Get The Beat - The Music That Makes Me Dance

Unlike the song of the same title that is a Broadway number, and a ballad, the music that makes me wanna dance? Well, you'd be surprised, especially by the difference between my two favorite "get up and dance" songs.

First up: Big Band Leader Benny Goodman and his electrifying number "Sing Sing Sing". It's a riveting, five minute number that never lets the energy lag throughout the number. Even during the lulls - it's as if there's a great musical engine underneath getting ready to leap forward. It's been often recorded, but by the original Benny G. and his orchestra, including the drumming phenom himself, Gene Krupa, on the drum solos, it's like no other number - it has that extra, magical something - the pulse, the excitement, the driving beat.

Check out the YouTube link at the right and tell me if you don't think it's DA BOMB!

And while "Sing Sing Sing" makes me wanna jitterbug like a demon, the other number is a far different musical beast, but inspiring, nonetheless.

The immortal "The Blue Danube Waltz" by Johann Strauss( and performed in the 11 minutes YouTube clip at right by conductor Herbert von Karajan and his orchestra) starts out languid, lovely and crystalline. But just you wait!

After listening to this piece do you have any doubt as to why the matrons of the Regency refused to allow the young unmarried ladies to participate in the waltz? Held tight in a handsome man's arms as your bodies swayed together in this most sensual of dances? Swirling, twirling, hands clasped and bodies held close?

As the music builds and begins to pick up tempo, volume and waves of sound come washing over you, your heart begins to beat a little faster as you move about the room, faster and faster, your head growing lighter and your entire world centered on the man in your arms. Feel the beat of his heart? His feet twining with yours as you gracefully are led through the intricate dance. His breath on your cheek.

Revisiting Old Favorites

In my previous "life" I was a cabaret performer. I've always loved music of nearly every variety, but as a singer I was always drawn to the standards and to Broadway show tunes. So recently, when a good friend began taking singing lessons at HB Studio here in NYC, and she was instructed to sing only show tunes, she was a bit at sea for ideas.

I began coming up with tunes and before long show, after show, song after song and all the greatest performances I remembered were pouring forth. I have the CDs for, but have essentially worn them out, for: Chess, Mack & Mabel, And The World Goes Round, as well as the 2 volumes of Bernadette Peters' Carnegie Hall benefit performance from over a decade ago. Called Sondheim, Etc., and Sondheim, Etc., Etc., while a large portion of the tunes are by Sondheim she also includes some others.



I bought the CDs and shared them with my friend so she could discover for herself the beauty of some of these tunes. "Time Heals Everything" (always a favorite of my mother's), "Look What Happened To Mabel", and from Chess, "I Know Him So Well", "Nobody's Side" and "Anthem", which, while not a woman's song, was sung so incredibly stunningly by the late David Carroll that it never fails to bring tears to my eyes.

And The World Goes Round contains some hilariious numbers, including the naughty, "Arthur In The Afternoon", and "Colored Lights" - a great favorite of mine.
I love everything Bernadette sings, but "Other Lady", "I Never Thought I'd Break", "Sooner or Later" and the double-entendre anthem for single lovers
everywhere? "Making Love Alone".

What a wonderful way to revisit my past and get to know my old favorites again!

I've been humming ever since...