Julie Andrews, born October 1, 1935, in Walton-on-Thames, England, began her musical career as a child prodigy with an exceptional singing voice and perfect pitch. Trained in operatic technique, she made her professional debut at age 12 and quickly rose to fame on British radio and stage. At 18, she moved to Broadway to star in "The Boy Friend," which launched her international career. Her breakout role came as Eliza Doolittle in "My Fair Lady" (1956), followed by starring roles in "Camelot" and the television musical "Cinderella." Andrews became a film legend with "Mary Poppins" (1964), earning an Academy Award, and "The Sound of Music" (1965), one of the most successful movie musicals ever made. Renowned for her crystal-clear soprano and elegant stage presence, Julie Andrews remains one of the most celebrated musical performers in theater and film history.
Governess MariaRainer (Maria Augusta Kutschera)
Some examples of her work include "Do-Re-Mi" and "I Have Confidence," both of which are part of the movie musical "The Sound of Music." The role was almost taken from her even before it was given. The producers were not convinced she was the right person for the job. They were considering fully established actresses at the time, namely Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly. Obviously, its massive success at the box office would prove them wrong. It surpassed the record of Gone With The Wind as the top-grossing movie of all time in 1966 and held it for five years.
In the video below, Andrews can be seen prancing around while singing to the tune of "I Have Confidence." One of the filming locations has a special place in my traveling history. It wasn't a planned experience, but just as significant. My family and I had a stopover in Salzburg on our way up to Kehlsteinhaus and had spare time to visit the centuries-old fortress, Hohensalzburg. That's when we roam around the Residenzplatz, not realizing its history with the movie musical "The Sound of Music." The picture above is of the historical landmark in Salzburg, the fountain where Julie Andrews splashed the horse statue with water, the same place where my son was doing the exact same thing.
"I Have Confidence,"Julie Andrews, March 2, 1965, USA
Lyrics
The lyrics were written specially for the film "The Sound of Music," by Richard Rodgers. The filmmakers wanted the audience to visualize Andrews' character "Maria" on her journey from the Abbey to the von Trapp villa. The lyrics give me an overview of Maria's deepest thoughts, her attitude towards a different life from the nunnery, and leave me the impression that, though she has doubts and is nervous, she has a strong resolve to be an outstanding nanny to the von Trapp children. Though Maria and the Captain's love story was depicted differently in the movie, all the same the real-life "Maria", a stern but kind governess, and was so enamored with them that she ended up marrying Captain von Trapp to secure her place in the lives of the children.
Instrumentation/Vocals
Andrews is described as having a lyrical ability. The skill of expressing emotions and ideas through imaginative and beautiful language, characterized by musicality, rhythmic flow, and poetic quality. She skillfully delivered the song. A truly magnificent performance from the actress-singer of the show. In the music video "I Have Confidence," her voice is clear, enthusiastic, and warm. Correlating with what the song is all about. The excitement in her voice when singing the lyrics about being confident in all things of her future with the von Trapp family shines through.
The original song is a film score accompanied by Andrews' vocals and an orchestra. This version differs in structure and phrasing from the stage musical adaptation. The exact orchestral details are not specified in the search results online during my research. But the most common arrangements in sheet music include piano and voice or ukulele and voice.
Tempo/Rhythm
The meter of the song is written in common time, giving us a 75 BPM. It is played in the key of E Major. The rhythm is commonly described as a march, with a steady pulse that propels the song forward. It has a moderate to upbeat tempo, giving us that bright, optimistic, and enthusiastic feel without being hurried. I think this tempo and rhythm remind me of the song "Don't Rain on My Parade" by Barbra Streisand from the classic musical drama "Funny Girl" in 1968.
Nanny Mary Poppins
The second example of her work below is a song called "A Spoonful of Sugar" that was used in another movie musical adaptation she starred in, as the eponymous title role of "Mary Poppins." This was composed by the Sherman brothers, Robert B. Sherman and Richard M. Sherman. Inspired by a polio vaccine comment from Robert Sherman's son, the revised song was born, foregoing the previous title "The Eyes of Love." This was written in 4/4 meter, the same as the first example above, indicating four beats per measure with the quarter note receiving one beat. The song is performed at a "brightly" tempo, referring to a fast, lively, and cheerful speed in music in the key of G Major.
I'm highlighting this as the second example of Andrews' work due to its importance in catapulting her name globally, akin to "The Sound of Music," "Mary Poppins" became a household name, analogous to Julie Andrews. This video is so fun to watch, as it reminds me of how I can make a daunting task playful and enjoyable. Her vivacious personality in singing and acting was captured in this entire video as she taught the children of the Banks' family to tidy up their room in a fun way, and how they can take their medicine easily with a spoonful of sugar.
"A Spoonful of Sugar,"Julie Andrews, August 27, 1964, USA
Significance as a Performer
Performers like Julie Andrews hold a special place in society by
serving as inspirational figures, providing moral guidance through their roles, fostering community through shared entertainment, and displaying resilience in their personal lives. Actors and singers like herself are essential because they offer a range of escapism, emotional release, and opportunities for social reflection that are vital for human well-being.
Andrews definitely embodies a multifaceted actor on stage. This is why her kind is of the utmost value in the industry and in society as a whole. It is clearly not an easy undertaking to act, dance, and sing concurrently. It is one thing to sing, but another level to do everything else at once while performing live in a theater. Granted, in these music videos or in the movies, performers usually mime to a pre-recorded song, but it's still a skill that needs to be mastered.
It's also fantastic to know that she excels in the written world. After losing her high vocal register from a botched surgery due to a non-cancerous lesion, she suffered from depression, probably caused by the loss of identity. This did not stop her from starting over. She co-authored some children's books with her daughter and penned her autobiographies. I honestly loved her the most in The Princess Diaries; she did not seem to be in character at all because I pictured her just as regal in real life. I do wish I'd seen her perform on Broadway; YouTube videos will suffice since she's 90 years old now.
Julie Andrews, Live In Concert, Royal Festival Hall, 1989
Conclusion
This blog taught me another form of resilience. Julie Andrews is a well-rounded screen and stage actress who has been around as far as I can remember. The damage to her vocal chords and rising up again after mourning for the identity that she had built her entire life, was a crossroad she successfully maneuvered. She has arrived exactly where she needed and meant to be. It led her to discover a new career as an author in her mid-60s as a way to adapt and continue using her voice in a new medium.
Wikipedia contributors. "Julie Andrews." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 11 Oct. 2025. Web. 17 Oct. 2025. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julie_Andrews
Wikipedia contributors. "The Sound of Music (film)." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 15 Oct. 2025. Web. 17 Oct. 2025.
Mary Poppins is one of my favorite movies and I will literally sing "A Spoonful of Sugar" while cleaning. Though of course I'm not as good as her and still have yet mastered snapping my bed into being made. You can truly hear the operatic elements in her singing which add such a fun levity to its repeated lines, which translate well into it's theme.
I really enjoyed reading your analysis about Julie Andrews! I really enjoy Julie Andrews work and have always watched her throughout my childhood in shows and movies. My favorite role of hers was in the Original Mary Poppins. I loved your music picks of Julie Andrews especially "A Spoonful of Sugar" from Mary Poppins as it was my favorite childhood movie. Reading your analysis brought me back to my childhood and that was so much fun! Your conclusion was so well done and I loved the lessons you learned about resilience. I thought I would share a website about some fun facts about Julie Andrews throughout her life https://www.hollywoodinsider.com/julie-andrews-facts-32/
I used to watch both "The Sound of Music" and "Mary Poppins" when I was younger all the time. I love that you covered her, because she really has a beautiful voice. I think it's also amazing that you wrote about her life after she sang, co-authoring books with her daughter. I would have liked to hear more about your reaction to the music though.
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Mary Poppins is one of my favorite movies and I will literally sing "A Spoonful of Sugar" while cleaning. Though of course I'm not as good as her and still have yet mastered snapping my bed into being made. You can truly hear the operatic elements in her singing which add such a fun levity to its repeated lines, which translate well into it's theme.
ReplyDeleteHi, That's nice that you love that song, I also love the sequel The return of Mary Poppins with Emily Blunt in it...
DeleteI really enjoyed reading your analysis about Julie Andrews! I really enjoy Julie Andrews work and have always watched her throughout my childhood in shows and movies. My favorite role of hers was in the Original Mary Poppins. I loved your music picks of Julie Andrews especially "A Spoonful of Sugar" from Mary Poppins as it was my favorite childhood movie. Reading your analysis brought me back to my childhood and that was so much fun! Your conclusion was so well done and I loved the lessons you learned about resilience. I thought I would share a website about some fun facts about Julie Andrews throughout her life https://www.hollywoodinsider.com/julie-andrews-facts-32/
DeleteI used to watch both "The Sound of Music" and "Mary Poppins" when I was younger all the time. I love that you covered her, because she really has a beautiful voice. I think it's also amazing that you wrote about her life after she sang, co-authoring books with her daughter. I would have liked to hear more about your reaction to the music though.
ReplyDelete