Why People Sing

[scfrankles]

I realise Dutch musical theatre is really not going to be everyone’s kopje thee, but there’s a song that’s been raising my spirits lately. It’s called “Waarom mensen zingen”—”Why People Sing”— and comes from Alex Klaasen’s revue show Showponies. With the help of Daniel Cornelissen and the rest of the cast, Alex first explains why people keep bursting into song in musicals instead of just speaking, and then expresses the joy of singing and dancing in general.

I've tried this out on my resident non-Dutch speaker (AKA my sister) and she found it funny and enjoyable. (I have just tried applying the auto-generated-Dutch-auto-translated-to-English subtitles but believe me, they are not going to be any help.) So I shall just leave the song here in case it can entertain anyone else…

Watch on YouTube

Comments

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

I watched it! And I'm glad you have something that makes you happy!

[scfrankles]

Thanks so much for watching it ^___^ I do realise that, down to the last detail, this is really not your sort of thing ^___^

If it makes you feel any better, the whole thing is definitely not as sweet as this one number suggests - they also do a routine about porn films, and one about Grindr, for instance. And the final part of the show is quite dark and sad. But obviously the sweetest part of the whole revue is the bit that appeals to me most ^^"

[rachelindeed]

Oh, I enjoyed that so much! I love musicals, and I love self-aware musicals just that little bit extra. The lead singer here had quite a wonderful voice, and the whole number was sly and delightful. It was fun to see what little bits I could pick out without understanding the language -- I definitely got a lot of the early bits where he was acting out the different singing types (the unmelodic atonal bit made me laugh!) and introducing his friend to the inevitability of the chorus refrain. I also liked the moment much later on when his friend had mostly acclimated to the madness but was still startled enough to swear when the chorus leaned in with their echo :P

Thanks so much for sharing this! It's definitely my cup of tea :)

[scfrankles]

I thought this might be your sort of thing ^____^ And I'm thrilled that you actually enjoyed it ^___^ I first heard the song just as a recording of the song on its own, and I was a bit sad I couldn't share it with non-Dutch speaking friends - the lyrics themselves being so important to the point of the song. Then when I saw the song with the visuals I realised it would be pretty entertaining even if you don't speak the language ^___^

Alex Klaasen does have the loveliest voice. I mean, it's a beautiful voice but he's also so technically accomplished and he knows how to act with his voice. He breaks your heart with some of the later songs. I really love listening to him sing. I also liked the moment much later on when his friend had mostly acclimated to the madness but was still startled enough to swear when the chorus leaned in with their echo :P Yes, I like that bit too ^______^ I'm also very taken with the little Mexican wave when they reach the "message" of the song - "Zingen mag". That is, "singing is allowed", even if you're grown up and dignified ^_____^