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I Enjoy Being a Girl

(Richard Rodgers/Oscar Hammerstein II)

This song was written by the well known team Rodgers and Hammerstein for their production Flower Drum Song.  The musical comedy, which proved to be their least successful, centres around the ways of immigrants from China growing up in America and made its debut in 1958.

Sometimes thought of as “camp” and not politically correct it describes a woman who yearns to be given the affection of a man.

The song was originally recorded by Pat Suzuki and the original Broadway cast and the movie soundtrack had it sung by B.J. Baker when she dubbed for Nancy Kwan.  The musical was later revised by the playwright and librettist David Henry Hwang with the soundtrack being issued on CD.

Several artists and orchestras have since covered the song including Alvin & The Chipmunks who had revised lyrics, Doris Day, Frank DeVol & His Orchestra, Percy Faith, Andre Kostelanetz, Peggy Lee, Phranc and 101 Strings. Parodies have been made by Roseanne Barr and Sarah Jessica Parker.

Sources:

  1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Enjoy_Being_a_Girl
  2. http://www.allmusic.com/composition/i-enjoy-being-a-girl-song-from-flower-drum-song-mc0002612487
  3. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054885/soundtrack
  4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Henry_Hwang
  5. http://www.allmusic.com/search/all/I+Enjoy+Being+a+Girl