Why was this genius song cut from the movie? I know that "My Man" was a more mainstream choice, and works well in the film, but it makes me sad this song isn't in the film. I adore it. There have been so many great perfromances of it. It just breaks my heart everytime I hear it.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/27/05
I don't know that it was more mainstream, but I believe it was decided to go back and use the Fanny Brice songs they could use. If I'm not mistaken, songs like "My Man" were originally to be included in the stage version, but weren't (or couldn't be). I think I remember reading that when it was all said and done, Barbra wished they'd used "The Music That Makes Me Dance" in the film.
Incidentally, Judy Kuhn does a wonderful rendition of this song on her solo album.
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/5/04
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/27/05
Huh? That's A Chorus Line
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/5/04
Sorry, I was writing something about ACL at the same time and got my signals crossed
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/27/05
"The Music and the Mirror That Makes Me Dance For You" perhaps?
Lol. I love Judy Kuhn's version. I love how it goes up tempo.
Carolee's performance of the song at the Funny Girl benefit knocked my socks off though.
I LOVED Carolee's performance...but nothing beats Barbra.
Beautiful song. Thanks to all for the tips on different versions. Speaking of "My Man" and the film, I love the story involving Barbra requesting to sing the song live for the camara, rather than using a track of her own vocals, to be able to more freely express herself and connect. Very interesting
I love that she does it live, though you can tell when it goes back into the soundtrack, which I think ruins a little bit of the magic. Still, when she is singing live on that song, it is pure magic.
It was a intersting choice to let the film interpolate some of teh Fanny Brice standards (My Man, I'd Rather Be Blue Over You, and about half of Second Hand Rose which Streisand had recorded and had a minor hit with) but I think they hurt the movie.
Streisand does not sound like Fanny Brice and these songs are at odds withe the Styne/Merrrill pastiches. If you are doing the Fanny Brice story you either write a new score or use all her originals.
The movie FUNNY LADY used mainly older songs with a couple of new ones by Kander and Ebb, and it doesn't work. (The movie is a bloody bore too!)
Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!
I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com
Frontrowcentre....I have GOT to (respectfully) disagree with you. Yes, "Funny Lady" is no masterpiece, but a bore?? It is definitely one of my guilty pleasures, and I absolutely ADORE the score. I think it worked beautifully.
I still get goosebumps when I see "My Man" - it is a stunning performance.
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/18/03
The Music That Makes Me Dance was not used in the film because the song says the same thing that My Man does and the my-man-done-me-wrong-but-I-still-love-him theme only needs to be stated once.
It is a great song and is about the best cut on the cast recording.
I really loved this song and used to sing it all the time in cabaret acts.
Beautiful Song. Thanks Jule and Bob!
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