Zorba/Kiss of the Spider Woman song connections?

[Unknown User]

Posted: 4/17/07 at 1:41am

In Steven Suskin's bookj on Broadway composers that goes score by score (and is insanely bitchy and condemning of most more modern composers I have to say) he says that Kiss of the Spider WOman's "Over the Wall" (a score that he finds very offensive for the record *grrr*) is a remake of the Zorba song "On the Top of the Hill". Is this official? I hear some very basic similarities but not enough to think one was an adaptation of the other...

(he dislikes Zorba's score as well--for the record--go figure)

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[kyle33nyc]

Posted: 4/17/07 at 1:51am

I don't think this is true, but how seriously can you take a critic who dismisses two of the stronger scores by one of the best songwriting teams in musical theater? I think both scores are quite good, particularly the underrated Kiss of the Spiderwoman.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 4/17/07 at 1:58am

Oh I agree hands down--but his comment ont he musical connectionw as in a different section than his critique but yeah.

Zorba is such an underated show--and Kiss is simply one of the best shows I've seen--but hten again I'm a big fan of all three Hal Prince shows done with K/E (the only other KE score that comes close, for me is the great Chicago--and honourable mention to The Rink...)

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[JBSinger]

Posted: 4/17/07 at 8:24am

The only similarity I see is the song subject, not anything musical/lyrical. "Over the Wall" has all the prisoners talking about their women on the outside and how much they want them. "On the Top of the Hill" has that same theme of someone waiting for you somewhere else. Otherwise, they have nothing in common.

I too have a fondness for both Zorba and Kiss of the Spiderwoman.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 4/17/07 at 3:52pm

Well two more strikes I suppose for Suskin

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 4/17/07 at 4:05pm

Over the Wall is a song of nostalgia for what the prisoners miss (not just women). Top of the Hill is a song of flirtation for what lies ahead (one specific woman). The two have nothing in common, actually.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 4/17/07 at 4:08pm

What a twat. ZORBA is absolutely brilliant, as good as anything Kander/Ebb have done. There are plenty of instances where composers have somewhat imitated themselves but these two examples ain't among them.