Never Mind
by Vincent Barry
.
. . Oh, that Doris Day! I can’t stand her.
Yes, yes I am serious! I do mean that same Doris
Day who entered a room “infectiously
radiating the joy of life.” But here’s
the thing I’ve always suspected: “I’m not the
all-American virgin queen,” her own words,
italics mine. “The image I’ve got…it’s
not me, not at all who I am. It has nothing to do
with the life I’ve had.” But, my
suspicions aside, that’s not what bugs me. I
don’t care if she is or not a virgin queen,
all-American or otherwise, whatever that means. I’m
talking about her voice. Breathy, honeyed,
singsong,—you know what I mean? Oh sure,
“Stop listening.” Easy for you say. But
what about when one can’t? I’m talking
now when one’s spouse incessantly plays DD’s
greatest hits. I’m talking—what? over
fifty years ago! “Love Somebody” (1948),
“A Guy Is a Guy” (1952), “Nobody’s
Heart” (1962), “Secret Love” (1954).
Say what? “Gordon MacRae”? What does
Gordon—well, of course, Gordon MacRae, who
could not like “Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin,”
“I Believe,” “I’ll See You in
My Dreams,” “On Moonlight Bay,”
and my personal favorite: “By the Light of
the Silvery Moon.”. . . Duet?
“Moon”? With—?. . . Never mind….
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