Friday, November 13, 2009

Friday Night Fab Five: My Blog Is Alive...With The Sound of Music

Hi everyone and welcome to another Friday Night Fab Five! I felt a little guilty bumming y'all out last week so this week is all about making you smile on this Friday the 13th...

:) <-----See? When I was a kid, I got into musicals in a major way. Which my mom started to hate because I would walk around singing the songs for days after watching one of them. (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was banned from our house for about 2 years because of my incessant singing. :D) I was watching a special on the history of musicals and I got that feeling again: the musical number chills. You know when a song or dance number is special because you get those "chills" and you can't quit smiling for a week. Anytime I'm down, I know I can turn to musicals which funny enough, is a large reason how they came to be in the first place: to give Americans a way to temporarily escape from The Depression. I'm lucky enough to be going with a friend to the theater this Sunday to see a matinee of "South Pacific" and I can't wait! I've only seen two musicals in person: "Guys and Dolls" and "Mama Mia" (Please please please see Mama Mia on the stage and NOT the movie version! *shudder*) Anyhoo, these Five hold a special place in my heart because they were a big part of my childhood, even if I wasn't around when they first came out. I could have named this post the "Friday Night Fab 100" but I tried to keep myself to only choosing those songs I remember specifically driving my folks nuts with singing around the house. :D 1. "America" - West Side Story West Side Story was HUGE for me. I knew every song, every dance, every line, every THING about this musical. I watched this number over and over so many times I would dance it in my living room and to this day it gets me tapping my toes. We used one of the songs for our wedding, I still sing "I Feel Pretty" whenever I have a good hair day and I don't care what you say...dancing gangs are awesome.

2. "Singin' In The Rain" - Singin' In The Rain

Oh boy, another big one. The whole movie is enchanting but this number in particular never fails to inspire me. I love this movie so much and I always sing "Good Morning" to Toot every morning when I go in to get her. :D



3. "On the Street Where You Live" - My Fair Lady

I never understood why Eliza would go for Higgins when she could have had this pretty boy. lol I remember watching this movie and thinking how romantic it would be if someone sang this song about me. lol And I totally wanted to wear Hepburn's ball gown as my wedding dress (but I hated her hair in that scene as a kid for some reason, lol).



4. "Pure Imagination" - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

They made us watch this movie in school every year and I would be glued to the TV if I knew it was on (much to my mother's consternation). This song and Gene Wilder's performance of it will be magical to me until the day I die. I worshiped this movie as a kid, lol. Maybe that's why I never got into Burton's version...



5. "The Best Things Happen While You're Dancing" - White Christmas

Christmas time or no, my best friend and I wore this video tape O-U-T. (Yes children, there weren't always DVDs. lol) The musical numbers in this movie are out of this world and the whole thing just works. I always loved the thought of letting the music carry you away...



And because I can't stand not including this one too, my Fab Five honorable mention:

"I've Got a Golden Ticket" - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

I know I'm doubling up here on this movie but this song is so fun and inspiring to me. Anytime you're having a great day (especially after having a crappy day), it just feels like you've won the best prize and this song embodies that feeling for me.



Well, there you have it! Another Friday Night Fab Five has come to a close. *sniff* Like I said, I could have mentioned SO many more musicals that mean so much to me...Oklahoma, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, State Fair, Showboat...Do you enjoy musicals? What are your favorites?

Have a great weekend everyone! :D

26 comments:

Winchester Manor said...

Somehow Maggi I can easily picture you swirling around the house singing songs from musicals...for some reason I keep hearing..."The hills are alive with the sound of music"!

Anyhoo, all such fabulous pics and my favorite is My Fair Lady, LOVE IT!

Have a great weekend sweet friend!

Anonymous said...

Fabulous...see for me, it's FLASHDANCE!
I was forever flailing around the house in my legwarmers with the flashdance song "What a FEEEELING!"

The Wallace Family said...

The chocolate factory was one of my favorites when I was little right behind Wizard of OZ. If you ever get a chance to go see Oz you have to! I LOVED it and I want to see it again!! Have a great weekend:)

Jocelyn said...

Oh The Chocolate Factory here.....I adored it...Danielle loved it and now Evan asks to watch it all the time!!!! I did see Jesus Christ Super Star and it was Fabulous and The Wizard of OZ....sigh...now you have me wanting to check the net for what is coming to town!!!

Have a great weekend!!! :-)

❀~Myrna~❀ said...

I love all of these movies & the songs . Great Post !
~Myrna

laterg8r said...

my fave is the white christmas song - i love most of the songs on this movie - now i wanna go watch it again :D

Lisa said...

Great post, Maggi! My favorite musicals have to do with dancing like Flashdance, Fame, White Nights (are these considered musicals?--probably not!)

Julie Tucker-Wolek said...

ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh i love love love love love love love the movies u list.....but i was all waiting for "how do u solve a problem like maria?" lol.....well....i guess i'll have to have u come by my fave things blog again to hear a Maria song....LOL LOL LOL! :):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)

Melanie said...

Wait, where are the beautiful songs from Grease 2? I was reading your list, and I was surprised not to see anything from that gem on your list. :-P

We are gonna have a great time on Sunday! :-)

Tracey said...

Okay..I thought I was the only one who sang and knew some of these songs. My sister and I just were singing "The best things, happen while your dancing," . I love Singin in the rain too.. good morning, good morning,,it's fun to stay up late."... Oh you are so my favorite person right now!!! A friend for life!! Thanks for starting my day off right... love your blog and love visiting.. just had to say!!

Ann said...

Ohhhhh my word, girl, you've found one of my biggest passions! I love, love, LOVE musicals!!!! I was a dancer as a kid, and now I choreograph my school's musical every spring! And how have you only seen TWO shows live?! Get your butt to the theater, girl!!!

Ginger said...

What a fantastic post!

I too love musicals and drove my mom nuts as a kid with my incessant singing =o).

My faves are West Side Story, Les Miz, Gypsy, My Fair Lady, Oklahoma, Carousel, 42nd st, Guys and Dolls, Phantom, (I could go on and on!).

Carmen said...

This used to be one of my favourite things on a staurday afternoon, old movie time :) Loving all of your choices but most of all The White Christmas one.

You have an award on my blog Maggi :)

From The Owls' Nest said...

Love your choices Maggi....I have been fortunate to see many theatre musicals to include Cats, Phantom, Kiss of the SpiderWoman, Starlight Express, Les Mis and some others and some music I love is from Rent, Sound of Music and Phantom (Music of the Night...sigh...). ANother great fab five!!!

Anonymous said...

Danny Kaye Danny Kaye-one of my favorite mad crushes of yore. :)
I'm all over White Christmas, one of my all time faves-i still have the VCR tape *and* a DVD!
I love all musicals, From fiddler to mary poppins. With Cowboy, my main man, it's chicago we loved most. i also dug rent.
But..when he was little, I dragged, er, took my son, PC boy to a live musical a time or two, and his 1st "grown up" one that he was really old enough to appreciate (out of the sesame street live phase) was "the king and i". He had been on the fence about going, even when i bribed him with dinner at his favorite, the Olive Garden, but he decided to humor mom...and the lights went down and the orchestra struck that first note and i heard a sharp intake of breath-he was hooked. I didnt hear him exhale til intermission.
He went on to do young actors theatre, so i pretty much know little shop of horrors by heart :)
...and oh! i was one of "those peeps" who did rocky horror picture show" at midnite showings, back in the day, when props were allowed in.
:)

Keith said...

Hello. So how's your weekend been? I hope you've been having a good one. Mine's been full of rest and relaxation. I always enjoy stopping by and commenting on your blog. Take care. Have a great week ahead. Cheers!

Karen said...

I adore musicals!! On the tube, I love West Side Story, Sound of Music, and Grease. I've only seen Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, and West Side Story. I enjoyed all of them so very much, but Les Mis will probably always have my heart. I want to see Wicked very much. I have yet to come across a musical that I didn't find something in it that I could love. Thanks for the fantastic Friday Fab Five!! :>:>

Theresa MacNaughton said...

Hi there! Found your super-cute blog through A Fanciful Twist. I must admit to you that I was desperately seeking this Pumpkin Cake recipe she was raving about! But I did find musical delights here! I have to admit that we don't see a lot of musicals (although I almost died and went to heaven after seeing "Wicked") because (gasp!) my husband isn't a huge fan. But some that I enjoy a lot are the aforementioned Wicked, Rent, Chicago, Camelot and some of yours that you've listed: My Fair Lady, Charlie & the Chocolate Factory, White Christmas.
Have a lovely evening, and I hope you can pay me a visit. :) Theresa

yyam said...

Ooh I love Singing in the rain! I've seen it countless number of times!
I try to catch a musical every time I'm in London...Great fab five Maggi! Hope you are having a great Sunday!

Unknown said...

ALL of these are GREAT! Did you like Bye Bye Birdie?

debra@dustjacket said...

I can so picture you singing, you are such a happy gal.

I saw Mamma Mia on stage, it was so fun.

I adore the my fair lady song, but it makes me feel misty for some reason. I thought the same as you, that he was kinda cute...what was she thinking.
xxx

Julie Ranae said...

Great post, Maggi...my 5 would be anything from Phantom of the Opera.

Hearts Turned said...

How fun! I LOVE musicals! Don't think I could even pick a favorite...! But, I do adore "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers"--doesn't get much better than that!

Hello there! My name is June said...

Gosh...to pick one favorite is impossible! I love so many...and think that the original chocolate factory with Gene Wilder is the best... when I watch the Tim Burton version, I imagine it's a completely different movie. You can't even compare it to the original! I love the muppet movie ...was turned on as a kid right from the moment kermit was singing on the log. LoL! I love Funnyface with Audrey & Fred. If you can, find the 'that's entertainment' series on great hollywood golden age musicals. I think it's narrated by Fred Astaire or Gene Kelly. :o)

Anonymous said...

fun list Maggi!
I love White Christmas and Singing in the Rain.

Witchcrafted Life said...

I could keep this handful of timelessly classic songs on repeat all night and weekend long. Love them all, especially the dance number from White Christmas (one of my absolute, most beloved movies of all time!).


Wishing you a gorgeous evening, sweets!
♥ Jessica