Democrats Punt in the Red Zone

The red zone: is that a good thing? Is this like when you’ve got all your stories bubbling along nicely and you bring out the tenor to sing Bring Him Home to stop the show?

I am enjoying Obama’s whole ‘calling the Republicans out’ thing. This is a strategy that worked well for Harold Washington (well, it wasn’t Republicans he was us against, but still) when he was facing a strong opposition (well, Obama’s shouldn’t be a strong as everyone is making it out to be) and really put them on the hot seat. I am imagining a Senate bus tour to town halls made up of people without health insurance.

@Benedick:
It’s like doing all the hard work producing a play and then locking yourself out of the theatre (spelled the “proper” way) on opening night.

at least Obama seems to have awakened from his long slumber.

Go for the field goal and take the three. Paging Adam Vinateiri to replicate his 2001 kick in the snow v. Oakland in the playoffs.

When you think about it, taking a concerta and an opana, thats like a white collar speedball, isn’t it?

@Benedick:

They are in the last three days of previews and are still working out the lighting in the third act.

@Tommmcatt Say Relax: That’s not good. Three acts? Lighting’s the least of your problems.

@Benedick: Plus, the Happy Villagers have all scattered.

He’s calling in the expensive Hollywood script doctors to get through the last reel.

@Benedick:

My point exactly.

Oh, there’s the problem: Demrats removed “fidelity to campaign promises” from their oaths of office.

@nojo: They may have scattered but it’s only to change costume and wigs (gentlemen, don your facial hair) so they can all reappear as different Happy Villagers – fooling no one – to sing to each other about all the exciting developments that have taken place among the principals since the first act curtain in case anyone dropped off.

@Benedick:

Do the townspeople in The Music Man count as happy villagers? How about the traveling salesman in the opening?

Incidentally, Meridith Wilson invented rap in that opening, IMHO.

@Tommmcatt Say Relax: That’s not rap, that’s patter.

@nojo:

Rap, damn your eyes!!!!

Patter is what Gilbert and Sullivan did.

@Tommmcatt Say Relax: Just trying to protect your sorry ass from Mr. Heron, who seems to have the major claim on rap paternity.

@nojo: Along with the Watts Prophets, altho I don’t think any of those guys were talking about smacking their bitch up etc.

@Dodgerblue:
@nojo:

Bust a cap in me! I stand by my beliefs!

@Tommmcatt Say Relax: Actually no. They are all characterized and have their own individual points of view. They don’t exist merely to admire the leading lady’s frock as per operetta.

I think Music Man is just about perfect. The whole score arises from that little air they sing, I forget what it’s called, da dee da dee da dee da dee dah. You know what I mean. The one Harold Hill tries to get them to play. And the whole score is pulled from those few notes like a magician pulling an endless string of colored handkerchiefs from his pocket. It’s lovely.

I know what you mean about rap but I would suggest that Wilson is doing something different. He’s replicating the kind of barnstorming preacher’s rant that was popular then (and now, alas). It’s very skillful writing. And let’s face it, the rhymes are way too pungent. I would agree that it’s not patter because of its intent. G&S patter songs are mostly about facility and ingenuity. They invite the audience to admire both the song and the performer (unless being performed by me) instead of telling story and demonstrating character which Ya Got Trouble does triumphantly. Note: it’s possible I’m wrong about this. But it seems to me that when the patter songs occur the story stops to allow the performer to perform, the story doesn’t advance. After Ya Got Trouble you know all you need to know about Harold Hill and the world of the show.

@Benedick:

It is Beethoven’s Minuet in G

And I know what you mean by “Just about perfect”…‘Till There Was You wrecks me every time I hear it.

@Tommmcatt Say Relax: That’s it! Thank you very much. I never remember what it’s called. You know Till There Was You, which is lovely, is also the minuet which is also 76 Trombones which is also Goodnight My Someone which is also Marian, etc? It’s an extraordinary score.

@Benedick:

I didn’t know that but as I hum each of them…you’re right! Fascinating.

@Tommmcatt Say Relax: As I said, the whole score comes from those few notes of the minuet. Either reversed, in different times, whetever. Even Shipoopie. In my opinion it’s a unique, and very underrated, achievement.

Since you’re humming. The other other fun hum is Memories from noje’s fave show followed by Ravel’s Bolero. It is note for note the same though in a different time signature.

@Tommmcatt Say Relax: @Benedick: Yes, but lil’ Ron Howard singing that Wells Fargo Wagon song must be on the ambient music playlist for one of the levels of hell.

@Dodgerblue: Remember when rap was the Black CNN? That’s coming up on a FB music post from me for Black History month, btw.

@flippin eck: Why do you hate America?

@Benedick:

“Or it could be, thoumpthin thpecial, jutht for meeeeeeee!”

Wait. What does all this have to do with football?

@Benedick:

It’s all vaguely homoerotic?

Got me.

@Tommmcatt Say Relax: You mean football? I can see that. God knows I never heard it said about The Music Man.

@Benedick:

Anything that ever starred Robert Preston is vaguely homoerotic. If he was still alive, I would totally do him, oldness notwithstanding. Even though he played for the other team.

He was hawt. Something about that voice…