Eugene is a long way from the Algonguin Oak Room.
Desperate for American Songbook stylings, I’ve taken to watching the Lawrence Welk show–a program I loathed as a child (sample reason: one ex-Welk star remembered her mother peeling potatoes to the program). Amidst the madness of polyester tuxedos, saccharin themed shows (Springtime! Westerns! Salute to the Movies!) and pubescent sister acts (singing “Sisters” a song more typically delivered by old salts like Bea Arthur and Angela Lansbury), I’m finding singers and song numbers I actually enjoy (my own snowbound Spring madness?!?). Absent of any jazz inflection, certain Welk singers resemble contemporary cabaret artists–successfully delivering tunes through a veil of champagne sweetness.
For a more total web hommage, see the Welk Musical Family blog.
“Love will keep us together”
“Spring will be a little late this year”
Back away from the TV! Faster, FASTER!
Promise me this isn’t a glimpse at Monday’s “festivities”….
My memories of that show mostly involve my grandmother snoring.
See Please Here
Look at the outfits they are just class.
I also loathed this when I was growing up. But….they started running it on PBS, reruns about 12 years ago and I really got into it. My favorite was this guy named Larry Hooper, a real nut!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jv0YYB5gLt8
I also loathed this when I was growing up. But….they started running it on PBS, reruns about 12 years ago and I really got into it. My favorite was this guy named Larry Hooper, a real nut!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IumgENogH7Q