I’ve long admired the songs written by the Sherman Brothers (Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang etc) and while watching the sequel to Mary Poppins I felt the film lacked the genius of the brothers’ songs. So I decided to have a go at writing an old-fashioned show-tune. I couldn’t resist including references to more modern song styles: Elton John, Jimmy Page, reggae, funk, they all get a mention. It was Mark who suggested the “telephone” effect on the whole song and adding vinyl crackles. It broke my heart to EQ the hell out of my meticulously crafted orchestration but the song needed it! (Written and recorded May – June 2019).
Lyrics
Well some people like to listen to the songs of Elton John
While there’s others who prefer a spot of jazz
Though there’s devotees of country and that doesn’t seem so wrong
None of these has quite the right sort of pizazz
When your feet they go a-dancing and you start to laugh out loud
You can’t help but clap your hands and sing along
There’s no need for any dramas ‘cause it’s just the cat’s pyjamas
It’s a good old Broadway song.
Well you can seize a chance to brighten up your day
And help the world go turning round
And if you love to dance and sing your blues away
Instead of staring at the ground
Well there’s a music secret nothing else can beat it
And I know it can’t be wrong
So ignore it if you dare ‘cause there’s nothing to compare
To a good old Broadway song
There’s some people who like listening to a classical étude
Played by virtuoso artists on the stage
And there’s fans of heavy metal though to some it seems quite crude
There’s no doubt about the skills of Jimmy Page
And there’s rap and there is grunge and there is reggae and there’s funk
There’s a list of music styles a mile long
But there’s one above the rest; it’s passed the old grey whistle test
It’s a good old Broadway song.
Well you can seize a chance to brighten up your day
And help the world go turning round
And if you love to dance and sing your blues away
Instead of staring at the ground
Well there’s a music secret nothing else can beat it
And I know it can’t be wrong
So ignore it if you dare ‘cause there’s nothing to compare
To a good old Broadway, grand old Broadway
Good old Broadway song