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A
musical trip down memory lane
Instep revisits classical musicals like Mary Poppins, The Sound of
Music and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang to remember some of the great tunes
that were childhood favourites and are still as great to listen to
as they were as kids. Download these songs this week and remind yourself
of the great wonder of musicals that sparked your childhood imagination.
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Mary
Poppins - 'Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious'
'Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious' may be quite a mouthful,
but for anyone who has seen the brilliant Disney film that is
Mary Poppins - it isn't just a word: it's a great song by the
same name.
'Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious' is an incredibly fun song,
which the characters in Mary Poppins sing when they enter the
magical world of a street art painting. And while it may sound
nonsensical - the word is actually in the dictionary - described
as 'a quality that is so indescribable that you have no real
word to say it with'. And once you get your way around pronouncing
it, it definitely does become a part of your lifelong |
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memory - and you won't be alone 'Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious'
is ranked #36 in the American Film Institute's list of the 100 Greatest
Songs in Movie History. |
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And
for the cynical ones who wonder where they'd actually use such a tongue-twister
word - the lyricists of 'Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious' have
it planned out:
'So when the cat has got your tongue
There's no need for dismay
Just summon up this word
And then you've got a lot to say
But better use it carefully
Or it may change your life'
Though I somehow still can't imagine someone saying, "Dude, that's
supercalifragilisticexplialidocious'.. |
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The
Sound of Music - 'Do Re Mi'
The Sound of Music is an inherent part of global pop culture.
The film - centered on the von Trapp family and a nun-in-the-making,
Maria - spawned from a real story to a musical to an Academy
Award wining film. And this musical has some inherently beautiful
songs, including the rather famous 'Do Re Mi'. Maria sings this
to the Von Trapp children as their governess, when she discovers
that they have no idea about music. Simple, rhyming lyrics make
up the song, as Maria explains the notes of the major musical
scale. And its probably the best way to capture the attention
of children (or so I would like to believe, given how most children
I know have been entranced by the song and the film): 'Do(e)
- a deer, a female deer, Re(y) - a drop of golden sun, Mi -
a name I call myself, Fa(r) - a long long way to run!"
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The
Sound of Music - 'The Sound of Music'
'The hills are alive with the sound of music…' - probably one
of the most well-known song lyrics from a musical, 'The Sound of Music'
is the first song off the film which introduces the character of Maria,
who is studying to become a nun in an Austrian abbey. 'The Sound of
Music' brings to life Maria's character, a free-spirited girl trying
to decide what road to lfie she'll choose, and who brings laughter
and hilarity to the staid abbey. 'The hills are alive with the sound
of music / With songs they have sung for a thousand years / The hills
fill my heart with the sound of music / My heart wants to sing every
song it hears' - they may be naïve and optimistic, but it is
musicals like The Sound of Music and Mary Poppins that bring that
optimistic, child-like quality to life, to remind one of a time when
everything seemed possible. And with 'The Sound of Music' one is instantly
transported to a hilly countryside singing along with Julie Andrews,
who plays Maria and voiced the songs.
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Chitty
Chitty Bang Bang: The Magical Car -
'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang'
Starring Dick Van Dyke (who was also in Mary Poppins) - the
film was adapted from a children's book written by Ian Fleming
(author of the James Bond novels) - and centered on a car named
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang - which has truly extraordinary powers.
We kid you not, it even turns into a boat (Perhaps one should
commission these for the monsoon rains in Pakistan?) A lovely
film for children, and for anyone who would like to introduce
their kids to cars, perhaps - 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' is a
must-download song. Nominated for an Oscar, the song was sung
by Dick Van Dyke and Sally Andrews, and is - as most children
musical songs are - very sing-along, to the point where it may
be slightly annoying even as you hum 'Bang Bang, Chitty Chitty
Bang Bang' over and over again. Here's an excerpt of the lyrics:
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On Chitty Chitty we depend.
Bang Bang Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Our fine four fendered friend
You're sleek as a thoroughbred
Your seats are a feather bed
You'll turn everybody's head today'
-- Saba Imtiaz
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