# Fortuosity

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"'''Fortuosity'''" is the first song in the 1967 motion picture ''[The Happiest Millionaire](/source/The_Happiest_Millionaire)'' which was written by the [Sherman Brothers](/source/Sherman_Brothers) and performed by [Tommy Steele](/source/Tommy_Steele) playing the part of "John Lawless" (the butler).<ref name="Inc.1967">{{cite magazine|author=Mike Gross|title=Anyway They Spell It, Shermans Make Music Universal Language|magazine=Billboard|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SygEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA22|date=11 November 1967|pages=22–|issn=0006-2510}}</ref> Richard Sherman stated that the word meant "Faith and Good Fortune".<ref name="Inc.1967"/> Apparently derived from "fortuitous", which refers to something that happens by fortune or chance,<ref>{{Cite OED|Fortuitous}}.</ref> "fortuosity" is a Disney [neologism](/source/neologism) and has a more positive meaning than "fortuitous" or that word's standard noun form, "fortuity", which means accident, chance, or an accidental occurrence.<ref>{{Cite OED|Fortuity}}.</ref> Steele also sings the song "[I'll Always Be Irish](/source/I'll_Always_Be_Irish)" in the film.

==Other versions==
"Fortuosity" has been covered by other performers:
* The [Mills Brothers](/source/Mills_Brothers)' [1968 album](/source/Mills_Brothers_discography) ''Fortuosity'' had it as the title track. This album also contained their top adult contemporary hit, "[Cab Driver](/source/Cab_Driver_(song))".
* [Carol Burnett](/source/Carol_Burnett) recorded a version with RCA Victor.<ref name="Inc.1967"/><ref>Spelled "Carol Burnette" in the Billboard article.</ref>
* [Count Basie](/source/Count_Basie) recorded a version with London.<ref name="Inc.1967"/>
* [Vic Damone](/source/Vic_Damone) recorded a version with RCA Victor.<ref name="Inc.1967"/>
* [Nancy Sinatra](/source/Nancy_Sinatra) performed the song with the nine foot tall [Muppet](/source/Muppet) named "Thog" in her Las Vegas stage show.<ref name="Falk2012">{{cite book|author=Karen Falk|title=Imagination Illustrated: The Jim Henson Journal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vr5AK64M33MC&pg=PA80|date=7 November 2012|publisher=Chronicle Books|isbn=978-1-4521-0582-6|pages=80–}}</ref>

==Disney Parks==
The New Century Timepieces store on [Disneyland](/source/Disneyland)'s Main Street was named the Fortuosity Shop in October 2008.<ref>From DisneyGallery.com, October 3, 2008, Quote: New Century Timepieces will re-open its doors as the new Fortuosity Shop. "The name of the shop was inspired by the opening song from ''The Happiest Millionaire''", says Walt Disney Imagineer and Director of Concept and Show Design, Kim Irvine. "We chose it because it is a Disney word created to express good fortune, which we hope everyone will find some type of fun fortune or treasure each time they visit the shop".</ref>

This song is also part of the BGM loop for [Main Street, U.S.A.](/source/Main_Street%2C_U.S.A.) at [Disneyland](/source/Disneyland), [Magic Kingdom](/source/Magic_Kingdom), and [Disneyland Paris](/source/Disneyland_Park_(Paris)) since 1992.

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{authority control}}

Category:1967 songs
Category:1967 singles
Category:Disney songs
Category:Songs about luck
Category:Songs written by the Sherman Brothers
Category:Songs written for films
Category:Tommy Steele songs

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Fortuosity](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fortuosity) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fortuosity?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.