I have a confession to make. I've always been a fan of West Side Story. I never saw the Broadway production but I saw the movie and even bought the soundtrack album back in 1961. Some of the songs are true classics that are still being played on the radio today (Especially if you have satellite radio and listen to the 60s channel or the showtime channel.
) I bet every one of you can since a few bars of "Maria", "Tonight", "America", "I Feel Pretty", or "Somewhere" and probably most of you know a line or two from "Gee, Officer Krupke" and "Something's Coming".
Here's a very clever and funny, updated, version that was posted on A Blog Around the Clock.
I am a total WSS fan. I know the words to many of the songs, and still reckon that Tom Waits singing Somewhere is one of life's great experiences.
ReplyDeleteWhen you're a Jet, you know...
Great music. Clever lyrics. Very good singing. Good acting. Terrible dancing.
ReplyDeleteI too am an open West Side Story fan and still have vivid memories of seeing the film in 1961. The combination of Bernstein/Sondheim did indeed produce some splendid music.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with the Aussie Anthropoid on Tom Waits and Somewhere. I alo think that the Nice's redition of America is one of the greatest rock instrumentals of all time.
If you Like your cover versions more sophisticated there is a great album by the Labeque sisters of the music from West Side Story arranged for two pianos and percussion, one of the percussionists is Trilok Gurtu and the album is produced by John McLaughlin.