Taco

Puttin' on the Ritz

 “Puttin’ on the Ritz” is a classic song that has withstood the test of time. Although its meaning and lyrics have been modified throughout the ages, the track is primarily about dressing fashionably. In other words,“puttin’ on the Ritz” is an old-school term which translates to wearing expensive, attractive clothes. Indeed “the Ritz” referred to in the title is the Ritz-Carlton Hotels, a chain of high-end hospitality establishments that have now been around for over 100 years. This makes sense as the song was originally written and recorded in 1927 by Irving Berlin.

This song also speaks of the empowering effect of going all out with your dress code. For instance, those who put on the Ritz are confident enough to walk the streets with “their noses in the air”. They also have the opportunity to mingle with high society, like the Rockefellers. This lifestyle is accentuated by having bankroll and not being afraid to ’spend every dime for a wonderful time’. Indeed if a person is feeling “blue”, his or her depression can be alleviated through high fashion.

To put it differently, “Puttin’ on the Ritz” more or less serves as a predecessor for songs which advocate being explosively dapper and carefree financially which dominate the music industry in the present day.


Tags:

taco