Rock NYC suggests to me lots of fabulous talk about rock music which the only things I truly know about such is that i like it, if the modern generation think they are any where near rock their deluding themselves, by and large, and that nothing beats a good bop to rock for shaking your blues away, which neatly leads me to what i would like to write about today
Namely the film Easter Parade and mainly three of the actors therein. Have you seen it, or as in my case, re-seen it lately? No? Well I was watching it just on Wednesday and I had forgotten how fabulous it really is. Name a Fred Astaire dance number and people generally tend to mention his ‘Steppin’Out’ number (as in E.P) and yes, its very good, but have you seen his ‘drum crazy’ routine? (also in E.P), its out of this world! The elegance, the talent, why, the man is tap dancing with his hands!! you’ll have to see it to appreciate what i mean here.
As for Judy Garland, ah who can compare to our beautiful, talented, emotionally fragile, great comic timing and most powerful voiced Judy? Every scene with her in is a pleasure, and she can make you laugh with her or cry for her with just a raise of her eyebrow or tremble of her bottom lip, and the way she belts out a song? It sends shivers down your spine. Such a little person, such a large voice, both her oxygen and her poison was her talent to her surely, but the joy she gave to us though, it is beyond compare.
Lastly, an honorable mention must go to Ann Miller. Little can you tell when she’s dancing like a joyous, zealous being to the wonderful number ‘Shaking Your bBues away’ that she’s actually dancing with a broken back! Also having suffered the tragedy of losing her unborn child, both courtesy of a violent husband. Nope, not a peep of that is shown as she twirls and taps and shimmies and smiles and sings her way through this glorious, jubilant number, that’s so infectious you also want to shake your blues away.
So you whip on some good ol’ proper rock and bop away to your hearts content in the kitchen…er so I’m told (tip, make sure the curtains are drawn when you do so or else all the neighbors can see you!). So, if i may suggest, the next rainy Sunday afternoon you get, pop on Easter Parade, ‘ooh’ and ‘ahh’ at the sheer talent before your very eyes and ears and have your spirits raised and your mojo returned, then go and have a good ol’ bop in the kitchen.
Enjoy.
