SONG OF THE DAY
“Optimistic Voices” by The Debutantes and The Rhythmettes (from MGM’s The Wizard Of Oz, 1939). Music by Herbert Stothart & Harold Arlen, lyrics by E.Y. Harburg.
WHERE I HEARD IT
Showtime’s “Nurse Jackie”.
INTERESTING FACTS (a la wikipedia)
– “Optimistic Voices” is the name of both a song and the choir singing it.
– It is heard on the soundtrack when the group is saved from a sleeping spell in a poppy field as they approach the Emerald City. The song is a bouncy number sung by an offscreen female chorus.
– The track breaks the fourth wall to some extent. When the song starts, the Scarecrow (Ray Bolger) looks around, reacting to the music. As the song progresses, the whole group seems to hear it—they skip toward the Emerald City in time to the music.
– This song is one of several in the film presumably intended to speak to its American audience, which by then was ten years into the Great Depression.
– According to the CD liner notes, the choir was a studio group consisting of the MGM orchestra and two individual groups called The Debutantes and The Rhythmettes.
– Bette Midler recorded a cover of the song for her album Bette Midler of 1973. The song is performed as a medley with “Lullaby of Broadway”.
– The song was also used during Dr. Melfi’s dream involving Tony Soprano in the third episode of the second season of The Sopranos.
– In 2008, this song was used in IBM commercials for their “Go Green” campaign. Animated plants and animals accompanied the music.