Dickie and Oscar get together to put on a show and say for the opening we need a peppy buck yourself up song like 'Whistle a Happy Tune' or 'I Have Confidence' or 'Cock-Eyed Optomist' " "And we need an inspirational song here. Should it be 'Climb Every Mountain' or 'Walk Through a Storm' or 'Something Wonderful'"
share"I Have Confidence" was written by Rodgers (with a lyric inspired by ideas from screenwriter Ernest Lehman) for the film version of SOM--Hammerstein was six feet underground at the time. Neither it nor "Cock-eyed Optimist" were opening numbers. And your opening number theory doesn't apply to the musical whose board you are posting on.
It is true that R & H used songs for similar purposes in some of their musicals. "Climb Ev'ry Mountain" and "You'll Never Walk Alone" are examples, as are "What's the Use of Wondrin'" and "Something Wonderful." But I think with their varying locales, subject matters and themes, it's hard to accuse R & H of being formulaic. In fact, I think they worked hard not to be.
"it's hard to accuse R & H of being formulaic. In fact, I think they worked hard not to be."
Actually, they more or less invented the formula and refined it!
"Stone-cold sober I find myself absolutely fascinating!"---Katharine Hepburn
The commentator on the 50th anniversary DVD annoys me when he says that "Climb Every Mountain" isn't as stirring or as moving, in his view, in the way "You'll Never Walk Alone" is. Why would it/how could it?
The first is about searching for and living the life you were destined to live - the latter deals with coping with adversity, overcoming and surviving whatever destiny sends your way. It's an invidious comparison and context and situation signify greatly, in my view.
As informative and interesting as these commentaries are, folks are inclined to make silly and misguided statements.
If you can't improve the silence, DO NOT SPEAK!
I agree with you about these commentaries...but, in this case:
The comparison is obvious. The contexts of the two songs may differ, but they are both meant to be inspirational songs.
Yes, but his implication is that one is more 'inspiring' than the other, rory. This is where, I believe, he comes very close to going off the cliff completely.
If you can't improve the silence, DO NOT SPEAK!
I find them both very moving & inspiring. What's the point of comparisons anyway? I'd rather enjoy each song for itself rather than comparing it to another one. R & H were the ultimate team: they could write both fast & uplifting songs, & the slow, romantic, moving ones with equal brilliance.
Catriona x
[green]"A little love never spoiled anybody" - Kitty Moran, "My Blue Heaven" [green]