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Originally Posted by Janszoon
That is weird, it has probably the best music I've ever heard in a musical.
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Maybe I was just too emotionally moved by the movie. And/or scarred.
Keeping on with weird old musicals, I'd like to talk about 42nd Street. I had the pleasure of acting and singing in this piece of genius in high school, and I think its songs really resonated with me back then. Originally produced in 1933, it has the decadent feel of the depression and all of the sleaze of NYC.
Obligatory wikipedia blurb:
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The film is a backstage musical, and was very successful at the box office. 42nd Street was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1934, and in 1998 it was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". In 2006 this film ranked 13th on the American Film Institute's list of best musicals.
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13th, eh? Maybe I should check out entries 1-12! (Chula Vista mentioned Singin' in the Rain - #1 on the list - but sad to say I've never seen it. Like I said, I'm no expert! Maybe I can watch it in the next few weeks.)
Without further ado, here are some of my favorite numbers from 42nd Street.
Where the underworld can meet the elite....
42nd Street!
LOL. SHE IS SO AWKWARD. But I love it. The song has a very edgy feel actually, with the deep horn section there. Kinda pulls you in. The tapping is classy of course, and the vocalist has this childish charm about her, wouldn't you say? Very hard to emulate this style on stage today.
Also, still wondering why a lady is spanking a doll baby in this (around 2:22). Hahahah! You can here a more updated version from the 1980s broadway version
here.
Oh, showbusiness not for you? Maybe you'll be coaxed in by the
Lullaby of Broadway? Hahaha. I love, "When a broadway baby says goodnight, it's early in the morning..."
This is my favorite version of the song on youtube..
I wonder what Angelo's and Maxi's are. Hehe, so many weird references to 1930s NYC, which was most apparently just as outrageous (if not more) than it is today, eh?
The last song I love is "Quarter to Nine," and in this case, the 2001 recordings are the best in my opinion. I just adore the vocalists here, and the song is so beautiful and sexy. When I was in the show I used to love hearing this number from backstage.
Such a gorgeous duet. Wonderful piece of music! Enjoy. xx