# What is this song?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-song/99934
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [March 25, 2002, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-song/99934 "2002-03-25T02:26:45Z")
**Posts on this page:** 11
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@mblackwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mblackwell)
#### Post date: [March 25, 2002, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-song/99934/1 "2002-03-25T02:26:45Z")
I have heard the beginning of this song many times on tv. They palyed it just now on the academy awards.
It was the first clip they played after Woody Allen talked about a foot fetishesest or something (I wasn’t paying attention). I think the main instrument is clarinet, and that it comes from a play, but I’m not sure.
Thanks.
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### Author:  [@Hodge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hodge)
#### Post date: [March 25, 2002, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-song/99934/2 "2002-03-25T04:43:00Z")
I’m going to take a stab at it and assume that you’re talking about George Gershwin’s _Rhapsody in Blue_ that’s played over the beginning of Allen’s movie _Manhattan_ [here’s a link](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000025GH/qid=1017031137/sr=2-3/ref=sr_2_3/102-8909299-3108950)
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### Author:  [@mblackwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mblackwell)
#### Post date: [March 25, 2002, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-song/99934/3 "2002-03-25T04:53:04Z")
Good try, but thats not it.
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### Author:  [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)
#### Post date: [March 25, 2002, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-song/99934/4 "2002-03-25T12:27:03Z")
Er. Yes it is.
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### Author:  [@John\_Kentzel-Griffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Kentzel-Griffin)
#### Post date: [March 25, 2002, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-song/99934/5 "2002-03-25T16:25:30Z")
Discussions about artistic disciplines belong in Cafe Society.
I’ll move this thread over there for you.
**DrMatrix** - General Questions Moderator
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### Author:  [@Skaleen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skaleen)
#### Post date: [March 25, 2002, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-song/99934/6 "2002-03-25T16:26:45Z")
Rhapsody in Blue is almost 15 minutes long, so maybe you heard a different part.
Just a suggestion, I’ve never seen the movie you’re talking about, and I only watched the end of the Oscars.
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### Author:  [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)
#### Post date: [March 25, 2002, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-song/99934/7 "2002-03-25T16:31:09Z")
The clip referenced by **Hodge** might not be recognized by **mblackwell** but it is the same piece. **mblackwell** , if what you remember is the piece starting with a clarinet playing a long note that takes a long slide up, that’s the very same. TV’s children may also remember that United Airlines used this piece in its advertising, although I don’t think they starting from the very beginning with the clarinet gliss.
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### Author:  [@mblackwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mblackwell)
#### Post date: [March 25, 2002, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-song/99934/8 "2002-03-25T21:17:05Z")
:o You were right, it is Rhapsody in blue.
I found a 5 minute clip online and thought it was the whole thing. Thanks, everyone.
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### Author:  [@BurnMeUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BurnMeUp)
#### Post date: [March 25, 2002, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-song/99934/9 "2002-03-25T23:13:18Z")
In Fantasia 2000 there was also a wonderful animation for this song done in the style of a famous New Yorker cartoonist whose name escapes me now.
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### Author:  [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2002, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-song/99934/10 "2002-03-26T00:00:10Z")
> [@](#):
>
> In Fantasia 2000 there was also a wonderful animation for this song done in the style of a famous New Yorker
Al Hirschfeld?
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### Author:  [@BurnMeUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BurnMeUp)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2002, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-song/99934/11 "2002-03-26T00:01:01Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Dr. Rieux \*
> \*\*
> Al Hirschfeld? \*\*
Yes, that’s it, thank you!