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Post by Nurse Duckett on Jul 20, 2005 13:28:26 GMT -5
I was wondering how long it would be before Lloyd Webber cropped up... A friend played trumpet in the 'Cats' orchestra for TWENTY-ONE YEARS! Can you image that? It's not as though he liked it when it started... Maybe he got paid well? Or had another life and this one just paid bread-money? I often wonder about orchestral musicians playing stuff they actually hate. I was really glad to have a chance to ask one, once. His reply was pretty good, along the lines of "it's a job, some bits you love, some bits you don't" Good Call! To me and I'm not going to whisper this, they all sound the same, show-tunes*. I used to love that tv programme with Clive Anderson hosting it, various people like Greg Proops and Ryan Styles and a wonderfully talented and beautiful mimic who's name I can't recall: they used to send up show-tunes. *I'm not referring to those show-tunes which became quite rightly popular and well-known like Don't Cry for Me Argentina, and There is Nothing like a Dame, I Love to be in America and others, by the way. Not sure, Captain, I remember a film with another version, Carmen Jones, was it? I've seen Carmen staged several times. It's a terrible story, really. The bloke, Hero 1 at one point takes a look at his belovéd and says "You remind me of my mother". What A Good Way To Start. |
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Post by Luxury Yacht on Jul 20, 2005 13:44:15 GMT -5
Good Call! To me and I'm not going to whisper this, they all sound the same, show-tunes*. *I'm not referring to those show-tunes which became quite rightly popular and well-known like Don't Cry for Me Argentina, and There is Nothing like a Dame, I Love to be in America and others, by the way. Gaaah! All horrible! (Except "There Is Nothing Like A Dame" - South Pacific was OK, having desert island connections and all - "I'm gonna wash that man etc" was pretty good too.) Musicals - I loathe them with an almost universal loathing. Concept albums, the lot of them. Gilbert & Sullivan are excused. What was that thing where they had a chap habitually trying to burst into song? Ah, yes, Monty Python & The Holy Grail, I think.* That's how I feel about musicals. *might have been "Jabberwocky" - beg pardon. |
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Post by Captain Nudnick on Jul 20, 2005 14:17:49 GMT -5
I was wondering how long it would be before Lloyd Webber cropped up... A friend played trumpet in the 'Cats' orchestra for TWENTY-ONE YEARS! Can you image that? It's not as though he liked it when it started... Maybe he got paid well? Or had another life and this one just paid bread-money? I often wonder about orchestral musicians playing stuff they actually hate. I was really glad to have a chance to ask one, once. His reply was pretty good, along the lines of "it's a job, some bits you love, some bits you don't" Good Call! To me and I'm not going to whisper this, they all sound the same, show-tunes*. I used to love that tv programme with Clive Anderson hosting it, various people like Greg Proops and Ryan Styles and a wonderfully talented and beautiful mimic who's name I can't recall: they used to send up show-tunes. *I'm not referring to those show-tunes which became quite rightly popular and well-known like Don't Cry for Me Argentina, and There is Nothing like a Dame, I Love to be in America and others, by the way. Not sure, Captain, I remember a film with another version, Carmen Jones, was it? I've seen Carmen staged several times. It's a terrible story, really. The bloke, Hero 1 at one point takes a look at his belovéd and says "You remind me of my mother". What A Good Way To Start. No, he says 'Parle-moi de ma mère'... As for Don't Cry For Me Argentina - that's almost as dreadful as My Way! Carmen Jones was an up-dated, black version - Don Jose was Joe a GI, and Carmen Jones worked in a parachute packing works. Escamillo the Toreador was Husky Miller, a boxer... Harry Belafonte and Dorothy Dandridge starred - both were dubbed. Pearl Baily sang "Beat Out Dat Rhythm On A Drum". Fun... The Carmen version I meant looked like this...  |
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Post by Nurse Duckett on Jul 20, 2005 14:39:35 GMT -5
Lux, I don't like musicals either, I just tried (quickly) to think of a few examples which were less than repellent. The only musical I've ever been to was JesusChrist! Superstar. Oh, there was another one I dimly recall from about 100 years ago where the cast all took their clothes off and stood there, dangling and swinging, facing the audience, at the end of one number. This was very daring in those days, as if no one had ever seen a member before. What was it? Captain, I agree about My Way. Hate it Hate it Hate it. Harry Belafonte was dubbed!shakes head. wanders off. Nursie  |
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Upsetter
Islander
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Post by Upsetter on Jul 20, 2005 16:50:37 GMT -5
me mus stick an oar in ere! Me man Oliver! ME LOVES IT!!!!! Me like Food Glorious Jerk Chicken an black peas. Me like de Collie weed too but don nah won go telli or butterflyin on me. Me nah won anywon to kno! ...nah where me dulcie..me can see er anywha! me got a big pot ya stir it up good for I an I  |
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sea horse
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Post by sea horse on Jul 21, 2005 7:27:09 GMT -5
This is really before my time (though I saw it years later) however I'm sure someone knows it.   and, during my childhood, the LP for this was very popular in our house  but my tastes are more the likes of most any musical with this bloke in it  or this sort of thing   |
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sea horse
Islander
There is a distant isle, Around which sea-horses glippin ...
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Post by sea horse on Jul 21, 2005 7:37:55 GMT -5
The Carmen version I meant looked like this... Yes Cpt, Carmen with Julia Migenes IS fabulous. While we're on the Carmen path, so is Carlos Saura's film Carmen. There's no 'musical' songs, rather only a bit of flamenco singing; it's mostly just feet; Fred Astaire would have approved.  Also, it's a good film because you're never sure what's fantasy, what's plot, what's plot within plot, what's fantasy within plot, etc. Perhaps not everyone's taste for this, though.  |
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X
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Post by X on Jul 21, 2005 7:59:39 GMT -5
a favourite  |
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Post by Nurse Duckett on Jul 21, 2005 8:08:42 GMT -5
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Post by Captain Nudnick on Jul 21, 2005 11:07:58 GMT -5
This is really before my time (though I saw it years later) however I'm sure someone knows it. Of course - I had a friend who was in the London stage version, which sadly only lasted a few weeks. Maye some dialogue would have helped. Marni Nixon doing a great job of dubbing for Deborah Kerr. That's 'Swing Time'... |
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Post by Captain Nudnick on Jul 21, 2005 11:16:43 GMT -5
Lux, I don't like musicals either, I just tried (quickly) to think of a few examples which were less than repellent. The only musical I've ever been to was JesusChrist! Superstar. Oh, there was another one I dimly recall from about 100 years ago where the cast all took their clothes off and stood there, dangling and swinging, facing the audience, at the end of one number. This was very daring in those days, as if no one had ever seen a member before. What was it? Captain, I agree about My Way. Hate it Hate it Hate it. Harry Belafonte was dubbed!shakes head. wanders off. Nursie How could you say you don't like musicals if you've never seen a good one? Lloyd Webber doesn't count...(!) LeVerne Hutcherson sang for Belafonte, and Marilyn Horne for Dorothy Dandridge. I think Harry would have had a bit of a struggle with, say, 'The Flower Song', don't you? Mind you, Hutcherson sounds a bit strangled at times... |
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Post by Nurse Duckett on Jul 21, 2005 11:36:09 GMT -5
How could you say you don't like musicals if you've never seen a good one? Lloyd Webber doesn't count...(!) LeVerne Hutcherson sang for Belafonte, and Marilyn Horne for Dorothy Dandridge. I think Harry would have had a bit of a struggle with, say, 'The Flower Song', don't you? Mind you, Hutcherson sounds a bit strangled at times... I bow to your greater knowledge, I just go by instinct here!  A good musical, you say. (takes deep breath but what the heck). To me "musicals" means interminable tuneless stuff with sort of spoken to no tune, which no one ever sings afterwards (you yourself said they sing the scenery (or something like that)) which all sound the same when excerpts of them are played on Desert Island Discs, for instance. This doesn't mean I don't like stage plays with songs/tunes in, nor indeed, those set around songs. There was one in the late 70s (called Happy as a Sandbag IIRC) which was a rendition of the Big Band era. It was brilliantly performed and very well staged and sung. I even went twice! Speaking of which, here's another film with dammed good music in it:  |
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Post by Nurse Duckett on Jul 21, 2005 11:42:40 GMT -5
Oh, there was another one I dimly recall from about 100 years ago where the cast all took their clothes off and stood there, dangling and swinging, facing the audience, at the end of one number. This was very daring in those days, as if no one had ever seen a member before. What was it? I've remembered it now. Thinking about this with Nudders Nudged my brain:  but I don't recall a single song, for some reason. |
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Upsetter
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Post by Upsetter on Jul 21, 2005 11:44:41 GMT -5
Ah I followed the footsteps in the sand and see Pooka chose 'Oliver' too.
Now it is obvious that music is a bit of a blindspot as far as Dulcie is concerned. Even so I forgive her for somehow producing something of shimmering beauty from a few words and a picture. A rare gift.
Kris Kristofferson is an unlikely choice but does dredge up some disturbing musical memories. Not only is the man incapable of acting but his attempts at singing defy belief.
Are we talking of 'Musical' musical memories or 'musical memories' - see if I were Chief Controller or whatever ya call de Boss Man this confusion wouldn't happen. I was quite taken by the verve of 'West Side Story' and 'The Music Man' as well as 'Oliver' and 'Scrooge' (Albert Finney singing). Other than that I'm somewhat at a loss. I agree with Dirk in other words. Of the old musicals only 'Showboat' and 'There's No Business Like Show Business' were good enough to retain my interest from start to finish.
Andrew Lloyd-Webber stuff is pretty dire.
I agree with Pooka that Lionel Barts 'Oliver' is very good musically - I have the album - and the songs are universally good with no weak spots. I could never figure out why he couldn't repeat the success whilst someone like Webber goes on and on and on producing 'pap'. And I'm afraid 'Hair' falls into the same category...the dawning of the Age of Aquarius isn't upon us, sadly.
Hang on for another 300 yrs and it shall arrive - God knows how and where and what?
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Upsetter
Islander
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Post by Upsetter on Jul 21, 2005 11:55:37 GMT -5
I'm sorry all the choices are quite appalling - an intensive lesson in music training at the Daz Madrigal Centre of Musical Excellence is in order.
Apart from the young chap who seems to think that Rory Gallagher took the lead role in 'Carmen'..he's let off because of..err..original and lateral thinking. I think?
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