Is there alternate lyrics for You won't succeed on broadway from spamalot?

[Gmerchant123]

Posted: 8/28/13 at 2:05am

Posted: 8/28/13 at 5:43am

IS there AN alternate lyric for....

ARE THERE alternate LYRICS for....

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 8/28/13 at 6:10am

Edit: I was wrong!

Updated On: 8/28/13 at 06:10 AM

[Nickhutson]

Posted: 8/28/13 at 6:44am

I can speak for the Brits when I say the whole song was re-written for the recent UK production - as our musicals here aren't funded by the Jewish.

It's now YOU WON'T SUCCEED IN SHOWBIZ (IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANY STARS) and talks about how you need "famous" people in shows for it to survive (ironic for the musical, as it has monthly cameos of people playing God [as a projection] as well as "famous" people playing King Arthur.

Cameos in the song are Mayor Boris Johnson, Susan Boyle, Jedward and others. It's very, very funny and much better for a British audience.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 8/28/13 at 2:33pm

Wow, I didn't know that about the British production. Thanks for sharing! As a Jewish American, that doesn't sound nearly as funny to me, but I can see how they would need to make the humor transfer well.

[averagebwaynut]

Posted: 8/28/13 at 3:57pm

I suppose the revision of the song makes it more universally appealing, but I agree that it robs the song of what to me made it so incredibly un-PC (this was pre-Book of Mormon) and yet still hysterical. And I say this is as a proud Jew.

I've seen photos of the UK production that has toured and played the West End -- do they bother with white sequined nun outfits for the chorines in the dance break? Not necessary or nearly as funny with the new lyrics.

Also, it either required re-orchestration or else the brilliantly-interpolated moments from "Hava Nagila" and "I Had a Little Dreidl" that Larry Hochman included are kinda wasted/pointless.

And while I guess the joke could still play, it mitigates the effectiveness of one of my favorite bits in the show -- the "Hay"/"Hey!" cross in the middle of the dance break.

I do miss that show. Not a serious bone in its body but boy was it fun.

[Phantom of London]

Posted: 8/28/13 at 4:18pm

What is funny in London isn't always funny in New York and very much vice versa on that point. The humour in Spamalot is always evolving, thats what keeps the lonevity of the show. Eric idle is often seen in London updating the humour.

Jewish humour will hit the mark on this in New York as there is a vast Jewish community and audience in New York. I would say The Producers was the first show in New York to have that kind of 'put down' jewish himour.

[averagebwaynut]

Posted: 8/28/13 at 4:33pm

True enough about London vs. New York. Though the original West End production did not change the lyrics and managed to run a little over two years. The number didn't play as raucously there as it did on Broadway but it still works without the changes. No question, though, that it's better for the show's long term licensing prospects to have a song that is less geographically-specific in its appeal/humor.

[leefowler]

Posted: 8/28/13 at 4:37pm

It was changed for the UK because the notion that theatre can't survive without Jews doesn't hold true there, and doesn't strike Brits as amusing.

I too would like to know what they replaced the "Jewish" music with. And although Larry Hochman is brilliant, the notion of including Hava Nagilah and the Dreidl song came from the dance arranger. Trust me!

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 8/28/13 at 4:53pm

They recorded the "Star Song" on the UK tour cast recording. It's on itunes. There's alternate lyrics for a few of the other songs on that recording as well. They recorded it live in Bromley so the lyric goes "You won't succeed in Bromley if you haven't got a star." I guess they changed it for each stop on the tour.

[ElphabaGoodman]

Posted: 8/28/13 at 5:01pm

"I can speak for the Brits when I say the whole song was re-written for the recent UK production - as our musicals here aren't funded by the Jewish.

It's now YOU WON'T SUCCEED IN SHOWBIZ (IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANY STARS) and talks about how you need "famous" people in shows for it to survive (ironic for the musical, as it has monthly cameos of people playing God [as a projection] as well as "famous" people playing King Arthur. "

I believe that's only true for the recent UK tour - when I saw the West End production in 2008, it was definitely "You won't succeed on Broadway if you don't have any Jews."

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 8/28/13 at 6:35pm

I would say The Producers was the first show in New York to have that kind of 'put down' jewish humour.

Um, FUNNY GIRL? FIDDLER?

Broadway humor has always been based on German and Italian and especially Jewish/Yiddish humor. It came out of the beer gardens of the early 20th century where tenement dwellers (who often lacked bathrooms in their apartments) spent their evenings drinking and being entertained.

American humor has long been "ethnic" in origin. Speaking broadly, the Jews were just the best at it.

[theatredk]

Posted: 8/28/13 at 6:59pm

There is a touring UK Cast Recording with the alternate lyric for me I prefer the Broadway, the Melbourne production had the Broadway version

[darquegk]

Posted: 8/28/13 at 7:30pm

The difference is not so much that British audiences wouldn't get or appreciate Jewish humor, but rather a question of stage conventions. British theatre is not a Jewish run, Jewish starred, Jewish attended community the way New York theatre famously is. Rather, it's an endless parade of celebrity guests, pantos and soap stars. Thus the rewrite for a British audience.

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 8/28/13 at 7:42pm

I wasn't saying otherwise, darquegk. I was just responding to the idea that "Jewish humor" was some new Broadway feature.

Of course, the British have been enjoying the "Jewish humor" in American shows for over a century.