Pearl Bailey sings " Don't Like Goodbyes" from " House of Flowers ." As Pearl Bailey did in an earlier Arlen/Jonny Mercer musical " St. Louis Woman," she also portrayed a somewhat domineering presence on stage. Playing the Madame of a bordello in Haiti, the character had a financial interest in her " Flowers" as well as a certain rough-hewn affection for the girls that worked for her.as demonstrated in the song " Don't Like Goodbyes." Originally written for Ottilie, the young love interest in the show, Bailey made a fuss and appropriated the song for herself and intimidated young Diahann Carroll in the process.
This is a gentle goodbye song that uses everyday speech patterns. Jenness and Velsey have stated that " The song has the familiar upward glide on words that convey yearning like the last syllables of " Don't Like godbyes, tears or sighs----- and employing repeated notes on, first the lowered 7th interval, then the pure 7th interval beforing ending on the octave note."
Bailey manages to convey genuine regret at Ottilie leaving her " House." It is an affecting and memorable performance of a song that deserves to be a standard, especially since.saying goodbye is such a universal and poignant experience for everyone
NOTE: An earlier post from the film " Casbah" also deals with farewells. The post features Tony Martin singing " What's Good About Goodbye ?"
LINK:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVM61ntxN90
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