In Part 9 of his wonderful BBC Radio 2 series, They Write the Songs, Barry Manilow covers the great works of American Composer Jerry Herman. Mr. Herman is unique in that he writes music and lyrics. His first musical, Milk and Honey, based on the founding of the State of Israel, was one of the first Broadway musicals Barry Manilow ever saw with his family.
I know the greeting, but had never heard the beautiful song called “Shalom.” (You see how much we’re learning from this terrific series?) Wouldn’t it be nice if people greeted each other with this word each time they met or parted? It has so much meaning.
Jerry Herman’s second musical was Hello Dolly, based on Thornton Wilder’s Matchmaker. This 10 Tony Award winner is known and loved by just about everyone, even if they’ve never actually seen a production. (No matter how many brilliant stars have played Dolly, Carol Channing will always be the one and only for me!) Herman asked producer David Merrick if he could read the libretto, knowing a composer had not yet been hired. Over the course of a weekend, while consuming his favorite “rocket fuel, chocolate bars,” he wrote the score. Mr. Merrick loved it and gave him the job Monday morning.
We hear Michael Crawford’s beautiful voice performing “It Only Takes A Moment” and it makes us dream of those lovely moments of love at first sight. This song was most recently featured in the emotional Disney/Pixar animated film Wall•E, one of my children’s favorites. That song was my favorite part.
In the mid-60s, he wrote “Before the Parade Passes By,” again with a stash of candy bars. I think the lyrics relate to most of us—I know they do to me when, having reached that point when you see it all flying by, you know in your heart the time is now or never to grasp that “gold ring.”
Along with hearing Barry occasionally sing and play piano, I love how excited he gets when sharing information about the great composers he so admires and respects. Barry sounds like his own fans when we excitedly share our enthusiasm about his work.
Who doesn’t love Mame? In my personal memory department, this was my first Broadway show. I was a very little kid, but the overture and the excitement of being there live is one I’ll never forget. I became an Angela Lansbury fan then and have remained one since.
This was also my oldest son’s first show, in 7th grade at the Stratford Academy in Connecticut. He was so grown up in suit and tie playing the role of one of Auntie Mame’s love interests. The music for this production was unbelievable as they were honored to have the talents of a Broadway director. The little girl who played the role of Mame, talented beyond her years, has gone on to pursue a career in theatre—one more positive vote for keeping the arts alive in public schools!
“Bosom Buddies”—how true! It’s only a girlfriend who’ll tell you the truth, cut you off at the knees, pick you up when you fall, and tell you you’re great when you’re not, while being your best gal pal.
Jerry Herman once said he “imagines Judy Garland singing the song, then he writes a great song.” We get to hear Lorna Luft, dynamic performer and youngest daughter of Ms. Garland, performing a gorgeous rendition of “Time Heals Everything” at a tribute for Mr. Herman at the Hollywood Bowl. In this and other performances I’ve seen by Ms. Luft, I have to say she is one of the best female entertainers around. Her voice has a tremendous quality and power, yet bears the unique sound and quality of her late mother.
I loved hearing Barry sing a portion of “I Won’t Send Roses,” which originally became a huge hit in the UK, and wish he’d done the whole song, though Robert Preston’s rendition was touching. Mr. Herman based this one on the premise of a love song without a central character saying “I love you.” With an almost melancholy sound, I found the lyrics especially touching because once upon a time, my 21-years-older ex-husband used to lovingly call me “kid.” But the line, “pre-occupied with me,” broke my heart.
We’ve all forgotten the lyrics, but the music reminds us of a wonderful moment as we “la la” along. “Song on the Sand” is a beautiful and touching song based on those moments. Gene Barry’s emotional performance is perfect, portraying an older man remembering youthful love.
After writing great music that still led to a failure with Mack and Mable, which was his favorite show, Jerry Herman focused on his successful interior design company. Some time later, he was wooed back to Broadway and wrote the score for La Cage Aux Folles. He said at the time that this would be his last Broadway show and he has stayed true to that assertion.
My absolute, goose-bumpy, chills-up-the-spine moment in this hour was hearing the song “I Am What I Am,” one that, again, I’d never paid much attention to. It was a hit in La Cage Aux Folles and as a standalone single for Gloria Gaynor. The lyrics are so timely and meaningful to current issues; it needs to be re-showcased and heard often as a mantra for all who are forced by society to defend who they are for any reason. It made me want to tell everyone who’s ever judged me, ever told me what I’m doing wrong and what I shoulda done, “life’s not worth a damn until you can say I am what I am.” As Barry says, it is “the definition of a showstopper.”
Where can you hear Carol Channing, Barbra Streisand, Gene Barry…soundtracks of musicals that will make you feel good all day? “They Write the Songs” on BBC Radio 2, that’s where!
Next week, in the last part of the series—gulp, I’m sad and agree with Barry’s plaintive moan in saying it’s almost over—Barry Manilow shares the life and music of Kander and Ebb.