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Ah, Angelique, You are a most delightuful singer of songs and painter of pictures.

There was a TV show in the U.S. patterned after Les Miserables and Jean Val Jean. Anyone know what it was?

Thought for Today: ``There are two kinds of statistics, the kind you look up and the kind you make up.'' - Rex Stout, American author (1886-1975).



07/13/05 20:00

and, folks, a song for one of Raggedy's celebs:


OPENING LYRICS:

Flintstones, meet the Flintstones
They're the modern stone-age family
From the town of Bedrock
They're a page right out of history
Let's ride with the family down the street
Through the courtesy of Fred's two feet
When you're with the Flintstones
Have a yabba-dabba-doo time
A dabba-doo time
You'll have a gay old time

My word, folks. The cartoon shows that have been so successful on TV are amazing:

Simpsons
South Park
King of the Hill
The Jetsons

The Flintstones may well have been the one that started the stone rolling.

I had to wait the longest time before I could even listen to Les Mis after seeing it - now I play it over and over. What an experience - I saw it in London in the mid-80's. I think with scalpers' fees and all, I paid around $40. I am particularly moved by the final scene in the video where the worldwide Valjeans are all singing in their own languages. Whew!

Another thought for today: About 87.6% of all statistics are made up on the spot!

Hey, bermbits. That sounds exciting. All of them singing in their own language? Will you explain that. All I did was read Charles Dickens A Tale of Two Cities. Of course, all Americans know about Les Miserables, but many pronounce it "less miserables".

An interesting item on ABC news tonight, listeners. The Britons are standing solid with a campaign called "We Are Not Afraid". Teacups; t-shirts; pictures of serene kitty cats; I guess we could call it solidarity.

Thinking of a funny song tonight, folks, but I can't find the lyrics. Goes something like:

When Madam Pompadour,
Was on the ballroom floor,
Said all the gentlemen, obviously,
The lady sure can use her, personality.

Will try later to search 'em out later.

And, bermbits, glad you added further substantiation to how valuable statistics can be.

Yup - 82.9% of all statistics are made up on the spot!

I have a 10th anniversary VHS of Les Mis "The Dream Cast in Concert," which, as Amazon says, will fill the gap until a movie comes along.

"The 147-minute video contains footage not seen when Les Mis was a PBS pledge-drive staple, most notably the encore in which a progression of 17 actors who have played Valjean around the world share "Do You Hear the People Sing?" Each sings a line in his native language, a testament to the enduring power of this show to audiences everywhere." --David Horiuchi (from Amazon)

She had a well-developed Personality.

But I can't remember beyond the first verse either, Letty. You know that song was featured in " Road to Utopia" with Bing and Bob. I guess we'll have to watch that movie again to get the rest of the song.

When I first heard Les Mis, I thought no one would ever be as good in the show as Colm Wilkinson, but when I saw it on stage with an unknown, I was very pleased.

I agree with Bermbits that the "Dreamcast in Concert" is a gem. It was broadcast on our Public Broadcasting Station and all of the tenors (from various nations) were superb. I only wish they had sung more than a few lines.


Would this be the TV show, Letty?

Well, bermbits, I think I saw the movie with Anthony Perkins as the gendarme that relentlessly pursued Valjean. Need to check that out as well.

Perhaps our movie buffs will help us out here.

Incidentally, folks. The answer to the question about the U.S. TV show that drew its inspiration from Les Miserables was The Fugitive.

Raggedy, you clever thing. That's the one, all right. I know that the show was also designed to vindicate Sam Shepherd.

Been working hard. I want some rock n roll now.

Jerry Lee Lewis - Mean Woman Blues

Mmm, well I got a woman mean as she can be I got a little woman and shes as mean as she can be
Sometimes I think she's almost mean as me
She got ruby lips, she got shapely hips, yeah
Boy she makes ole Jerry flip
I got a woman mean as she can be
Some-a-times I think she's almost mean as me
Well I ain't braggin', it's understood
Everything I do, well I sure do it good
Yeah, I got a woman mean as she can be
Some-a-times I think she's almost mean as me
Well... Easy now
Ah uh huh
Woo uh huh

Now let's go one time...
Well, I got a woman mean as she can be
Yes, I got a woman mean as she can be
Some-a-times I think she's almost mean as me

Now, I'll be humming "Personality" all evening long and trying to remember the lyrics. Thanks Letty.


Fredric March and Charles Laughton were in the first Les Miserables that I saw. The second one I saw was with Michael Rennie and Robert Newton. I didn't see the Gérard Depardieu and John Malkovich version.

edgar, honey. You just listen to Jerry Lee all you want. You deserve it, right listeners? and thanks for that song.

Raggedy, all those songs are stuck in my brain somewhere. All it takes is a cue.

wow! I saw on the news that Paris is really in big time celebration. One that even over shadowed Lance Armstrong.<smile>


David Moncoutie of France as he crosses finish line to win 12th stage of the Tour de France
French cyclist David Moncoutie has celebrated Bastille Day by winning the 12th stage of the Tour de France, but American Lance Armstrong remains the overall leader.

Moncoutie finished the 187-kilometer ride from Briançon to Digne-les-Bains in four hours, 20 minutes, six seconds. His countryman Sandy Casar was second in a pack of riders 0:57 off the leader. Angel Vicioso of Spain was third.

Armstrong finished in a pack 10:33 off the leader. The six-time champion is 0:38 seconds ahead of Dutchman Mickael Rasmussen in the overall standings.

They're eating more than cake tonight, folks.

Well, my goodness, listeners. No wonder that song was stuck in my head. It's by Johnny Mercer:

Johnny Mercer
When Madam Pompadour was on a ballroom floor
Said all the gentlemen "Obviously,"
"The madam has the cutest personality"

And think of all the books about Du Barry's looks
What was it made her the toast of Paree?
She had a well-developed personality

(What did Romeo see in Juliet?)
(Or Figaro in Figarette?)
(Or Jupiter in Juno?)
You know!

And when Salome danced and had the boys entranced
No doubt it must have been easy to see
That she knew how to use her personality



(A girl can learn to spell and take dictation well)
(And never sit on the boss's left knee)
(Unless she's got a perfect personality)

(A girl can get somewhere in spite of stringy hair)
(Or even just a bit bowed at the knee)
(If she can show a faultless personality)

Why are certain girls offered certain things
Like sable coats and wedding rings?
By men who wear their spats right?
(That's right!)

(So don'tcha say "I'm smart and have the kindest heart"
(Or "what a wonderful sister I'd be")
Just tell me how you like my
Mercer> "Rufff!!
(Personality)

Baby, you've got the cutest personality.

Hoorah for Letty!

Wow, this f*cking thread is up to 832 pages already? In only six months or so? Wow! Letty, you're a genius for coming up with this one!

My goodness. It's our Kicky. Hey Mambo Italiano, good to see you in our studio. Stick around.

If I weren't so tired, I would dedicate a song to you, buddy.

But, it's that time of night, and Letty be weary, so I'll just say ciao.

Goodnight all you marvelous folks.

From Letty with love.

Ciao baby. Keep on spinnin' the tunes...

ARE YOU LONESOME TONIGHT
(Turk - Handman / Henry D. Haynes - Kenneth C. Burns)
HOMER & JETHRO (RCA, 1961)

Are you lonesome tonight
If you are, serves you right
I'm so happy you left me at last
I can still hear you roar
Make the beds, mop the floor
Do the laundry and then mow the grass
You took me for a boat ride
I had to swim back
Darling I thought I'd never
Get out of that sack
Should you fly back again
Park your broom and come in
Darling that's why you're lonesome tonight

Short Spear once said, all the world's a stage. It ain't much of a line, but if it's good enough for Elvis, it's good enough for us.

Act one:
You took me home to meet your folks and I can still hear your father whispering, Son, that girl's cross-eyed, knock-kneed, strong-headed, bucktoothed and all you said was, oh pa, you don't have to whisper, she's deaf too.

Act two:
Our engagement lasted ten years, 'cause I wouldn't marry you when you was drunk. Yeah, and I wouldn't marry you when I was sober.

Act three:
The only romatic thing you ever said to me was, that I creeped into your heart, and I creeped into your brain, creeped into your mind. No, all I ever said was that you is the biggest creep I'd ever seen.

Act four:
We finally settled down in our little honeymoon cottage and every Friday night our friends and neighbours come over to watch the fight. Yeah, we didn't ever have a TV set, but we had a fight every Friday. One night I blacked your eyes, broke your nose and knocked your teeth out and you got chicken and called the cops. You told 'em not to believe a word I said, 'cause I was punch drunk.

So, I'll miss you my pet
Every chance that I get
Darling that's why you're lonesome tonight
But I won't be for long...

Just a quick Thank You to Letty for finding the lyrics to Personality. And now I recall them very well. For some reason I kept googling for composer Johnny Burke.

This Train

This train don't carry no gamblers, this train
This train don't carry no gamblers, this train
This train don't carry no gamblers,
no whiskey drinkers, and no high flyers
This train don't carry no gamblers, this train

This train is bound for glory, this train
This train is bound for glory, this train
This train is bound for glory,
don't carry nothing, but the righteous and the holy
This train bound for glory, this train

This train don't carry no liars, this train
This train don't carry no liars, this train
This train don't carry no liars,
no hypocrites and no high flyers
This train don't carry no liars, this train

This train is built for speed, boy, this train
This train is built for speed, now, this train
This train is built for speed,
fastest train you ever did see
Now, this train is built for speed, boy, this train

This train is solid black, oh, this train
This train is solid black, oh, this train
This train is solid black,
when you go there you don't come back
Oh, this train is built for glory, this train

This train don't fit no transportation on this train
This train don't fit no transportation on this train
This train, you know, don't fit no transportation,
no Jim Crow and no discrimination on
This train is bound for glory, this train

This train don't care if you white or black on this train
This train don't care if you white or black on this train
This train don't care if you white or black,
everybody's treated just like a man
This train is bound for glory, this train

This train is bound for glory, this train
This train is bound for glory, this train
This train is bound for glory,
don't carry nothing but the righteous an' a holy
This train is bound for glory, this train
This train,
This train,
This train

Listen to the Music

Don't you feel it growin', day by day
People gettin' ready for the news
Some are happy, some are sad
Oh, we got to let the music play
What the people need
Is a way to make 'em smile
It ain't so hard to do if you know how
Gotta get a message
Get it on through
Oh now mama, don't you ask me why

Oh, oh, listen to the music
Oh, oh, listen to the music
Oh, oh, listen to the music
All the time

Well I know, you know better
Everything I say
Meet me in the country for a day
We'll be happy
And we'll dance
Oh, we're gonna dance our blues away
And if I'm feelin' good to you
And you're feelin' good to me
There ain't nothin' we can't do or say
Feelin' good, feeling fine
Oh, baby, let the music play

Oh, oh, listen to the music
Oh, oh, listen to the music
Oh, oh, listen to the music
All the time

Like a lazy flowing river
Surrounding castles in the sky
And the crowd is growing bigger
List'nin' for the happy sounds
And I got to let them fly

Oh, oh, listen to the music
Oh, oh, listen to the music
Oh, oh, listen to the music
All the time