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The Lady Is a Tramp

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This article is about the song from the musical Babes In Arms. For the TV series, see The Lady Is a Tramp (TV series).

"The Lady Is a Tramp"
Song by Mitzi Green
Published1937 by Chappell & Co.
GenreShowtune
ComposerRichard Rodgers
LyricistLorenz Hart

"The Lady Is a Tramp" is a show tune and pop standard from the 1937 Rodgers and Hart musical Babes in Arms, in which it was introduced by former child star Mitzi Green. The song's use of the pejorative "tramp" doesn't literally mean the lady is a prostitute, but instead sarcastically spoofs New York high society and its strict etiquette (the first line of the verse is "I get too hungry for dinner at eight...") and phony social pretensions.

Recordings

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Early recordings from 1937 include one by Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra (featuring Edythe Wright on vocals), Midge Williams and Her Jazz Jesters, Sophie Tucker, and Bernie Cummins on the Vocalion records label (#3714).

The song appears in the film version of Babes in Arms (1939) as an instrumental version only.

Lena Horne recorded the song with the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studio Orchestra on March 30, 1948. Her performance appeared in the film Words and Music, a fictionalized biography of the partnership of Rodgers and Hart.

The song was also used in the film version of Pal Joey (1957) starring Frank Sinatra and Rita Hayworth. Joey Evans (Sinatra) sings the song to Vera Simpson (Hayworth) as he tries to entice the wealthy widow Simpson into financing Evans's dream of owning his own night club.

It was recorded by Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Buddy Greco (whose version updates the lyrics to include several 1950s pop-culture references), Bing Crosby[1] (for his radio shows) and Pat Suzuki in the 1950s, and Shirley Bassey in the 1960s, becoming a signature song for Sinatra. He sang the song with new lyrics as "The Gentleman Is a Champ" at tribute events for Spiro Agnew and Orson Welles, also recording a new version under the pseudonym Frankie Alvert titled "Maureen Is a Champ" for Ringo Starr's wife Maureen Starkey; never commercially released.

Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga duet

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"The Lady Is a Tramp"
Single by Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga
from the album Duets II
ReleasedOctober 21, 2011
RecordedJuly 31, 2011
StudioAvatar (New York, New York)
Genre
Length3:18
LabelColumbia
Songwriters
Producers
Tony Bennett singles chronology
"Body and Soul"
(2011) 		"The Lady Is a Tramp"
(2011) 		"Don't Get Around Much Anymore"
(2011)
Lady Gaga singles chronology
"You and I"
(2011) 		"The Lady Is a Tramp"
(2011) 		"Marry the Night"
(2011)
Music video
"The Lady Is a Tramp" on YouTube

Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga recorded a version for Bennett's 2011 album Duets II. It later became the album's third and final single when Sony Music sent it to radio in Italy on October 21.[2] Even though not officially released, it reached the top 40 of Japan Hot 100 chart and entered the top 200 extension to the UK Singles Chart.[3][4] The duo also performed the song on ABC's Thanksgiving special entitled A Very Gaga Thanksgiving.[5]

The duo's music video for the track,[6][7] showing Bennett and Gaga singing together in a studio in front of music stands, received a largely positive critical reception.[6][8][9]

The track as well as its music video received critical acclaim for both Bennett and Gaga's vocals as well as for the simplicity of the video, which departed from Gaga's previous efforts.[10][11][12]

Weekly chart performance for "The Lady Is a Tramp"
Chart (2011) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)[13] 16
Italy (FIMI)[14] 50
Japan Hot 100 (Billboard)[15] 33
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[4] 188
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 (Billboard)[16] 21
US Jazz Digital Songs (Billboard)[17] 1

Ditonellapiaga and TonyPitony duet

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In 2026, a duet by Italian singers Ditonellapiaga and TonyPitony, based on the Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga cover, premiered during the cover night at the 76th edition of the Sanremo Music Festival, which it won, eventually being released as a single. The version performed live at Sanremo contains a short excerpt from Alberto Rabagliati's song "Ba ba baciami piccina".[18][19]

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References

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  1. ^ "A Bing Crosby Discography". BING magazine. International Club Crosby. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
  2. ^ Spada, Valentina (October 17, 2011). "Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga - The Lady Is A Tramp (Radio Date: 21 Ottobre 2011)". earone.it (in Italian).
  3. ^ "Tony Bennett Chart History (Japan Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  4. ^ a b Zywietz, Tobias. "Chart Log UK – Update 15.10.2011". Zobbel. Retrieved November 12, 2011.
  5. ^ "'A Very Gaga Thanksgiving': 5 Things We Want to See". Aoltv.com. Archived from the original on October 29, 2012. Retrieved December 10, 2011.
  6. ^ a b Montgomery, James (October 3, 2011). "Lady Gaga, Tony Bennett 'Tramp' It Up In New Video – Music, Celebrity, Artist News". MTV. Archived from the original on October 4, 2011. Retrieved June 5, 2012.
  7. ^ "Lady Gaga, Tony Bennett unveil 'The Lady Is a Tramp' video – Music News". Digital Spy. October 3, 2011. Retrieved October 15, 2011.
  8. ^ "Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga's 'The Lady is a Tramp' [Video]". Fresh1027.radio.com. February 19, 2012. Archived from the original on June 5, 2012. Retrieved June 5, 2012.
  9. ^ "The Lady Is A Tramp Video: Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga". HypeTune.com. October 4, 2011. Retrieved June 5, 2012.
  10. ^ Willman, Chris (September 19, 2021). "Review: Lady Gaga, Amy Winehouse Trump Tony Bennett's 'Duets' Partners". The Wrap. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  11. ^ Hodgkinson, Will (September 30, 2021). "Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga: Love For Sale review — more lavish duets". The Times. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  12. ^ Strecker, Erin (October 3, 2011). "Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga duet, dance in 'The Lady Is a Tramp' video: Watch it here". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on December 26, 2024. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  13. ^ "Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga – The Lady Is A Tramp" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved June 5, 2012.
  14. ^ "Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga". Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
  15. ^ "Lady Gaga Chart History (Japan Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 5, 2012.
  16. ^ "Lady Gaga Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 5, 2012.
  17. ^ "Jazz Digital Songs: October 8, 2011". Billboard. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  18. ^ "Ditonellapiaga swing con TonyPitony in 'The lady is a tramp'" (in Italian). ANSA. February 27, 2026. Retrieved April 22, 2026.
  19. ^ "Sanremo 2026: ascolta la cover di Ditonellapiaga e Tony Pitony di 'The Lady Is A Tramp' che ha vinto la serata delle cover". OndaRock (in Italian). February 28, 2026. Retrieved April 22, 2026.
  20. ^ "Plymouth Scamp Commercial (1974)," YouTube, posted October 31, 2015, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNzGyFHmkIQ
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