Fascinating Rhythm Fascinating Rhythm "Fascinating Rhythm" is a popular song written by George Gershwin in 1924 with lyrics by Ira Gershwin. It was first introduced by Cliff Edwards, Fred Astaire and Adele Astaire in the Broadway musical "Lady Be Good." The Astaires also recorded the song on April 19, 1926 in London with George Gershwin on the piano (English Columbia 3968 or 8969). A large number of recorded versions exist. One of the rarest recordings is one by Joe Bari (a pseudonym of Anthony Dominick Benedetto, later better known as Tony Bennett) for Leslie Records in 1949 and issued as catalog number
So Near and yet So Far a Latin beat and an English-language lyric" that was a "U.S. consumer-friendly approximation" of an Afro-Cuban rumba. Theorist Gustavo Perez Firmat discussed "So Near and Yet So Far" in his book "The Havana Habit" and described it as "the most elegant rumba ever captured on film". So Near and yet So Far "So Near and yet So Far" is a song written by Cole Porter, for the 1941 film "You'll Never Get Rich", where it was introduced by Fred Astaire, and accompanied a dance with Astaire and Rita Hayworth, choreographed by Robert Alton. Astaire and Hayworth's performance was significant as