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Mad About the Boy

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Mad About the Boy appeared in the musical revue Words and Music in 1932. The show ran for over a year, and eventually morphed into the 1939 Broadway hit Set To Music which starred Beatrice Lillie. Mad Dogs and Englishmen, written in 1930 appeared in Words and Music but was dropped from Set To Music. These are two of Coward's most famous songs. In the original review, Mad About the Boy is sung about a male matinee idol in turn by a society lady, a street-walker, a schoolgirl, and a scullery made.

Mad About the Boy also has a clear history as a gay song. Rumor has it that the star Coward had in mind was the very straight Douglas Fairbanks, whom Noël knew. It is not rumor, but fact, that Coward wrote a gay version of the song for the Broadway production, but was convinced not to present it. The song has made it into the jazz repertoire. I have always been impressed with Blossom Dearie's rendition.

I have taken the liberty here in the two verses I present to slightly change the lyrics so that it can be sung by a man about a man. I also have taken the liberty to draw on my progressive jazz background.