Treat Me Rough

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"Treat Me Rough" is a song composed by George Gershwin, with lyrics by Ira Gershwin. It was introduced by William Kent in the 1930 musical Girl Crazy.[1] It was later sung by June Allyson in the 1943 film version.[2]

As Larry Starr wrote in his 2010 book on Gershwin, "'Treat Me Rough,' essentially a throwaway comic number that in another composer's hands might have called forth a minimal effort, becomes through Gershwin's artistry a celebration of aggressive rhythmic virtuosity."[3]. The song's lyrics ask a lover to dominate the singer, even to the point of violence ("Keep on beatin' me");[4] writer Dan Dietz referred to it as "perhaps the first musical comedy ode to masochism."[5]

Notable recordings

  • Ella Fitzgerald Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Songbook
    (1959)

References

  1. ^ "Girl Crazy". IBDB. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
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