you were the ones who could help
me.
Bambi, I wish I had been with you at Ella's concert ! I can believe it's one
of the most memorable experience of your life !
Peltio,dear knight in a shining armour, your information have been so
detailed I don't know how to thank you. But I'll take advantage of you, if
you don't mind. Where can I see the lyrics ?
In the mean time, with all the news you gave me I can try a research for the
mp3.
As always you've been fantastic
marina

Where can I see the lyrics ?
questo l'ho rubato da questo sito (credo)
http://das-www.harvard.edu/users/students/Rebecca_Hwa/lyrics/menu.html
*Let's Call the Whole Thing Off*
----------------------------------------
                     -- George & Ira Gershwin
                        from Shall We Dance (1937)
Things have come to a pretty pass.
Our romance is growing flat!
For you like this or the other,
and I go for this or that!
Goodness knows what the end will be,
I don't know where I am at (???)
It looks as if we two will never be one.
Something must be done.
  1
You say E-ther and I say I-ther.
You say nE-ther and I say nI-ther.
E-ther, I-ther,
nE-ther, nI-ther
Let's call the whole thing off!
You like po-tay-to and I like po-tah-to.
You like to-may-to and I like to-mah-to.
Po-tay-to, po-tah-to,
To-may-to, to-mah-to,
Let's call the whole thing off!
But oh, if we call the whole thing off,
then we must part.
And oh, if we ever part
that would just break my heart.
So if you go for oi-sters and I go fer er-sters,
I'll order oi-sters and cancel my er-sters.
For we know we
need each other so we
better call the calling off off,
Let's call the whole thing off!
  2
You say a-fter and I say ah-fter,
You say la-fter and I say lah-fter.
A-fter, ah-fter,
La-fter, lah-fter,
let's call the whole thing off!
You say vanilla and I say vanella,
You s'asperilla and I s'asperella.
Vanilla, vanella,
chocoloate, strawberries!
Let's call the whole thing off!
But oh, if we call the whole thing off,
then we must part.
And oh, if we ever part
that would just break my heart.
You like pajamas and I like pajahmas.
I'll wear pajamas and give up pajahmas.
For we know we
need each other so we
better call the calling off off,
Let's call the whole thing off!
cheers,
Peltio
suggestin' a four CD set:
"Ella Fitzgerald sings the Gershwin songbook"
(certain songs are available in mp3 format at Amazon's, IIRC)

Thanks a lot Peltio, that has been very kind of you.
Just to let you know ... I managed to find the mp3 straight-away,and of a
great quality but couldn't find the lyrics so you've been very helpful once
again.
Bye
marina

 I don't know where I am at (???)
[.....]
Dear Peltio,
Quite by chance, I came across the following:
    "Excuse me, where is the library at?"
    "Here at Hahvahd, we never end a sentence with a preposition."
    "O.K.  Excuse me, where is the library at, *asshole*?"
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