After You, Who?

After You, also known as "After You, Who?", is an American popular song written and composed by Cole Porter for the Broadway musical "Gay Divorce", which opened on November 29, 1932. Introduced on stage by Fred Astaire in the role of Guy Holden, the song expresses romantic devotion through Porter's characteristic combination of elegant melody and clever wordplay. The original sheet music was published in 1932 by T. B. Harms in New York.

No confirmed recording of After You by Django Reinhardt is known. However, the composition belongs to the same tradition of American musical theatre songs that strongly influenced European jazz during the 1930s. Django recorded other Cole Porter compositions, including "Night and Day" and "Anything Goes", demonstrating how Broadway melodies became part of the repertoire of Parisian swing musicians.

Musically, After You is a romantic popular song with a graceful melody and sophisticated harmonic movement. A commonly used jazz arrangement has a 32-bar structure with contrasting sections, secondary dominants and changes of tonal centre. Its harmony provides opportunities for smooth voice leading, chromatic movement and expressive improvisation. Depending on the arrangement, the composition can be performed as a gentle ballad or interpreted with a relaxed swing rhythm.

For Manouche jazz musicians, After You offers an opportunity to explore a lesser-known composition from the classic American songbook. Its melodic phrasing works naturally on guitar and violin, while the harmonic movement can be supported by the characteristic accompaniment of la pompe. Although it was not part of Django's confirmed recorded repertoire, the song is well suited to the intimate acoustic arrangements associated with Gypsy jazz.

Interesting facts:

• Fred Astaire introduced "After You, Who?" in the 1932 Broadway production of "Gay Divorce", his final Broadway musical. The production ran for 248 performances.
• The song was omitted from the 1934 film adaptation "The Gay Divorcee", starring Astaire and Ginger Rogers. "Night and Day" was the only Cole Porter song retained from the stage musical.
• The film introduced "The Continental", composed by Con Conrad with lyrics by Herb Magidson, which became the first winner of the Academy Award for Best Original Song.
• Eddy Duchin and His Orchestra recorded After You on December 7, 1932, followed by Don Bestor and His Orchestra in January 1933. The song was therefore circulating among dance orchestras almost immediately after its Broadway debut.
• The original 1932 sheet music included chord symbols for guitar and ukulele, demonstrating how popular theatre songs were marketed to amateur musicians as well as professional performers.
• Ella Fitzgerald revived "After You, Who?" in 1978, recording it with an orchestra arranged and conducted by Nelson Riddle for the album "Dream Dancing".

Although less famous than Porter's "Night and Day" or "Anything Goes", After You captures the elegance and romantic wit of early 1930s Broadway. Its expressive melody and colourful harmony make it a rewarding piece for jazz musicians, connecting the American musical theatre tradition with the improvisational possibilities of acoustic swing.