That International Rag

Cover to the sheet music, first edition

"That International Rag" is a song composed by Irving Berlin in 1913.[1] Berlin wrote the song the night before its debut, when he needed a new opening number for his act while on tour in England.

Days before the song's composition, Berlin held a press conference that backfired and led the public to question his musical talent. He wanted to impress his audience with a new song, so he stayed up overnight to compose the number and completed it just before his matinee in London. The performance was well received; it did well in vaudeville and in early sound recordings. The song later appeared in Hollywood films.

  1. ^ Gary Giddins, Visions of Jazz: The First Century (Oxford University Press US, 1998), 31.