Back during the studio era (ie 1930s to 1950s), the musical film was seen as escapist entertainment. People watched musicals to forget their struggles and burdens, and dreamed of a perfect world where everything was made right – always through song and dance of course.
Musicals had to have happy endings; it was the whole point of their existence. And until today, musicals almost always still have happy endings. Especially if it is a Disney one. Music has a powerful effect on people and musicals were perhaps one of the first few mediums to fully capitalize on that.
As more than a handful of people will be able to tell you, I love musicals. I am one who knows the workings, and still can’t help but be mesmerized by the machine. Musicals stop me in my tracks, hold me spellbound for hours, cause me to react in ways I never knew I would or could – such as sing songs from the Phantom of the Opera soundtrack in public while the Singaporeans stared blatantly.
And so when I’m stuck in traffic, wanting to scream expletives at people who cause me to get multiple summonses, or just being impatient at drivers who have made it their mission to piss me off, I select a CD and Christine Dae somehow manages to make the world a much better place to be in.
I can’t explain the effect it has on me, though I am aware few would feel the same, but I can practically see myself calming down. It’s magical, just the way musicals were intended to be.
Speaking of which, I think this song is really lovely and describes Yuchun and I really well, but we’re having problems deciding on who gets to be the beast.
Tale as old as time
True as it can be
Barely even friends
Then somebody bends
Unexpectedly
Just a little change
Small to say the least
Both a little scared
Neither one prepared
Beauty and the Beast
Ever just the same
Ever a surprise
Ever as before
Ever just as sure
As the sun will rise
Tale as old as time
Tune as old as song
Bittersweet and strange
Finding you can change
Learning you were wrong
Certain as the sun
Rising in the east
Tale as old as time
Song as old as rhyme
Beauty and the Beast
Tale as old as time
Song as old as rhyme
Beauty and the Beast
