Kander and Ebb are best known for their brassy showtunes, set distinctly to ignite some Fosse-esque, bump and grind dance number, complete with a racy lyric or two. "Wilkommen," "Cabaret," "All that Jazz," "The Cell Block Tango," "When You're Good to Momma," "Nowadays," "Where You Are," and "Gimme Love" are perfect examples of what I am talking about. What we forget is that there is also a quieter, more organic side to the duo's music that established a deeper connection with character development and emotional understanding. I am speaking of the Kander and Ebb who wrote "The Happy Time," "Life Is," "Chief Cook and Bottle Washer," "Say Yes," "It Couldn't Please Me More" and "All the Children in a Row." I think we have a tendency to forget that Kander and Ebb were capable of something far richer than the bawdy and the brash.
Come Down from the Tree - A Response from Stephen Flaherty
I recieved several questions and comments about the song "Come Down from the Tree" and where it figured into the original plan for Once on this Island. In an effort to get to the bottom of this, I emailed composer Stephen Flaherty and he generously shared this response.
The Top Ten Musical Books - Bookwriters: The Unsung Heroes
The bookwriter of a musical is probably the greatest unsung hero of Broadway. He or she gets very little recognition when a show works, but when a show fails, the book writer is often the first to be blamed. It is perhaps a thankless task, but their work is essential to designing the framework of the story for the composer and lyricist to hang their score on. Indeed, some of the book writer's best writing is often transformed into musical moments, stealing the best of their thunder. Many books of a Broadway musical are amazingly strong and today's top-ten list is an examination of some of the best. I made my choices by the criteria of originality, intelligently designed character voice, and the book needs to follow strong storytelling structure. I know I will be maligned for leaving certain titles out and I'm glad to justify why I left them off the list. Start the debate and maybe I'll agree. Or...maybe not.
Guilty Pleasure Thursday - "The Time Warp" - The Rocky Horror Show
Before I go into my "Guilty Pleasure" for the week, I first wanted to take a moment to thank you for reading. Additionally, I very much enjoy reading your comments, feedback, and suggestions and would love to receive more. Please let me know what you like, don't like, agree with, disagree with, and most of all share your perceptions on the songs I've chosen to analyze. I do not want to write in a vacuum. We all have a common interest: the Broadway musical and why not have the intellectual and passionate discussions about this unique art form we share? Also...if you like what you are reading (or at least find it informative), please share "The Music That Makes Me Dance" blog with friends and fellow enthusiasts. Again, I thank you for your readership and your help.