Ethel Merman & Donald O'Connor - You're Just in Love (1953)

Kelsey Grammer (Frasier) and Bebe Neuwirth (Lilith) did a funny performance of this song on Cheers.

The performance of You're Just in Love was a big hit in the show, Call Me Madam, with Merman and Russell Nype.

The writer is Irving Berlin, who also used the two-song counterpoint structure for "Play a Simple Melody" (originally written for his 1914 musical Watch Your Step). It was featured in the 1954 movie musical There's No Business Like Show Business, where Merman and Dan Dailey perform it.

This time with the link in the proper place...

And again for Merman when he added "An Old-Fashioned Wedding" for her in the 1966 revival of Annie Get Your Gun. It's the last song Irving Berlin wrote.

I love Donald O'Connor.

This calm and stylish performance is such a contrast to everything he did in "Singin' in the Rain."

With Gene Kelly, he was so hyperactive and manic. I thought that was his normal speed.

So it's very refreshing to see that he could also be sweet and romantic.

It's called counterpoint, OP.

He said he couldn’t hear for two days after filming this scene.

Fun Fact about the movie "Call Me Madam."

It was based on the life of Perle Mesta:

[quote] ...a famous American socialite, political hostess, and diplomat, known as "the hostess with the mostes" for her lavish parties in Washington, D.C. that brought together politicians and celebrities. She served as the U.S. envoy to Luxembourg and was the inspiration for the hit Broadway musical Call Me Madam. A philanthropist, feminist, and supporter of civil rights, Mesta was also a major fundraiser for the Republican and later Democratic parties, notably helping President Truman.

Originally from Oklahoma City, the Skirvin Hilton Hotel is OKC is named after her family.

The most amazing thing about this Merman and O'Connor performance is the sense of timing that's required to sing these two songs together.

I tried singing along with both parts - first the O'Connor part and then the Merman part - and it is HARD TO DO!

Truly, your timing has to be impeccable. And it's really not easy, especially against a big voice like Ethel Merman's.

I tell you, Donald O'Connor is one of the best entertainers Hollywood has ever seen, and he's so under-rated.

He acted and sang head-to-head with both Ethel Merman and Gene Kelly (Singin' in the Rain), and somehow managed to outshine them both.

Now THAT is talent.

Those glasses do him no favors.

Mrs. Ernest Borgnine knew how to put over a song.

From: The Magic Show

I hate how she keeps trying to upstage him.

Now, how you'd like to hear ME do a duet!

[quote] I tried singing along with both parts - first the O'Connor part and then the Merman part - and it is HARD TO DO!

I’ve seen children do it.

[quote]I’ve seen children do it.

No doubt.

Children are always so apt to sing counterpoint songs from mid-century musicals by Irving Berlin.