Vaudeville
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Vaudeville - what is it?
vaudeville style on this scale went under in the 1920s.
I'm 70 and never had this term before. I came across it because of an article in the Swiss Tages-Anzeiger in which the author - a so-called music psychologist - wrote very disrespectfully about the last Beatles song 'Now and Then'. The term vaudeville was also mentioned in connection with John's song When I'm 64, so I went on a search and found something amazing. In America, vaudeville was a way of life for some rich and very poor people, mostly immigrants. They tried to fascinate the audience with the craziest performances on special theatre stages with orchestras. They did this to earn a few dollars. There is a very informative video about this:
But it was brought back to life. Paul obviously borrowed from it in various songs. The manager Brian Epstein even promoted performances in the Vaudeville style. Here is an example:
https://travsd.wordpress.com/2013/06/18/on-the-vaudeville-of-paul-mccartney/
Now I come to my question: why was Paul so attracted to Vaudeville?
Here is a very recent example from Vaudeville:
Thanks to all for any comment!
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@uelischwotzer When I’m 64 was Paul’s song for his dad who turned 64 in 1966.
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@njr Thanks a lot!
A read about his father and I think he was a ragtime interprete. So probably the rhythm and stile of his father was picked up by Paul. Nice birthday present! But it seems that this type of stile went under Pauls skin? -
@uelischwotzer said in Vaudeville:
@njr Thanks a lot!
A read about his father and I think he was a ragtime interprete. So probably the rhythm and stile of his father was picked up by Paul. Nice birthday present! But it seems that this type of stile went under Pauls skin?Paul wrote the music for “When I’m 64” on the piano when he was around 15, and the words in 1966 when he was 24. He was greatly influenced by the old-timey songs his dad would play on the piano - that style did “get under his skin.”
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@njr Thanks!
I'am swiss guy with german parents emigrated to Sicily in 1997. So I speak some languages, actually mostly italian. 'Style' in italian is 'stile', so writing in english I'm confusing grammar ;-). But you got it, and that's the most important thing ;-). -
@uelischwotzer said in Vaudeville:
@njr Thanks!
I'am swiss guy with german parents emigrated to Sicily in 1997. So I speak some languages, actually mostly italian. 'Style' in italian is 'stile', so writing in english I'm confusing grammar ;-). But you got it, and that's the most important thing ;-).️️
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@njrA personal contribution: Vaudeville was not born in the USA, but came from France. The cancan stages are very close to the music, but the influence of the music of the black 'immigrants' (more rather slaves) from the colonies had a strong influence on the style. Hope to be correct...
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@uelischwotzer There has been an article on cnn about the documentery 'rooftop concert': https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/17/entertainment/peter-jackson-restores-classic-beatles-film-scli-intl-gbr
And the result is stunning!
These are very good news!
My belief is that the four were/are British gentlemen, the two living ones are SIRS, not for nothing. The way they parted was also honourable. In the last album - one of the best in pop history, by the way, - each member had its place; they are very funny musicians. When you listen to the studio recordings, it warms your heart. The growth of 'Octopus Garden‘ e.g. is so funny:And by the way: on disney* on the 22 of april there'll be a documentary on Octopus.https://www.ansa.it/sito/notizie/cultura/cinema/2024/04/19/i-segreti-del-polpo-serie-che-insegna-lempatia_831efef6-acd6-4ad7-9901-32f9260f3e38.html
Ringo shall be very delighted! Make him know!
P.S. Would you eat squid again? -
Just saw this thread. I confess I did not know there were people who had no idea what vaudeville was. A lot of the biggest stars of the mid-20th century got their start in vaudeville: The Marx Brothers, W.C. Fields, Jimmy Durante, Burt Lancaster, Bert Lahr, Fred Astaire, Sammy Davis Jr., many more.
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@bruce-m I'm one of them... In Italian:'meglio adesso che mai!'
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@uelischwotzer said in Vaudeville:
@bruce-m I'm one of them... In Italian:'meglio adesso che mai!'
@uelischwotzer said in Vaudeville:
@bruce-m I'm one of them... In Italian:'meglio adesso che mai!'
@uelischwotzer said in Vaudeville:
@bruce-m I'm one of them... In Italian:'meglio adesso che mai!'
“Better now than ever” is how Google translates that, but I believe you mean “Better now than never” Si? “Meglio ora che mai”