The Continental is a 1934 dance tune with music by Con Conrad and lyrics by Herb Magidson. It was introduced by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in the RKO film The Gay Divorcee, with Rogers singing the number, and it earned the first Academy Award for Best Original Song. The song is tied to the film’s soundtrack and became a Hollywood dance staple.
Many artists have recorded it over the years. Notable versions include Frank Sinatra, first in 1950 on Sing and Dance with Frank Sinatra and again in 1964 on Sinatra Sings Days of Wine and Roses, Moon River, and Other Academy Award Winners; Blossom Dearie on piano in 1955 on Jazz-Sweet; Harry James with Rosemary Clooney in 1952 on Hollywood's Best; Maureen McGovern who reached number 16 on the UK Singles Chart in 1976; and Steve Howe and Graham Preskett as a duet on The Steve Howe Album in 1979. Early popular renditions were also by Lud Gluskin, Jolly Coburn, and Leo Reisman. Genre wise it is a classic film dance number and a jazz standard.
