Bob Fosse is rolling over in his grave right now... — Page 2

"Thank God Broadway never borrows ideas from pop-culture!!! "

I'm sorry to say it but pop-culture has a huge affect on broadway. For example, Grease and Legally Blonde doing reality shows to find their stars and although shows such as In the Heights and Spring Awakening are good, the music in the show is influenced by music you would here on the radio right now. So, broadway borrows a lot of ideas from pop-culture and by the way it's looking...it won't stop.

Upon first viewing of this video, I saw more Bennett than Fosse (though there is some obvious "There's Gotta Be Something Better Than This" going on here). Bennett's style always seemed a little more "wiggily" to me (like Beyonce is doing here), and Fosse was a little more restrained. Beyonce outright emulating Fosse was already done in "Get Me Bodied", so I guess she really couldn't mine that one again.

So with this in mind, when I got to the end, I thought to myself "this really seems like some updated choreography for an updated "Turkey Lurkey Time".
So I muted the video, fired up my "Promises, Promises" iTunes rip, and had at it. It actually synched up pretty well.

I guess this video doesn't upset me (and make me think that Fosse is spinning in his grave) as much as the "Get Me Bodied" video. That was almost an outright copy (way past the "homage" stage), where there should have been some sort of credit going on. What gets my goat is that most of Beyonce's fan-base didn't even get the reference (let's face it, how many of Beyonce's fans, besides us theatre queens, are gonna get that it's a rip from "Sweet Charity", and think that Beyonce thought it up herself?). Here, with this video, it seems more like an homage to the dance styles of choreographer's past (with it taking place in that white room, and her pulling that weird Sasha Fierce persona).

One thing I will say though is that the girl has some pretty good dance talent.

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choitoy, although Bennett-esque, there are literal dance moves lifted directly from "Mexican Breakfast" and "There's Gotta Be"

Brody, I agree, but that Britney Speary commercial is a bit of a stretch. Thats much less Fosse as its more stripper+chair a la her "Stronger" video.

Updated On: 10/22/08 at 11:17 AM

I honestly don't see much Michael Bennett style in this video. Its Fosse/Jack Cole with hip-hop.

I think thats a great point Matt. I'm always a little amused when territorial threads pop up on this board. Here we have a poster upset because what will probably end up being one of the biggest smash hit music videos of the year was inspired by a Broadway choreographer. Why wouldn't anyone be thrilled? Not only has Beyonce gone on record as saying this is a tribute to Fosse and Verdon, there are now half a dozen videos on the net comparing "Ladies" to the original "Mexican Breakfast" routine.

That basically means several thousand people who would have had never had any idea who Fosse or Gwen Verdon are are going to now be familiar with their work.

And the problem is? That the club has now gone mainstream? I don't get it...

eeegads. You call that dancing?

And this idea about pop ("pop"ular) culture invading/infesting musical theater -- a minor note about a little show called "Hair" -- this thing they're doing now? It's a REVIVAL. It actually opened in the -- like -- '60s. ...Yes! Really!

So wait, that's like, what, forty years ago? And I think I read somewhere that in the fifties, "show" tunes made their way to the Radio...and they became "popular" hits!

yikes

rentaholic, that "Get Me Bodied" video rocks! There is a thread here that Eugene started where you play the sound from the "Single Ladies" video and watch "Something Better Than This" from Sweet Charity, the movie. it was fun.

I love that Beyonce' is infusing some Broadway into her videos. She caught the bug when she saw "Nine". I saw an interview with her where she talked about it. And it was discussed here at the time. I think it was at the MTV Awards where she made her entrance for her performance lowered on a phone cord. It was pretty fabulous.

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https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.cfm?boardid=1&boardname=bway&thread=982026#3698937

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LeadingDude, Wildcard was being sarcastic......

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They're theatre majors and they don't know who Bob Fosse is? LOL!!!

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Um...when musicals started dying in the late 70's....pop artists like Michael and Madonna resurged the musical format in form of music videos.
Beat it/ west side story----material girl/gentlemen prefer blondes...

and so on and so on....

i think it's great to bring that kind of world to a young audience.

i always remind my young friends...where all of it came from.

including beyonce...i think its great.

I LOVE IT. She looks great and the dancers hit the choreography. whats the problem