Why Are Musicals Such An Acquired Taste?

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 1/12/07 at 4:04pm

I fail to understand why "musical" is the only genre people will completely abhor. I've attempted to recommend a movie like DREAMGIRLS or something similar to friends and 9 out of 10 of them say "I don't like musicals." You never hear "I don't like comedies" or "I don't like action." In fact, musicals and action film share several similarities that I don't really feel like getting into right now.

So what is the deal? Why is it so jarring for people to accept people singing and dancing when regular speech will not do? It's particularly annoying when these people also say "I like for movies to take me away from reality."

[yellibean2]

Posted: 1/12/07 at 4:40pm

I've actually wondered the same many times. Also about musical theatre music, and why other people find it so unappealing but at the same time I, personally, can listen to very little other music without getting bored.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 1/12/07 at 4:44pm

The answer, still, after all these years?


...cause they're gay.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 1/12/07 at 4:52pm

Actually, foreign films and documentaries are two commonly rejected genres as well. Many people think documentaries are boring (which means they have never seen The Eyes of Tammy Faye) and others refuse to read subtitles. Of course, anyone who makes sweeping generalizations about any film genre is missing out. Their loss...

[lildogs]

Posted: 1/12/07 at 4:56pm

I don't think musicals are an acquired taste--being a musical FAN is though. I think most people (read: normal folks not on the bww) enjoy seeing a good musical; maybe not ASSASSINS, but GREASE for sure.

Their taste rarely lines up with ours but I think they do enjoy them.

Plus they're gay.

[best12bars]

Posted: 1/12/07 at 5:06pm

Musicals fell out of favor with movie audiences for many reasons, dying off in the '50s and '60s, and all-but-dead by the '70s.

But even with "good ones" created in recent years, the genre is completely foreign to average movie audiences today. They can't take that "suspension of disbelief" leap the way they can in other film genres.

All movies require a suspension of disbelief, so I don't buy the argument that "it's just not realistic."

Orchestral scores (aka background music) is a completely acceptable device in any film genre, even though it's not realistic to have an 80-piece orchestra accompanying you on your errand to the supermarket in real life.

We can accept superheroes and supervillains in "realistic" films depicting gang violence, war, etc. People who dodge 300 bullets without a scratch, or leap across a 50 foot cavern, or are bleeding from a visible stab wound in one scene, only to have it completely gone in the next, etc.

So... why can't most audiences buy a human "bursting into song?"

It's just too unfamiliar to them is the answer. They aren't comfortable with it. It's not written into the acceptable "vocabulary" of film devices.

Musicals will always have a following... mostly people who either grew up watching and loving them... or people who are fans of live theatre and stage musicals. But it remains a sold niche group, rather than a mainstream base.

As with anything unfamiliar, the more that are made, the more audiences will get used to the idea of seeing them. But they are very expensive to produce, and the risk-factor is very high. Movies like Chicago and Dreamgirls get film makers who are interested in the genre excited about doing them again. But when we're calling two a year a "boom" in the genre, and only one in five are "successful," I'm not sure how soon we'll see them becoming familiar at the multiplexes.

I'd love to see it happen... but you'd almost need to bring back the Studio System from the Golden Age of the '30s and '40s to make them both financially and artistically solid again. You need a "factory" that can churn them out, and isn't afraid to take risks. And I'm afraid those are gone now.

[ashley0139]

Posted: 1/12/07 at 5:08pm

This is one thing that annoys me to no end, when people say they hate musicals. All musicals do not have the same type of music. They have rock and pop and traditional etc etc. If you like music at all, there are musicals for you.

[singtopher]

Posted: 1/12/07 at 5:23pm

I think a lot has to do with the fact that Showtunes aren't pop music anymore.

If they were, then more people would be inclined to see a musical.

[MimiLovesRoger]

Posted: 1/12/07 at 5:29pm

People don't appreciate real talent with real lyrics anymore.

They just wanna hear about their grillz or whatever.

[NiteOwl]

Posted: 1/12/07 at 5:36pm

Back in the day a showtune was considered 'pop' music. It was more acceptable and accessible through radio and especially television variety shows and the movies.

Today's generation are not exposed to the genre and most have never been to a live performance of anything not resembling a rock concert.

Now, before people get upset and say I'm jumping on today's generation I'm not. I'm just saying that the genre was more accepted in the past because it really was a part of everyday life through TV, radio and live theatre. That doesn't exist anymore so the majority doesn't grasp the concept of a musical at all.

Updated On: 1/12/07 at 05:36 PM

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 1/12/07 at 5:40pm

"But even with 'good ones' created in recent years, the genre is completely foreign to average movie audiences today. They can't take that 'suspension of disbelief' leap the way they can in other film genres."

I would agree with that except for the sustained popularity of a few staple films, such as The Sound of Music or Grease, which have never seemed to lose their popularity, even in network airing. When I was teaching children's acting classes, Moulin Rouge had opened and I asked the teenage students their thoughts about it. And though many of them replied in exactly the same manner as which you speak, that breaking into song made no sense to them and seemed "unrealistic", they all admitted that they loved Grease and The Sound of Music, but considered them to be "different", though they could not explain why. It was very interesting.

Updated On: 1/12/07 at 05:40 PM

[best12bars]

Posted: 1/12/07 at 5:59pm

Mister Matt---I wonder the same thing.

Could it be because they're "old movies" in their minds? They don't mind it from a nostalgia POV, perhaps? That would take away the issue of the music not being "pop" enough for their tastes.

I think it's also because they grew up with these films. They were conditioned to see them. They didn't see the Sound of Music or Grease for the first time 2 weeks ago. They've known them all their lives.

And as much as those films are loved, I wonder how well they'd do if they were put into wide release this summer for the first time.

Updated On: 1/12/07 at 05:59 PM

[glimpseofstocking]

Posted: 1/12/07 at 6:13pm

I agree with those of you who are saying that a big part of this is because showtunes are no longer the "pop-hits". During the Golden Age of the theatre these were the songs on the radio, and people were exposed to musicals much more than they are today.

Lildogs also makes a good point, most people are open to a good musical, but are not musical fans. I find that this is more true in adults, but even teens enjoy some musicals. I'm a teenager and almost all of my friends absolutely love Grease and consider it one of their favorite films. (I think I may be one of the only people I know who doesn't really care for it). I also think that some teens are embarrassed to say that they like musicals, not all, but I'm sure that there are some. Liking Musicals isn't "in" or "hip" (unless it's High School Musical) and I think teens automatically tell themselves that they don't like musicals without even giving them a fair chance.

I'm not sure if this made sense to anyone, but it's just my two cents.

[Weez]

Posted: 1/12/07 at 6:27pm

They aren't an acquired taste, people are just close-minded fools.

Everyone who's ever told me they've hated musicals has been introduced to 'Avenue Q' (my number one weapon in my arsenal!) and found it hilarious. It may not necessarily have opened them up to "wow, maybe I was wrong, and all musicals aren't all the same, and I should totally give them a chance now", but at the very least they've gone "this is a musical? But I like it! O_O" so I've shaken their foundations a little.

It's like with television or books; people may say they don't like them, but it's just a matter of finding some material they click with. My brother-in-law won't read, but he likes the 'Harry Potter' books. My ridiculously stubborn ex-boyfriend loves 'Wicked'.

The problem is the close-minded fools won't give themselves a chance to find material they click with. Ah well, their loss. ^_^

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 1/12/07 at 6:28pm

Best12Bars said, "even though it's not realistic to have an 80-piece orchestra accompanying you on your errand to the supermarket in real life."


Even though it's a lot of work, my orchestra follows me everywhere. It's makes life more fun!

[FosseForever3]

Posted: 1/12/07 at 6:35pm

OT: haha theatrediva that reminds me of that episode of Family Guy where Peter asks the genie for his own theme music.

k, sorry, I like this thread, continue

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 1/12/07 at 6:38pm

I think Rocky Horror also opened some minds too.

But, then again, there are legions of heterosexuals who for whatever reason believe that musicals are only for gays. Why is that? How did the gay community become so indelibly linked with the musical when, in fact, each musical is different?

I can't tell you how many people I've talked to won't see Dreamgirls because they believe it's only for gays. You can imagine my angst a year ago attempting to recommend straighties Brokeback Mountain.

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 1/12/07 at 6:42pm

I say "I don't like comedies", all the time. I don't like them. As for musicals (I'm not such a fan of those, either), when I was a kid, this problem did not exist. Musicals, were part of the mainstream popular culture. But then, we had a variety show on, almost every night of the week, that featured Broadway performers. To us, they were stars. That doesn't exist today. Back then, you heard Broadway music as part of the normal line-up of songs, played on the radio. More often than not, they were not original recordings, but recordings done by popular singers; but still, the music was out there, with all the other music, and people liked it.

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 1/12/07 at 6:43pm

Do you think it may also be because of the "Uncanny Valley" but with dramatizations of life instead of robotics?

[Jellylorum]

Posted: 1/12/07 at 6:51pm

Most non-musical fans I know don't hate musicals, but are willing to watch musicals only if they are popular or well-established in our culture. They love Phantom of the Opera, The Lion King, or Rent. But if you mention to them the name of a new or obscure show, they'll automatically assume it's bad. It kind of frustrates me, especially many of these people will rush to see the newest and latest movies. I think it's because since theatre tickets are so expensive, people don't want to take their chances on something that they don't know much about.

Updated On: 1/12/07 at 06:51 PM

[showbiz287]

Posted: 1/12/07 at 7:01pm

Well, maybe now with "High School Musical" being successfully popular, as much as I dont care for it, it hopefully will broaden people's prospectives and maybe get them to open up to other musicals...

[fetzles1490]

Posted: 1/12/07 at 7:09pm

"Everyone who's ever told me they've hated musicals has been introduced to 'Avenue Q' (my number one weapon in my arsenal!) and found it hilarious. It may not necessarily have opened them up to "wow, maybe I was wrong, and all musicals aren't all the same, and I should totally give them a chance now", but at the very least they've gone "this is a musical? But I like it! O_O""

I know of a handful of people who actually have a song or two from Avenue Q on their iPods... who didn't know it was a show. They actually thought Avenue Q was a BAND. Of course, I set them straight on that one. My best friend happens to like seeing musicals, but would never in her life listen to one out of context. And get this - she refuses to see anything less than professional on Broadway, because she thinks anything else is crap and a waste of money. Sure, some is, but by no means is it all bad lol. She has no idea what she's missing.

[eb412]

Posted: 1/12/07 at 7:29pm

Partly because people are not exposed to them enough and partly because by the time a show hits the screen it may be dated or not as effective in its message. Musicals like all art reflect the time and by the time it hits the screen it may not be as relevant. Not only that but not all musicals work on screen...they truly do need to be recreated.

[MLE]

Posted: 1/12/07 at 7:46pm

It's just an ingrained concept to say "I don't like musicals". I had a friend who always said that. Then, a couple of years ago I took her to see the Hairspray tour for her birthday. She went in with a "meh" attitude, but halfway through intermission she was demanding the lights go out so act 2 could start. She just needed to be educated. Although live theatre and movies are very different. I love movie musicals but I really do believe they work so much better live.

Most people today aren't into renting old, b&w movies so the number of musicals they actually know of is extremely limited. Maybe, since they may have only seen such a limited variety, they assume that ALL musicals must be like them. It just seems to be the general consensus that all musicals are guys doing heel clicks and randomly bursting into love songs.

Also, just the way movies were made in golden age of Hollywood works better for musicals. At least in my opinion, characters on the screen back then seemed so much more like characters. Nowadays, movies are all about every little detail. There are more "realistic", raw images and emotions. My theory is that is was just much easier for audiences to accept the singing and dancing when there were more "tangible characters" vs. the desensitized population today.

I hope that made sense.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 1/12/07 at 8:33pm

It's the whole people bursting out into song at random thing. I disagree about Dreamgirls. Most of the numbers feel naturally interwoven, almost like in Ray.

It's a weird world we live in.