[78-L] Mikado Or What I THOUGHT they said?

[Bob Rice]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "DAVID BURNHAM" <burnhamd at rogers.com>
To: <78-L at 78online.com>
Sent: Friday, January 23, 2009 10:35 AM
Subject: [78-L] Mikado


Chris Zwarg wrote

At face value it is derogatory in "Mikado", but Gilbert put it there in a 
farcical vein, as part of Ko-Ko's "little list" of despicable individuals 
he'd like to see executed. A few moments later it is revealed in the story 
that despite this mighty rant - BTW set to the most tip-toeing and 
non-ranting music imaginable - he couldn't even kill a bluebottle. The 
ominous list contains among others the author himself ("the judicial 
humorist" - Gilbert had been a lawyer before he turned to writing 
operettas), and traditionally, in the last verse, any current celebrity the 
singer and producer find a way to fit into the metre

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I don't think the intention is that the folks on the list are despicable, 
just that Koko feels that if it's ever time for an execution, these people 
should be ahead of him.

Through the years they changed the offensive phrase to things like "coloured 
serenader", "negro serenader" and "banjo serenader". Martyn Green, who sung 
Koko in the 1936 recording, was quite upset when they introduced the line, 
"is painted with vigour and permanent walnut juice." As he said, "how can 
one be painted with vigour?", implying that "vigour" was the paint. It was 
obviously a more difficult line to replace - "blacked like a banjo 
serenader" wouldn't fit in the tune.

   Didn't he ,or others try to rewrite G. and S, with "prohabitionist"  And 
"Scorching Motorist?"Gotta listen to the various vintage Mikado's I 
have?"They never would be missed?"
  It's nice to see 78's being diss-cussed again, now and again. The Internet 
thing is SO impersonel;Had all the OT discussions taken place at a dinner 
party, everybody woulda settled out offensive issues, easily enough.I have 
scene topics dissolve into flame wars among good friends, in person, on my 
OTHER lists stuff.

   Seeya at 78RPM._______________________________________________
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