Arrrrgghhh! and Heeeeee!

[pat]

We have a car in the shop again. At church, when David opened the side door, a high-pitched alarm (different from the car-alarm) came on and Would.Not.Go.Away. I ended up driving it to the dealership, where a guy disconnected the battery, and I left it to be looked at. Which, in retrospect is really stupid, because chances are they'll charge us $50.00, at least, over nothing. In my defense, it is really hard to think clearly with a high pitched siren going off in your ear.

cyan_blue was nice enough to come rescue me and David and Kevin and take us home.

While we were waiting, I passed around some art supplies I had taken out of the van before I left it. As we sat there drawing, Kevin started to hum

"Putting it Together"

Bit by bit, Putting it together
Piece by piece, only way to make a work of art
Every moment makes a contribution,
Every little detail plays a part.
Having just a vision's no solution,.
Everything depends on execution
Putting it together, that's what counts!

Ounce by ounce, putting it together
Small amounts, having it can make a work of art.
First of all you need a good foundation,
Otherwise it's risky from the start.
Takes a little cocktail conversation,
But without the proper preparation,
Having just a vision's no solution,
Everything depends on execution...

The art of making art
Is putting it together, bit by bit.

Voice 2: Do we really need all these musicians?

Link by link, making the connections - Yes we do!
Drink by drink, taking every comment as it comes.
Learning how to play the politician
Like you play piano, bass and drums.
Otherwise you'll find your composition
Isn't gonna get much exhibition.

Art isn't easy
Every minor detail is a major decision
Have to keep things in scale,
Have to hold to your vision.

Voice 1: Why don't we talk about this over dinner, darling?

What's a little cocktail conversation
If it gets the funds for your foundation.
Every time I start to feel defensive --
I remember vinyl is expensive!

Voice 3: Would you agree to do an interview?
Barbra: Maybe one!

Dot by dot, building up the image.
Shot by shot, keeping at a distance doesn't pay.
Still if you remember your objective,
Not give all your privacy away.
A little bit of hype can be effective,
As long as you can keep it in perspective.
Even when you get some recognition
Everything you do you still audition.

Art isn't easy,
Overnight you're a trend, you're the right combination,
Then the trend's at an end,
You're suddenly last year's sensation!

All they ever want is repetition,
All they really like is what they know.
You gotta keep a link with your tradition
Got to learn to trust your intuition,
While you reestablish your position
So that you can be on exhibit...
Spoken: So that your work can be on exhibition!!!

BARBRA (SUNG):

Be new, girl.
They tell you till they're blue, girl.
You're new, or else you're through, girl,
And even if it's true, girl,
You do what you can do!

Bit by bit, putting it together.
Piece by piece, working out the vision night and day.
All it takes is time and perseverance
And a little luck along the way.
Putting in a personal appearance
Gathering supporters and adherents...

Voice 1: Well, she's an original!
Voice 3: WAS!

Noting every song but in addition,
Harmonizing each negotiation,
Balancing the part that's all musicians
With the part that's strictly presentation,
Balancing the money with the mission
Till you have the perfect orchestration,
Even if you do have the suspicion
That it's taking all your concentration.

The art of making art...
Is putting it together
Bib by bit, beat by beat, part by part
Sheet by sheet, chart by chart,
Track by track, Bit by bit,
Reel by reel, Pout by pout,
Stack by stack, Snit by snit
Meal by meal, Shout by shout
Deal by deal, Spat by spat
Shpiel by shpiel, Doubt by doubt
And that...
Is the state of the art!

Comments

[klwalton.livejournal.com]

Show tunes will *never* die!!!!!!

[patgreene.livejournal.com]

The interesting thing is how flexible Sondheim's lyrics are. The ones I quoted are from Barbara Streisand's version of the song, in which the "art" is music, and Kevin learned his from watching Putting it Together: A Stephen Sondheim Revue," where the lyrics are about acting.

Maybe art is art.

By the way, that show is worth watching if for no other reason than to watch Carol Burnett do "Ladies Who Lunch" and "Will I Leave You?" It's also noteworthy for taking "Unworthy of Your Love," which in Assassins is John Hinckley's song of love for Jodie Foster, although it is sung as a duet with Squaky Fromme, and using it as a standard love song. Stripped of its context (and changing the "Jodie"s to "darling"s) it's a lot less creepy.

[patgreene.livejournal.com]

Re-reading my earlier reply, I realized that was the wrong thing to say. It should have been:

"Yeah, sister!"

*me channeling the ladies chorus on "Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair" from South Pacific</>*

[si-anenome.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you got a ride & am sorry I wasn't available to help you out.

We said Wednesday, right? Wednesday and Friday are out for me. Monday and Tuesday are out for you? If so, then how about Thursday? I forgot that I am working out at Shoreline on Wednesday. :/

[patgreene.livejournal.com]

Thursday morning works for me.