"Cool" is a song from the 1957 musical West Side Story. Leonard Bernstein composed the music and Stephen Sondheim wrote the lyrics. This was the first song they wrote together, and Sondheim later recollects that Bernstein must have written the opening line ("Boy, boy, crazy boy") since he himself was not prone to writing melismatically.^[1] This song is known for its fugal treatment of a jazz figure, described by one writer as "possibly the most complex instrumental music heard on Broadway to date".^[2] In the 1957 musical, the song is performed by Riff as he advises the Jets to stay cool before entering the Rumble. This is however changed in the 1961 and 2021 film adaptations.

Summary in the 1961 film

In the aftermath of the rumble and Riff (Russ Tamblyn)’s death, the Jets reconvene to hide from the police. When talk turns to taking the fight to the Sharks, Ice (Tucker Smith) takes charge, warning them all to keep their grief and anger in check if they don’t want police attention.

Summary in the 2021 film

Hours before the rumble, Tony (Ansel Elgort) learns that Riff (Mike Faist) is planning to bring a pistol and urges him to call the off, attempting to confiscate the gun while the rest of the Jets play Keep Away with it.^[3]

In popular culture

In 2011, actor Harry Shum Jr. performed the song as his character Mike Chang from the TV series Glee, in the third episode of season 3, "Asian F" (aired on October 4).^[4]

An episode of Animaniacs features a parody version as "Coo Bird" sung by Bobby of The Goodfeathers. The song is also parodied in the Flight of the Conchords episode "The Tough Brets" with the song "Stay Cool, Bret".

The Castle episode "Cool Boys" has Richard Castle and Detective Slaughter sing it to distract some criminals holding them at gunpoint.

British sketch show Horrible Histories parodied this song as a song about the English Civil War.

References