History Music / GeorgeGershwin

[[quoteright:320:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/george_gershwin.jpg]]

His estate was known for its aggressive advocacy of extending copyright protections, as many of his popular works, including ''Rhapsody in Blue'', were composed in the mid-1920s and were always on the cusp of falling out of copyright protection prior to the terms being extended. In 2020, the ''Rhapsody'', composed in 1924, finally entered the public domain. ''Porgy and Bess'' will follow in 2031, and his entire catalogue by 2033.

* WomenPreferStrongMen: "The Man I Love" specifies that the singer's longed-for man will be "big and strong."

* PoliticalCorrectnessGoneMad: ''Theatre/PorgyAndBess'' has been a victim of this. Depending on who one talks to, it's either demeaning to African-Americans or FairForItsDay. Of course, it's still one of the most important US operas of the 20th century.

His estate was known for its aggressive advocacy of extending copyright protections, as many of his popular works, including ''Rhapsody in Blue'', were composed in the mid-1920s and were always on the cusp of falling out of copyright protection prior to the terms being extended. In 2020, the ''Rhapsody'', composed in 1924, finally entered the public domain.

George Jacob Gershwin (September 26, 1898 – July 11, 1937) was an American composer of both jazz and classical music remembered mainly for creating ''Music/RhapsodyInBlue'', best known nowadays as the theme song of United Airlines. He's also known for the {{opera}} ''Theatre/PorgyAndBess'', source of such famous songs as "Summertime" and "It Ain't Necessarily So." He composed the music for UsefulNotes/PulitzerPrize-winning play ''Theatre/OfTheeISing''.

* FamilyBusiness: His brother Ira was his lyricist, and the two worked together until George died of a brain tumor.

* WomenPreferStrongMen: "The Man I Love"

* CryingLittleKid: The baby in "Summertime" from ''Theatre/PorgyAndBess'' is comforted so as not to cry.

George Jacob Gershwin (September 26, 1898 – July 11, 1937) was an American composer of both jazz and classical music remembered mainly for creating ''[[Music/RhapsodyInBlue Rhapsody in Blue]]'', best known nowadays as the theme song of United Airlines. He's also known for the {{opera}} ''Theatre/PorgyAndBess'', source of such famous songs as "Summertime" and "It Ain't Necessarily So." He composed the music for UsefulNotes/PulitzerPrize-winning play ''Theatre/OfTheeISing''.

* BigApplesauce: Although Gershwin intended his [[{{Jazz}} jazz]] concerto ''[[Music/RhapsodyInBlue Rhapsody in Blue]]'' to be reflective of America, the song is associated with UsefulNotes/NewYorkCity above all. See Creator/WoodyAllen's ''Film/{{Manhattan}}'' or ''WesternAnimation/Fantasia2000''.

* DramaticTimpani: In the opening of the first movement of ''[[Music/ConcertoInF Concerto in F]]''.

* EverythingIsAnInstrument: Gershwin's orchestral tone poem ''[[Music/AnAmericanInParis An American in Paris]]'' includes automobile horns in its percussion section. The composer brought back four Parisian taxi horns to use in the premiere performance.

* {{Sequel}}: The ''Music/SecondRhapsody'' for piano and orchestra has this relationship to the more famous ''[[Music/RhapsodyInBlue Rhapsody in Blue]]''.

* TravelogueShow: Or travelogue piece in the case of the tone poem ''[[Music/AnAmericanInParis An American in Paris]]'' and the concert overture ''Music/CubanOverture''.

George Jacob Gershwin (September 26, 1898 – July 11, 1937) was an American composer of both jazz and classical music remembered mainly for creating ''Rhapsody in Blue'', best known nowadays as the theme song of United Airlines. He's also known for the {{opera}} ''Theatre/PorgyAndBess'', source of such famous songs as "Summertime" and "It Ain't Necessarily So." He composed the music for UsefulNotes/PulitzerPrize-winning play ''Theatre/OfTheeISing''.

* DrugsAreBad: Any character who gets addicted to "[[UnusualEuphemism Happy Dust]]" is going to have their life take a turn for the worse. Sportin' Life, a drug dealer / pimp, is portrayed as TheCorrupter.

* TravelogueShow: Or travelogue piece in the case of the tone poem ''[[Music/AnAmericanInParis An American in Paris]]''.

* SongOfSongTitles: "Bidin My Time" lists off several 1920s pop songs.

* BigApplesauce: Although Gershwin intended his [[{{Jazz}} jazz]] concerto ''[[Music/RhapsodyInBlue Rhapsody in Blue]]'' to be reflective of America, the song is associated with NewYorkCity above all. See Creator/WoodyAllen's ''Film/{{Manhattan}}'' or ''WesternAnimation/Fantasia2000''.

* RevivalByCommercialization: ''[[Music/RhapsodyInBlue Rhapsody in Blue]]'' is probably best known today for its usage as United Airlines' official song.

* ArtisticLicenseHistory: In "They All Laughed". People didn't laugh at Columbus for saying the world was round; they laughed because he'd grossly underestimated its size.
* BigApplesauce: Although Gershwin intended his jazz concerto "Rhapsody in Blue" to be reflective of America, the song is associated with New York City above all. See Woody Allen's ''Manhattan'' or ''WesternAnimation/Fantasia2000''.

* CryingLittleKid: The baby in "Summertime" is comforted not to cry.
* DramaticTimpani: In the opening of the first movement of "Concerto in F".
* EverythingHasRhythm: "I Got Rhythm".

* {{Jazz}}: His compositions were heavily influenced by jazz and Broadway musicals.
* LimitedLyricsSong: "A Foggy Day In London Town", again.

* RevivalByCommercialization: "Rhapsody in Blue" is best known today for its usage as United Airlines' official song.