Irving Berlin - The Original Songwriting Genius

Irving Berlin 1888-1989

George Gershwin called him "the greatest songwriter that ever lived".  Jerome Kern said " he has no place in American music -- he IS American music".   Those are compliments from high places.

 More gushing from Gershwin--
      "His music has that vitality - both rhythmic and melodic - which never seems to lose any of its exuberant freshness; it has that rich, colorful melodic flow which is ever the wonder of all those of who, too, compose songs; his ideas are endless".
 He believed in hard work, not inspiration, and has said that he did most of his writing under pressure. Playing everything in F# on a custom transposing piano, he worked with professional musicians to harmonize and  notate his music.  Berlin himself said the the lyric makes a hit song, but the tune makes it last.  To "reach the heart of the average American" was a stated goal and that he did.
Alec Wilder speaks of Berlin:
      "I heard Berlin play the piano, back in vaudeville days and found his harmony notably inept. --Yet Robert Russell Bennett states unequivocally that upon hearing someone's harmonization of his songs, Berlin would insist on a succession of variant chords ..and was not satisfied until the right chord was found. I must accept the fact that though Berlin may seldom have played acceptable harmony, he nevertheless , by some mastery of his inner ear, senses it, in fact writes many of his melodies with his natural, intuitive harmonic sense at work in his head, but not in his hands."   alec wilder

Here is link to an astounding list of 850 songs that he wrote, about half of his total output:

850 Berlin songs

 And just to give a sampling, here are just a few of the more recognizable and unforgettable songs that have stood the test of time. Every one of these is a great song:

alexander's ragtime band
a pretty girl is like a melody
oh how I hate to get up in the morning
god bless america
what'll i do
all alone
always
blue skies
puttin on the ritz
marie
say it isn't so
i've got my love to keep me warm
there's no business like show business
white christmas
happy holiday
easter parade
anything you can do I can do better
cheek to cheek
the girl that I marry
heat wave
how deep is the ocean
let's face the music and dance
play a simple melody
top hat, white tie and tails
change partners
isn't this a lovely day
coquette
alice in wonderland
i love a piano
steppin' out with my baby
they say it's wonderful
be careful, it's my heart