When you talk to most people about their favorite genre of movie, few would include the Musical. I am one of those few. I love a Musical more than is acceptable in normal society. I do not claim to have seen every musical but I would say that I have seen more than many people. Some of my favorites include My Fair Lady, Fiddler On The Roof, Oliver!, Jesus Christ Superstar, and The Sound of Music. If I have left out any of those that I particularly love I am sorry to you my dear friends. Last night, while watching “The Muppet Show” (oh and I suppose all true Muppet movies are musicals of a sort and I love them all) they put together a fantastical recreation of the jousting scene from “Camelot. I must admit that is a musical I have not seen. My mom says its good though. Anyway, the premise was that they were not allowed to do the true jousting scene without paying royalties so instead they ripped off many other musicals in a wonderful amalgamation of musical tribute.
They introduce the Queen, who happens to be Pearl Bailey, and she bursts on to the scene with Hello Dolly. Next the jousters are introduced and bring in their horses with a wonderful rendition of Paul Revere from “Guys and Dolls”. The jousters (Floyd and Gonzo) then broke into Anything You Can do I Can Do Better. I don’t know what musical that is from but I know the song and I am curious. Does anyone know? Then Piggy jumped in with A Boy Like That from West Side Story (oh yeah that is one of my favorites too) and they closed it all out with Everything’s Coming up Roses and I also don’t know what that is from. So I guess what I am trying to say is I am not as well versed in musicals as I thought and I am upset about that.
I am, however, well versed in Muppets. I don’t know if anyone else loves those little guys as much as I do. I have a constant internal debate about “The Muppet Movie” vs. “The Great Muppet Caper” and which is the top Muppet film in my eyes. While “The Muppet Movie” is a definite classic and The Rainbow Connection is a song for the ages, something about a human man being madly in love with Miss. Piggy is an absolute gem. Also Bouregard has a fantastic part in “The Great Muppet Caper” and he is my favorite unsung Muppet. Of the main characters I have to give it up for Fozzie Bear. He is adorable and hilarious. People used to tell me that if I were a Muppet I would be Rolph but then they met Monica and she looks more like a Rolph than I. Now I don’t know what Muppet I would be. Sad.
This is probably one of the most pointless posts I have ever had. I really anted to talk about the wonders and glory of the Musical but I was totally sidetracked by fluffy creatures that dance really funny. Oh well. I still had fun writing it. I guess the point is to tell me what I should watch.
I may be absent the next few days. I am of work Thursday and Friday, which seems like it would be conducive to writing, but I have things to do. I have to finish a painting for Tony tomorrow and then Friday I am going to see Friend. Yeah for friend! Maybe I’ll get to it. Just don’t be mad at me if I don’t. If you care at all, which you probably don’t. Whatever.
Now, for the songs to guess. We need to add one new one to round it back out to five.
1. The boy done wrong again. Hang your head in shame and cry your life away. The Boy Done Wrong Again, Belle and Sebastian. Identified by Jaclyn
2. A flask I drink of sober tea while relay cameras monitor me.
3. You're gonna break another heart you're gonna tell another lie. There You Go, Johnny Cash. Identified by Stephanie
4. Standing like John Wayne she is full frame she is center stage.
5. Your Flesh Finds Me Out. Teases the crack in me. Smittens me with hope.
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10 comments:
Wow, you are just like me(except you have longer posts). I see you check out the blogs I check out(including mine and yours). Cool.
www.a-dumb-blog.blogspot.com
Hey Natalie,
The song "Anything You Can Do" comes from the musical Annie Get Your Gun, a musical take on the life story of Annie Oakley, who was a sharpshooter and performed in wild west shows. The musical was first performed on Broadway in 1946 (hence it's not-very-modern treatment of ethnicity and gender issues).
I wasn't sure what musical "Everything's Coming Up Roses" is from, so I looked it up and found out that it's from Gypsy, a musical take on the life of famous stripease artist Gypsy Rose Lee (and her mother, known as the momma of all stage mommas). This is a late 1950s era musial, first performed in 1959 I think.
Interestingly, both of these musicals are closely associated with Ethel Merman. She created the stage roles of Annie Oakley and of Mama Rose, the mother of Gypsy Rose Lee, and thus sung both of the songs you mentioned. Don't know if she ever did any movies, though, although both shows have been done as movies. Also interesting is that Bernadette Peters has apparently been in both shows.
I love the Muppets too! We already own the Season 1 DVDs and plan to collect as many of the released seasons as possible. My Hubbs & I always have a good laugh at the Fozzie & Statler & Waldorf sketches; they are our faves.
Not so much a fan of the movies, though; I DO like Miss Piggy having a starring role, but I hate how that stupid NY rat Rizzo (is that his name) is in like every movie. I hate rats. Even Muppet rats.
And don't forget Phantom of the Opera (the stage version) in your list of great musicals. We're seeing it in town next weekend and I can hardly wait! Miss Saigon done live is also pretty fantastic, and we enjoyed watching "Mamma Mia!" as well. My sister thinks Rent is her all-time fave.
oooo...Johnny Cash is number 3!!! The song is called There You Go!!
Go me!
Those are really really hard! But a really good idea, I may have to borrow.
I LOVE the Muppets, but I have to be honest with you, I'd rather shoot myself in the face than watch a musical.
I love the Muppet movies - have you seen A Muppet Christmas Carol? It's my favorite version of the old classic.
My favorite Muppet Movie line: "It's plot exposition. It has to go somewhere." I used it as my email tag line for years.
Mom- Thanks for the info. It truly does matter.
Mrs L.- Is Rizzo in The Muppet Movie? For some reason I don't think the rats were introduced until Muppets Take Manhattan in the diner? I could be wrong though.
Stephanie- Yeah I thought that one would have been snapped up sooner but I'm am glad you guessed it.
Should-be- You should never discount the musical. You may be surprised. I had Tony very into them until I showed him Oliver! That ruined everything.
Terry- I think that was awesome. Stadler and Waldorf in chains is priceless
Jaclyn- As sad as it is I knew only you or Monica would get that one. Monica has been without a computer for weeks so you were really my only hope. Thanks for giving B&S the recognition they deserve. See you tomorrow
Natalie, I doubt there is a single person on this earth who could convince me to like musicals. No offense to those that do. It's just not my gig.
I've actually seen Oliver! and to say that it sucked would be like saying that Robert Downey Jr. used to have a wee little bit of a drug problem.
GAH! Blast you, Anonymous! You beat me to it! Yes, Annie Get Your Gun.
And Natalie, since you live in Chicago, and you love musicals, you MUST come to my show, "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change". It's a freakin' laugh riot, and I can get you 1/2 priced tickets ( = $10-20 after the discount). You'd just have to get to Arlington Heights (the Metra goes there). But it's worth it cuz our production is going to freakin' ROCK!!! www.metropolisarts.com
Personally, I am torn between The Great Muppet Caper and The Muppets Take Manhattan. The best part about Caper being that they totally think Ms. Piggy is Lady Holiday and she has that whole scene with Kermit, trying to convince him that this high society home is really hers while the old rich couple is still in the building. And when she jumps off the motorcycle in slow-mo to topple over Charles Grodin. Classic! But then I think about how awesome the whole Phil, Gil, Lil and Bill scene is, and the Muppet Babies daydream while they're riding through Central Park in a horse-drawn carriage...I just can't choose! :-)
Julie- Oh so true. All those hours I spent watching Muppet Babies is due to Muppets Take Manhattan. Piggie climbing into that house is classic. All Muppet Movies are just so great. I feel bad that they can't all be my favorite.
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