Musical Sunday: You Got Trouble

[snick_backup]

I love musicals. You do, too. (If you don't, you should. You shall!) Hence Sunday is now "Here's a Really Fabulous Musical Number that Snick Likes a Bunch" Day here at The Blog.

First up is The Music Man, which for wordplay and cleverness and appealing characters and colorful ensemble pieces and wit and a librarian lead and a few other reasons is my very favorite musical. I found myself choosing between seven or eight really top-notch pieces, but settled on this one, which is iconic for a reason.

For one thing, yes, fun lyrics with interesting vocabulary. But most importantly: Robert Preston. He starred in the stage production for years before appearing in the film, and it shows. Every intonation, every expression is spot-on. He gives Professor Harold Hill all the charm a scheming salesman could wish for.

Without further ado, Robert Preston, ladies and gentlemen:

(The video cuts off about ten second early. Be forewarned.)

Comments

[angearia.livejournal.com]

Oh, I adore this musical! Oh yes, we've got trouble! Right here in River City! With a Capital T and that rhymes with P and that stands for POOL!

Oh, and seventy-six trombones led the big parade! With a hundred and ten cornets close at hand!

I always loved how Spike referenced this musical. Seventy-six bleedin' trombones. :D

[snickfic]

And, come to think of it, he referenced it in a highly appropriate episode...

He also alluded to My Fair Lady way back in season 2: "By George, I think he's got it!" (Referring to the spectacled vampire, I think.) So maybe he's just a closet fan, eh?

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

Oh, you so know that Dru made him watch musicals with her! She loves the color and the songs!

...I now want to read a fic in which Dru makes him watch Chitty Chitty Bang Bang a thousand times in a row. Because she would.

[snickfic]

Or at least, that's what he tells everyone...

She so would. And it's got live dolls in it! Someone should mention this to rebcake before Oscar month is over at still_grrr...

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

Hee! Well, we know he loves Charlie Brown specials; why not musicals?

I was thinking of the dolls! And you're right: rebcake could totally pull that off.

[next_to_normal]

Oh, he soooo is. :) I kind of remember Spike making another musical reference at some point, but I can't remember what it is. (I thought it was West Side Story, actually, but I'm pretty sure that's from my fanfic, lol.)

[snickfic]

Heh. I'll definitely be keeping an ear out now.

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

YAY MUSIC MAN! Oh, I love this play! And I have the soundtrack on my iPod!

wordplay and cleverness and appealing characters and colorful ensemble pieces and wit and a librarian lead and a few other reasons So many things to love!

Every time I hear this song, I'm more blown away by the complexity. It's second only to "Rock Island" in how much is going on.

Thanks so much for sharing!

[snickfic]

Every time I hear this song, I'm more blown away by the complexity. It's second only to "Rock Island" in how much is going on.

Yes. "Rock Island" was a near second (or third? or fourth? I'm so spoiled for choice in this film!). The rhythmic parallels are just neat, and remind the auditory and visual parallels in "Pick a Little, Talk a Little" (which was another choice on that list). I'm pretty sure I'll go through all the major songs if I keep this series going long enough - which I probably will, since it's low-key and easy and fun.

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

I approve of all the songs. They're all awesome.

[seapealsh.livejournal.com]

That was the one part of The Music Man that I have always remembered. I saw it when it first came out but I was too young to really appreciate it. But I always remembered that song.

[snickfic]

Oh, you should definitely see it again! There's so much in it that only adults even notice, and the songs are all well-written and interesting both musically and visually. Plus the characters are fun.

Not that I'm opinionated about this or anything. *g*