Dec 10, 2007, 03:32 PM | by Marc Bernardin
Categories: Music
I've got no words for this. Honestly. Except to say, Kevin Kline looks impossibly young in this clip taken from a 1982 production of The Pirates of Penzance. And Linda Ronstadt looks barely-legal. But here is Sir Mix-a-lot's immortal ode to the rump, "Baby Got Back," redone in the manner of Gilbert & Sullivan.
Susan Mon, Mar 10, 2008 at 09:51 PM EST
Hilarious!
Susan
http://www.organicsyes.wordpress.com
BilliamE Tue, Dec 11, 2007 at 08:44 PM EST
Not all patter songs are fast. Take for instance "When I Was A Lad" from H.M.S. Pinafore. Clarity is necessary, I'll give you that...
BilliamE Tue, Dec 11, 2007 at 08:40 PM EST
"Jeepers", you state your opinion as quite an authority on the matter. I've actually performed in all of the G&S shows except Iolanthe and Patience and in my opinion I think this spoof is pretty funny. I'm no expert on G&S, but I do know that they themselves were social satires presented as a send-up of classical operas. So the idea of using a rap song and presenting it as a patter song is pretty clever since that's the kind of thing that G&S was all about.
H2 Tue, Dec 11, 2007 at 08:38 PM EST
That was about as bad as that movie adaptation. I watched it on TV a few years back and gave up part way through - if you think that is what G&S should be like then that is a real shame! As others have said, this is not "Major-General" and I wouldn't say it was in the G&S style, either. Needs to be sung at about 10 times the rate for a start (while still maintaining clarity) ...
Leslie Tue, Dec 11, 2007 at 02:43 PM EST
The tune isn't from Gilbert and Sullivan (the scene is 'Modern Major General' but not the song), but it is definitely in the style of Gilbert and Sullivan. That's why it's clever.
Stephanie T. Tue, Dec 11, 2007 at 01:39 PM EST
Rex Smith was a broadway actor. He made his debut in 1978 with the musical Grease. He then went on to modest success with the 1979 teen romance, "Sooner or Later" which produced his top ten hit "You Take My Breath Away". No that was not Richard Marx'es older brother with the huge teased up long hair, that was Rex Smith. lol. Anyway, from I understand, during the early eighties Smith became Andy Gibbs "oh crap! He's on drugs so now we have to get this guy", guy. What I mean by that is that Andy Gibb was fired from Solid Gold due to a little "sniff-sniff" and refusal to show up to tapings. Hasselhoff was busy with Knight Rider, Leif Garret was also high as a kite so they had to get someone who could sing and that the girls would swoon for. Enter broadway singer Rex Smith. Actually he was not that bad. I think that he should go back to Broadway. Anyway, the spoof is cute, a little chuckle but that is it. It would have been better if the writers connected "Modern Major General" to "BGB".
tbag Tue, Dec 11, 2007 at 10:29 AM EST
Not funny at all. Is it just the word butt that makes people think anything is funny? Maybe you could play that tune at a funeral. Now that would be even less funny.
tbag Tue, Dec 11, 2007 at 10:29 AM EST
Not funny at all. Is it just the word butt that makes people think anything is funny? Maybe you could play that tune at a funeral. Now that would be even less funny.
mscisluv Tue, Dec 11, 2007 at 08:48 AM EST
Um...that wasn't the right tune. At all. Not even a little bit. The idea is funny, but I have no idea where they got the tune from, because it's not from Pirates and definitely isn't "I Am The Very Model of a Major General."
geegee Tue, Dec 11, 2007 at 08:10 AM EST
That was really lame. Wow lets redo a tune and play it over an old film clip. Lame. But it was nice seeing Rex and his sexy wexyness.
Lucy Tue, Dec 11, 2007 at 03:14 AM EST
I saw Rex Smith about 10 years ago in the touring company of "Sunset Boulevard" with Diahnn Caroll in Vancouver.
Silv Mon, Dec 10, 2007 at 10:55 PM EST
Patty, I was wondering the same thing while watching this. I remember seeing this play around 1982 - and Rex Smith was all the rage. Now I can't remember why.....didn't he have a song or something?
BilliamE Mon, Dec 10, 2007 at 05:47 PM EST
Why is this on Popwatch when it was already published in EW 2 weeks ago? (Top 10 viral videos of 2007)
Alex Bentley Mon, Dec 10, 2007 at 04:41 PM EST
That's fun stuff, but you should check out your own blog for an even better version by Jonathan Coulton (http://www.jonathancoulton.com/store/downloads). Both are downright hilarious.
bootylicious Mon, Dec 10, 2007 at 04:23 PM EST
I was expecting it to be poorly done. and at the beginning i went "uh oh not looking good." but as I kept listening, i found myself quite entertained. pretty funny actually.
Martha Mon, Dec 10, 2007 at 03:39 PM EST
Holy cow, that was awesome. I remember seeing that movie in the theater when I was in junior high and having a temporary crush on Mr. Kline. Because, yes, I'm old.
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