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A math guy's random thoughts. |
 Harold Arlen is perhaps best known for writing the score to MGM's 1939 release of "The Wizard of Oz." The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) ranked his "Over the Rainbow" number one on their Songs of the Century list. But Arlen was nominated eight times for the Academy award and was responsible for many familiar classics, including standards like "That Old Black Magic" and "Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive." He also wrote "Get Happy" in 1930. Judy Garland sang the song in 1952 in her last MGM musical, "A Star is Born." Her performance is linked below. The exuberant music and lyrics have gospel roots, and exhort the listener to "get happy" and "get ready for the judgement day." There are two songs referenced in "Chapter 9--Get Happy, In Dreams"  of "Dreamin' Life Away" . Yesterday's blog dealt with the Roy Orbison classic, "In Dreams," and explained its connection to the story. For "Get Happy," the connection is the line "get ready for the judgement day." In earlier chapters, the protagonist, Dante, has made a Fausitian bargain and has gotten his reward. But now it's time to pay the price. So, hearing the lyrics to "Get Happy" warns him to "get ready for the judgement day." The payoff comes when he hears "In Dreams," with a turning point that mirrors a scene in David Lynch's "Mullholland Drive."The story has a surreal, slipstream mood, and I wanted the performance of the song to reflect that. So, instead of Judy's famililar performance, I chose the one Rufus Wainwright did in his Canrengie Hall concert. Wainwright's performance and staging copy the familiar MGM clip, right down to Wainwright dressing in drag, wearing black nylons, high heels, and a saucy little hat. Since Dante is celebrating his reward in the 1950s, I described Wainwright's performance but placed it in a 1950s gay club. Here's Judy Garland in "A Star is Born" And here's Rubus Wainwright, at Carnegie Hall |
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