|
|
Post by augiesannie on Aug 9, 2013 0:24:41 GMT
In the SOM group I used to be in, there were a lot of community theatre people, and we enjoyed debating the relative merits of the show vs. the film. (sometimes directors of local productions mixed and matched, for example, using "I have Confidence," which was written for the film, on stage). Anyhow, many people did feel, as one of you said in another thread, that Ordinary Couple doesn't work because they are hardly ordinary! But some people think it's a better song than Something Good, noting that it's very poignant that in fact, the way the story works out, they never have a chance to live this simple, uncomplicated life together. I myself love Something Good, and I'm going to assume that if you're here, you know those lyrics. I'll paste in the lyrics to OC below. Which do you like better?
An ordinary couple
Is all we'll ever be,
For all I want of living
Is to keep you close to me,
To laugh and weep together
While time goes on its flight,
To kiss you ev'ry morning
An to kiss you ev'ry night.
We'll meet our daily problems
And rest when day is done,
Our arms around each other
In the fading sun.
An ordinary couple,
Across the years we'll ride,
Our arms around each other
Our children by our side;
Our arms around each other.
|
|
|
|
Post by lemacd on Aug 10, 2013 20:37:12 GMT
i prefer 'ordinary couple', always have. 'something good' seems to imply something the movie doesn't really address (fanfic to the rescue). or, you can interpret it to mean she is just saying she doesn't know what she did to deserve someone so wonderful, and hey, i can get with that.
i could also go into the karma vs. providence issues i have with 'something good' but that's a personal thing. i will say, though, that i personally don't think maria, a devout catholic, would ascribe to being rewarded by the universe for something she must have done right in her youth. or childhood.
i'm having a day. i don't even know if this makes any sense. and i don't wish to offend personal beliefs. it's just that i happen to have them too.
shut up, laurel, sheesh.
peace out.
|
|
|
|
Post by augiesannie on Aug 10, 2013 23:42:22 GMT
that's a great point - many fanfics seem to rely on "something good" to fill in the almost complete lack of background about Maria (where did she come from? Why is there no one for him to ask permission to marry her? And who are those people sitting on her side in the wedding?) I also like the poignancy that, in fact, they never get to lead that "ordinary" life.
I do like the melody to Something Good. It has a swingy 1930s feel that reminds me of my mom, and that's a good feeling. The lyrics seem to say, "what did someone like me do to deserve someone like you?" which makes me a little sad, even though I myself have contributed mightily to the portrait of Maria as write Maria as angtsy and insecure.
I am not strong on the nuances of the whole providence, karma, earned redemption thing, it doesn't figure as prominently in my own background, but I once had to mediate a disagreement about it between two of my staff members, so I think I know what you mean, and it's a good point.
|
|
|
|
Post by lemacd on Aug 11, 2013 5:16:43 GMT
like i said, that is just the basis for my own preference. i do like the melody of 'something good' and totally agree that M & G are not an ordinary couple... and yet, if you take the lines that include that phrase away from the song and just look at the others on their own, it is a beautiful summary of a pure union and they definitely had that. again, in my opinion.
or maybe i'm yearning for a little more 'ordinary' in my own life these days. ask me again in a few years.
|
|
|
|
Post by ForeverJulie on Aug 11, 2013 5:25:54 GMT
I do think the meaning for Ordinary Couple is just as good as Something Good. As though, it doesn't matter who they are because the way they view themselves is being in love just like everyone else and wanting the same basic things out of life. Maybe Robert Wise didn't think that would come through to the film viewing audience? Also, I have to say, a lot of people watching this type of film don't want to hear the couple they're soo happy is finally together talk about wanting to be or feeling ordinary. Not a lot of people dream of ordinary, so it may have been replaced partially on what they thought would test better with the public essentially. But yes, I think the story I actually heard was basically Wise (or maybe someone else) saying, "well they aren't ordinary and we wanted something else".
Lemacd: I think you have a point about the karma thing. I never really thought about it that way. I always just thought it was more of a "what did I do to deserve you?" thing. However, I think a lot of people overlook how incredibly christian Maria is and how that would affect every aspect of her life.
|
|
|
|
Post by lemacd on Aug 11, 2013 5:41:21 GMT
yes. like i said, i can totally get with the 'what did i do to deserve you'? totally. and i've felt that way many times. i tend to over think things sometimes, too.
|
|
|
|
Post by augiesannie on Aug 11, 2013 6:15:16 GMT
I thought that karma point was brilliant.
"whether or not you should" is kind of whinily self-deprecating, isn't it? although he sings it too, so I suppose it's mutual self-deprecation.. but 5 points off for him, because he does that annoyingly condescending thing to her nose when he sings it..
another point in OC's favor is that the lyrics are even more appealing if you look at the dialogue just before the song - he says he will take her anywhere, buy her anything, that she can have anything she's ever dreamed of, and she says that everything she wants is right there in his arms more or less. that whole "now you will be a rich baroness" idea is not as present in the movie.
[and - now I'm giggling - I think that's because in the movie, we are all thinking, "now you get to be married to the incredible Captain/CP, how can life get any better?" at that point, which is riches enough. With the show, perhaps Theodore Bikel looked better with a fur coat or a yacht thrown in on top.]
I'm rambling. But that's because it's 2 am.
what I like the most about these discussions is hearing other peoples' preferences - half the time I end up disagreeing with myself!
|
|
|
|
Post by augiesannie on Aug 15, 2013 1:13:54 GMT
I had another good idea about this tonight (even though I am talking to myself, what's wrong with that?)
I suspected that some of my dislike for OC might be traced to my not liking Mary Martin. This was such an unpopular position in my old group that I'm scared to say it out loud, and I don't HATE her, I just don't buy her as Maria. Too old and self-centered. (The self-centered part might work better on the stage where a strong presence is called for).
So I asked myself would l like OC if JA and CP were singing it?
Answer: yes, mostly, although it works better for JA than CP.
|
|
|
|
Post by lemacd on Aug 15, 2013 1:42:33 GMT
i've stated (too much i'm sure) that my childhood was all about wearing out my mom's original broadway record of TSOM and so mary martin has a sentimental place for me... that said, a while ago i found some audio of the original broadway production on youtube (audio only) and ugh, the idea of her as maria went south very fast. it was the stage, they had to do things different, but yeah... JA is the quintessential maria. and it would have been very nice to hear her sing 'ordinary couple' with CP. very nice.
|
|
|
|
Post by augiesannie on Aug 16, 2013 0:32:00 GMT
It was created as a vehicle for MM, as you know, and it shows. Many difference to point to, but my favorite is when, in the show, he expresses doubts about whether they can escape over the mountains and she reassures him and leads them offstage. In the film, roles reversed (one wonders if that change was made in the screenplay or was one adopted in CP-inspired revisions) and I'm sorry to be so old-fashioned, but I like it better coming from our man. Of course Maria could have been strong and confident, but the guy is a naval hero, sheesh, do ya think he might be up to the challenge?
|
|
|
|
Post by lemacd on Aug 16, 2013 0:39:50 GMT
yeah, the line "jump on my back, maria, i'll storm those mountains like hannibal on steroids!" just popped into my head for some reason.
|
|
louisavontrapp
Junior Member
I knew the first time you blew that silly whistle.
Posts: 94 
|
Post by louisavontrapp on Aug 16, 2013 10:07:30 GMT
I like more "Something Good". not because It's in the movie version but because it gives another 'scene' to the Sound of Music. I mean that It's not only they are singing in the gazebo or professing their love but it tells about Maria's past in a little way. The song delivers the story of Young Maria before she entered the abbey with lines "Perhaps I had wicked Childhood.. Perhaps I had Miserable youth.." I still love "Ordinary couple" though.  |
|
|
|
Post by augiesannie on Aug 16, 2013 12:39:01 GMT
Yes, Louisa, I agree, that's one of the great contributions of SG. Not sure what fanfic writers would do without it.
|
|
|
|
Post by augiesannie on Sept 2, 2013 20:54:56 GMT
i could also go into the karma vs. providence issues i have with 'something good' but that's a personal thing. i will say, though, that i personally don't think maria, a devout catholic, would ascribe to being rewarded by the universe for something she must have done right in her youth. or childhood. Believe it or not, I just came back from a Labor Day (US holiday) barbeque at which someone said he has a bone to pick with the movie, or the song at any rate, for this very reason. He was very impressed that I even understood his point. I told him I owed it all to lemacd. Actually I didn't say that, but I thought it. |
|
|
|
Post by lemacd on Sept 2, 2013 21:58:40 GMT
how interesting! i'm in your head... so sorry.
|
|
|
|
Post by augiesannie on Sept 3, 2013 17:37:33 GMT
how interesting! i'm in your head... so sorry. to paraphrase: well, someone's got to be there. I'm never there long enough. |
|
|
|
Post by indigoblue on Sept 3, 2013 23:08:14 GMT
Ha! So clever!
What was that thread, You Know You've Watched Too Much TSOM when you start talking in paraphrases from the film? Happens to me frequently!
|
|
|
|
Post by utility_singer on Oct 16, 2013 4:23:40 GMT
Hmmm. I like the lyrics to Ordinary Couple better, but the melody to Something Good is far superior.
|
|
|
|
Post by augiesannie on Oct 16, 2013 10:37:09 GMT
that's a good way of putting it. I love the SG melody. I guess I think the OC lyrics are superior, but every time I think of them, I hear Mary Martin's voice in my head, and it's hard for me to imagine JA singing it.
|
|
|
|
Post by utility_singer on Oct 16, 2013 10:51:34 GMT
that's a good way of putting it. I love the SG melody. I guess I think the OC lyrics are superior, but every time I think of them, I hear Mary Martin's voice in my head, and it's hard for me to imagine JA singing it. I can understand that....I know I never listened to the Mary Martin cast recording because I didn't care for her voice (or Bikel's for that matter--fabulous actor, mediocre singer in my opinion). I remember it from my own high school show, and I'm sure that influences my fondness for it. The melody for OC is just terribly dull. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 19, 2014 21:00:48 GMT
"Something Good" has always had a special place in my heart, ever since I was a child viewing the movie. It...speaks to me
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 21, 2014 20:10:52 GMT
I have to admit, since I'm such a die hard fan of the movie (in case you haven't already guessed), I don't know "an ordinary couple" that well. While I have seen the stage production a few times, I can only remember one time at least that "an ordinary couple" was sung - in the others they put "something good" in instead.
Just looking at the lyrics to "an ordinary couple", they do seem quite sweet but I'm just such a sucker for "something good", I mean I just LOVE the gazebo scene and well... You know... And Maria and Georg are NOT an ordinary couple, if they were, there wouldn't be so many wonderful fan fics out there! Who wants to write about ordinary, boring people.
How was your day love?
Not bad.
Good.
What's for dinner?
Get it yourself.
I only asked a question. Are you ok?
You haven't noticed.
What?
I give up.
Yeah, boring.
|
|
|
|
Post by augiesannie on Feb 21, 2014 20:22:17 GMT
on my other board, someone said (sorry, I'm repeating myself from above) that OC is so poignant because they don't ever get a chance to be an OC, what with the Anschluss and all.
|
|
|
|
Post by lemacd on Feb 21, 2014 20:26:02 GMT
well... i always think that they are hoping to have some ordinary in the extraordinary; for her, she is probably thinking that life w/ georg could end up being champagne parties and servants doing everything and quite overwhelming so she hopes that they can be ordinary too... kisses goodnight and kisses good morning and quiet evenings together doing nothing special, just being together. georg probably longs for the same, a wife, confidant, tackling the problems of parenthood and whatever else comes up, ordinary and not so ordinary. two worlds are about to collide, say nothing of what lurks in the political shadows, and they just want each other in the simplest way. i find it excruciatingly romantic. consider what almost happened with elsa... that wouldn't have been ordinary in the least and it certainly didn't hold any appeal for him once maria came into his life. no, i think ordinary has its appeal.
agreed, they aren't ordinary. but the life they want together is...
|
|
|
|
Post by augiesannie on Feb 21, 2014 20:42:36 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by lemacd on Feb 21, 2014 20:49:13 GMT
just speaking as one who wallows in the ordinary on a regular basis, i have to keep an eye on my perspective of these things.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 21, 2014 21:09:41 GMT
Yeah I think my above post was based upon the monotony of my ordinary life
|
|
|
|
Post by mireille on Feb 21, 2014 21:12:17 GMT
Yeah I think my above post was based upon the monotony of my ordinary life Ditto! |
|
|
|
Post by utility_singer on Feb 21, 2014 23:40:28 GMT
well... i always think that they are hoping to have some ordinary in the extraordinary; for her, she is probably thinking that life w/ georg could end up being champagne parties and servants doing everything and quite overwhelming so she hopes that they can be ordinary too... kisses goodnight and kisses good morning and quiet evenings together doing nothing special, just being together. georg probably longs for the same, a wife, confidant, tackling the problems of parenthood and whatever else comes up, ordinary and not so ordinary. two worlds are about to collide, say nothing of what lurks in the political shadows, and they just want each other in the simplest way. i find it excruciatingly romantic. consider what almost happened with elsa... that wouldn't have been ordinary in the least and it certainly didn't hold any appeal for him once maria came into his life. no, i think ordinary has its appeal. agreed, they aren't ordinary. but the life they want together is... This. I wouldn't change a word. |
|
|
|
Post by lemacd on Feb 20, 2015 19:50:51 GMT
just speaking as one who wallows in the ordinary on a regular basis, i have to keep an eye on my perspective of these things. Reviving this thread as it was mentioned in another... But freakin' A! I'm such a whine bag. How do you people put up with me?! |
|
