"Jeepers Creepers" is a 1938 popular song and jazz standard with music by Harry Warren and lyrics by Johnny Mercer, written for the film Going Places. Louis Armstrong premiered the song in the film, singing it to a racehorse of the same name. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song that year.
The song follows a 32-bar AABA form in Bb major, with bright, straightforward harmony built on I–vi–ii–V cycles. Notably, its chord structure has served as the foundation for numerous contrafacts, including "Four Brothers" and "My Little Suede Shoes." The melody has an engaging, conversational quality that invites playful vocal delivery. It works well across a range of styles, from Dixieland to swing, and its infectious energy makes it a perennial crowd-pleaser.
Louis Armstrong's 1939 Decca recording remains the definitive version, showcasing his powerful trumpet and joyous vocal style. Artie Shaw and His Orchestra also delivered a memorable swing treatment in a 1938 radio broadcast that crackles with big band energy.
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