Last night we sat watching a programme featuring Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers singing & dancing. Although I wouldn't say Fred ever had a great voice, he had an honesty & sincerity of voice that is truly touching. As for his dancing, I doubt he ever put a foot wrong. He has an elegance & sureness of foot it's difficult to imagine bettering. Having watched the odd excerpt of "Strictly Come Dancing", I can't help thinking how much better Fred is. His feet positively twinkle as they float him & partner across the dance floor.
I couldn't help comparing him with that other great dancer of movie fame, Gene Kelly. Their styles are very different. Gene is much more macho & muscular. But the biggest difference, I can't help thinking, is that Fred always danced with a partner, even if the partner was a hatstand or a golf club. Gene always danced alone even if in theory he was dancing with the likes of Leslie Caron. Both superb in their way but very different.
4 comments:
I assume from this that you've been enjoying some of the American sogbook fest on BBC4. I particularly enjoyed the Johnny Mercer programme on the importance of the singer - it was really interesting coming from the songwriter's perspective. the programme on the influence of Louis Armstrong was also especially enjoyable!
just noticed i used the word "sogbook" rather than "songbook" - must be a Freudian slip referring to the more soppy elements of popular song!
Blogger The Oxcliffe Fox said...
You got it in one, Malcolm. As for your second comment I can't help being reminded by what Doris Day said in one of her old films - I think it was "I'll See You in My Dreams" - in which she encourages her lyricist husband (Gus Kahn if I've got the right film) by commenting that he had the talent of putting the thoughts & feelings of the common boy & girl into words which they couldn't do for themselves, & his success would lie therein. And we all get a bit soppy when we're in love. The Vixen.
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