MovieChat Forums > Popeye (1980) Discussion > Worst lyrics in a musical ever?

Worst lyrics in a musical ever?

posted 10 years ago by eifler121
8 replies | jump to latest

I just watched this for the first time last night...you can tell all of the money went to set design and costumes. The actors were even really good. There's almost no story or script to work off, though.

Worst of all...most of these songs aren't even songs. Everything is food food food food food...He's Laaaarge...and he's LAAAARRRGGEE...he's large.

[–] Traianus 10 years ago

well, it is a movie based on a comic strip for one thing, and a lot of ways the film is supposed to be simple entertainment for children. So there's that.

Secondly, the "large" lyric is simple and repetitive because it's supposed to be humorous in showing that that's the ONLY nice thing that Olive can possibly find to say about Bluto.

[–] eifler121 10 years ago

I got all of that.

Still, a movie based on a comic strip can still have sensible lyrics. The Christmas song from Charlie Brown has become a staple to every season. It isn't like I'm demanding high poetry, either.

I got the "large" lyric as well. Still, there must have been another way to present it. It sounded like the lyricist told her to just say whatever she thought of.

[–] WeluvDogs 10 years ago

Excately!! I love this movie!!

[–] eifler121 10 years ago

Hahaha, what are you talking about?

[–] 10 years ago

[deleted]

[–] baileythedog 10 years ago

Worst of all...most of these songs aren't even songs. Everything is food food food food food...He's Laaaarge...and he's LAAAARRRGGEE...he's large.

The songs were meant to be mumbly and to blend in with the mumbly dialogue. Harry Nilsson did a majority of the songs for the movie. "Blow Me Down" is actually a great song that Popeye mumbles along to as he's wandering through town with the sack on his back and it's very sweet and clever in it's lyrics & incorporation with the movie's dialogue. Favorite bit--when four guys being shaved stick their heads out of the barbershop hitting various notes of "trouble, Trouble, TROUBLE!" and Popeye mumbles, "What are you, the Glum club?"

It isn't your typical musical by any stretch of the imagination. But it does have some really great lyrics.

[–] kavieregge 10 years ago

Actually the movie produced a great song "He needs me." Its a sweet romantic song that has shown up even lately in commercials and other movies. I also love "Swee'Pea's Lullaby"

[–] SilverGameDog 9 years ago

It's so bizarre because the music was done by Harry Nilsson who was one of the greatest songwriters ever (especially in the 1970's)
I don't know how it could go do wrong.