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Sunday, December 30, 2007

Shuffle! (Meme)


Mark, over at Rise and Pray, was tagged with a random play list meme. Grab your iPod or your Windows/Mac player -- select all songs and hit shuffle -- what are the 1st 10 songs that come up -- no cheating! Even if it's silly stuff. -- My silly one was the 1st selection. (Okay, I list 11, but it's because I prefer odd numbers!)

Click the little musical note next to the song title to hear 30 second sample from Barnes and Noble. You don't have to add this feature, but it's fun. I've added notes too for overkill. :-D The first cut is a sample from the UK Amazon site - B&N didn't have it and the US site's interface is braindead. (You people in the UK spend the EARTH for CDs, BTW )

1. [I Love You] Elizabeth [Taylor] - Keith Cromwell - Whoop-Dee-Doo!

Well, what can I say about Whoop-Dee-Doo! -- it was the revue creation of the late Howard Crabtree - wickedly funny. A guilty pleasure. I didn't get to see it, but the pictures of the costumes I can find were something else. Had Liberace still been around, he'd have said "Wow. These are over the top!"

The lyrics are irresistible: [My mother would have laughed herself silly.] See the combox for lyrics.

2. Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite - Beatles - Sgt. Pepper Album

Of all the Beatles songs I have loaded, I was delighted this one came (other than, oh, say "Why don't we do it in the Road" from the White Album.) I remember being enchanted with the sound effects of Mr. Kite as a youngster when the Album first came out. Years later, I was watching some documentary type program, and one of the recording engineers said that they wanted that caliope effect. The fellow found an old tape used from a Merry Go Round -- he randomly cut the tape and spliced it back together - voila. Magic. Pure Magic. I can also remember one of the Beatles saying that the inspiration for the show came almost verbatim from an old circus poster he had seen in a curio shop. The Beatles don't seem to have allowed for music samples of their CDs.

3. (I've Got) Beginner's Luck - Fred Astaire - Starring Fred Astaire

This song was written by George and Ira Gershwin for the film Shall We Dance. Fred sings it to -- who else? but Ginger, while he was wooing her aboard ship. George died later that same year when Damsel in Distress (another movie musical with George Burns and Gracie Allen -- and a horribly miscast young Joan Fontaine) was in production. This double CD is out of print, but well worth it if you can find it.

4. A Fine Romance - Ella Fitzgerald - American Songbook Series: Jerome Kern

Ella does a great job with this oft recorded "standard."

5. Battle Hymn of the Republic - Armed Forces Chorus; US Marine Chamber Orchestra - Mourning in America

This was beautifully sung at the Reagan funeral, which was held at the National Cathedral [Episcopal] in Washington. I've always had a love of this song, and it always pains me when the few times we get to sing it in church (usually at 4th of July and times like that,) the cantor junks it up by calling it "Mine eyes have seen the glory." I always want to scream "NOOOO!!!!! Stop being so damned PC!!!" But what can I do? I don't want to make a scene as I'm processing out. The CD also contains a very beautifully sung "Jerusalem" not the song most Americans are familiar with - but the English tune Jerusalem - but the words are not the Blake ones re: "dark Satanic Mills" but start out "Oh, love of God, how strong and true." Frankly, I wish this song were sung in Catholic churches - but I've yet to hear it in one. If your church does it - count yourself lucky. [And luckier still if you have a red-blooded cantor.] (No sound samples, but the link is to the Reagan Library which has exclusive CD/DVDs available. I really enjoy mine.

6. Everybody loves to take a bow - Benay Venuta - [OBC]‡ Hazel Flagg

I had heard of this musical from reading Carol Burnett's autobiography, One More Time, about her youth and early career. She'd cut short her time at UCLA to try and break onto the boards on Broadway - her and 3 zillion other kids bitten by the bug. You couldn't get an agent, until you'd done a show, and you couldn't get a show unless you had an agent. She and her friends LITERALLY "put on a show" just like Mickey and Judy - and one of the songs she sang that got her noticed was the comic Laura de Maupassant from this musical. This woman has never forgotten her working class roots, and the book is a great read. I was delighted when I got ahold of the CD, because I hadn't heard any of the numbers before - I got a real charge out of "Everybody loves to take a bow." I used a bit of it when I put together a little Windows "Moviemaker" film for the first time back in spring. Teresa (our church's former 5:15 server) and her friends had done some Shakespeare in the Park last year, and she was delighted when I used a snipped of this song for the "credits."

7. Everything's Coming up Roses - Ethel Merman - [OBC] Gypsy

Nobody sings this song like Ethel. She OWNS it. Oddly enough the "Curtain up! Light the Lights! You've got nothing to hit but the heights!" bit from this song I first heard when I was five or so -- as one of the tags for the Bugs Bunny Cartoon show. Gypsy is my all time favorite musical. Perfect Book by Arthur Laurents. Perfect Score by Jule Styne. Perfect lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. What on earth is there not to like?

8. Opening Doors - cast - [OBC] Merrily We Roll Along

I love this Sondheim creation. Apparently never worked well on stage (dudes, your cast was too young for the audience to "get it") -- this Musical works its way backward in time and so does the music. The score is like peeling an onion.

9. If I knew you were coming I'd have baked a cake - Ethel Merman (w/Ray Bolger) - There's no business like Show Business: The collection

Ah, Miss Merman favored twice. I'd first heard of this song quite some years back when I read, Richard Nixon's autobiography RN. He mentioned that it was a popular song of the day when he was first campaigning against Helen Gahagan for his first term in the US Senate. I thought the title intriguing, and was never able to find a recording of it. Once some years back I asked the Sainted Father S. if he knew the song. He DID and was able to sing a little bit of it for me that he remembered, he was a very young man when it came out, he was still in seminary. Early this year I finally scored it when I noticed this CD had come out. Father was delighted when I played it for him - and it's quite a fun song.

10. It's a Most Unusual Day - Michael Feinstein - The M.G.M. Album

Mikey can sing the phone book and I'd buy a copy. If I get around to putting together a playlist of "feel good" songs, this one's going to be on it. I've never been disappointed in any of Mikey's recordings. Once by pure serendipity I happened to be over at the local Borders Bookstore in Mission Valley - and I saw a sign out -- who should be appearing THERE that very day - not an hour later -- at that very store -- but Mikey. He had a new CD come out, and he played about six requested songs on a grand piano right there. Wow. I always HEAR about stuff like this happening after the fact. My theatre partner in crime, Christine, from Michigan and I always joke about this. I'm in love with Mikey's work and Chrstine is in love with Mandy Patinkin's work. We each think the other is crazy. Sorta.

11. Put on Your Sunday Clothes - Carol Channing, et al - [OBC] Hello Dolly

I can't listen to this song and NOT feel good. From an era when musicals were musicals and not about falling chandeliers, helicopters, or people having to spend 5 hours in a makeup chair trying to look like a freakin' cat. The inimitable Carol Channing and cast. FORGET THE MOVIE. IT'S C*R*A*P. I want to burn every copy of it. If I am ever Empress I will see to it that every copy gets thrown straight into the next California Wildfire or cast from the surface of the earth like the palm tree in Mister Roberts. If your local high school or college is playing it, take a look. And if you're lucky you can find professional productions too. I was delighted to finally see it on stage, rather than the crummy movie.

For a treat, here's a youtube video of Put on Your Sunday Clothes. A Catholic High School, St. Francis de Sales in Toledo, Ohio had done it in '98. The kids hit a few clunker notes here and there, but they're all heart and have the right spirit -- well worth a look, the choreography is pretty good for high school too, the costumes and sets are nice and God bless the big cast and especially all the boys -- whomever the drama teacher is there - they've got a swell program - or did when the put on that show. It's a little longish, at just under 6 minutes, so if you have dialup - use http://keepvid.com to download, and use with a flash player.





If you play, drop me a note in the combox I'd love to see your picks.

OBC stands for "Original Broadway Cast." A stage show's recording is a CAST recording, and not a "soundtrack." [Listen up you illiterates out there!] It may seem persnickety to the uninitiated, but if you order the "Soundtrack" to Chicago, West Side Story, Sound of Music and a whole host of other musicals you'll end up with something that may be quite different than the "Cast Recording."

16 comments:

gemoftheocean said...

Here's "Elizabeth"

""I love you Elizabeth Taylor Hilton Wilding Todd Fisher Burton Burton Warner Fortensky
You're the persona of a Ruben's Madonna
You're not like other dames
I get a flutter each time that I utter your 10 glorious names....
I love you Elizabeth Taylor Hilton Wilding Todd Fisher Burton Burton Warner Fortensky

Could we spend summers somewhere by the sea?
No one but us - Cleopatra and me
Winters in Switzerland high in the mountains
Where women ski and men ski
I love you Elizabeth Taylor Hilton Wilding Todd Fisher Burton Burton Warner Fortensky

Pushing white diamonds must be quite a bore
Please let me ease the burdens you carry
I'm not rich or famous but I'll love you more
Than Mike Richard Michael John Nicky or Larry

I want you Elizabeth Taylor Hilton Wilding Todd Fisher Burton Burton Warner Fortensky
Next time you're single remember my bid
Now that you're into romance with a kid
I'm not the man some girls think of as handsome
to my heart you hold an immense key
I love you Elizabeth Taylor Hilton Wilding Todd Fisher Burton Burton Warner Fortensky"

The Digital Hairshirt said...

Okay, Karen, I have taken you up on this meme and my random selections appear on my blog - obviously, your tastes are WAY more sophisticated than mine.

Head's up, btw, at the 5:15 pm Mass tonight!

gemoftheocean said...

Digi, SWEET! See ya later, looking forward to it. Does this mean I have to put on a nice shirt too? l-D


Nuts, I should have given the Sainted Fr. S. a warning not to "Recycle." On the sermons tonight. Oh, and sit on the tabernacle side. If you sit close the little table close to the front you and any digi relatives can bring up the gifts!

Karen

Adrienne said...

Honest to gosh -- I am sooooo ADD just trying to get through the directions gave me a headache. I'll have to come back after at least three more cups of coffee.

Anonymous said...

Since I gave my daughter an I-pod this Christmas--she gave me her old one--cool-now I have joined the twenty-first century. But so far I have only downloaded two c-d's Ave Maria and We sing your praise--yes two religious c-d's. But, next I'll be downloading i-tunes--hmmmm...Rod Stewart comes to mind.

Stephen said...

Santa Claus brought me an ipod this year (my brother too - first time in about 30 years we've received identical Christmas presents).

1. Pet Shop Boys - "The Survivors"
2. Maria Friedman - "The Man with the Child in his Eyes"
3. "People Like Us" from the LaChiusa "Wild Party"
4. Jason Robert Brown's "Mr. Hopalong Heartbreak"
5. "Nothing is too Wonderful to be True" from "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" - the bonus track solo version
6. ABBA - "The Day Before You Came"
7. Angela Richards singing "Night and Day"
8. Pet Shop Boys - "I'm Not Scared"
9. Judy Kuhn singing something by Laura Nyro
10. Sally Mayes singing "If"

gemoftheocean said...

Can't decide if your guilty pleasure is Pet Shop boys or ABBA!

And matching iPods beats the hell out of matching sweaters!!!! [Cool gifts - A certain Alissa told doc she was considering loading up all her CDs on iPod and ditching her CDs. Docbender casually said "Uh, Alisa, whiat happens if you lose the iPod" Alisa: "Uh, duhy" True story, can't make that one up!

Karen

Stephen said...

The two Pet Shop Boys songs are both relatively obscure album tracks, which should perhaps tell you something. Neither the Pet Shop Boys or ABBA are "guilty" pleasures for me - I'm entirely unapologetic about both! (The Pet Shop Boys have a much more mainstream following in the UK than they do in the US - here, by now, they rank as elder statesmen of pop music, having been around and in the charts for well over 20 years by now, and "The Survivors" - a song that's basically about attending a funeral, but which manages to be quite uplifting and life-affirming - is a particular favourite of mine and a great song by anyone's standards).

I don't plan to stop buying CDs, though - and an ipod nano, at 8gb, will not hold the contents of every CD I own anyway. I did purchase some music via itunes last week - including the Judy Kuhn/Laura Nyro thing, which is terrific - but it's backed up now to an external HDD.

The ipods weren't exactly matching, in fact - both the same model, but mine's silver and my brother's is black. My mother went to John Lewis (major British department store chain) to purchase the aforementioned ipods; as a non-tech-savvy woman, she didn't quite know what she wanted, so the very helpful salesman was trying to explain to her the differences between the various models available (you know, classic, nano, shuffle, touch), and apparently at one point the guy looked at her and said "I've lost you, haven't I? Your eyes have glazed over!"

Stephen said...

The guilty pleasure on the above list of songs, by the way, would probably be "Mr. Hopalong Heartbreak", which is from the Broadway megaflop "Urban Cowboy". Which I saw.

Stephen said...

And the biggest guilty pleasure in my ipod at the moment would be Jonathan Coulton's "Chiron Beta Prime", a very bizarre alternative Christmas song that I found online:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3DyxaCYlfg

It amuses me far, *far* more than it should.

gemoftheocean said...

Stevie, that was my third guess. I was kind of disappointed nothing from Taboo! popped up on your list.

Stephen said...

Nothing from "Taboo" cropped up on my list largely because "Taboo" is not currently on my ipod in any shape or form, because I've yet to transfer that particular CD (and when I *do*, it'll be the London cast recording, which is actually quite good. The Broadway one is dire - they took an attractive score and ruined it).

Stephen said...

And, what the hell, it's fun so I'll do it again.

1. "Merry Christmas, Maggie Thatcher" from "Billy Elliot"

(Not at all pro-Maggie, but surprisingly restrained given the context).

2. "The World Was Dancing" from "Songs for a New World"

3. Audra McDonald's cover of "How Glory Goes" from "Floyd Collins"

4. "Bravo, Tu As Gagné", sung by Louise Pitre - aka ABBA'a "The Winner Takes it All" in French (Pitre, who originated the lead in "Mamma Mia" on Broadway is bilingual Franco-Ontarian, and she's absolutely spectacular singing in French, though her English is so fluent that you can't tell it isn't her first language).

5. Victoria Wood's "The Ballad of Barry and Freda", which might possibly be the funniest song ever written (it's the tale of a suburban housewife badgering her completely uninterested husband for sex, exhorting him to perform a variety of unusual activities with household objects. Her exhortations get wilder and wilder, and his stonewalling gets more pathetic with each successive verse).

6. Pet Shop Boys - "Bet She's Not Your Girlfriend" (the title of which was apparently inspired by a photograph of George Michael exiting a nightclub with an impossibly beautiful model on his arm, though the song's about something a little different).

7. Liz Callaway's unusual and very funny take on "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair" (if you haven't heard it, you should - it features the line "Don't be a cockeyed masochist").

8. More Victoria Wood - "Alternative Tango", a set of euphemisms for 'wanker' (favourite line - "A dick may sometimes disappear/But it won't drag you round Ikea/Or buy you polyester ties").

9. Amanda (daughter of Adolph) Green's "Every Time a Friend Succeeds"

10. Barbara Dickson, Rachel Leskovac and Steven Houghton singing "Scars of Love" from the British musical "Spend Spend Spend", a bio-musical about the infamous Viv Nicholson.

Stephen said...

And here, for your amusement, are the lyrics to "Alternative Tango":

I never wanted to say "nig-nog".
I was never keen on "Paki",
Or "capitalist lackey"
I thought was rather tacky.
It was never on my lips,
But there’s a term I’m rather fond of,
And to use it I do hanker.
It’s not heard in Casablanca.
That little word is "wanker".

As a term it’s had its chips.

They say it’s not correct,
It’s got to go.
They say it’s too direct.
Well I don’t know,
If it is never heard,
How to convey
That very special word
Another way?

He is a little self abusive.
His mitts are always in his nix.
He prefers to jiggle solo.
He prefers his own last Rolo
To a bag of Pick ’n’ Mix.
He writes for Masturbation Weekly
When opportunity occurs,
If you’re buying him a present,
His ’n’ Hers things can be pleasant,
But don’t bother wrapping hers.

I’ve never wanted to say "Fart Face".
I don’t find "arse hole" too appealing.
It depends with whom you’re dealing,
And it’s just a personal feeling,
But I don’t like how it sounds,
But political correctness
Has taken hold just like a canker.
I would like to nick a tanker
And run down that stupid wanker
Who has put it out of bounds.

Alright, it’s not correct.
I’m out of touch,
But please reflect,
It says so much.
Are there some other ways?
It’s such a shame.
Is there another phrase
That means the same?

His scrotum isn’t used to strangers.
There are no condoms on his shelf.
When his tones caress and soften,
When he asks d’you come here often,
He is talking to himself.
He’ll never need a big address book,
Cos all his friends are in his flies.
A dick may sometimes disappear,
But it won’t drag you round IKEA,
Or buy you polyester ties.

And if it’s not correct,
It’s awfully cute.
I feel I must reject
A substitute.
Though it may make you squirm,
You find it’s strong.
To use another term
Just takes so long.

His favourite film is Brief Encounter.
He has the tissues standing by.
He thought Get Shorty was just silly.
He was mad about Free Willy.
And it’s easy to see why.
His wrists keep very fit and active.
They’ll never need to join a gym.
He has no need of a friend or neighbour.
He can toss without a caber
Altogether—lucky him!

The world is full of different people.
Some are moral. Some are heinous.
Some are ugly, some like Venus,
Some take photos of their penis,
We all have our different acts.
And as the world turns through a new day,
We know that bankers will be banking.
Harassed mothers will be spanking.
No doubt wankers will be thanking
You and me for facing facts.

Stephen said...

And here's the Ballad of Barry and Freda:

Freda and Barry sat one night,
The sky was clear, the stars were bright.
The wind was soft, the moon was up.
Freda drained her cocoa cup.

She licked her lips. She felt sublime.
She switched off Gardeners' Question Time.
Barry cringed in fear and dread
As Freda grabbed his tie, and said:

Let's do it!
Let's do it,
Do it while the mood is right!
I'm feeling
Appealing.
I've really got an appetite.
I'm on fire
With desire.
I could handle half the tenors in a male voice choir.
Let's do it!
Let's do it tonight!

But he said:

I can't do it.
I can't do it.
I don't believe in too much sex.
This fashion
For passion
Turns us into nervous wrecks.
No derision!
My decision—
I'd rather watch The Spinners on the television.
I can't do it.
I can't do it tonight.

So she said:

Let's do it!
Let's do it,
Do it till our hearts go boom!
Go native,
Creative
Living in the living room.
This folly
Is jolly.
Bend me over backwards on me Hostess trolley.
Let's do it!
Let's do it tonight!

But he said:

I can't do it.
I can't do it.
Me 'eavy breathing days have gone.
I'm older,
Feel colder.
It's other things that turn me on.
I'm imploring:
I'm boring.
Let me read this catalogue on vinyl flooring.
I can't do it.
I can't do it tonight.

So she said:

Let's do it!
Let's do it,
Have a crazy night of love!
I'll strip bare.
I'll just wear
Stilettos and an oven glove.
Don't starve a
Girl of a palaver.
Dangle from the wardrobe in your Balaclava.
Let's do it!
Let's do it tonight!

But he said:

I can't do it.
I can't do it.
I know I'd only get it wrong.
Don't angle
For me to dangle.
Me arms 'ave never been that strong.
Stop pouting.
Stop shouting.
You know I pulled a muscle when I did that grouting.
I can't do it.
I can't do it tonight.

Let's do it!
Let's do it,
Share a night of wild romance,
Frenetic,
Poetic!
This could be your last big chance
To quote Milton,
To eat Stilton,
To roll in gay abandon on the tufted Wilton.
Let's do it!
Let's do it tonight!

I can't do it.
I can't do it.
I've got other little jobs on hand.
Don't grouse
Around the house.
I've got a busy evening planned.
Stop nagging.
I'm flagging.
You know as well as I do that the pipes want lagging.
I can't do it.
I can't do it tonight.

Let's do it!
Let's do it
While I'm really in the mood!
Three cheers!
It's years
Since I caught you even semi-nude.
Be drastic,
Gymnastic.
Wear your baggy Y-fronts with the loose elastic.
Let's do it!
Let's do it tonight!

I can't do it.
I can't do it.
I must refuse to get undressed.
I feel silly.
It's too chilly
To go without me thermal vest.
Don't choose me.
Don't use me.
Me mother sent a note to say you must excuse me.
I can't do it.
I can't do it tonight.

Let's do it!
Let's do it!
I feel I absolutely must.
I won't exempt you,
Want to tempt you,
Want to drive you mad with lust.
No cautions,
Just contortions!
Smear an avocado on me lower portions.
Let's do it!
Let's do it tonight!

I can't do it.
I can't do it.
It's really not my cup of tea.
I'm harassed,
Embarrassed.
I wish you hadn't picked on me.
No dramas,
Give me my pyjamas,
The only girl I'm mad about
Is Judith Chalmers!
Can't do it,
Can't do it tonight!

Let's do it!
Let's do it!
I really want to run amok.
Let's wiggle.
Let's jiggle.
Let's really make the rafters rock.
Be mighty.
Be flighty.
Come and melt the buttons on me flameproof nightie!
Let's do it!
Let's do it tonight!

Let's do it!
Let's do it!
I really want to rant and rave.
Let's go,
'Cause I know
Just how I want you to behave:
Not bleakly,
Not meekly.
Beat me on the bottom with a Woman's Weekly.
Let's do it!
Let's do it tonight!

gemoftheocean said...

Stevie, a tad risque, but I'm going to leave it in as a sample of how NOT to imitate the divine Cole Porter!

Karen

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