How About You? is a 1941 show tune written by Burton Lane (music) and Ralph Freed (lyrics). It was introduced in the MGM musical Babes on Broadway by Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney, with Garland recording the first version with an orchestra conducted by David Rose in October 1941 and the song released in November that year. The original is a light romantic duet, and the tune quickly became a hit, helped along by a 1942 popular recording by Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra. Notable later covers include Frank Sinatra in 1956, Bing Crosby with Rosemary Clooney in 1958, Shirley Bassey in 1959, Joni James in 1959, Bobby Darin in 1961, and Steve Lawrence in 1964; the lyrics are often updated to reflect the era. The song was nominated for Best Song at the 1941 Academy Awards and has appeared in films and TV, as well as in various other recordings, making it a lasting classic in the show tune and jazz standards repertoire.
