She's Funny That Way was composed in 1928 by Neil Moret with lyrics by Richard A. Whiting. The collaboration was unusual for Whiting, who was primarily a composer himself; this marked the only time in his career that he wrote lyrics for another songwriter's music. The two had been colleagues at the Remick Publishing Company in Detroit, and their partnership on this song came about through a chance meeting in New York. According to Whiting's daughter, vocalist Margaret Whiting, the lyrics served a personal purpose: Whiting needed to persuade his wife Eleanore to relocate to Los Angeles for a film music career, and the line about being certain she'd follow me West was a genuine plea. The strategy worked, and the family moved to California in 1929. Gene Austin's original recording for Victor became a million-seller, propelled by the crooning vocal style newly enabled by electrical condenser microphones. The song is sometimes recorded with the alternate title He's Funny That Way, and its sentimental narrative explores the paradox of a woman who abandons material wealth for an ordinary man. The composition quickly entered the jazz standard repertoire, becoming particularly associated with Billie Holiday and Lester Young, whose 1937 collaboration is often cited as the definitive version. It also served as an early theme song for Frank Sinatra. The Dorsey Brothers, Bud Freeman with Jess Stacy, and numerous other jazz artists have offered distinctive interpretations across the decades.
