Just a Housewife
Just a Housewife
#0Just a Housewife
Posted: 4/5/05 at 11:46amI MUST recommend the cast recording of WORKING to those who haven't heard it because of the song "Just a Housewife." Craig Carnelia is a genius for this gem of a number. It's probably the most honest, personal song EVER. I always cry when I hear it because it reminds me so much of my mom.
brdlwyr
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/14/05
#1re: Just a Housewife
Posted: 4/5/05 at 11:53amI love Working and long to see a revival. The OBC is a little hokey. Great songs.
#2re: Just a Housewife
Posted: 4/5/05 at 1:25pmI remember serveral years ago when a young lady brought Just A Housewife into class to work on in front of us - I was in tears by the end of the number and bought the cd simply because of that song - thank you for reminding me of it - I need to listen to it again!
"I don't really get the ending,all i can go with is when after several months,Judith saw Pat sang,and later she kissed him on the toilet,after that the story back to where Pat went down from the stage after he'd sung,and he went to the italian lady.I just don't get it,what Judith exatcly meant when he kissed Pat that she had seen,and did Pat end up together with The Italian Lady?Please help me,thank u very much!"
Quote from someone on IMDB in reference to a movie he/she didn't understand. Such grammar!
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
#3re: Just a Housewife
Posted: 4/5/05 at 2:49pm
Let's not forget Bette's wonderful version of "Millworker" from this show, also. What a beautiful song.
For those of you unfamiliar with the show, it was adapted from Studs Terkel's non-fiction book "Working" and featured songs by several composers. It was out of print for many years-- glad to hear it's back!
#4re: Just a Housewife
Posted: 4/5/05 at 4:31pm
There was also a condensed version of the show that was telecast on PBS many years ago. It had an interesting cast. Patti LaBelle as the cleaning woman, Rita Moreno as the singing waitress, Barbara Hershey as the call girl, Beth Howland as the housewife, Eileen Brennan as the millworker, Barbara Barrie as the school teacher and James taylor, Barry Bostwick and Charles Durning among others.It's been released on DVD by Image Video and is available at Footlight.
Updated On: 4/5/05 at 04:31 PM
#5re: Just a Housewife
Posted: 5/7/05 at 6:53pm
We started watching the DVD of the TV movie in one of my choir classes. And the only song I remember and really stood out too me is "Just a Housewife." I love this song.
Does anyone know where I can hear the full song online? Or does anyone have the song on their computer? PLEASE. PM me. I need to hear this song again.
#6re: Just a Housewife
Posted: 5/7/05 at 6:55pm
I was in this show a few years ago, and it was a lot of fun. Very sad song 
"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy."
-Charlie Manson
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
#7re: Just a Housewife
Posted: 5/7/05 at 7:06pmI found this song when I was in New York City and they had a concert of Karen Akers. She sang that and also You Can Have the TV on it. I have the video now and I listen to it. But I will always hear her voice whenever I hear the song. She makes me melt with her fabulous voice.
NCGuy
Broadway Star Joined: 4/8/04
#8re: Just a Housewife
Posted: 5/7/05 at 8:51pm
Jon, I haven't seen the Karen Akers video, but Karen sings both songs ("Just a Housewife" and "You Can Have the TV") on her "In a Very Unusual Way" CD - her version of "Unusual Way" is gorgeous, too. Great CD.
UPDATED: oops...I just realized you meant the "Working" video, not a Karen Akers video!
Updated On: 5/7/05 at 08:51 PM
#9re: Just a Housewife
Posted: 5/7/05 at 9:10pm
I was just in my college's mainstage production of Working. I played Roberto, the Hispanic boxboy/migrant worker. It was such a great show to be in, I had a lot of fun. I understand it's not musical theatre brilliance, but we surely put on a great show.
~Steven
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#10re: Just a Housewife
Posted: 5/7/05 at 9:28pmI agree with you about Just a Housewife - and want to throw the Teacher's song into the mix as well - I was always so impressed with that song, because there was so much frustration and love in that voice - always felt I knew the entire character from that one song...
"Not a day goes by..."
#11re: Just a Housewife
Posted: 5/7/05 at 11:40pmSomeone who has this song on their computer - can you PLEASE PM me. It would be so appreciated!
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
#12re: Just a Housewife
Posted: 5/9/05 at 10:38amI did mean the video of Karen Akers. It is also on her Unsual Way CD -- I have that also
#13re: Just a Housewife
Posted: 5/9/05 at 11:03amSuch a wonderful song. My voice teacher had me work on it for a long time, which was sort of weird, considering I was about 14, but its a great song, and I loved singing it.
There's always room for pathos - and jazz hands.
#14re: Just a Housewife
Posted: 5/9/05 at 11:33amthe music is fabulous
It is ridiculous to set a detective story in New York City. New York City is itself a detective story...
AGATHA CHRISTIE, Life magazine, May 14, 1956
#15re: Just a Housewife
Posted: 5/9/05 at 12:15pmI was in the chorus of this show, and loved it. Would love to see it produced professionally some time...
Celebrate Life
Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted. - Randy Pausch
Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted. - Randy Pausch
#16re: Just a Housewife
Posted: 5/9/05 at 12:15pmI was in the chorus of this show, and loved it. Would love to see it produced professionally some time...
Celebrate Life
Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted. - Randy Pausch
Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted. - Randy Pausch
#17re: Just a Housewife
Posted: 5/9/05 at 12:16pmOddly enough, the version that I'm most familiar with is also the Karen Akers version, which is indeed haunting. Stephen Schwartz always has at least one or two wince inducing rhymes in all his songs, but HOUSEWIFE is lovely and honest. Definitely one of his better pieces.
#18re: Just a Housewife
Posted: 5/9/05 at 8:44pm
Craig Carnelia wrote "Just a Housewife," not Stephen Schwartz.
My favorite song in Working is probably James Taylor's "Millwork," but "Just a Housewife" works really well, too.
~Steven
#19re: Just a Housewife
Posted: 5/9/05 at 8:46pmI'm still wondering if anyone has this song in their computer, and would be willing to send it too me? PLEASE Pm me. It would be greatly appreciated.
#21re: Just a Housewife
Posted: 5/9/05 at 8:54pmI'd love to hear this song too. I've never heard anything from the show!
"The stage is where I live and come alive and act out all the things that go on in my life. It's not just what I do for a living, it's my shrink and my love affair. No one in my life has ever or ever will kiss me on the mouth like this lover called my relationship with my performance."
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