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Songs for this week

For years my husband and I followed closely 1)  the Kansas City Chiefs and 2) Broadway musicals.   So it’s not surprising that this week the Chiefs have been, as Willie Nelson sang, “Always on My Mind.” Another chance at the Super Bowl has been a long time coming.   Go Chiefs!

A Musical pop-up

But when the name of a  little-known Broadway Musical suddenly popped into my head a few days ago, I was totally taken aback.  I’m used to having Broadway-musical songs from Oklahoma to Rent  play and replay in my head. What surprised  me was that this particular show came  to mind as I was following news about the impeachment trial—an event which could accurately be described as  political theatre.   

The name of the musical:  Ain’t Misbehavin.’  I didn’t recall anything about the show other than its name.   Curious about why it had suddenly come to mind,  I Google’d it.  A musical revue, Ain’t Misbehavin’ featured scores by various composers and performers.  The show’s title came from a song of the same name by Fats Waller.  Then I read the names of other numbers in the show.  They had me laughing in disbelief–

 “T Ain’t Nobody’s Bizness.” 

 “I’ve Got a Feeling I’m Falling”  

“Cash for Your Trash”  

“That Ain’t Right”

“Find Out What They Like”

 “I’m gonna sit right down and write myself a letter,” and

“ It’s a Sin to Tell a Lie”

No foolin.’ All the above are actual song titles from  Ain’t Misbehavin,’ the  Broadway musical that opened in 1978.  

Consider

If there were to be a 2020 revival of this show and you were the director– Who would constitute a good cast to sing these songs?  Lawyers? Legislators? A Supreme Court Judge? the President?  Which song would you have him/her sing? Why?

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Patricia Schudy

Patricia Schudy is the author of the non-fiction book, "Oldest Daughters: What to know if you are one or have ever been bossed around by one," and is currently writing a suspense-romance novel. She is a former nationally syndicated, youth-advice columnist ("Talk to Us," Universal Press Syndicate/Andrews McMeel) and a free-lance feature writer for local and national publications, ncluding Better Homes and Gardens /Meredith Publications, the Kansas City STAR Magazine and the National Catholic Reporter. She is a member of Sisters in Crime (SINC), Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, and Northern Colorado Writers. The oldest child in her family-of-origin’s five siblings, she is the mother of five adult children and the grandmother of eight. “Relationships are integral to who I am and what I choose to write about.”

This Post Has 3 Comments

  1. Joy 28 Jan 2020

    Great lyrics stand the test of time. Maybe in the play instead of writing a letter with a pen and stationary, we have a laptop. Actors to play this…. I like Jennifer Aniston with Adam Sandler.

  2. Kristin Russell 28 Jan 2020

    Good questions to ask ourselves in this day and age.

  3. Nora Richard 28 Jan 2020

    Why am I not surprised that you would come up with this blog! It so fits your sense of humor and ability to spot irony in almost anything. I loved this blog for the humor and for making me think seriously about our present political and cultural situation in the USA. Thank you.

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