| re: one of the more awkward/forced lyrics in Broadway history, I think | |
| Posted by: Chromolume 06:50 pm EDT 08/16/17 | |
| In reply to: re: one of the more awkward/forced lyrics in Broadway history, I think - davei2000 05:11 pm EDT 08/16/17 | |
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| I agree about Rice in general just having fun with unexpected references, etc. And both the Bacall and the Dior references are at least in period, even if I do tend to wonder if Eva would be wanting to compare herself to Bacall. If also always wondered if "Anything Goes" is meant to be a topical reference as well - though if so, does that somehow try to link Bacall to the Porter musical, lol? (I don't really think so, but the way the lyric works does prompt that question.) I think Joseph, Superstar, and Evita all have moments where Rice uses colloquial references to add a bit of contemporary spin on the story. "Israel in 4BC had no mass communication" or "One was a butler, the Jeeves of his time" etc. He's having irreverent fun, and for me, that works. My essential problem with the Hart lyric is "reaching from," which yes, I understand is meant ironically, but it also makes no logical sense. (I also have to say that for years I didn't even get that THAT was the joke - I was misled by wondering who busted his arm and why, and if "check" was meant to mean "hit" as in sports, etc. The idea of him avoiding picking up a tab never even occurred to me. Though I tend to disagree with Sondheim's general dismissal of Hart as a lazy lyricist, this is one hugely sloppy lyric to me.) |
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| Next: | re: one of the more awkward/forced lyrics in Broadway history, I think - Chazwaza 01:28 am EDT 08/17/17 |
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