Why no Fifth Dimension Musical?

[jiff]

Posted: 2/13/14 at 2:20pm

This group really lends itself to some sort of musical. One of the songs could be "Isn't It Fun to Sing Like White People?"
This group is unjustly forgotten. I can't count the number of people (admittedly most of them are over fifty) who have told me that this group really did good songs, but because some of them were hokey, they are often dismissed.

[Demitri2]

Posted: 2/13/14 at 2:49pm

I'm waiting for a musical based on the music of HARPERS BIZARRE.

Updated On: 2/13/14 at 02:49 PM

[oasisjeff]

Posted: 2/13/14 at 2:57pm

Easy. No one has written one. Run with it!

[Kad]

Posted: 2/13/14 at 2:59pm

I think the main issue is pretty obvious: their biggest hit was a cover from Hair.

[FishermanBob]

Posted: 2/13/14 at 7:19pm

Don't be dissin' the 5th Dimension. You young punks don't appreciate how good they were or how omnipresent they were on AM radio for a good 10 years. Yes, Aquarius was their biggest hit but Wedding Bell Blues went No. 1 as well and Stoned Soul Picnic, One Less Bell to Answer, Didn't get to Sleep at All, Up, Up and Away and a number of others were big hits. They were perfect for and absolutely representative of their time.

Having said that, no we don't need a 5th Dimension musical any more than we needed a Spice Girls Musical. Sometimes, it's nice just to remember how good something was without feeling the need to make it into a new musical.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 2/13/14 at 7:21pm

Can a John Denver musical be far behind ?

What about Capt & Tennille?

[best12bars]

Posted: 2/13/14 at 7:47pm

The Fifth Dimension is one of my favorite groups ever.

Ever, ever, ever.

I love their music, but they didn't write most (if any) of it. They were not songwriters, so you're looking at licensing each song individually. It can be done, but it wouldn't be "neat and tidy," nor could you bundle it all together in a single "deal" to use the music.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 2/13/14 at 8:27pm

Jimmy Webb (one of my all time fave pop composers--it's a shame that with his love and knowledge of musical theatre none of the half dozen or so musicals he's written have had much of a life, including Michael Bennett's Scandal or whatever it was called or his adaptation of Bradbury's Dandelion Wine which was performed in Florida and has a great score.) Ahem where was I. Webb's concept album for them, Magic Garden, could kinda sorta be used to make one bizarre trippy musical.

[wexy]

Posted: 2/13/14 at 9:03pm

Just flashed back to "Stoned Soul Picnic." Great video. Written by Laura Nyro..

[jiff]

Posted: 2/13/14 at 11:20pm

What about their song "Paper Cup?" On the last part they sing: "So if you'd like to come along, we're sing a little paper song, about a lonely paper plate who couldn't find a paper mate."
I would love to hear the banter between the members of the group before this song is sung. The jokes etc. But I agree every group's work doesn't have to be made into a musical.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 2/14/14 at 12:02am

Jimmy Webb wrote Paper Cup about an alcoholic... lol (though of course the theme is meant to juxtapose the melody and even lyrics.)

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 2/15/14 at 12:08am

As much as I liked them, please no more juke box musicals.

[ZiggyCringe]

Posted: 2/15/14 at 1:05am

There was the Laura Nyro musical, which is much the same thing. "Stoned Soul Picnic," "Wedding Bell Blues," all Nyro songs. I do agree, however, I would love a Fifth Dimension musical.

[Jon]

Posted: 2/15/14 at 8:19am

A bio-musical about the Mamas and the Papas would be really interesting. Lots of behind the scenes drama, great songs. Finding an actress/singer to portray Cass Elliot would be difficult, though.

[best12bars]

Posted: 2/15/14 at 8:42am

I have to say, I'm pretty tired of bio-musicals, because the overall arc of the story is exactly the same. The specific details may change, but it's always the same plot.

Young, hopeful group (or soloist) struggles to be noticed and break away from their humble beginnings while fighting incredible odds and themselves, and eventually they succeed --- which is always where the story dies. They try to show disillusionment, dissatisfaction, or sadness AFTER the fame arrives, and it's never as powerful or interesting as the rise to the top. So the story always resolves on a lesser note.

But we get to hear all the hits and watch a string of talented impersonators try to capture the essence of who they were.

These shows are all the same.

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 2/15/14 at 9:57am

Best12bars - Exactly, the plot is always the same and do we need any more of these type shows.

[jiff]

Posted: 2/17/14 at 2:15pm

Eric
I did not know that song was about an
alcoholic. Thanks for that information.

[best12bars]

Posted: 2/17/14 at 5:58pm

Wow, I didn't know that either!

I love the juxtaposition of such a somber premise for the lyrics set against such blissful and even joyful music.


5th Dimension - Paper Cup

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 2/17/14 at 6:04pm

Webb discusses it in one of his excellent books about songwriting (he also is pretty wise about the differences needed between pop lyrics and musical theatre lyrics -- pointing out for example why one can get away with fake rhymes much better.)

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 2/17/14 at 6:28pm

Yaaay! One of THE BEST vocal groups of ALL TIME! Unfairly under appreciated! Most underrated! Their 1967 Summer of Love Lp: THE MAGIC GARDEN is a MUST LISTEN!!

[best12bars]

Posted: 2/17/14 at 9:46pm

My favorite 5th Dimension song by Jimmy Webb is "Orange Air," because it's so completely trippy about cutting off someone's long hair, etc.

But the music is a psychedelic wonder! All the crazy meter changes, key changes, mood changes, and I love every acid-induced moment.


Orange Air

[best12bars]

Posted: 2/17/14 at 9:58pm

Oh! And the TV commercials. I used to love the promos they did on TV!

Jello:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pS7Z4ygOLbs


Chevrolet:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEZpbyyxQXo


Coke:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdI07HU9Jds

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 2/18/14 at 5:59am

Need some 420 to go with that Orange Air video.

ORANGE AIR

How rude! How crude! She said that I should come to such an end
With my hair too long to work at the local bank
Her mother wanted her to marry the rich young son of some old friend
And I did not quite fit in with just myself to thank.

A long silent summer
It didn't matter
Who cut my hair or
Who was my hatter.

And then the night Jasmine came clinging to her hair and lingered there
And there was orange air
There was orange air

I remember kissing her that sad last night through the screen so hard I had a checkered mouth and nose
She sold out so quickly that before I knew what hit me she was laughing with the others at my funny clothes
A long silent summer
It didn't matter
Who cut my hair or
Who was my hatter.

And then the night Jasmine came clinging to her hair and lingered there
And there was orange air,
There was orange air

Orange Air! (orange air)
Orange Air! (orange air)
Orange Air! (orange air)
Orange Air! (orange air)




Updated On: 2/18/14 at 05:59 AM

[OlBlueEyes]

Posted: 2/18/14 at 11:13am

Not only did the group have the musical skill to handle intricate harmonies and fast-changing rhythms, but they had that attractive and skilled lead singer in Marilyn McCoo who could put over the songs as if they were her own.

The Fifth Dimension's greatest skill might well have been in the way they plucked obscure songs from eccentric song writers such as Jimmy Webb and Laura Nyro while those two were in their prime and showcased to the world just how good their songs were. Both songwriters flamed out early (Webb may be on the way back, Nyro is deceased).

The group could take a terrific song like "Sweet Blindness" that was performed adequately by Nyro at the piano, considering her vocal skills, and bring out all its joyful enthusiasm.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 2/18/14 at 11:43am

Does anyone here remember The Night That Made America Famous - possibly Broadways first jukebox musical? Music of Harry Chapin