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ADD: The Gillette Look Sharp March

GUEST,kwikwater 03 Sep 04 - 09:47 AM
George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca 03 Sep 04 - 04:50 PM
George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca 03 Sep 04 - 04:53 PM
George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca 03 Sep 04 - 05:02 PM
George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca 03 Sep 04 - 05:07 PM
George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca 03 Sep 04 - 05:38 PM
George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca 05 Sep 04 - 07:07 PM
GUEST,Mason Barge 20 Dec 05 - 07:29 PM
Rabbi-Sol 16 Oct 07 - 11:07 PM
Peace 16 Oct 07 - 11:18 PM
Rabbi-Sol 16 Oct 07 - 11:58 PM
Peace 17 Oct 07 - 12:31 AM
GUEST,leeneia 17 Oct 07 - 10:22 AM
GUEST,crazy little woman 17 Oct 07 - 10:27 AM
Rabbi-Sol 17 Oct 07 - 12:44 PM
Rabbi-Sol 17 Oct 07 - 01:12 PM
Peace 17 Oct 07 - 01:15 PM
Peace 17 Oct 07 - 01:25 PM
catspaw49 17 Oct 07 - 02:15 PM
clueless don 18 Oct 07 - 09:10 AM
Rabbi-Sol 18 Oct 07 - 02:23 PM
Rabbi-Sol 18 Oct 07 - 03:00 PM
Bill D 18 Oct 07 - 03:08 PM
Rabbi-Sol 20 Oct 07 - 09:24 PM
GUEST,JEFF IN BOSTON 22 Oct 07 - 01:48 PM
Rabbi-Sol 22 Oct 07 - 04:16 PM
Cool Beans 22 Oct 07 - 05:46 PM
Rabbi-Sol 22 Oct 07 - 06:21 PM
catspaw49 22 Oct 07 - 06:42 PM
Jim Dixon 22 Oct 07 - 07:01 PM
catspaw49 22 Oct 07 - 07:09 PM
Rabbi-Sol 22 Oct 07 - 07:26 PM
catspaw49 22 Oct 07 - 09:26 PM
Rabbi-Sol 22 Oct 07 - 11:07 PM
EBarnacle 23 Oct 07 - 11:10 AM
Cool Beans 23 Oct 07 - 11:52 AM
catspaw49 23 Oct 07 - 12:26 PM
catspaw49 23 Oct 07 - 12:55 PM
GUEST,Springtex 24 Oct 07 - 11:38 PM
GUEST,srhcb 25 Oct 07 - 08:14 AM
GUEST 26 Oct 07 - 07:52 AM
GUEST,TJ in San Diego 26 Oct 07 - 12:59 PM
Rabbi-Sol 26 Oct 07 - 01:06 PM
GUEST,Stan -just a boy in the 50's 26 Oct 07 - 10:30 PM
clueless don 29 Oct 07 - 10:29 AM
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GUEST,joe lewis 30 Nov 07 - 11:04 PM
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Camper-Ted 16 Feb 08 - 09:04 AM
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Joe Offer 17 Jun 09 - 02:03 AM
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GUEST,Lyrics sung in Gillette Cavalcade of Sports 27 Aug 12 - 01:26 PM
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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.


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Look Sharp March
From: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca
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


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Look Sharp March
From: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca
Date: 03 Sep 04 - 04:53 PM

A fellow named Joe Jackson sings Look Sharp

That probably isn't it.


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Look Sharp March
From: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca
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!


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Look Sharp March
From: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca
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.


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Subject: Parody: Look Sharp March
From: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca
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


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Look Sharp March
From: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca
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!


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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.


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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


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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+


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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


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

Yeah. I know.


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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.


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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.


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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


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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


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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.


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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.


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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


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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


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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


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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


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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.


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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


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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 !!!!


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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


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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?


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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


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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


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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).


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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


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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


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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


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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


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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.


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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."


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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


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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


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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.


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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.


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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


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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?"


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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


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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?


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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


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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.


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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


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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...


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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.


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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


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Look Sharp March
From: GUEST,jpinwat
Date: 20 Oct 08 - 03:26 PM

To look sharp and feel sharp too
choose the razor that is built for you
light, medium, and heavy
The only way to get a decent shave.


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Look Sharp March
From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego
Date: 20 Oct 08 - 07:02 PM

My dad never missed the "Saturday Night Fights" back in the early 1950's. Gillette was the sponsor. I remember that the song always began, with "Look Sharp! Feel Sharp! Be Sharp." There was another line, perhaps at the end, which went:
    "How are you fixed for blades?
    "Gillette Blue Blades, we mean."


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Look Sharp March
From: GUEST,lynda
Date: 17 Jun 09 - 12:54 AM

My dad used to watch these fights also, i can almsot hear this song now, it was a march.
would love to have the words to it


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Look Sharp March (Gillette Razors Jingle)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 17 Jun 09 - 02:03 AM

Hi, Lynda - we have two "official" versions of the lyrics above. All that stuck in my mind was:

    To look sharp, da-da-da, da-da,
    To feel sharp, da-da-da, da-da,
    To be sharp, da-da-da, da-da,
    Da-da, da-da-da-da, da-da-da!


Click here for a YouTube video of an instrumental version of the jingle. Here's another (click). I can't find a YouTube video with the lyrics - yet. All the Gillette ads I've found are spoken, without the jingle.

Oh, and there's a very nice Arthur Fiedler instrumental recording here (click)

The program was called the Gillette Cavalcade of Sports, but all I remember was the boxing. I gather it even occasionally covered golf. I can't imagine liking boxing now, but I watched or listened to the fights all the time when I was in Detroit (until the age of nine). I broke the habit when I moved from the Big City to Wisconsin, I guess.

-Joe-


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Look Sharp March (Gillette Razors Jingle)
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 17 Jun 09 - 01:02 PM

I can remember hearing that sung by a splendid men's choral group when I was a little kid. I'd pay close attention till the song was over, then wander away from the TV.

A similar thing I enjoyed was the men singing the Texaco jingle on the Sid Caesar show. Couldn't stand the show itself.


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Look Sharp March (Gillette Razors Jingle)
From: Rabbi-Sol
Date: 17 Jun 09 - 01:41 PM

I have the midi-karaoke file of this jingle as sequenced by Ron Tilden. It is playable with Van Basco. I will gladly send it to anyone who requests it by PM.


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'The Gillette Look Sharp March'
From: GUEST,Song lyrics from Cavalcade of Sports
Date: 03 Jul 09 - 12:52 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6cyy_rziuk

Has the lyrics being sung and Sharpie the Parrot


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'The Gillette Look Sharp March'
From: Joe Offer
Date: 03 Jul 09 - 02:32 PM

Thanks a lot for that link. I looked and looked, but couldn't find a video with the jingle sung.

You know, I'm a bit taken aback by the messages above where people say their father watched the Gillette Cavalcade of Sports. In my house, I was the one who watched it regularly (sometimes with my father). Does that mean I'm old enough to be the father of all these Mudcatters?

-Old Fart-


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'The Gillette Look Sharp March'
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Jul 09 - 07:39 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9KVfn2-EEU

"How are you fixed for blades?" Featuring Mel Allen and Sharpie the Parrot.


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Subject: Lyr Add: LOOK SHARP BE SHARP
From: GUEST,THE OLD TIMER
Date: 11 Aug 10 - 06:48 PM

Composed by Mahlon Merrick, music director for the Jack Benny show

1. To look sharp, every time you shave
To feel sharp, and be on the ball
To be sharp use Gillette Blue Blades for the quickest, slickest, shaves of all!

Repeat 1st verse

2. Say mister, how are you fixed for blades, do you have plenty?
How are you fixed for blades? You better check, just make sure
You have enough, a worn out blade makes shaving mighty tough!
Say mister, how are you fixed for blades? You better
Check, Gillette blue blades we mean!!!!

Then repeat 1st verse

Let's get it right ok! Don't mess up a good song!
The old timer


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Gillette Look Sharp March
From: GUEST,history expert
Date: 05 Mar 11 - 11:07 AM

The lyrics to this jingle changed as Gillette's whimsy dictated. One version is:

To Look Sharp
Use the Stainless Blade
That out-shaves
All the others made,
And Be Sharp
When you use Gillette
For the finest shaves a man can get.


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Gillette Look Sharp March
From: GUEST,Guest Chris
Date: 19 Aug 12 - 10:57 AM

I can remember some of the lyrics that we used to sing along with:

Look sharp and be on your way,
Feel sharp and have a real good day...

I was also searching for the rest of the tune.

Good luck!


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Gillette Look Sharp March
From: GUEST,Lyrics sung in Gillette Cavalcade of Sports
Date: 27 Aug 12 - 01:26 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6cyy_rziuk

To look sharp (bong!)
And feel sharp too (bong!)
Choose the razor
That is built for you
Light, and Regular, and Heavy
Hey!
Slick shaves for any beard, Ole!


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Gillette Look Sharp March
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Mar 14 - 12:00 AM

Sweet P


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Gillette Look Sharp March
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 02 Mar 14 - 02:35 AM

Vague recollection is that I found the melody used in a school (or frat) song in a fairly old songbook. I didn't have much luck with a search of likely books easily at hand.

Mention above is also made of playing it as an instrumental version in a school(?) marching band.

The melody would seem simple enough to inspire other uses and/or parodies.

My memory may be mostly hallucinatory (I remember lots of things I never kenw) but has anyone run into "other usages" worth noting????

(It's a pretty old thread, about due to be cut loose and set adrift.)

John


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Gillette Look Sharp March
From: GUEST,Mike A.
Date: 04 Apr 17 - 01:58 PM

I checked on YouTube for the commercial (couldn't find it) around mid- to late-1960s that had the Baltimore Colts singing this song, and if I remember correctly, their lyrics were:

We look sharp, 'cause the blades we use
Have edges, that are platinum smoothed
We feel the difference, why don't you join us
and get Gillete's best blades with Platinum Plus (I think)


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Gillette Look Sharp March
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Apr 19 - 04:11 PM

The way I remember it was:
To look sharp and to feel sharp too
Choose the razor that is right for you

Gillette Blue Blades
for the quickest, slickest shave of all!


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Gillette Look Sharp March
From: Cool Beans
Date: 26 Apr 19 - 04:39 PM

I'm still here. A bit off-topic but I had a friend, a concert violinist named Arturo Delmoni, who would play the Gillette march offstage before each concert as sort of a good luck thing.


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Gillette Look Sharp March
From: GUEST,RICH MORGAN
Date: 02 May 21 - 11:22 AM

TO LOOK SHARP, AND BE ON THE BALL,
USE THE RAZOR, THAT OUTSHAVES THEM ALL
TO FEEL SHARP ..................


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Subject: RE: ADD: The Gillette Look Sharp March
From: GUEST,Tdon
Date: 25 Aug 23 - 12:15 PM

I don’t remember it as much from the World Series as from the Friday Night Fights.
The words I remember are not exactly like I’ve seen here …

To look sharp
And to feel sharp too
Choose a razor
that is (built or right) for you
Light, regular or heavy ( sung with a light voice, a regular voice, then a HEAVY voice.)
Three shaves for any beard “BLANK!”

(It’s the BLANK I’m trying to remember!)

I hope someone else remembers the fights!


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