My Fair Lady is a musical based upon George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion. The story concerns Eliza Doolittle, a Cockney flower girl who takes speech lessons from professor Henry Higgins so that she can pass as a lady. The musical's 1956 Broadway production was a hit. Later on in 1964 came a popular film version.
One of the popular song in the soundtrack is “Wouldn't It Be Loverly", written by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe. The song is sung by flower girl Eliza Doolittle and her street friends. It expresses Eliza's wish for a better life. The interesting part of this song is the special accent to represent Eliza’s “vulgar” Cockney accent, for example, “lovely” is pronounced as “loverly”.
Rumors and critiques are still going on in commenting the role of Eliza Doolittle. Julie Andrews was the star in Broadway version, but she lost the role to Audrey Hepburn. While in the film, the majority of the singing of Hepburn was dubbed by Marni Nixon.
For me, it doesn’t matter who sings, the film and the songs would just be lovely. Now just listen to move version and Andrews’ braodway version.
Audrey Hepburn’s own voice in the film version
Julie Andrews’ Broadway version
Lyrics
It's rather dull in town, I think I'll take me to Paree.
Mmmmmm.
The mistress wants to open up
The castle in Capri.
Me doctor recommends a quiet summer by the sea!
Mmmm, Mmmm, wouldn't it be loverly?
Eliza:
All I want is a room somewhere,
Far away from the cold night air.
With one enormous chair,
Aow, wouldn't it be loverly?
Lots of choc'lates for me to eat,
Lots of coal makin' lots of 'eat.
Warm face, warm 'ands, warm feet,
Aow, wouldn't it be loverly?
Aow, so loverly sittin' abso-bloomin'-lutely still.
I would never budge 'till spring
Crept over me windowsill.
Someone's 'ead restin' on my knee,
Warm an' tender as 'e can be. 'ho takes good care of me,
Aow, wouldn't it be loverly?
Loverly, loverly, loverly, loverly
[REPEAT]
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