ADD: The Gillette Look Sharp March

Subject: Lyr Req: Look Sharp March
From: GUEST,kwikwater
Date: 03 Sep 04 - 09:47 AM

Looking for the words to the "Look Sharp March" The Gillette advertising jingle of the 50's. I can find books on online, but no lyrics.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Look Sharp March
From:
Date: 03 Sep 04 - 04:50 PM

The only words I've found are

To look sharp you've got to be sharp, to be sharp you've got to get sharp

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Look Sharp March
From:
Date: 03 Sep 04 - 04:53 PM

A fellow named Joe Jackson sings Look Sharp

That probably isn't it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Look Sharp March
From:
Date: 03 Sep 04 - 05:02 PM

I find that there is a place advertising Jingle Songbooks from the 50s. It says the music of the jingle is from Mahlon Merrick. See Those Old Jingles. And From Marketing Your Adult Literacy Program

To look sharp every time you shave,
To feel sharp and be on the ball,
To be sharp, use Gillette Blue Blades,
It's the quickest, slickest shave of all!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Look Sharp March
From:
Date: 03 Sep 04 - 05:07 PM

Check also for these two books TV Fakebook & TV Themes. Apparently both of them have it in there plus many others.

Subject: Parody: Look Sharp March
From:
Date: 03 Sep 04 - 05:38 PM

A Cub Scout Parody:

Look Sharp (Tune: Gillette Look Sharp March) To look sharp (clap) be a C-U-B To feel sharp (clap) be a C-U-B To be sharp (clap) be a Den*.....Cub We're the best den in the U.S.A (clap-clap) *Insert den number in line three

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Look Sharp March
From:
Date: 05 Sep 04 - 07:07 PM

Looks like Catspaw has confirmed the words I delievered earlier::

GILLETTE BLUE BLADES Mahlon Merrick To look sharp every time you shave, To feel sharp and be on the ball, To be sharp, Use Gillette Blue Blades, It's the quickest, slickest shave of all!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Look Sharp March
From: GUEST,Mason Barge
Date: 20 Dec 05 - 07:29 PM

There were later lyrics, which I am quoting from memory:

To look sharp, and to feel sharp too,
The razor, that is made for you,
Light, regular, or heavy, HEY
It's the way to get a closer shave.

I think this was to introduce a safety razor with variable settings.

Subject: Lyr Req: 'The Gillette Look Sharp March'
From: Rabbi-Sol
Date: 16 Oct 07 - 11:07 PM

Now that World Series season is upon us it brings back memories of the Gillette razor commercial jingle that ran in the 1950s and 1960s.
The official title of the jingle is "The Gillette Look Sharp March" and it was written by Mahlon Merrick. If anyone has ALL the words to this song please post them here.

                                                 SOL

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'The Gillette Look Sharp March'
From: Peace
Date: 16 Oct 07 - 11:18 PM

Info from the Jingle Hall of Fame


"To Look Sharp" [Gillette Safety Razors and Razor Blades]
   [aka: "Look Sharp March",
         "Be Sharp March" and
         "Look Sharp/Be Sharp March"]
    music by Mahlon Merrick;
   [Note that the first citation is a Movie, probably used
    to open the "Gillette Cavalcade of Sports"...]
   "Look Sharp March Opening" (c) Oct. 1, 1952; MP 3 169.
   "To Look Sharp"            (c) Oct. 23, 1953; EP 75 261.

The site itself is worth looking at:


http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:aRHuche9RS8J:www.classicthemes.com/50sTVThemes/thoseOldJingles.html+The+Gillette+Look+Sharp+

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'The Gillette Look Sharp March'
From: Rabbi-Sol
Date: 16 Oct 07 - 11:58 PM

The site is very interesting but it does not provide the complete lyrics, which is what I am looking for.

                                                       SOL

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'The Gillette Look Sharp March'
From: Peace
Date: 17 Oct 07 - 12:31 AM

Yeah. I know.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'The Gillette Look Sharp March'
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 17 Oct 07 - 10:22 AM

Thanks for the memory, Sol. Sorry I can't supply the lyrics! I can get them started -

To look sharp and be on the ball
To feel sharp something something all
To be sharp -------


When I was a kid, this music would grip me, and when the commercial was over, I would wander off, so boring was the game to follow.

I'm still not normal.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'The Gillette Look Sharp March'
From: GUEST,crazy little woman
Date: 17 Oct 07 - 10:27 AM

I googled 'to look sharp and be on the ball' and found this version in a piece of fiction

To look sharp and be on the ball,
To feel sharp when you hear the call,
To be sharp use Gillette Blue Blades,
For the very closest shave of all.
[something like that]

How does that sound?

If you don't think it's right, you could do the same and keep looking at more pages.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'The Gillette Look Sharp March'
From: Rabbi-Sol
Date: 17 Oct 07 - 12:44 PM

I remember the first line as:

To look sharp everytime you shave.

Beyond that I do not remember any of the lyrics. I am starting a project to create midi-karaoke files of many famous commercials.
I already have the complete "Mr. Clean" and "Mr. Softee" files done.
If anyone wants them just PM me with your e-mail address and I will send them to you free of charge.

                                                    SOL

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'The Gillette Look Sharp March'
From: Rabbi-Sol
Date: 17 Oct 07 - 01:12 PM

I have just found out that the sheet music complete with lyrics was published in a book called "Great Songs Of Madison Avenue". Someone who has the book will be contacting me shortly and I will be able to post them, hopefully by tonight.

                                                 SOL

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'The Gillette Look Sharp March'
From: Peace
Date: 17 Oct 07 - 01:15 PM

Look sharp, feel sharp, be sharp (that's a C)
To look sharp every time you shave,
To feel sharp and be on the ball,
Just be sharp,
Use Gillette's new blades
'Cause they take the least
Face of all.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'The Gillette Look Sharp March'
From: Peace
Date: 17 Oct 07 - 01:25 PM

Note that every time is used in the song as an adjective-noun combination. Might be a good consideration when one is searching.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'The Gillette Look Sharp March'
From: catspaw49
Date: 17 Oct 07 - 02:15 PM

Aw yes........I well remember but I too just remember the snippets......and that we played an instrumental only version one year in marching band.

I also associate this with the Wednesday Night Fights.

Like probably a good number around here, I started shaving with a Gillette Safety Razor and Blue Blades. The stainless steel "long lasting" (meaning maybe 3 shaves) blades came out sometime then as well. I learned how to use a straight razor to "be cool" but what a pain in the ass that was. So I used my trusty Safety Razor. But as the 60's passed and the 70's moved along, another revolution took place. I think it was the "Techmatic" that may have been first but razors changed with easier and more cut free designs that required less and less skill to use. The things they sell now have about a half dozen blades lined up and yet to cut yourself you have to be a complete moron.

So when Karen's Grandad died about 10 years back, we were going through his things with Karen's grandmother and ran across an almost new Gillette Safety Razor and a pristine container of "Super Blue" blades. I don't think I was on drugs or drunk at the time but for some ungodly reason I was overcome with feelings of nostalgia and decided to have a shave with it.

Now I hadn't used a Safety Razor in probably 30 years and to say I nicked myself would be inaccurate. I actually cut the livin' shit out of myself! Geeziz, it was awful! I couldn't even touch the friggin' thing to my face without doing a slice and dice. My face began to resemble Steak Tartar.........Holy Christ it was hideous. Stitches were discussed but not required although a trip to the drugstore for more bandaids was a necessity. A transfusion was narrowly averted.

I would suggest that if you have become accustomed to the newer razors, no amount of nostalgic feeling should ever make you feel the need to return to a Safety Razor. For the life of me I can't think what the fuck is "safe" about them.

Spaw
Spaw

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'The Gillette Look Sharp March'
From: clueless don
Date: 18 Oct 07 - 09:10 AM

Yeah, in the dim recesses of my memory I remember it starting

To look sharp,
and to be sharp too

and then something about "the razor that is made for you". Or something like that.

Don

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'The Gillette Look Sharp March'
From: Rabbi-Sol
Date: 18 Oct 07 - 02:23 PM

I think that the verses may have been changed each year during World Series time even though the melody remained the same. That is why everyone remembers it differently.

I read that Gillette purchased exclusive sponsorship rights for the World Series from WCBS TV in 1952 for a grand total of $100,000.
Today it costs over 1 million for a 30 second spot.

                                                      SOL

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'The Gillette Look Sharp March'
From: Rabbi-Sol
Date: 18 Oct 07 - 03:00 PM

OK. End of all speculation. Here is the official correct version.

THE GILLETTE LOOK SHARP MARCH (1953) words & music by Mahlon Merrick

Look sharp, Feel sharp Be sharp!

To look sharp ev'ry time you shave
To feel sharp and be on the ball
Just be sharp use Gillette Blue Blades
For the quickest, slickest shave of all.

Source: "Great Songs Of Madison Avenue"

Thanks to my friend, Ron Tilden, from the Alt. Binaries. Karaoke newsgroup. Ron was also nice enough to sequence the midi-karaoke file of this jingle which is available free of charge if you PM me with your e-mail address.
                                                         SOL

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'The Gillette Look Sharp March'
From: Bill D
Date: 18 Oct 07 - 03:08 PM

well, I'm late, I see.

It was fascinating to realize I KNEW that one...just as you posted, Rabbi Sol.

It seems I have a bunch of those engraved in my memory...no doubt taking up space I need for newer memories.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'The Gillette Look Sharp March'
From: Rabbi-Sol
Date: 20 Oct 07 - 09:24 PM

For the scholars on this forum (we all are to some degree):

GREAT SONGS OF MADISON AVENUE

Edited by Peter & Craig Norback

Published in 1977 by Hal Leonard Publishing Co.

                                                    SOL

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'The Gillette Look Sharp March'
From: GUEST,JEFF IN BOSTON
Date: 22 Oct 07 - 01:48 PM

I have the song on a 1990s CD of radio/tv spots from the 50s and 60s.

When I was a kid (I'm talking 1958, 59 or so) I used to call it THE WORLD SERIES SONG...........I played it long and loud after the last out last night.

GO SOX !!!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'The Gillette Look Sharp March'
From: Rabbi-Sol
Date: 22 Oct 07 - 04:16 PM

I am a die hard Yankee fan but I have to admit that this year the Red Sox were the best team in baseball. They deserve to go all the way.

                                                      SOL

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'The Gillette Look Sharp March'
From: Cool Beans
Date: 22 Oct 07 - 05:46 PM

I don't have much to add, but two of my favorite Mudcatters are running this conversation, so...

Yes, they did change the lyrics from time to time. I remember the line
Light, Regular or Heavy
meaning light, regular or heavy beards, it's all rock 'n roll to those Gillette blades.
Was there a cartoon parrot who appeared in the TV commercials?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'The Gillette Look Sharp March'
From: Rabbi-Sol
Date: 22 Oct 07 - 06:21 PM

I don't remember the parrot. I was too busy watching Sandy Koufax.
The song was the only thing I remember about the commercials.

                                                      SOL

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'The Gillette Look Sharp March'
From: catspaw49
Date: 22 Oct 07 - 06:42 PM

Yeah.....I figure it took Koufax about 5 Blue Blades to get one decent shave...........

Spaw

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'The Gillette Look Sharp March'
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 22 Oct 07 - 07:01 PM

I remember there was also a jingle that contained the line "How are you fixed for blades?" but I don't remember any more than that.

I remember these commercials were played during boxing matches that my Dad watched on TV on, I think, Saturday nights in the 1950s. I don't remember him watching any baseball on TV in those days, but I sure remember him listening to games on the radio, mainly on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Maybe baseball games were "blacked out" from local TV because we lived in a major league city (St. Louis).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'The Gillette Look Sharp March'
From: catspaw49
Date: 22 Oct 07 - 07:09 PM

How are you fixed for blades?
(spoken loudly)BETTER CHECK!
Gillette Blue Blades we meeeeee-an.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'The Gillette Look Sharp March'
From: Rabbi-Sol
Date: 22 Oct 07 - 07:26 PM

I remember the line "Please make sure you have enough, cause a worn out blade makes shaving mighty tough"
                                                    SOL

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'The Gillette Look Sharp March'
From: catspaw49
Date: 22 Oct 07 - 09:26 PM

Sorta' like this?

How are you fixed for blades?
Do you have plenty?
How are you fixed for blades,
You better check.
Please make sure you have enough
Cause a worn out blade
Makes shaving mighty tough.
How are you fixed for blades,
(Spoken)Better Check!
Gilette Blue Blades, we mean!!


Spaw

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'The Gillette Look Sharp March'
From: Rabbi-Sol
Date: 22 Oct 07 - 11:07 PM

You got it Spaw. Those are the exact words.

                                              SOL

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'The Gillette Look Sharp March'
From: EBarnacle
Date: 23 Oct 07 - 11:10 AM

I dunno, Spaw. I've been using a straight [cutthroat] razor for more than 40 years and have nicked myself maybe twice in all those years. It helps to keep the blade sharp.
My personal choice is to use a hair shaper, which is a straight razor with replaceable blades. I have several of the molded safety type and find my straight gives the best shaves.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'The Gillette Look Sharp March'
From: Cool Beans
Date: 23 Oct 07 - 11:52 AM

I think the parrot appaered in the "How Are You Fixed For Blades" jingle, croaking "You better check."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'The Gillette Look Sharp March'
From: catspaw49
Date: 23 Oct 07 - 12:26 PM

I think you're right Beans! THAT'S why my mind hears it spoken......it was actually squawked...LOL!!!

I really associate the parrot and this jingle with the Friday Night Fights back in the 50's ----The Friday Night Fights are On The AIR!!!

Anybody else remember those with Gillette? Seems One night was Pabst and another was Mennen.......Wednesday-PBR? Saturday-Mennen?

Spaw

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'The Gillette Look Sharp March'
From: catspaw49
Date: 23 Oct 07 - 12:55 PM

LMAO......Once again old age and Mudcat do not always go together and occasionally are both embarassing and funnier than hell.

I was trying to remember all the words to the PBR jingle ["What'll you have? Pabst Blue Ribbon"] and Google pulled up a Mudcat thread from exactly 5 years ago. Before I had read even partway through it, I ran across this post of MY OWN.

Talk about feeling like a dumbass........Always check Mudcat first. Along with good, we are also a treasure trove of bullshit about everything.......***sigh***.........

Spaw

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'The Gillette Look Sharp March'
From: GUEST,Springtex
Date: 24 Oct 07 - 11:38 PM

My recollection of the original lyric is as follows:

"To look sharp, every time you shave
To feel sharp, make your beard behave,
Just be sharp. Use Gillette Blue Blades®
For the quickest slickest shave of all."

But that may have been some variation of the original. I'm not sure about the "on the ball" phrase--I don't remember it.

But how can you hum through the "Look Sharp March" without a follow-up of "BrylCreem, a little dab'll do ya!
BrylCreem, you'll look so debonaire.
BrylCreem, the gals'll all pursue ya!
Simply rub a little in your hair!"

That last line later morphed into

"They love to get their fingers in your hair" as I recall. Maybe there were some other variations as well.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'The Gillette Look Sharp March'
From: GUEST,srhcb
Date: 25 Oct 07 - 08:14 AM

I remember:

To look sharp, and to feel sharp too,

Get the razor, that's just right for you.

Light, Regular or Heavy

It's the quickest slickest blade in town.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'The Gillette Look Sharp March'
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Oct 07 - 07:52 AM

can someone HUM IT ?
how do you find the name of a song when you can ONLY HUM the
8 NOTES you remember ?

piano notes using C as the number 1 ,   1 5 3 7 1 1+ 1 7

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'The Gillette Look Sharp March'
From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego
Date: 26 Oct 07 - 12:59 PM

Just when I thought boxing was dead, someone resurrects this. My father was a Gillette Friday Night Fights boxing fan, so I saw a lot of Carl "Bobo" Olson, Willie Pep, "Sugar" Ray Robinson, et al, and heard that song until I couldn't get it out of my brain. "How are you fixed for blades?"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'The Gillette Look Sharp March'
From: Rabbi-Sol
Date: 26 Oct 07 - 01:06 PM

Guest,
       If you PM me with your e-mail address I will send you a midi-karaoke file that displays the piano notes.

                                              SOL

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'The Gillette Look Sharp March'
From: GUEST,Stan -just a boy in the 50's
Date: 26 Oct 07 - 10:30 PM

All of this is fine but where can one obtain a recording of the march today?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'The Gillette Look Sharp March'
From: clueless don
Date: 29 Oct 07 - 10:29 AM

Here is my attempt to write out the basic melody of the Look Sharp march in abc notation:

X:1
T:Gillette Look Sharp March
M:4/4
L:1/8
K:F
C2A2F4|C^CD2^C=C3|
C2B2G4|C^CD2^C=C3|
C2c2A4|EFG2F2E2|
EDC^CD_E=E2|A2F6|

I took my cue from GUEST on 26 Oct 07 - 07:52 AM and started the melody on the note c - I think this results in putting the tune in the key of F, but I could be wrong. I put it in 4/4 time - if someone wants to argue that it should be 2/4, by all means re-bar it!

To play it, copy and paste the abc's (starting with the "X:1" line) into the window at

Concertina.net

and click the Submit button. You should get the melody in staff notation, and a link to play a midi of it.

Corrections welcome.

Don

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'The Gillette Look Sharp March'
From: GUEST,Lighter
Date: 29 Oct 07 - 11:34 AM

Is this one of the greatest advertising tunes in history, or what? I always thought naively that it was part of a Sousa march.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'The Gillette Look Sharp March'
From: GUEST,joe lewis
Date: 30 Nov 07 - 11:04 PM

To look sharp and be on the ball
To feel sharp
Use gillette blue blades
With the sharpest edges ever honed

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'The Gillette Look Sharp March'
From: GUEST,Golden
Date: 16 Feb 08 - 12:06 AM

I think the lyrics did change from time to time. I remember the last line being "For the closest shave a man can get."

Oddly enough, this melody was my high school fight song....

Let's go Bears
Let's get on the ball.
Let's show them
Who's the best of all.
With spirit and with loyalty
We'll go marching on to victory...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'The Gillette Look Sharp March'
From: Camper-Ted
Date: 16 Feb 08 - 09:04 AM

This song always reminds me of the Friday Night Fights which I used to watch with my father at my uncle's house. My uncle was one of the first in my family to own a television set.

In the 1950's, Sharkey Bonano had a great dixieland version of this song. I still own the 45. The Boston Pops also recorded this song. Both instrumental versions are available on I-Tunes. Search under Look Sharp, Be Sharp.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'The Gillette Look Sharp March'
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 16 Feb 08 - 02:12 PM

Spaw says -

I would suggest that if you have become accustomed to the newer razors, no amount of nostalgic feeling should ever make you feel the need to return to a Safety Razor. For the life of me I can't think what the fuck is "safe" about them.

I bought my first razor blade in 1954 and used the same blade until 1965 when the Army tried to take it away from me. I hid it in the truck where I was allowed to store a few "non-military personal things" until I was allowed to live out of the barracks; and bought my first "safety razor" in 1963.

If you'd ever used a real razor you'd know why they called it a "safety razor." I'll agree with the old Gillete being an instrument of torture, but at least it wouldn't (easily) remove whole body parts if you happened to slip.

I resumed using the old dubLduck as soon as possible, but eventually was forced to use "safety razors" again when my job required frequent airline travel. Even then, a "real razor" in your carry-on stuff caused "significant difficulties" getting on an airplane (ca 1980?). But by then, available safety razors had reached an "almost modern" state.

John