2021 lookback, June to Dec. - We'd loved New York in June! So much hope for re-open, but that was 7 months ago, we doubt that anyone would know.

 

Here's 2021 lookback, Part 2: June to Dec. 2021 
We'd loved New York in June!  There had been so much hope for Broadway re-open, but that was 7 months ago, we doubt that anyone would know!

(I never had done an actual release for some of these, because news changed so fast that subject matter could change in a few days - but this blog had started this in April 2020, and I kept up the musical parody-song  timeline of where we were going at various times) 

JUNE 2021

Did NY re-open too freely and too fast?  

This was a June happening, but based on Times article that appeared July 8 2021 -NY "felt" safer, restarted PDAs 

TO PARODY OF "IT'S IN HIS KISS". - with Sheree Sano

https://youtu.be/4mslhceGos8

(We never had released this, because news changed so fast - the reprieve was over two days after we recorded it)

Parody lyric by Fred Landau

JULY  2021

CHAPEL OF LOVE parody - with Sheree Sano

https://youtu.be/lRAouQwsP1E

Parody lyric by Fred Landau 

as New York ends virtual weddings 

musical tribute to Corey Kilgannon's New York Times article 

Why Virtual Weddings Are No Longer Legal in New York

which is at https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/16/nyregion/legal-virtual-weddings-marriages.html

AUGUST 2021

The Albany Interpreter in the little circle onscreen from the July 26 press conference - 

explains Gov. Cuomo's "We Cannot Go Backwards" theme 

KA-CHING DROWNS OUT THE SCIENCE - with Sheree Sano

https://youtu.be/qtDwRCMBJro

Parody lyric by Fred Landau

SEPTEMBER 2021

Monday Sept. 20 2021 - A strange transition back for red carpets - some great outfits, fun of Seth Rogen's orange look on a comedian, but not sure what to make of his comments on the lack of distancing at the event - was that true, was he being serious, half-true but trying for humor - also how the acting votes went in a year when the nominations were inclusive - but the acting awards seemed to group by favorite shows!!!! More controversy than expected. Hollywood Gown Emmys 2021 [about 1:04 long, then the full 2:44 parody audio] - with Jan Horvath

https://youtu.be/XJD31JI_HK0

Parody lyric by Fred Landau, parody of Harriet Schock's "Hollywood Town"

OCTOBER 2021

"They're All Dissing Christopher Columbus" - with Sheree Sano

(THEY ALL LAUGHED AT CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS parody)

https://youtu.be/lngITDS3Gsk

Parody lyric by Fred Landau

 

NOVEMBER 2021

Over The Caution and Through With Zoom, to Macy's Day We Go - with Sheree Sano

https://youtu.be/ZNcbuShBqeQ

Parody lyric by Fred Landau

Celebrating Natalie Mendoza's performance at the Macy's Parade.  Her Satine in "Moulin Rouge" is a decade after her accident in "Spider Man."  

Never imagined "Moulin Rouge" looking as wholesome as it did outside Macy's.  (Maybe there could be a Jr. Moulin Rouge version someday!)

CHATTING IS A SHOW’S BEST FRIEND -  

looking back  for Satine’s take on “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend”
Encouraging saving your energy for spreading word online

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUa5GGeLdH8 

Parody lyric by Fred Landau

DECEMBER 2021

Suddenly, the day after Thanksgiving, the year end was devastating for travel and NY tourism live theater, with the Omicron variant.

So a downer year end, but hope for 2022 to be better!

Have Yourself Another Distant Christmas - with Sheree Sano

https://youtu.be/9j8nxF_lW1E

Parody lyric by Fred Landau

ALSO IN AUGUST:  MARIAN WEINER AND I TOOK A NEW LOOK AT OUR MUSICAL "FAMILY MUSIC" (VERSION FROM AUGUST 2017) ABOUT A LONG ISLAND FAMILY DEALING WITH THE EFFECTS AT HOME OF THE AFGHANISTAN WAR.  http://music-and-comedy.blogspot.com/2021/08/this-was-show-miarian-weiner-and-i-had.html 

2021 as reflected in our mostly-theater/cabaret blog - part 1 of 2: January through May 2021

(This was added later) Here's the new HAVE YOURSELF ANOTHER DISTANT CHRISTMAS. https://youtu.be/9j8nxF_lW1E

Parody lyric by Fred Landau, sung by Sheree Sano

AND HERE IS 2021 as reflected in our mostly-theater/cabaret blog - part 1 of 2: January through May 2021

This felt like an overall Broadway theme for 2021, that even the hopeful people were concerned that the joyous optimism of those "One singular sensation" ads felt like wishful thinking - Then yikes, by December, the cynics somehow were sadly proven right!!! 

For those who were hungering for some negativity with the sunny ads for Broadway optimism - 

This was "What You Did Got Snubbed"- which had wondered whether Ed Kleban, 

who wrote "What I Did For Love" capturing his characters brilliantly but never his own world view - 

might have preferred looking from heaven enjoying the reactions of the 298 people who lost the $100,000 Kleban Prize every year more than the 2 who won.

"What You Did Got Snubbed" (or "What You Did Got - Nothing!") - with Jan Horvath

https://youtu.be/LZn00NbxLbM

Parody lyric by Fred Landau

And a look back at our 7-minute mini-musical - where we were in May 2020.  

How have we in Dec. 2021 stepped back to resuming precautions of May 2020, except of course we have better treatment.  

WHEN I'M STUCK AT HOME - with MJ and KJ and Scott Arcangel

https://youtu.be/s7mTdB7C8fg

Parody lyric by Fred Landau

Parody-song musical, as Emily plays a performer with her daughter making masks while not being able to perform during quarantine and dreaming about the roles she'd love to play- 

Make 'Em Masks, then Rose (Gypsy), Joanne (updated Company),Bianca/Lois Lane (Kiss Me Kate), and still "Home" a while longer (Dorothy)

JANUARY 2021

January 6 2021 - Oy, what a day! With the attacks in DC, maybe the slow progress of the vaccine was OK for a little ribbing to get that moving?

"Vaccinating Rhythm"  - with Sheree Sano

https://youtu.be/fgg2pGUmZXo

Parody lyric by Fred Landau

THEN:  This non-parody showtune number  was offered on a  sincere note.   Any hope of us getting a 2021 Biden/Harris optimism like we had back in pust-crash January 2009 with Obama/Biden? 

Back in 2008, we had a Christmas burdened by the financial crash, but somehow by Inauguration for Obama/Biden, with a smooth transition, there was optimism, and I thought maybe we could declare a do-over for the 2008 Christmas we'd emotionally missed But "someone" seemed to be working overtime to not let that optimism kick in by Inauguration Day 2021. Maybe it's not too late? "Another Christmas" - wanting do-over for a bleak Christmas when we have optimism with the new year. Did the lack of transition and total lack of cooperation from 45 to 46 just mess up the year that followed? "Another Christmas"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfenKQ7sj1E

Music & Lyric by Fred Landau

FEBRUARY 2021

Valentine’s Day: original theater love songs 

“Is It Mushy to Say I Love You” somehow passed 73,000 views

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZZfjTLHl1s

"Brooklyn Boy"

https://youtu.be/XiQRDVKvf5Q

"I Look Into Those Eyes"

https://youtu.be/5HcENPH12UU

MARCH 2021

Announcement of Free Shakespeare this summer brings a very rare touch of optimism for live theater in NYC - 

Mask Up For Shakespeare

https://youtu.be/blbyKSx2Uu8

Parody lyric by Fred Landau

APRIL 2021

To join the celebration of the 50th birthday of FOLLIES - 

With approval and arrangement with then-publisher Carlin America. 

"I'm Still Queer" 

This had gotten into Michael Musto's column in 2009, looking at 40 years of musicals - though the embedded links in the Voice got discontinued during 2021  

https://www.villagevoice.com/2009/10/16/hilarious-gay-spoof-of-im-still-here/

The Sondheim-approved lyric and publisher-approved video is at this link  

https://youtu.be/bt40nQGc1I4

Parody lyric by Fred Landau

Thanks again to Bill Parry, who has done so many Sondheim shows including the boatman in Sunday in the Park with George, and the Mizner brothers' father in Road Show, for performing the vocal, to Route Design technology and Jim Cooney's staff - Arminda at Carlin America and Sean at Warner, and to MAC VP Julie Miller who in 2007, 2008  and 2009 was still instrumental to everything the LLC was doing!!!!

MAY 2021

We had an Urgent Parody update (LOL). - and if anything can be called a parody emergency, this could be it:  

Despite a gazillion (very rough estimate) coincidental similarities with Paul Zindel's play, "The Shape of Water" is exonerated. 

Does that leave open the possibility that all of Paul Zindel's work is up for grabs!

The one of musical parody concern is his screenplay for MAME - We are springing to action to be first - and dusting the cobwebs off this one, to get to the market first - with our MAME update for Betty White!

"Great Auntie Mame" 

https://youtu.be/ados3loEZBs

Parody lyric by Fred Landau

next on this topic  will be June to Dec.2021

Now unruly airline passengers are in the news! - Here's double feature FLYING WITH THESE LOONS - FLY ME IN THE NUDE based on 2010 Bway show "COME FLY AWAY" [NOT "COME FROM AWAY"]

 Now it seems unruly airline passengers are in the news!

In FLYING WITH THESE LOONS (the sequel to the TSA-security number "Fly me in the Nude") "Frankie" is on the plane and gets suspicious about the behavior of a fellow passenger and gets ready to swing into action! 

https://youtu.be/lDtWUZx858s 

And yes, I got the comments that it makes no sense that Frankie is flying in coach - I have no answer for that. :)

FLY ME IN THE NUDE, the airline intrusive-scanner number is here

https://youtu.be/gn3AcCmPL00

P.S. We had done an updated version of "Fly Me in the Nude" with new available graphics

which we called the "G-rated version" https://youtu.be/gMJvlkzntBg

THESE WERE ORIGINALLY RECORDED AS PARODY-TRIBUTES SO-CALLED COMPLAINTS ABOUT "GRATUITOUS NEAR-NUDITY" IN Twyla Tharp's Broadway show 2010's "Come Fly Away" [not to be confused with "Come From Away," of course]

Celebrating Natalie Mendoza's leading cast of "Moulin Rouge" at the Macy's Parade. Her Satine is a decade after "Spider Man."

 

Celebrating Natalie Mendoza's performance at the Macy's Parade.  Her Satine in "Moulin Rouge" is a decade after her accident in "Spider Man."  

Never imagined "Moulin Rouge" looking as wholesome as it did outside Macy's.  (Maybe there could be a Jr. Moulin Rouge version someday!)

CHATTING IS A SHOW’S BEST FRIEND -  

update for Satine’s take on “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend”
Encouraging saving your energy for spreading word online

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUa5GGeLdH8 

FINER WORK, our "Firework" parody celebrating the way this show uses the pop catalog

https://youtu.be/TNGZJrX81zc

(not a typo, just one firework - they have to cut corners somewhere; it's a huge show!)

Will a Sondheim show finally go mega-premium? Let's make a wish! "Another 100 Patti Fans Got Off Of Their Phones"

Will a Sondheim show finally go mega-premium?  Let's make a wish!  "Another 100 Patti Fans Got Off Of Their Phones"

 In the 2010s, we saw million-dollar weeks for the FOLLIES revival, and the A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC revival from Dec. 2009 sold really great!!  

In the 2020s, will a Sondheim show go mega-premium? Make a wish, Sondheim fans!  

"ANOTHER HUNDRED PATTI FANS GOT OFF OF THEIR PHONES"

https://youtu.be/biOPO57uQ1M

The shorter attention span 1:40 version is still at  https://youtu.be/o1s1ScBSV3An

And a socially distant TOGETHER medley, salute to Patti as Joanne and Patti as Rose - 

feat. THE THINGS WE LIKE TO DO TOGETHER 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmwMqL3T7-Y

thanks to Emily McAleesejergins, KJ McAleesejergins and Scott Arcangel, from our 

"When I'm Stuck At Home" 8-minute musical https://youtu.be/s7mTdB7C8fg 

Update Nov. 21: Over the River and Through the Woods parody

"We're Fed Up With Face Time and Tired of Zoom, To Macy's Day We'll Go"

https://youtu.be/ZNcbuShBqeQ

An Adele VOGUE magazine lookback - Adele's "Rolling in the Deep" is of course now a show tune in MOULIN ROUGE. (Eventually, might every song be a show tune if jukebox keeps going?)

 This apparently has never happened before that the cover of VOGUE in the US and UK are the same person, but it is now and the press says it's a big deal. (AND for show tune lovers, Adele's "Rolling in the Deep" has become a show song in MOULIN ROUGE. eventually, might every song be a show song if jukebox keeps going?)  

So here's a look back at the HUGE controversy from ten years ago - when Adele was all about being who you are, yet the VOGUE photo-shoppers made Adele look nothing like she really was.  

"The Photo Is A Cheat". (parody of "Rolling In The Deep")

https://youtu.be/bN_oexA7W-g

(And we've learned that the guy all that "Rolling in the Deep" geshrei-ing was about, musician Slinky Sunbeam is actually caring, and they were pals before "Rolling in the Deep" had hit the charts.)

For Halloween: Recalling our exclusive with The Ghost of Alan Jay Lerner at Vassar for "On a Clear Day"

 For Halloween:  

Recalling our exclusive with The Ghost of Alan Jay Lerner back when he haunted the "On A Clear Day" Vassar rewrite.

"What Did It Lack That It Has Now?"- Lerner considers what could possibly be  added by Daisy Gamble being changed to a man

https://youtu.be/Lt9VtE_1TY8

Broadway's "The Lehman Trilogy" opened last night - Even after three hours, could it use a "megamix" to get the crowd on its feet

 Wondering if Broadway's "The Lehman Trilogy" even at three hours could use a megamix to get the crowd on its feet and clapping in rhythm, so they get online even while they leave the theater and tell their friends what a good time they had! 

Here's "I Need Me A Loan" the cautionary tale of AIG's Ruby Red Ink, vocal by Georga Osborne to the 1970s "Leave Me Alone (Ruby Red Dress)"

https://youtu.be/Ha8Q2KHzuME

This adds to the study materials - The Broadway "Lehman Trilogy" gives you 3 parts in 180 minutes, 

"The Lehman Eulogy" gives you 5 parts in 8 minutes https://youtu.be/KUjCalZ7hiM  

(feat. "I Am Lehman" and "AIG Against the World")

With the happy news that Jane Lynch will be in Beanie Feldstein- Michael Mayer FUNNY GIRL: Lookback to HOLLYWOOD GOWN 2011 Emmy Edition when Jane Lynch hosted.

 With the happy news that Jane Lynch is announced for the cast of FUNNY GIRL:

Lookback to HOLLYWOOD GOWN 2011 Emmy Edition - Jane Lynch hosted.

https://youtu.be/24Rpk846HR4

It was very oddly a cleavage fashion year with some fashionable people (and their designers) making unusually weird choices - Stars who were usually in red carpet BEST lists made it to SAY WHAT? lists.

Does anyone recall what was going on in fashion Sept 2011?  

Parody lyric by Fred Landau, vocal & video work is by Jan Horvath - 

(Real song is "Hollywood Town" written by Harriet Schock, which is possibly most widely known to 1970s generation for the recording by Manfred Mann's Earth Band on the "Angel Station" album)

For those hungering for some negativity with the sunny ads for Broadway optimism - this was WHAT YOU DID GOT SNUBBED

The re-opening of Broadway was going so well, there had to be a wrench thrown in! So for those hungering for some negativity with the sunny ads for Broadway optimism.  :)

With optimistic classic shows like "A Chorus Line" being used by NYC in the feel-better ads, recalling that Ed Kleban was something of a curmudgeon and really is said not to have felt "What I Did For Love" for himself, but he caught what the characters felt so well.  

This was "What You Did Got Snubbed"- that maybe Ed Kleban prefers looking from heaven enjoying the reactions of the 298 people who lost the Kleban Prize every year more than the 2 who won.

https://youtu.be/LZn00NbxLbM

A quick MAKE 'EM MASKS School Starts 2021 version

 MAKE 'EM MASKS School Starts 2021 version  

https://youtu.be/98SsvTrTkNQ Parody Lyric Fred Landau  Vocals and feat. Emily (MJ ) McAleesejergins

Vocals producer KJ McAleesejergins. Editing Scott Arcangel

If you like that video, you may also like "Lotta Gloves" feat. Emily and KJ - This was our first together and now seems to reflect the evolving "Tough Glove" approach voiced a lot on TV) https://youtu.be/P92NrXCxMBw