George Gershwin is one of those composers Americans have had contact with without even realizing it. His music is so engrained into American culture, that we do not even label his songs as “Gershwin” songs anymore. Instead, we just think of his songs as songs that are part of American culture. For example, I did not know that I was listening to Gershwin while watching Disney’s “Fantasia.” After listening to “Rhapsody in Blue” for this class, I realized how much George Gershwin was a part of my childhood, even though I did not realize it at the time.
Here is the “Fantasia” clip of “Rhapsody in Blue” I remembered watching as a child:
Another way my childhood is connected with Gershwin was my first Broadway play. The first Broadway play I ever saw was the 2002 production of Oklahoma! at the George Gershwin Theatre, which is obviously named after George Gershwin. Gershwin is also known for writing his own Broaway musicals, such as “Strike up the Band,” “Funny Face,” and “Show Girl.” There are film versions of these musicals. For example, the film version of “Funny Face” stars Audrey Hepburn and Fred Astaire, two icons of entertainment during that time. This shows how influential Gershwin was in the world of entertainment during his time, with his Broadway productions being turned into films with the main entertainers of the time starring in them.
Overall, I came to realize that my childhood was filled with Gershwin, and I did not even realize it. He is such an essential part of American pop culture, that his music is just simply labelled as American in our minds. His name is still honored today with the George Gershwin Theatre and the George and Ira Gershwin Lifetime Musical Achievement Award. It is undeniable that even after his death, George Gershwin has a strong influence over American culture and entertainment.
