That International Rag
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| "That International Rag" | |
|---|---|
 Cover to the sheet music, first edition | |
| Song | |
| Released | 1913 |
| Genre | Pop |
| Songwriter | Irving Berlin |
| Audio sample | |
Performed by Billy Murray in 1913 for Edison Records. | |
"That International Rag" is a song composed by Irving Berlin in 1913.[1] Berlin wrote the song the night before its debut, when he needed a new opening number for his act while on tour in England.
Days before the song's composition, Berlin held a press conference that backfired and led the public to question his musical talent. He wanted to impress his audience with a new song, so he stayed up overnight to compose the number and completed it just before his matinee in London. The performance was well received; it did well in vaudeville and in early sound recordings. The song later appeared in Hollywood films.
In 1913, Berlin accepted an invitation to cross the Atlantic and perform in London.[2][3] It was his second trip to England, so he called a press conference shortly after his arrival. This decision would have been normal business practice by Tin Pan Alley standards, but it appeared very brash to the British public.[2] Berlin considered the press conference to be even more important than his scheduled appearance at the Hippodrome; his reputation depended more upon the impression he created for the journalists than on how he performed in a single theater.[2]
Berlin made one mistake at the press conference that led to a backlash in the press and started a rumor that would follow him for decades.[2] After admitting that he could neither read nor write music, he offered to compose a song on the spot to any title the journalists chose.[2] One suggested "The Humming Rag", and he created the tune within an hour.[2] In Berlin's enthusiasm to show off his talent for fast composition, he forgot to consider the impression he created when he tapped out the melody for his musical secretary with a single finger.[2] Soon the public was reading that he was not only illiterate in music, but unable to play the piano. Those envious of his success called him "nothing but a hustling, hard-sell sham".[2] As opening night drew near, he discovered that all of his hit songs were already well known to the British public.[2] Needing a new number to open his act, and he composed "That International Rag" overnight in a panic.[2][3]
