It is 1934. The Great Depression is still suffocating the American spirit, but inside the Alvin Theatre on Broadway, things feel light. Effortless. This is where Anything Goes first introduced the world to a song that would eventually be covered by everyone from Frank Sinatra to Lady Gaga. I’m talking about I Get a Kick Out of You.
It’s a weird song. Seriously.
Think about the lyrics for a second. Most love songs from that era are all about "moon" and "june" and "heart" and "soul." They’re sweet. They’re safe. But Cole Porter wasn't interested in being safe. He was interested in being real, even if that reality was wrapped in a sophisticated, urbanite bow. He writes about boredom. He writes about the failure of high-end vices to provide a spark. And then, he pivots to the one person who actually makes life feel interesting.
The Scandalous History Behind the Lyrics
Porter was known for his wit, but he was also known for pushing the boundaries of what the censors would allow. Most people know the famous line: "Some get a kick from cocaine."
Wait, what?
In 1934, that was a massive deal. Even though the song goes on to say that the narrator doesn't actually get a kick from it—"I'm sure that if I took even one sniff, it would bore me terrifically, too"—the mere mention of the drug was enough to send the Hays Office into a tailspin. By the time the 1936 film version of Anything Goes was being produced, the line had to be changed. "Some like the perfume from Spain" became the sanitized substitute. Honestly, it loses all the punch. The original lyric worked because it established a hierarchy of "highs" that were all failing to compete with the presence of the beloved.
Why Ethel Merman Changed Everything
We usually think of Sinatra when we hear this tune. His 1953 version for the album Songs for Young Lovers is basically the gold standard for mid-century cool. But the song was written specifically for Ethel Merman.
Merman didn't do "cool." She did "loud." She did "brass." She had a voice that could reach the back row of a theater without a microphone. Porter loved her because her diction was perfect. Every single syllable of his complex internal rhymes was heard. When she sang I Get a Kick Out of You, it wasn't a whispered confession; it was a belted declaration. It changed the way people viewed the modern woman on stage—someone who could be cynical about champagne and aviation while still being deeply in love.
The Compositional Genius of Cole Porter
If you look at the sheet music, the song is a bit of a nightmare for singers who don't have a good sense of rhythm. Porter uses a long, flowing melody in the "A" sections that feels almost like a casual conversation. Then he hits the bridge.
"I get a kick every time I see you standing there before me..."
The rhythm shifts. It becomes more insistent. It’s the sound of a heart skipping a beat, but in a very expensive suit. Musically, it’s a masterclass in building tension. He uses these long, descending lines that resolve just when you think they’re going to trail off into nothing. It mirrors the feeling of a "hangover" or the boredom mentioned in the lyrics—a slow slide downward that only gets interrupted by the "kick."
- The Triple Rhyme: Porter was the king of the internal rhyme. In this song, he rhymes "terrifically," "too," and "you" in a way that feels completely natural.
- The Cultural References: He mentions Lindbergh. He mentions the "greatest of guys" and "flying too high." He was writing for a specific class of New Yorkers who understood the thrill—and the danger—of 1930s aviation.
- The Emotional Core: Despite the cynicism about cocaine and champagne, the song is deeply vulnerable. It’s about someone who is difficult to please finally finding the one thing that works.
Sinatra and the Rebirth of a Classic
By the 1950s, the song had transitioned from a Broadway showtune to a Great American Songbook staple. Frank Sinatra’s version changed the vibe. Where Merman was brassy, Frank was swinging. He slowed it down just a touch, added that signature Nelson Riddle arrangement, and turned it into a cocktail-hour anthem.
Sinatra’s phrasing is what really sells it. He emphasizes the "kick" with a slight punch in his voice, making you feel the impact of the emotion. He also kept the cocaine lyric (mostly), though he often played around with it in live performances depending on the crowd. This version is why the song still gets played at weddings and in jazz clubs today. It’s the ultimate expression of "I’m too cool for everything except you."
Other Notable Versions You Should Hear
You haven't really experienced I Get a Kick Out of You until you've heard some of the more "out there" interpretations.
- Ella Fitzgerald: Her 1956 recording for the Cole Porter Songbook is pure vocal perfection. She finds a playfulness that Sinatra lacks.
- The Ad Libs: In the 1960s, this girl group turned it into a doo-wop/soul track. It shouldn't work. It really shouldn't. But the energy is infectious.
- Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett: Their 2021 version for the album Love for Sale proved the song is timeless. Gaga’s theatricality matches Porter’s original intent perfectly, while Bennett provides the steady, classic foundation.
The Psychological Hook: Why We Still Care
Why does a song about 1930s high society still resonate in 2026?
Because we’re all bored.
We live in a world of infinite stimulation. We have social media, 24/7 news, and more entertainment than we could ever consume. We are "terrific-ally" bored by the things that are supposed to excite us. In that context, I Get a Kick Out of You is the ultimate anthem for the modern age. It acknowledges that most things are a letdown. Most "kicks" are temporary. Finding that one person, or that one passion, that actually cuts through the noise is a universal human experience.
Porter wasn't just writing a love song. He was writing about the rarity of genuine connection.
Actionable Takeaways for Music Lovers
If you want to truly appreciate this piece of history, don't just put it on as background music while you're cleaning the house.
First, listen to the lyrics without the music. Read them like a poem. Notice how Porter sets up the jokes and then pulls the rug out from under you. The structure is incredibly tight.
Second, compare the versions. Play the Ethel Merman original, then jump to Sinatra, and finish with Lady Gaga. You’ll see how a single song can be a mirror for the era in which it’s performed. Merman is the post-Prohibition era; Sinatra is the mid-century bachelor pad; Gaga is the modern revival of the theater.
Third, look at the "hidden" verses. Many recordings skip the introductory verse (the "My story is much too sad to be told" part). Finding a version that includes the full intro gives the song a completely different, much darker context. It makes the "kick" feel earned.
Finally, try to sing it. Not in the shower, but really try to hit those internal rhymes. You’ll realize that Cole Porter was a mathematical genius as much as he was a musical one. The way the words fit together is like a puzzle.
Understanding the history of I Get a Kick Out of You isn't just about trivia. It’s about understanding the evolution of American wit. It’s a reminder that even in our most cynical moments, there is usually something—or someone—waiting to give us that necessary jolt. Go find your kick.
Key Historical Context:
- Writer: Cole Porter
- Show: Anything Goes (1934)
- Original Performer: Ethel Merman
- Most Famous Version: Frank Sinatra (1953)
- Controversy: The "cocaine" lyric, which was often censored or changed to "perfume from Spain."
Porter’s work survives because it doesn't patronize the listener. He assumes you’re smart. He assumes you’ve been around the block. And he assumes that, like him, you’re looking for something that actually matters in a world full of "sniffs" that bore you terrifically.