Sunday, June 2, 2013

Seven Weeks Until BIFF

And this week's choice for best musical song number is from Fiddler on the Roof (1971) starring Chaim Topol as Tevye. The film, adapted from the 1964 Broadway musical, is about the Orthodox Jewish family of Tevye (wife Golda and five daughters) living in the town of Anatevka in Tsarist Russia in 1905. Fiddler won three Academy Awards (Best Song Score Adaptation, Best Cinematography, and Best Sound) and two Golden Globe Awards. John Williams won his first Academy Award for his adaptation of the score (Originally written by Sheldon Harnick and Jerry Bock).

Fiddler on the Roof is a production loaded with amazing songs. It is difficult to pick the one most outstanding - - "Tradition" the iconic number that sets up the Jewish culture plot permeating the play / film story - it's hard to  be Jewish in Russia, "Sunrise Sunset" represents the end of childhood as Tevye's oldest daughter is married, the duet "Do You Love Me" that questions a marriage arranged by a matchmaker and reminds of the journey of life, or "Far From the Home I Love" sung by Tevye's middle daughter Hovel explaining her following her love away from the small town.


This week's choice is "If I Were a Rich Man."


Other great songs include "Matchmaker", "To Life", "Anatevka", and "Miracles of Miracles".

Lyrics:
"Oh Dear Lord, you made many, many poor people.
I realize, of course, it's no shame to be poor.
But it's no great honor either!
So, what would have been so terrible
if I had a small fortune?"

If I were a rich man,
Yubby dibby dibby dibby dibby dibby dibby dum.
All day long I'd biddy biddy bum.
If I were a wealthy man.
I wouldn't have to work hard.
Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum.
If I were a biddy biddy rich,
Idle-diddle-daidle-daidle man.

I'd build a big tall house with rooms by the dozen,
Right in the middle of the town.
A fine tin roof with real wooden floors below.
There would be one long staircase just going up,
And one even longer coming down,
And one more leading nowhere, just for show.

I'd fill my yard with chicks and turkeys and geese and ducks
For the town to see and hear.
Squawking just as noisily as they can.
With each loud "cheep" "swaqwk" "honk" "quack"
Would land like a trumpet on the ear,
As if to say "Here lives a wealthy man."

Eyeh . . If I were a rich man,
Yubby dibby dibby dibby dibby dibby dibby dum.
All day long I'd biddy biddy bum.
If I were a wealthy man.
I wouldn't have to work hard.
Yubby dibby dibby dibby dibby dibby dibby dum.
If I were a biddy biddy rich,
Idle-diddle-daidle-daidle man.

I'd see my wife, my Golde, looking like a rich man's wife
With a proper double-chin.
Supervising meals to her heart's delight.
I see her putting on airs and strutting like a peacock.
Oh, what a happy mood she's in.
Screaming at the servants, day and night.

The most important men in town would come to fawn on me!
They would ask me to advise them,
Like a Solomon the Wise.
"If you please, Reb Tevye..."
"Pardon me, Reb Tevye..."
Posing problems that would cross a rabbi's eyes!
And it won't make one bit of difference if i answer right or wrong.
When you're rich, they think you really know!

If I were rich, I'd have the time that I lack
To sit in the synagogue and pray.
And maybe have a seat by the Eastern wall.
And I'd discuss the holy books with the learned men, several hours every day.
That would be the sweetest thing of all.

If I were a rich man,
Yubby dibby dibby dibby dibby dibby dibby dum.
All day long I'd biddy biddy bum.
If I were a wealthy man.
I wouldn't have to work hard.
Idle-diddle-daidle-daidle man.

Lord who mad the lion and the lamb,
You decreed I should be what I am.
Would it spoil some vast eternal plan?
If I were a wealthy man.

1 comment:

Allison said...

Loved Fiddler on Roof!!!Great songs throughout the movie!!!