I don’t remember a time in my life with The Music Man. This is one of those musicals I grew up with. I admit to being more familiar with the film version which I have watched on television many times – the latest being just yesterday. While it isn’t one of my earliest television memories, watching The Music Man is one of those experiences so ingrained in my DNA it’s more like I am remembering that I remember I have watched it for as long as I can remember. If that makes sense.
Whatever. I love it. The Music Man is one of my favorite musicals. I have mentioned before having it introduced to my kids. Well, two of them anyway. And it wasn’t that long ago even.
I had a hankering to see the film again the last few weeks. I don’t know why. My Blu-ray version is packed up and in storage while the house is being remodeled. Fortunately I saw that it was to be broadcast so I recorded it. Yesterday morning just after I put Tevye down for nap, I started watching The Music Man with August, Déla, Ciárán and Xavier.
“Rock Island”
Ciárán and Xavier made it about halfway through the film before they went downstairs to play something. August wasn’t as into it as before, but he stuck through the whole thing. Déla and I were singing along to most of the songs.
“You Got Trouble/76 Trombones”
Three highlights, for myself anyway, include (but are in no way limited to) the opening song “Rock Island” along with “You Got Trouble” and “Marian The Librarian”. Of course “Till There Was You” is the only song from the musical that would be covered by The Beatles. While the band did a number of covers in the first half of their career this is the only cover from a film or stage production.
“Till There Was You”
What is it about this musical I like so much? Not only is it a snapshot of Americana but the story captivates me every Gregory, or Professor Harold Hill, or whatever his real name may be, you get clues about his real personality the more you watch The Music Man. There’s a great line he says towards the end, “I always believe there’s a band.” That sums up what I think is the crux of his entire scam. He has been chasing a dream he wanted for so long, something he genuinely wanted, but because he hasn’t been able to fulfill his dream he falls back on a flim-flam routine and skips town.
“Marian The Librarian”
There are plenty of other great musicals out there, but The Music Man is one I keep coming back to time and time again. I just never gets old for me.