All tagged Jule Styne

The Sounds of Styne: A Jule Styne Playlist

The Sounds of Styne: A Jule Styne Playlist

Mark Robinson
Music That Makes Me Dance

When I think of the quintessential showtune, Jule Styne is one of the composers that comes to mind. There is a brassy boldness that instantly begins to fill the ears and swells the heart when recalling melodies such as “Everything’s Coming Up Roses,” “Don’t Rain on My Parade” and “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend.” And yet, Styne could be subtle, emotional, and break your heart with gentler tunes such as “The Party’s Over,” “Make Someone Happy,” and “Who Are You Now?” Working with many lyricists over his long career, Styne was a master of the infectious melody. Today, I’m celebrating this composer of Gentleman Prefer Blondes, Bells Are Ringing, Gypsy, and Funny Girl with a playlist that looks at songs from these, and a bountiful array of other titles. I hope you enjoy them and hopefully I didn’t miss too many that are close to your heart.

Remembering Darling of the Day

Remembering Darling of the Day

Mark Robinson
Music That Makes Me Dance

Darling of the Day was a 1968 musical that held many high expectations, with music by the great Jule Styne, lyrics by the always witty and wonderful E. Y. Harburg, and a book by filmmaker Nunnally Johnson. The show would star two great personalities, Patricia Routledge (who would go on to television fame playing Hyacinth Bucket in the BBC sitcom Keeping Up Appearances), and classic horror film star Vincent Price (who had starred in such flicks as House of Wax and House on Haunted Hill). With several important pieces in place, it seemed that the ingredients were there for a Broadway hit. Yet, Darling of the Day didn’t enjoy the run that was hoped for and that many felt it deserved.

Remembering High Button Shoes

Remembering High Button Shoes

Mark Robinson
Music That Makes Me Dance

Jule Styne was a one of the great composers for the Broadway musical stage, having penned the melodies for such classic scores as Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Bells Are Ringing, Gypsy, and Funny Girl. Styne’s first Broadway score, however came in the form of the breezy and bright High Button Shoes, which premiered in 1947. Paired with lyricist Sammy Cahn, the show is best remembered as the musical that introduced that showtune classic “Papa, Won’t You Dance with Me?” and the clever dance sequences staged by Jerome Robbins.

Remembering Hazel Flagg

Remembering Hazel Flagg

Mark Robinson
Music That Makes Me Dance

Helen Gallagher is an actress who came very close to being one of Broadway musicals’ biggest stars, on a par with Mary Martin, Ethel Merman, or Gwen Verdon. Always one of the standout supporting players in such musicals as High Button Shoes, Make A Wish, and Pal Joey, for which she won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. It was inevitable that she would ultimately land a starring role in a Broadway musical that would launch her career into the stratosphere where it belonged. That vehicle, for all intents and purposes, should have been the 1953 musical Hazel Flagg wherein Gallagher played the title character.

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