Start spreadin’ the news…
I woke up to the sad news that lyricist extraordinaire Fred Ebb died over the weekend, in his home of a heart attack. What does the guy who wrote that Liza/Frank standard “New York, New York” have to do with Chicago? Well...he wrote that too. He wrote the lyrics for scores of musicals and films, and musical films. Including Cabaret, Chicago, Kiss Of The Spider Woman and other works that did not star theater goddess Chita Rivera. He also wrote the lyrics for the songs in several of Liza Minelli's TV Specials of the 1970s and 80s.
Chicago is my favourite of the Bob Fosse musical canon. It has what I consider to be the best opener in musical theater. “All That Jazz” is the best scene setter of all the musicals, IMO. If I weren’t such a heathen, craving darkness and danger in my entertainment...it would be “Oh, What A Beautiful Mornin’” from O-k-l-a-h-o-m-a. Give me “a nightly brawl” over “a bright, golden haze on the meadow” anytime. ATJ so perfectly sets the stage for the hedonist underground in Prohibition Chicago. Bathtub gin, passwords to get into the speakeasys, good time girls smoking cigarettes and wearing their hair as short as their hemlines. Newspaper reporters looking for the dirtiest, smuttiest stories to publish as quickly as possible with no regard for truth or accuracy. That 'new' music the kids were getting into as they were getting into trouble that parents would never dream possible. The excitement of doing what you want when you know you shouldn't. Though, I don't know what the point is of rouging one's knees...
Once it was apparent that I would not make my living on my toes in pretty pastel pink shoes and flitting about the stage in a tutu, I wanted to be a choreographer. I wanted to craft impressive numbers built around a John Kander/Fred Ebb score. Moves that would make dancers say WOW! and audiences say OOH! I always wanted to win a Tony Award for Best Choreography, presented to me by Chita Rivera because she rules Broadway. She can do anything. She was the original Anita in West Side Story and though I loved Rita Moreno on Sesame Street...she couldn’t hoof it like Chita. Chita was also the original Velma in Chicago, and Rosie in Bye, Bye Birdie. Janet Leigh in a brunette wig? PLEASE! I wanted Chita to tell me, “I wish I had danced for you.” SIGH...I cringe whenever I hear Catherine Zeta-Jones mangle "All That Jazz." Staart the caar? ACK!
My favourite Kander/Ebb song is “Mein Herr.” It was written for the movie version of Cabaret and became so popular, it was added to the stage productions...where it remains to this day. I really like it because there is lots of stomping in the choreography for that number. I like to stomp about, why not do it to a brilliantly written break up/get lost/fvck off song?
bye bye mein lieber herr
farewell mein lieber herr
it was a fine affair but now it's over
and though i used to care
i need the open air
you're better off without me
Au revoir, Mr. Ebb...
Chicago is my favourite of the Bob Fosse musical canon. It has what I consider to be the best opener in musical theater. “All That Jazz” is the best scene setter of all the musicals, IMO. If I weren’t such a heathen, craving darkness and danger in my entertainment...it would be “Oh, What A Beautiful Mornin’” from O-k-l-a-h-o-m-a. Give me “a nightly brawl” over “a bright, golden haze on the meadow” anytime. ATJ so perfectly sets the stage for the hedonist underground in Prohibition Chicago. Bathtub gin, passwords to get into the speakeasys, good time girls smoking cigarettes and wearing their hair as short as their hemlines. Newspaper reporters looking for the dirtiest, smuttiest stories to publish as quickly as possible with no regard for truth or accuracy. That 'new' music the kids were getting into as they were getting into trouble that parents would never dream possible. The excitement of doing what you want when you know you shouldn't. Though, I don't know what the point is of rouging one's knees...
Once it was apparent that I would not make my living on my toes in pretty pastel pink shoes and flitting about the stage in a tutu, I wanted to be a choreographer. I wanted to craft impressive numbers built around a John Kander/Fred Ebb score. Moves that would make dancers say WOW! and audiences say OOH! I always wanted to win a Tony Award for Best Choreography, presented to me by Chita Rivera because she rules Broadway. She can do anything. She was the original Anita in West Side Story and though I loved Rita Moreno on Sesame Street...she couldn’t hoof it like Chita. Chita was also the original Velma in Chicago, and Rosie in Bye, Bye Birdie. Janet Leigh in a brunette wig? PLEASE! I wanted Chita to tell me, “I wish I had danced for you.” SIGH...I cringe whenever I hear Catherine Zeta-Jones mangle "All That Jazz." Staart the caar? ACK!
My favourite Kander/Ebb song is “Mein Herr.” It was written for the movie version of Cabaret and became so popular, it was added to the stage productions...where it remains to this day. I really like it because there is lots of stomping in the choreography for that number. I like to stomp about, why not do it to a brilliantly written break up/get lost/fvck off song?
bye bye mein lieber herr
farewell mein lieber herr
it was a fine affair but now it's over
and though i used to care
i need the open air
you're better off without me
Au revoir, Mr. Ebb...
posted by Chicago Socialista | 1:12 PM
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