"Top Hat, White Tie and Tails" is a popular song written by
Irving Berlin for the 1935 film Top Hat, where it was introduced by
Fred Astaire.
The song title refers to the
formal wear required on a party invitation:
top hat,
white tie, and a
tailcoat. Popular recordings in 1935 were by Fred Astaire and by
Ray Noble and his Orchestra (vocal by
Al Bowlly and The Freshmen).[1]
In another episode of, "The Muppet Show"
Gonzo tap danced to the song as well – except in a vat of oatmeal.
In Episode 1 of the ninth season of
M*A*S*H, "The Best of Enemies", the character Hawykeye is singing "Top Hat, White Tie, and Tails" in the first scene.
In a 1981
SCTV television skit, "Al's Sanitone Drycleaning",
Eugene Levy sings the song and tap dances as he promotes the fictional company in a mock commercial.[13]
In a 1982 episode of Three's Company, Jack dances to the song while drunk at a party, and knocks things over as he does so.
The song is performed in 1989's Secret Policeman's Third Ball by comedian/satirist
Willie Rushton, accompanied by
Richard Vranch on piano, with Rushton dressing according to the lyrics of the song, noting that the lyrics neglect to mention the donning of
trousers.
In the 1995 film Batman Forever, the character
Edward Nygma sings a brief parody of "Top Hat, White Tie, and Tails" using the lyrics "I'm, sucking up your I.Q., vacuuming your cortex, feeding off your brain!"[14]
Jim Carrey also parodied the song at the
69th Academy Awards when referring to
Dirt Devil vacuum commercials featuring Fred Astaire footage: "I'm, sucking up the lint balls, getting in the corners, dump it out the back!"
The Fred Astaire version of the song makes an appearance in the 2000 film Billy Elliot.[15]
References
^Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 598.
ISBN0-89820-083-0.