"Top Hat, White Tie and Tails" is a popular song written by Irving Berlin for the 1935 film Top Hat, where it was introduced by Fred Astaire.
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The song title refers to the formal wear required on a party invitation: top hat, white tie, and a tailcoat.
Notable recordings
Other appearances
The popular Norwegian meteorologist Kristian Trægde sang the song (and step-danced to it) on the TV show Skjemtegauken, in 1968.
In 1977 ballet dancer Rudolf Nureyev sang the song on The Muppet Show, complete with tap dancing. In another episode, Gonzo tap danced to the song as well – except in a vat of oatmeal.
In Episode 1 of the ninth season of M*A*S*H, "The Best of Enemies" - The character Hawykeye is singing Tophat, White Tie, and Tails in the first scene.
In a 1982 episode of Three's Company, Jack dances to the song while drunk at a party, and knocks things over as he does so.
The song is performed in 1989's Secret Policeman's Third Ball by comedian/satirist Willie Rushton, accompanied by Richard Vranch on piano, with Rushton dressing according to the lyrics of the song, noting that the lyrics neglect to mention the donning of trousers.
In the 1995 film Batman Forever, the character Edward Nigma sings a brief parody of "Top Hat, White Tie, and Tails" using the lyrics "I'm, sucking up your I.Q., vacuuming your cortex, sucking on your brain." The song makes an appearance of the 2000 film Billy Elliot.