What with the SYTYCD thread, the thread devoted to Glee and now the thread where we all boast about how awful our music tastes are, no time has seemed more appropriate to mention a thing that requires our growing awareness. A thing you and I both love (and if you don’t, you’re lying to yourself and also terrible).
Yes, that’s right. It is the time to talk about SHOW TUNES.
Before you pooh-pooh and scoff and send me away to a midnight showing of Rocky Horror (not without justification), consider how long musical theatre has been around and just how many awesome people have been involved in it over the years. The people you most trust; the stars of your favourite films and television shows; yes, even your mom
and/or dad; all of these and more may be involved in this age-old pandemic. “But,†I hear you ask, “How could they do such a thing?!†Well, there are many reasons that one may find themselves involved in such a phenomenon. You see, the musical theatre has everything you may find in normal media – drama, humor, insanity, wit, and violence – all with the added trappings of song, dance, and occasionally silly costumes. And it’s been going on since before there were many alternative medias to choose from! Don’t believe me?
Arguably, the modern musical really began with that dashingest of duos, composer Arthur Sullivan and lyricist William S. Gilbert. They’ve recently been (further) immortalized in the film ‘Topsy Turvy,’ but their works are still put on in modern theatres with regularity, and their songs have been parodied or referenced in all sorts of things, from The Simpsons to Doctor Who to the book Stranger in a Strange Land. They wrote about pirates and shogun and England, mostly.
With Cat-Like Tread
They wrote their material in the late 19th century. Following in their footsteps years later came people like Irving Berlin, who wrote Puttin' on the Ritz and White Christmas, and George Gershwin, creator of I Got Rhythm and approximately one million other songs you may not even realize you know. “Nobody listens to that old crap anymore,†You may say. Or perhaps, “The only reason to be in theatre is because you’re too ugly for the movies.â€
Fortunately, the imaginary, possibly slanderous words I’ve put in your mouth can be proved false by skipping ahead a few years, and showing some of these guys:
New York, New York
In 1949, Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, and Jules Munshin starred in On the Town as the hottest sailors ever to do a soft-shoe. But maybe you straight guys out there aren’t convinced of the sex appeal in a song-and-dance routine. May I introduce you to Cyd Charisse?
Bandwagon
Fred Astaire's not too shabby, either.
Although they get a lot of flak for a variety of reasons, the musical has been an important tool for social commentary and the voicing of progressive/transgressive opinions for almost the entirety of its existence. The method of conveyance differs, of course. Sometimes it’s hopeful:
Ragtime
Sometimes it’s bittersweet:
Hair
Sometimes it’s funny and involves puppets and Gary Coleman!
Avenue Q
But enough from me. Admit it here and now – somewhere out there is a musical, or just a song from a musical, that you love. You were in it in high school, or you watched the tape a hundred times when you were a kid, or you just think it’s catchy as hell. What are your favourites, SE++?
"Sandra has a good solid anti-murderer vibe. My skin felt very secure and sufficiently attached to my body when I met her. Also my organs."
HAIL SATAN
Posts
Now, have this song stuck in your head for the rest of forever
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WB44FLm5g14
Little Shop is such a good movie. How can you not love Steve Martin and Rick Moranis?
Edit: OH MY GOD THAT IS MY FAVOURITE SONG FROM LES MIS
okay calming down now and watching siamese kids walk by for eight years
"Sandra has a good solid anti-murderer vibe. My skin felt very secure and sufficiently attached to my body when I met her. Also my organs." HAIL SATAN
The Producers
Springtime for Hitler.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNXj-SCx5dY&feature=related
Secret Satan 2013 Wishlist
The best part is definitely how often Javert squeals "IT MUST BE EITHER VALJEAN OR JAVERT"
dammit, hunter
It is the best song from Les Mis, though I'm also a fan of:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PXZ1nLiUZo
I like Javert's songs, however, specifically because I can sing them well as I have a similar singing voice.
Beaten
Secret Satan 2013 Wishlist
It is highly recommended.
but i love that show
some of my favorites:
I can do better than that
Last Five Years is more of a song cycle and never made it farther than Off-Broadway, but I love it, especially that song
Our Favorite Son
from Will Rogers Follies, I got to perform that song once and it was fun as hell. A fun little musical by the composer who did Sweet Charity
I'm the bravest individual
Sweet Charity is one of my favorite musicals, there just isn't a bad moment
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01Cg5Ujtmxc&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N81Js_SkXak&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeqopqYoilM&feature=related
'is employment!
Javert is the most interesting character in the book and in the musical, in my opinion.
I haven't gotten to see Avenue Q onstage, and I want to so badly! But I did get to see the original cast of Urinetown.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hixg5gz054
Which was amazing. John Cullum.
"Sandra has a good solid anti-murderer vibe. My skin felt very secure and sufficiently attached to my body when I met her. Also my organs." HAIL SATAN
It was a lot of fun. I got to be Soldier #1! I had a couple of lines!
Secret Satan 2013 Wishlist
A maid? A maid! A maid! A MAID!
And let me say it only takes three high school girls singing "On My Own," at the same revue to make you wish your ears were broken.
Metzger, I can't tell you how long it took me to decide which Gilbert and Sullivan song to post! And I was originally going to put up "Still Hurting" from The Last 5 Years, but I figured six videos in one OP were enough to be going with.
"Sandra has a good solid anti-murderer vibe. My skin felt very secure and sufficiently attached to my body when I met her. Also my organs." HAIL SATAN
I, Miles Gloriosus! (A man among men!)
I, paragon of virtue! (With sword and with pen!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=082y805mkA8
I saw that tour of Rent with some of the originals and it was pretty good, but all of the crazy Rentheads was a bit much for me
JordynNolz.com <- All my blogs (Shepard, Wasted, J'onn, DCAU) are here now!
Are you volunteering to write it? Because you seem to have the libretto down perfectly for the first fifteen minutes, at least!
Geek, did you get to see Evil Dead the Musical? I heard it's awesome. And that you get blood on you in the front rows. Possibly that's why it's awesome, I suppose.
"Sandra has a good solid anti-murderer vibe. My skin felt very secure and sufficiently attached to my body when I met her. Also my organs." HAIL SATAN
The Aristocrats!
JordynNolz.com <- All my blogs (Shepard, Wasted, J'onn, DCAU) are here now!
YAY!
Edit: God, that shit is fantastic.
I saw the original cast of Wicked
So good