![]() ![]() I had the good fortune of working on a production of Babes in Arms last year and I was smitten that every song has SOME clever turn of phrase. There is a natural ease of how Hart’s lyrics sit upon Rodgers’ melodies…in many ways, they’re even more conversational than Rodgers and Hammerstein. Even the lesser-known material works beautifully. They fit like a glove and there is never a note OR word out of place in the material. It’s similar to Rodgers & Hammerstein in that you can see how well the marriage, at least professionally speaking, worked. How do you feel Hart’s lyrics compliment Rodgers’ scores? We know how well the man could turn a brilliant phrase. Where the seats caress your carcass with their plushes, Where a fountain changes color when it gushes, Where the usher puts his heart in what he ushes, He truly builds this classic (and sadly, long gone) New York movie palace with his words. I am not ashamed to admit that this was undiscovered even by me, so thank you for this gift! I just listened to it, and it’s delightfully bouncy and the triple rhymes are so sharp. I think definitely “At the Roxy Music Hall” is one of the undiscovered gems of their canon. And you think to yourself, “Awesome! I can’t wait to hear this.” What’s that song? People maybe don’t understand how prolific he was in his relatively short life – more than 650 songs! Sometimes you hear a song that you can’t place – you look it up, and it’s a Rodgers & Hart! So to that end: you’re just sitting down at a concert and you’re perusing the program and see a rarely-performed Rodgers & Hart song on the set list. ![]() I also find that his work in particular is the gift that keeps on giving. From up-tempos to ballads, Hart rarely missed a beat, and I think it’s why so many of his songs have become part of the American Songbook. His use of language was both conversational, but perfectly elevated to express every necessary thought. Rodgers also beautifully complemented his melodies and harmonies to fit the lyric. ![]() He spoke directly from the heart, pun intended. There, he seemed to have an outlet to express his repressed emotions. What we know about Hart is that he lived a very difficult private life, and this is so beautifully reflected in his lyric writing. What do you feel set Lorenz Hart apart and caused him to excel beyond other lyricists of his generation? It’s one of the many ways in which is work was unparalleled. Hart’s verses often so slyly set up the chorus in a way that was unparalleled. Not only do you have beautiful alliteration, but the rhymes are also effortless, and this lyric looks introspective in such a profound way that it spills right into the well-known chorus. You have lost that bright toothpaste grin. Look at yourself – Do you still believe the rumor Look at yourself – If you had a sense of humor It's a great word! Very similar to Irving Berlin popping “rotogravure” into “Easter Parade.” All of it is captured in one single stanza, and how often do we hear the word “toboggan” used in a lyric? The opening lyric of “I Wish I Were in Love Again” classically displays the wit and sharpness of Lorenz Hart: “The sleepless nights/ The daily fights/ The quick toboggan when you reach the heights/ I miss the kisses and I miss the bites/ I wish I were in love again” Here you see the extremes of love – the highs and lows, the dark, the light. Why do they resonate so much with you today, even all these decades after they were written? Pick your favorite lyric from those songs. What’s your favorite Rodgers & Hart song?Īndy Einhorn: How is that easy!? I love so many Rodgers & Hart songs…but I’m going to say it’s a tie between “Glad to Be Unhappy” and “I Wish I Were in Love Again.” I’m cheating a bit because I have a ballad and an up-tempo! ![]()
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