Jackson Reed
Moon River is a song that was made famous by Audrey Hepburn in the 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany's. Hepburn's character, Holly Golightly, sings the song in a well-known scene where she sits on a fire escape with a guitar. The song was composed by Henry Mancini with lyrics by Johnny Mercer. It won an Academy Award for Best Original Song and a Grammy Award for Song of the Year. Since its debut, Moon River has been recorded by numerous other artists, including Andy Williams, Frank Sinatra, and Judy Garland.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the person who sang "Moon River" in "Breakfast at Tiffany's" | Audrey Hepburn |
| Year of the film's release | 1961 |
| Songwriters | Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer |
| Awards | Academy Award for Best Original Song, Record of the Year and Song of the Year at the 1962 Grammy Awards |
| Other notable covers | Andy Williams, Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong, Judy Garland, Sarah Vaughan, Frank Ocean, Morrissey, Glasvegas, R.E.M., The Killers, Josh Ritter |
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What You'll Learn
Audrey Hepburn sang 'Moon River' in Breakfast at Tiffany's
Audrey Hepburn sang "Moon River" in the 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany's. In the film, Hepburn plays Holly Golightly, a New York socialite with a penchant for singing and playing the guitar. During a scene in which her character is feeling blue, she settles down on her fire escape and softly sings the now-famous song.
"Moon River" was composed by Henry Mancini with lyrics written by Johnny Mercer. The song was specifically crafted for Hepburn to sing in the film, and it ended up winning an Academy Award for Best Original Song. Despite Hepburn's lack of formal singing training, her performance of "Moon River" is considered iconic and has been credited with making the song famous.
The song's lyrics hold a special significance for Mercer, as they are reminiscent of his childhood in Savannah, Georgia, including the waterways and huckleberries he enjoyed growing up. The river in the song is a metaphor for a lover who brings both happiness and heartbreak, a theme that resonates with audiences and has contributed to the song's enduring popularity.
Although Hepburn's version of "Moon River" is closely associated with Breakfast at Tiffany's, the song has since been recorded by numerous other artists. Andy Williams, for example, recorded the song in 1962 and made it the theme song for his television show. Other notable covers include those by Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Louis Armstrong, and Sarah Vaughan.
The success of "Moon River" had a significant impact on Mercer's career as a songwriter, which had stalled in the mid-1950s due to the rise of rock and roll. The song's popularity led to it being inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999 and has solidified its place as a classic in American film and music history.
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Johnny Mercer wrote the lyrics
Mercer's lyrics were inspired by his childhood in Savannah, Georgia, where he would pick huckleberries and watch the river roll by. The river in the song is a metaphor for a lover who is both a "dream maker" and a "heartbreaker." The phrase "my huckleberry friend" is a nod to Mercer's childhood friend, with whom he would pick huckleberries.
Mercer adapted his lyrics to Mancini's melody, which the composer had tailored to Hepburn's limited vocal range. The song was almost cut from the film, but Hepburn insisted that it stay, writing to Mancini: "Your music has lifted us all up and sent us soaring... You are the hippest of cats — and the most sensitive of composers!"
The song went on to win an Academy Award for Best Original Song and the 1962 Grammy Awards for Record of the Year and Song of the Year. Its success relaunched Mercer's career as a songwriter, which had stalled in the mid-1950s due to the rise of rock and roll. An inlet near Savannah, Georgia, Mercer's hometown, was named Moon River in his honor.
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Henry Mancini composed the music
"Moon River" is a song composed by Henry Mancini with lyrics by Johnny Mercer. The song was originally performed by Audrey Hepburn in the 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany's. The composition won an Academy Award for Best Original Song.
Mancini's widow, Ginny, recalled that her husband composed the song's melody in about half an hour. She described how he was inspired by watching Audrey Hepburn sing "How Long Has This Been Going On" in the film Funny Face. It took him about a month and a half to put down the first three notes, but once he had them, the rest came quickly.
Mancini asked Mercer to write the lyrics, and the two collaborated on the song. They never sat down together to work on the song; instead, Mancini would send the melody to Mercer, who would then write the lyrics. Mercer wrote three sets of lyrics, with his favourite version inspired by the full moon over a river near his childhood home in Savannah, Georgia.
The song was almost cut from the film by Paramount Pictures executives, who were unimpressed by it. However, Hepburn herself intervened, famously saying that the song would be removed "over her dead body".
In addition to its Academy Award, "Moon River" also won Record of the Year and Song of the Year at the 1962 Grammy Awards. Mancini's recording was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999. The song has been recorded by numerous other artists and has become a popular standard.
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Andy Williams sang it at the 1962 Academy Awards
"Moon River" is a song composed by Henry Mancini with lyrics by Johnny Mercer. It was originally performed by Audrey Hepburn in the 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany's. The song won an Academy Award for Best Original Song.
Andy Williams first recorded the song in 1962 and performed it at the 1962 Academy Awards ceremony. Williams' version was never released as a single, but it charted as an LP track. Williams sang the first eight bars of the song at the beginning of each episode of his television show, "The Andy Williams Show." Williams also named his production company and venue in Branson, Missouri, after the song.
Williams' performance of "Moon River" at the 1962 Academy Awards took the classic Breakfast at Tiffany's theme to a new level. The song had a rich history before Williams first sang it, but his rendition became an instant hit. Williams' rich tenor voice evidently brought out the very best in the song.
Williams' version of "Moon River" was featured on his 1962 LP, "Moon River and Other Great Movie Themes." The album was certified gold in 1963 for selling one million units. It reached number 3 on the Billboard Top 200 and sold more than two million copies by 1967. In 2002, a 74-year-old Williams sang the song at the conclusion of the live NBC special telecast celebrating the network's 75th anniversary.
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It won the Oscar for Best Original Song in 1961
"Moon River", composed by Henry Mancini with lyrics by Johnny Mercer, won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1961. The song was originally performed by Audrey Hepburn in the film Breakfast at Tiffany's. It was written specifically for Hepburn to sing in the film, with Mancini tailoring the melody to her limited vocal range.
The song's lyrics are reminiscent of Mercer's childhood in Savannah, Georgia, and his memories of picking huckleberries by the river. The river is a metaphor for a lover who is both a "dream maker" and a "heartbreaker". The original title of the song was "Blue River", reflecting the colour of huckleberries. However, Mercer changed the title when he discovered that it was already taken.
"Moon River" has gone on to become a widely popular song, with hundreds of versions recorded by various artists. It has been featured in many other films and television shows and has been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Andy Williams, who first recorded the song in 1962, made it his theme song and sang the first eight bars at the beginning of each episode of his television show. Williams' version was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2018 and selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Recording Registry in 2022.
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Frequently asked questions
Audrey Hepburn sang "Moon River" in the 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany's.
No, Hepburn did not record the song outside of the film. However, sheet music for the song sold over a million copies in its first printing.
"Moon River" was composed by Henry Mancini with lyrics by Johnny Mercer.
Yes, "Moon River" won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1961. It also won Record of the Year and Song of the Year at the 1962 Grammy Awards.
Yes, "Moon River" has been covered by numerous artists, including Andy Williams, Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong, Judy Garland, and Sarah Vaughan.
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