May 012009
Name a rocker who has recorded a show tune.
It must be a genuine rocker covering a bona fide show tune. For instance, Donny Osmond recording “Joseph’s Amazing Technicolor Rain Coat” doesn’t count.
Once again, I think this will be a short one because I can only think of two instances, but you guys never cease to amaze me.
I’ll lead off with Tom Waits doing “Somewhere” from West Side Story.
The Beatles, “Till There Was You” from THE MUSIC MAN. They should have done more Shirley Jones material
Captain Sensible of the Damned did “Happy Talk” from South Pacific that was actually a #1 UK hit in 1982.
Declan McManus doing “My Funny Valentine” from Pal Joey.
Brecht/Weill’s Alabama Song, performed by genuine (but possibly sucking) rockers The Doors.
Welcome aboard, Sonny. Nice one!
Before go any further, I need cdm to verify something probably meant by his “bona fide show tunes” wording: these songs had to have been launched as show tunes, right? We’re not going to be able to pile on with ABBA, Four Seasons, and Billy Joel songs from the Broadway musicals based on their song stylings long after the fact, right?
Costello also did Gigi, which was a movie musical with Lerner/Lowe songs but not a Broadway musical. Does that count?
The Pet Shop Boys also had a hit with Somewhere, though I suspect someone will claim they are not ‘genuine rockers.’ Wikipedia says the song has been recorded by “Barbra Streisand, Johnny Mathis, Aretha Franklin, Bobby Darin, Devo, Tom Waits, P. J. Proby, Oscar Peterson, Il Divo, Pet Shop Boys, Kylie Minogue and Jane McDonald.”
Devo?
RE: bona fide show tunes
You are correct, Mod.
Paul Simon’s Capeman is also off limits since he’s not covering it.
“Gigi” sounds show-tuney enough. I’ll allow it.
You currently have the belt.
Making no claims to the belt, may I simply ask if anyone else has ever thought that The Rascals’ “How Can I Be Sure” is the rock song that most sounds like it SHOULD have started life as a show tune? I totally hear that as a key song in a musical – in a good way.
I can’t believe there aren’t some indie bands that have done show tunes, like Fiery Furnaces or any number of bands The Great 48 digs. I do believe that G48’s buddy, Stew (Stu?), from The Negro Problem has moved into composing original show tunes, but that would fall under the Capeman exclusion.
Bryan Ferry’s “These Foolish Things,” which according to Wikipedia was originally “written in 1935 for the London revue “Spread It Abroad”.”
When You Wish Upon A Star – Gene Simmons
Do songs from Disney movies count as showtunes?
I would say maybe the classics but not the new Elton John stuff. But I will defer to The People on this because it seems like there are good arguments on both sides.
“Where or When” is a show tune from the 1937 Rodgers and Hart musical Babes In Arms. Dave Edmunds recorded it, and it appears on the Get It! album.
Bryan Ferry also did a very nice version of “Where or When?”
If this thread goes on long enough, I will be playing the Ferry card a lot.
I’ll nominate any and all of the showtunes recently recorded by former rocker Rod Stewart in one fell swoop, just to get them out of the way.
The Lady Is a Tramp is also from Babes in Arms. It was recorded by Alice Cooper.
Blue Moon is another Rodgers and Hart song, written for a movie instead of a Broadway show. It was recorded by Elvis during the Sun era.
Bryan Ferry, Smoke Gets in Your Eyes (take that, Oats!)
BigSteve, Mad Props to you for lumping all the Stewart covers in one shot! Ferry’s cool to pick away at one by one.
You’ll Never Walk Alone by Gerry and the Pacemakers.
I was thinking of “Summertime” by the Zombies, but maybe that would be Opera Town Hall.
The problem is that Ferry has an all-standards-and-showtunes album too — As Time Goes By. I think it should be subject to the Rod Stewart exclusionary rule too. Otherwise Oats will make this Last for days.
Lou Reed recorded September Song for Lost in the Stars, that Kurt Weill tribute album Hal Willner did.
Kurt Weill did “show tunes” toward the end of his career, but any of the Berlin/Brecht/”Dreigroschoper” can’t be counted as “show tunes,” if you ask me.
Todd Rundgren’s Utopia does “Something’s Coming” from West Side Story.
jeangray is “Last Man Standing”…for the time being, at least!
Not a complete direct cover, but Alice Cooper goes into a whole big section of West Side Story on the album School’s Out complete with street fight sound effects. The song is Gutter Cat vs. The Jets. I think Alice plays the part of Maria.
The Platters, “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes,” which dates back to some ’30s operetta.
Wow! I jus’ remembered. Yes also did a version of “Something’s Coming” back in ’69.
I’ve always thought that Utopia’s early albums were Todd’s attempts at recreating Yes’s sound.
The one thing Perry Ferrell’s Porno for Pyros cut that I ever really loved was a cover of “Tonight” from West Side Story. It’s on b-side of the “Pets” single.
Nice one, sourbob. You are currently Last Man Standing!
Iggy also works “Summertime” from Porgy and Bess into his song “Girls” on the album New Values.
I love this album and most of my friends think it’s shit.
Hey! I haven’t heard “New Values” in years. I’ll have to give it a re-listen.
Ohhhhh, and right back at ya! The Afghan Whigs do a truely rocking version of “The Temple” from Jesus Christ Superstar.
Nilsson’s “A little touch of Schmilsson in the night” album has a few tunes that fit the criteria, including, “You made me love you” and “I wonder who’s kissing her now”.
Speaking of Linda Ronstadt, she did showtunes like Rodgers & Hart’s It Never Entered My Mind when she did her own Great American Songbook albums in the 80s.
Me First & The Gimme-Gimmies do a few great ones, including Cabaret. true punk rockers with great chops & humor.
The battle rages on!
Can’t help piling on: Todd again – whipping out Gilbert & Sullivan’s ‘The Lord Chancellors Nightmare Song’.
Now THATS a show tune!
No, Gilbert & Sullivan wrote comic operas or operettas. Show tunes come from stage musicals. The line is blurry, but it’s there. It’s the same reason general slocum said we should exclude the early Brecht/Weill songs.
How about Rufus Does Judy? Rufus Wainwright “recreating” Judy Garland’s Carnegie Hall concert, including Puttin’ on the Ritz and Zing! Went the Strings In my heart.
Not very “rock”, but maybe qualifies.
That qualifies. I was waiting for someone to suggest that. I should have known you were the Townsperson holid, cherguevarra!
What’s a holid?
Whoops, I meant to write “holding!”
Not holding – just really busy these days and blowing through these parts very sporadically.
Isn’t there a Pink Floyd song off of ‘Meddle’ that “interpolates” (as it says in the liner notes) You’ll Never Walk Alone??