Anything You Can Do (I Can Do Better) facts for kids
Anything You Can Do (I Can Do Better) is a famous song written by Irving Berlin for the Broadway musical Annie Get Your Gun in 1946. It's a duet, which means it's sung by two people. In this song, a male singer and a female singer playfully try to show they are better than each other at different things.
In the musical, this song helps set the stage for an exciting sharpshooting contest between two main characters, Annie Oakley and Frank Butler. The most famous lines from the song are, "Anything you can do I can do better; I can do anything better than you." The very first people to sing this song in Annie Get Your Gun were Ethel Merman and Ray Middleton.
During the song, the two singers playfully argue. They boast about who can sing softer, sing higher, or hold a note for longer. They also brag about other skills, like opening safes or living on simple food. Annie always seems to have a comeback for Frank's claims. However, there's one thing neither of them can do: "bake a pie."
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About the Song
This classic song is all about friendly competition. It shows how two people can challenge each other in a fun way. The lyrics are simple but clever, making it easy to understand and enjoy.
What the Song is About
The song's main idea is a back-and-forth challenge. One person says they can do something, and the other immediately says they can do it better. It's like a game of one-upmanship, but in a musical way. This playful argument makes the song very entertaining.
Famous Performances
Over the years, many famous singers and actors have performed "Anything You Can Do (I Can Do Better)." It has appeared in movies, TV shows, and even commercials. Each new version brings a fresh take to this classic duet.
On Stage and Screen
- Ethel Merman and Ray Middleton sang it in the original Broadway show (1946).
- Betty Hutton and Howard Keel performed it in the 1950 film version of the musical.
- Doris Day and Robert Goulet recorded it for an album in 1963.
- In 1963, Heidi Brühl and Robert Trehy sang a German version in Berlin.
- Ethel Merman and Bruce Yarnell performed it in the 1966 Broadway revival.
- Bernadette Peters and Tom Wopat sang it in the 1999 Broadway revival.
Modern Takes and Fun Versions
- Barbara Walters and Howard Cosell debated who interviews people better on Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell in 1975.
- Ethel Merman and Miss Piggy sang it on The Muppet Show in 1976.
- In 1990, Kidsongs featured a version where kids played arcade games at Six Flags Magic Mountain.
- Fran Drescher and Madeline Zima sang it on the TV show The Nanny in 1994.
- Michael Jordan and Mia Hamm were featured in a Gatorade commercial in 1997, with the song performed by Sophia Ramos.
- Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso appeared in a 2007 Mercedes-Benz commercial.
- Lindsay Pearce sang a mashup of "Anything Goes" and "Anything You Can Do" on Glee in 2011.
- Julianne Hough and Derek Hough performed it on their Move Live on Tour in 2014.
- Barbra Streisand and Melissa McCarthy sang it on Streisand's 2016 album.
- AP-5 and Chopper sang it on the Star Wars Rebels episode "Double Agent Droid" in 2017.
- Darci Lynne and Terry Fator performed it with their puppets on America's Got Talent in 2017.
Other Interesting Versions
- Peter Tosh created a song called "I'm the Toughest" which was inspired by this song.
- Neil Patrick Harris and Hugh Jackman performed a live version at the 65th Tony Awards in 2011.
See Also
- Annie Get Your Gun (musical)
- Irving Berlin
