I had an assignment from a history class the other day to find a song that accurately reflects a major event from twentieth century history. I decided on a song from Miss Saigon (Why God Why?), but this topic really sparked my interest. Many musicals really reflect the time in which they were written. A few stand out in my mind when it comes to addressing specific events, Cabaret for WW2, RENT and the AIDS epidemic, The Wild Party and prohibition. What other ones stick out to you guys?
"But now the air is filled with confusion. We replace care with illusion."
South Pacific is another musical that represents WW2
"You pile up enough tomorrows, and you'll find you are left with nothing but a lot of empty yesterdays. I don't know about you, but I'd like to make today worth remembering." --Harold Hill from The Music Man
Annie - the Great Depression "A New Deal for Christmas" and "We'd Like to Thank You Herbert Hoover"
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
"Smart! And into all those exotic mystiques -- The Kama Sutra and Chinese techniques. I hear she knows more than seventy-five. Call me tomorrow if you're still alive!"
This list is more of historic shows then specific songs:
The Civil War (most of the show) 1776 (most of the show) Titanic The Scarlet Pimpernel Flower Drum Song (more for culture) Oklahoma Thoroughly Modern Millie (1920's) Taboo (British Pop Club Cuture in the 1980's) Waiting for the Moon (1920's right after WW1-beginning of WW2)
"Judy Garland, Jimmy Dean, You tragedy Queen" ~ Taboo
"Watching a frat boy realize just what he put his d!ck in...ex's getting std's...schadenfruede" ~ Ave Q
"when dangers near, exploit their fear" ~ Reefer Madness the Musical
I don't know if this works, but the musical Little Women kind of sparks my interest. yo me, it tells the story of girls who are dealing with poverty and deal with it in their very own way. "Five Forever" is sung by the girls and the neighbor Laurie, saying they will stick together no matter what!
SHOWBOAT! Although it takes place after the Civil War, it addresses the still slave-like existence of African Americans in the late 19th Century South, especially through "Ol' Man River." And it's certainly the only musical I know of to address the period's laws against interracial marriage ("miscegenation").
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Wow I'm surprised no one mentioned BROTHER, CAN YOU SPARE A DIME?
The Great Depression was near its height In 1932 when E. Y. (Yip) Harburg and Jay Gorney wrote "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime" for the musical revue Americana which opened in New York City a month before the presidential election between challenger Franklin Delano Roosevelt and incumbant President Herbert Hoover. The song, filled with references to contemporary American experiences, became something of an unofficial anthem for the unemployed, the homeless the hungry and the confused who wondered what had happened to the hope and promise of America for those willing to follow the rules and work hard to build a dream.
Little Women the musical maybe? That has some Massachusetts history related things in it I think.
AND
I don't know if this works, but the musical Little Women kind of sparks my interest. yo me, it tells the story of girls who are dealing with poverty and deal with it in their very own way. "Five Forever" is sung by the girls and the neighbor Laurie, saying they will stick together no matter what!
Ummm... like the Civil War, maybe?
"This table, he is over one hundred years old. If I could, I would take an old gramophone needle and run it along the surface of the wood. To hear the music of the voices. All that was said." - Doug Wright, I Am My Own Wife
I'd like to add PARADE to the list. It deals with 1913 Georgia, the feelings that people had post Civil War, and how those feelings affected the social climate. I would say that the whole score really reflects the time in its lyrics and some of the musical styles as well.
Q: What is the most weirdest or funniest thing a fan has asked you?
Joe Flanigan, Stargate Atlantis: When a fan asked me for help with his grammar. I'm available.
Enjolras77 mentioned South Pacific. I would specifically add "You've Got To Be Carefully Taught" from that show, a moving song on the origins of racism.
"Do you know ChrisLovesShows?" "Yes. Why, yes he does!"
*Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat - with Biblical references
*Jesus Christ Superstar - also with Biblical references
*Camelot - maybe more of stuff of legend than historical fact, but the idylls of King Arthur are supposed to have taken place in a place in England called Tintagel?
*Man of La Mancha - a play within a play; written by and actually part of the story by Cervantes at the time of the Spanish inquisition
*Sunset Boulevard - references to the change in the era of cinema ( from silent to talking movies)
*The Beautiful Game - more contemporary, time of sectarian violence in Northern Ireland
*Chess - written about the era of the Cold War and against the backdrop of the famous Bobby Fischer and Russian grandmasters confrontations.
"Kansas City", from Oklahoma for the Industrial Revolution
"Sword Dance" from Brigadoon for Scottish culture
Almost anything in Gypsy for vaudeville and burlesgue
Much in Hairspray for the Civil Rights movement
Songs from How to Succeed, particularly "Happy to Keep His Dinner Warm" and "Cinderella, Darling", can lead for an interesting study in women's rights.
Pirates of Penzance is so old, it's a history lesson in itself.
Umm that's all i got for now. lol Updated On: 12/15/05 at 02:12 AM
Don't sweat the Les Mis mistake...I thought it was supposed to be the French Revolution until I read the book. To be honest I was a little disappointed--the musical is about as BIG and dramatic as a Broadway musical can get, but the battle is actually pretty unimportant and small in history.
CHESS - the Cold War. FIDDLER ON THE ROOF - the persecution of Jews in Czarist Russia. RAGS - the immigrant experience in America. FIORELLO - story of NY mayor Fiorello LaGuardia