If you’ve got the song stuck in your head, you might actually be thinking of two completely different pieces of music. That’s the thing about music history—titles get recycled, and suddenly you’re looking for a 1970s country star but stumbling into a 1920s Broadway musical. It’s confusing.
Most people searching for who sang Funny Face are looking for Donna Fargo. Her 1972 hit basically defined her career. But if you’re a fan of the Great American Songbook, you’re likely thinking of the Gershwin tune made famous by Fred Astaire.
Let's break down why this song title carries so much weight across two totally different genres.
Donna Fargo and the 1972 Country Explosion
In the early seventies, country music was undergoing a massive shift. It was moving away from the "hard country" sound of the sixties and leaning into something a bit more melodic, a bit more "pop-country." Donna Fargo was at the center of that.
Honestly, it’s rare for a singer to write their own massive hits back then, but Fargo did. She wrote "Funny Face" herself. It followed her other giant hit, "The Happiest Girl in the Whole USA," and solidified her as a household name.
The song is incredibly sweet. Maybe too sweet for some modern ears? Possibly. But in 1972, it hit a nerve. It’s a simple thank-you note to a partner. It’s about feeling loved despite your flaws—or your "funny face." It spent three weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. Even more impressive? It crossed over to the pop charts, peaking at number five on the Billboard Hot 100. That just didn't happen every day for country artists in that era.
The Sound of the Record
If you listen to the original recording now, you’ll notice that crisp, clean Nashville production. It’s got that signature "countrypolitan" feel. The backing vocals are lush. The acoustic guitar is bright. Fargo’s delivery is earnest. There’s no irony here.
She wasn't just a singer; she was a former schoolteacher from North Carolina who suddenly found herself as the "Happiest Girl" in the country. That sincerity is what sold the record. People bought the single by the millions. It was certified Gold by the RIAA, which, back in the seventies, was a massive mountain to climb.
The Other "Funny Face": Gershwin and Astaire
Now, if you aren't a country fan, you’re probably looking at me like I’m crazy. To you, "Funny Face" is a jazz standard.
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Written by George and Ira Gershwin, this version of "Funny Face" dates back to 1927. It was the title track of a Broadway musical. Who sang it first? That would be Fred Astaire and his sister, Adele Astaire.
The lyrics are quintessential Ira Gershwin. They’re clever. They’re biting but affectionate. "Your sunny, funny face." It’s a masterpiece of rhythmic songwriting. While the Donna Fargo version is a ballad of devotion, the Gershwin version is a playful, uptempo flirtation.
The 1957 Film Impact
While the song started on Broadway, most of us know it because of the 1957 film starring Fred Astaire and Audrey Hepburn.
Funny enough, the movie isn't really an adaptation of the 1927 play. They just kept the title and some of the songs. When Fred Astaire sings it to Audrey Hepburn in the darkroom while developing photos, it’s one of the most iconic moments in cinema history. Hepburn’s performance is legendary, even if her singing was sometimes dubbed or debated—though in this film, she did her own singing for the most part.
Her voice had this thin, charming quality that fit the "bohemian" character of Jo Stockton perfectly. If you are wondering who sang Funny Face in a way that feels sophisticated and Parisian, it’s Audrey.
Why the Confusion Persists
We live in a world of digital metadata. When you type a title into a search bar, algorithms often get tangled.
- Donna Fargo (1972): Country-pop crossover.
- Fred Astaire (1927/1957): Jazz/Musical theater.
- The Marvelettes (1964): They had a song called "Little Girl Blue" that people sometimes mix up, but they also explored similar themes.
- Ella Fitzgerald: She covered the Gershwin version on her famous "Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Songbook" album in 1959.
Ella’s version is arguably the "definitive" vocal jazz version. Her phrasing is impeccable. If you want to hear the song performed with the most technical skill, you go to Ella. If you want the heart-on-your-sleeve nostalgia, you go to Donna.
The Song That Saved a Career
Let’s go back to Donna Fargo for a second. Success in the music industry is fickle. Fargo had been trying to make it for a while before 1972. She was actually teaching high school English in California while pursuing music on the side.
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Can you imagine? One day you’re grading essays on The Great Gatsby, and the next, you’re at the top of the charts.
"Funny Face" proved she wasn't a one-hit wonder. It earned her a Grammy nomination. It turned her into a variety show star. In the mid-seventies, she was everywhere. However, her career took a hit when she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1978. She kept performing, but the momentum of those early years was hard to regain. Yet, whenever she stepped on stage, "Funny Face" was the one the crowd demanded. It became her signature, even more so than "Happiest Girl."
A Deep Dive Into the Lyrics
Compare the two. It’s fascinating how songwriters approach the same phrase.
Fargo’s lyrics focus on domestic bliss:
"Funny face, I love you... I love you more than sunshine."
It’s about the "little things" a partner does. It’s grounded in the reality of a relationship. It’s a kitchen-table kind of song.
Gershwin’s lyrics are about aesthetic charm:
"You’re a garden, you’re a grand one, you’re the only slang one."
Wait, "slang one"? Yes, Ira Gershwin loved using contemporary 1920s lingo. The song is about a "pretty" face that is also "funny"—it’s about character over perfection. It fits the plot of the 1957 movie perfectly, where a "plain" bookshop clerk is told she has a "model" face.
Other Notable Covers
You’d be surprised who else has touched this title.
- Bobby Vinton: The "Blue Velvet" singer did a version of the Fargo song. It fits his style—smooth, slightly dramatic, very mid-century pop.
- The Cast of Glee: Yes, even the Glee kids tackled the Gershwin version.
- Sarah Vaughan: Like Ella, Sarah Vaughan gave the Gershwin tune a smoky, vibrato-heavy interpretation that makes it feel like a late-night jazz club staple.
The Cultural Legacy
Why do we still care about who sang Funny Face?
Because both versions represent a specific kind of optimism. The 1927/1957 version represents the glamour of the "Old Hollywood" and "Old Broadway" era. It’s escapism.
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The 1972 version represents the "everyman" sentiment of the 70s. It was a time of political upheaval—Vietnam was ending, Watergate was brewing—and here comes a woman singing about how much she loves her husband's "funny face." It was a comfort blanket for the American public.
Technical Nuances in the Recordings
If you’re a music nerd, the differences in recording tech between these versions is wild.
The 1927 recordings were acoustic or early electric. They sound thin. They have that "gramophone" crackle.
The 1957 film version used high-fidelity magnetic tape. You can hear the breathiness in Audrey Hepburn’s voice. You can hear the tap of Fred Astaire’s shoes.
The 1972 Donna Fargo track is a masterclass in Nashville "dead room" recording. The drums are tight. The bass is prominent but not overwhelming. It’s designed to sound good on a car radio, which is where most people heard it.
Common Misconceptions
One of the biggest mistakes people make is thinking that Donna Fargo's song is a cover of the Gershwin song. It isn't. They are completely different compositions. Different melodies, different lyrics, different chords.
Another mistake? Thinking Audrey Hepburn didn't sing her part. While she was famously dubbed in My Fair Lady by Marni Nixon, in Funny Face, that is actually Audrey’s voice. It’s charming precisely because it’s not a "perfect" Broadway belt.
How to Find the Version You Want
If you are looking for the song on Spotify or Apple Music, here is how to navigate:
- Search Donna Fargo if you want the country song that goes "Funny face, I love you, I love you more than sunshine."
- Search Fred Astaire or Ella Fitzgerald if you want the jazz standard that goes "I love your funny face, your sunny, funny face."
- Search Original Soundtrack for the 1957 film if you want the cinematic version with the orchestral swells.
Actionable Insights for Music Collectors
If you're looking to add this to a collection or simply want to appreciate the history more deeply, here are a few things you can do:
- Check the Songwriter Credits: Always look for "Gershwin" vs. "Fargo." It’s the easiest way to tell which "Funny Face" you’re buying on vinyl.
- Listen to the "Happiest Girl" Album: If you like Donna Fargo's version, her debut album is a classic of the era and offers a great look at early 70s Nashville.
- Watch the 1957 Film: Even if you aren't into musicals, the cinematography by Ray June and the fashion (designed by Hubert de Givenchy) make it a visual masterpiece.
- Compare Vocal Styles: Listen to Donna Fargo and Ella Fitzgerald back-to-back. It’s a great exercise in understanding how different genres approach the concept of "sincerity" in music.
- Explore the "Nashville Sound": If the Fargo version is your favorite, look into other artists produced by Stan Silver; he had a specific way of layering sounds that defined that early 70s country-pop crossover.
Whether you're into the glitz of Broadway or the heart of Nashville, "Funny Face" remains one of those rare titles that conquered two different worlds. One gave us a jazz standard that will live forever in the American Songbook, and the other gave us a country anthem that defined a decade of crossover success. Both are worth a listen.