Did you ever get a
song stuck in your head and try as you might, you could NOT get that sucker
out? Pretty terrible and rather annoying, right? Now, multiply that by ten or
more and you have "I'm Called Little Buttercup."
(“Gaaaaacckkkk!” Picture
a cat hoarfing up a hair ball. You get
the picture.)
Let me preface this by
admitting that I am NOT a G&S fan. (Gilbert and Sullivan, to the less
initiated). The only play of theirs I like is “The Mikado,” and only once every
twenty years. Yes, I understand their importance is the history of operetta/the
beginning of musical theater. But I also understand Wagnar's place in opera
too. It doesn't mean I like Wagnar unless Elmer Fudd is singing "Kill Da
Wabbit" or, "Oh Bwunhilde, you're so wove-wy."
I digress.
Of all the antiquated
stuff that G&S ever wrote, "I'm Called Little Buttercup" has to
be my absolute LEAST favorite. I detest it. Having to sing/record it at the
behest of an old friend, even in the Mrs. Miller-esque vein, really got my
musical goat. Rather like a 19th century “Achy Breaky Heart.” Primarily because it ain’t anywhere NEAR any
key that I normally sing in. I’m an alto for those of you who haven’t heard me
sing. Ergo, what is a embarrassing vocal
struggle becomes parody.
And as it turns out,
after three hours of trying to record the damn thing (another aggravating,
tear-inducing story entirely), it's probably not “good” enough. Most likely
because, of course, the director of said play (where this is background music)
wants it live. Backstage, singing it
live. Unpaid. Of course. The woman who was supposed to do this got sick. I am sorry if she isn’t well enough to do
this for however many weekends this play goes up, of course. I hope it’s nothing serious, poor lady. But
to my mind, singing this for free would MAKE me sick.
Thanks for nothing. Except
for getting it stuck in my head. Stuck so badly that it echoed during my gig
last night where I WAS getting paid to be on my game.
Although, to be fair,
in a comic vein it just SCREAMS parody. It cries out for parody. It begs for
it.
"I've snuff and
tabacky and excellent jacky" just calls for "I'll give you a smacky
and wacky tabacky," doesn't it?
"And excellent
peppermint drops" begs for, "And excellent peppermint schnapps." Perhaps I need to record a verbal parody,
terribly sung. No, I just want to get
this sucker out of my head. Please, make it go away.
