On Top

An interesting annotation of "You're The Top" at Slate. It's probably Cole Porter's greatest list song, but every year gets a little harder to understand. While the guide's helpful, it's certainly interesting to see what Timothy Noah considers worth explaining.

I guess I can see footnotes on Irene Bordoni or George Jean Nathan, though people aware of Cole Porter's theatrical world know these names. I would have thought, however, that Vincent Youmans is still remembered. (In the 1960s off-Broadway production of Anything Goes, certain names were updated, and "Vincent Youmans" was replaced with an awkward use of "Toscanini.")

Other terms that need explaining: "cellophane," "Garbo's salary," "Arrow collar," "Waldorf salad," "Mrs. Astor" and "the pants on a Roxy Usher."

Terms requiring no explanation: "Napoleon Brandy," "a night at Coney," "Boticcelli," "a Coolidge dollar," "Pepsodent" and "the steppes of Russia."

Seems somewhat arbitrary (or maybe it's just me).

Regardless, in another generation, even such familiar names as "Mae West," "Durante" and "Ovaltine" may need explaining. Lucky for Porter "Let's Do It" is mostly about animals.