If You Can Make It There, You'll Make It Anywhere, It's Up To You New York, New York

Thank you, New York State. I have been alive long enough to remember that in NY, a person could be arrested for dancing with someone of the same sex; now in NY a you can marry the person you love, even if they happen to be the same sex. That is amazing.

I was once a New Yorker, & although I understand that it is a large & diverse state,I always think of NY State as NYC, the city that is the center if the universe.

I happen to like New York, I happen to like this town.
I like the city air, I like to drink of it,
The more I know New York the more I think of it.
I like the sight & the sound & even the stink of it.
I happen to like New York.
I like to go to Battery Park & watch those liners booming in.
I often ask myself, why should it be that they come so far across the sea.
I suppose it's because they all agree with me. They happen to like New York.
Last Sunday afternoon I took a trip to Hackensack,
But after I gave Hackensack the once over, I took the next train back.
I happen to like New York. I happen to love this burg. 
When I have to give the world a last farewell,
& the undertaker starts to ring my funeral bell,
I don't want to go to heaven, don't want to go to hell.
I happen to like New York. I happen to like New York.

Cole Porter
1930


We were married in Vancouver BC, my 2nd favorite city, on our 25th anniversary of being a couple. We had decided that we would never have another wedding, after all, we are actually married. But, if he would have me, & if we don't divorce before then, I would feel very good about getting married again in NYC.

One of my very favorite memories of our 32 years together, was watching my husband's face as we emerged from the subway at 42nd Street, &  stepped into Time Square at sunset, ablaze in neon & racket, on our first visit together in the city that never sleeps.

You're The Top

As a man known for being versatile, this song is not only a long time favorite, but carries special meaning for me.

At words poetic, I'm so pathetic

That I always have found it best,

Instead of getting 'em off my chest,

To let 'em rest unexpressed,

I hate parading my serenading

As I'll probably miss a bar,

But if this ditty is not so pretty

At least it'll tell you

How great you are.

You're the top!

You're the Coliseum.

You're the top!

You're the Louver Museum.

You're a melody from a symphony by Strauss

You're a Bendel bonnet,

A Shakespeare's sonnet,

You're Mickey Mouse.

You're the Nile,

You're the Tower of Pisa,

You're the smile on the Mona Lisa

I'm a worthless check, a total wreck, a flop,

But if, baby, I'm the bottom you're the top!

You're the top!

You're Mahatma Gandhi.

You're the top!

You're Napoleon Brandy.

You're the purple light

Of a summer night in Spain,

You're the National Gallery

You're Garbo's salary,

You're cellophane.

You're sublime,

You're turkey dinner,

You're the time, the time of a Derby winner

I'm a toy balloon that’s fated soon to pop

But if, baby, I'm the bottom,

You're the top!

You're the top!

You're an arrow collar

You're the top!

You're a Coolidge dollar,

You're the nimble tread

Of the feet of Fred Astaire,

You're an O'Neill drama,

You're Whistler's mama!

You're camembert.

You're a rose,

You're Inferno's Dante,

You're the nose

On the great Durante.

I'm just in a way,

As the French would say, "de trop".

But if, baby, I'm the bottom,

You're the top!

You're the top!

You're a dance in Bali.

You're the top!

You're a hot tamale.

You're an angel, you are

Simply too, too, too diveen,

You're a Boticcelli,

You're Keats,

You're Shelly!

You're Ovaltine!

You're a boom,

You're the dam at Boulder,

You're the moon,

Over Mae West's shoulder,

I'm the nominee of the G.O.P.

Or GOP!

But if, baby, I'm the bottom,

You're the top!

You're the top!

You're a Waldorf salad.

You're the top!

You're a Berlin ballad.

You're the boats that glide

On the sleepy Zuider Zee,

You're an old Dutch master,

You're Lady Astor,

You're broccoli!

You're romance,

You're the steppes of Russia,

You're the pants, on a Roxy usher,

I'm a broken doll, a fol-de-rol, a blop,

But if, baby, I'm the bottom,

You're the top!

Cole Porter
1935

Thinking myself clever, I had a game of re-writing lyrics to favorite songs in the manner of. He is what I did to this Cole Porter favorite:

You're the dregs

You're the slums of Pisa

You're the legs on the Mona Lisa

You're a deep, deep breath of fowl filthy air

You're a childrens' choir

A forest fire

You're underwear!

Stephen 1970

Do Do That Voodoo That You Do So Well... Considering Cole Porter On His 120th Birthday

The Husband, Lil'Jake, the hip-hop artist & designer, & I needed a movie & we watched the clever, charming, astute, assured, sweet, sentimental & hopeful film- Midnight In Paris, where Cole Porter is an inspiration, a character, & a plot point. I loved this movie. A B+ on the Steve Report Card.


Born in Peru, Indiana in 1891, Porter studied music from an early age, & began composing as a teenager. After high school he attended Yale University, where he was voted “most entertaining man.” He went on to law school at Harvard University, but his interest remained in music. At Harvard he continued to write songs, & a some of his pieces were used in Broadway musicals.

Porter by Avedon

In 1916, his first full score was performed. The musical- See America First was a flop & closed after only 15 performances. Bruised by the experience, he began to travel around Europe & got an apartment in Paris. This was the beginning of his life long affection for the city, which he would return to in songs- You Don’t Know Paree & I Love Paris. During his time in Europe, Porter contributed to many musicals, but until his song- Let’s Do It, Let’s Fall In Love appeared in the 1928 musical Paris, he had not had a big hit. Paris was a place Cole flourished socially. He attended parties with his pal Noel Coward. The parties of the era were elaborate & fabulous, attended by the upper crust. His own parties were marked by gay & bisexual activity, cross-dressing, international musicians & actors, & a large surplus of recreational drugs. I sometimes think I was born in the wrong era, the very theme of Midnight In Paris.

Porter started spending time with American divorcee- Linda Thomas, & they became close friends quickly. Their financial status & social status made them prefect as a married couple.The fact that Linda's ex-husband was abusive & Cole was gay made the arrangement even more perfect. Linda was always one of Porter's staunch supporters & being married increased his chance of success. Being married to Porter allowed Linda to keep high status in society for the rest of her life. They married in 1919 & lived in a happy arrangement, a successful public relationship, but a sexless marriage until Linda's death in 1954.

Porter was happy with a life in Hollywood in the 1930s, including a more liberal movie industry where Porter enjoyed more open sexual adventures. At the time, it was somewhat more acceptable to be an eccentric gay artist, but Linda feared for Porter’s reputation & career. Her social standing was threatened by his activities & the rumors in upper-crust social circles.

Despite a horseback riding accident in 1937 that crippled him for life, Porter produced much of his best work in the 1940s &1950s. He wrote 100s of songs for Broadway shows, movie musicals, & TV specials. His most successful musical- Kiss Me Kate opened in 1948 & ran for over a 1000 performances. A recluse in his later years, Porter died in California in 1964.

In 1945 the film Night & Day was made with Cary Grant, allegedly about the life of Cole Porter. This movie has almost nothing to do with the actual life of the songwriter. Night & Day leaves out the important elements of his gay life, & his sexless marriage of convenience.

The 1990 album- Red, Hot, & Blue. features Cole Porter songs sung by popular musicians of the 1980s & 1990s. It remains a favorite of mine. The dismal 2004 movie- De-Lovely, with an improbable Kevin Kline as Porter, came a tiny bit closer to the true story & featured beautiful sets, major actors, famous current musicians, & a strong Hollywood marketing campaign for the movie & the soundtrack. But for me, this movie is a miserable mess.

The songs of Cole Porter mean a great deal to me. This is my favorite:

Cherry Pies Ought To Be You

I have new bad habit. Every Saturday I bring a Cherry Pie home from work, & the company I work for makes the Best Cherry Pies ever. I do this because the Husband is crazy for Cherry Pie & I am trying to fatten up the skinny fucker. That other skinny fucker,T & his big black, beautiful poddle- Louis showed up unannounced. I am sure it was because they sensed there was fresh Cherry Pie at Post Apocalyptic Bohemia. All this reminds me a favorite Cole Porter ditty that I adored in high school. As I said to the Husband- "Shut your Pie Hole!"

Today's Cherry Pie

Cherry pies ought to be you
Autumn skies ought to be you
Mr. Pulitzer's prize ought to be you
Romeo in disguise ought to be you

Columbine ought to be you
Sparking wine ought to be you
All of Beethoven's nine ought to be you.
Every old Shakespeare line ought to be you

You are so enticing
I'm starting to shake.
You are just the icing
To put on my cake.

Heaven's blue ought to be you
Heaven, too, ought to be you
Everything super-doo ought to be you
French perfumes ought to be you

Texas booms ought to be you
Early Egyptian tombs ought to be you
Super-cheap drawing rooms ought to be you
Hot Don Juan ought to be you

Rita Kahn ought to be you
Cupid with nothing on ought to be you
Leda without her swan ought to be you

You make carmel copper
You're losing your breath
Were I not so proper
I'd squeeze you to death.

Truman's best ought to be you
His success ought to be you.
All except Truman's breast ought to be you

Ought to be you
Ought to be you
Ought to be you




Shooting pains ought to be you
Addled brains ought to be you
Florida when it rains ought to be you
Pictures in subway trains ought to be you

Withered grass ought to be you
Lethal gas ought to be you
Sour old applesass ought to be youGabby old Balemn's ass ought to be you

You look so fearful
You'll give me the joinks!
Kid, if you're not careful,
I'll give you the zoinks!

Horsemeat steak ought to be you
Pickled snake ought to be you
Everything I can't take ought to be you

Corn that's tough ought to be you
In the ruff ought to be you
Every old powder puff ought to be you
Everything not enough ought to be you

No one's bride ought to be you
No one's pride ought to be you
Just an old chicken fried ought to be you
Cyanide on the side ought to be you

That's the darndest getup
That I've seen in years
Kid, if you don't shut up
I'll pull off your ears

No one's girl ought to be you
Milton Bearle ought to be you
Salad & caster erl ought to be you

Ought to be you
Ought to be you
Ought to be you

Cole Porter
1950