If you’re of a certain age, like me, you may know of the great Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Oklahoma!, which opened on Broadway in 1943. My parents had the original cast album, and I listened to it a lot as a kid, with the result that I know most of the songs by heart.
Here’s the title song, “Oklahoma”, sung not by humans but by Coco, a yellow-napped Amazon parrot. To see how accurate it is, listen to the original version here. The parrot even puts in the yelps in the appropriate places.
Talk about an exaptation!
h/t: Merilee
Hilarious!!
Remarkable. What a learning achievement.
Yeah, we also had that album. My parents both were “Okies” and my Dad was actually born before statehood in what was nominally Indian Territory. Moreover, they migrated to California during the “dustbowl” years. However, the move was so my Dad could earn his Ph.D. at Cal Tech (with Linus Pauling), so the authentic Okie story sort of falls apart.
You folks any kin to Tom Joad and his clan?
I just gotta laugh at that, even if I get a PC pang.
I didn’t know the Broadway leads were played by Gordon and Sheila MacRae. A 1960’s power couple weren’t they?
Saw Oklahoma at a dinner theater twenty + years ago. If they’d had a parrot in the show I’d have left a bigger tip.
I’m thinkin’ this ain’t the way Rodgers & Hammerstein heard the tune in their minds’ ears while they were writing it.
Ever see Topsy-Turvy? One of my favorite films. That’s Gilbert & Sullivan, but whatever, this is my opportunity to mention it and I’m not letting it pass.
Yes, by Mike Leigh. Love all his films. Just saw his latest, Peterloo, at TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival).
I haven’t seen Peterloo yet, but Mr. Turner was excellent. I own the Criterion Collection release of Topsy Turvy, and it’s excellent (as is the case with all Criterion releases. Those people are amazing!).
We own Mr. Turner as well. Fantastic flick! Saw it at TIFF a couple of years ago. On a very different note also loved his Happy-Go-Lucky, with Sally Hawkins (Sally is also superb in Maudie.)
How was Peterloo?
Very good, though maybe a tad long at almost 150 min. Some of the speeches could have been edited down, imo.
I am very fond of the movie, but imagine playing this song over and over to train the parrot.
I don’t think would be up for that kind of hard core dedication.
I giggled all day after hearing Coco’s rendition. Glad Jerry shared it here. He/she can certainly nail the final high notes better than I can. Wouldn’t it be great to belt this out in the shower with Coco pacing around the top and singing along!?
Exaptation? NO! Cultural Appropriation!
And we must listen to SAG since I believe he was one of the folks to come up with the word! 🙂
Wow! And the Big Headcheese can’t even say ‘anonymous’!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnYWN-hvHX4
A parrot would do much better.
It’s still more musical than rap.
Amen!
That ain’t sayin’ much…
This parrot would have made a wonderful addition to the cast (had he/she been alive) when I was in the cast of “Oklahoma” in high school in the late 50s. What an experience!