“The rains down in Africa.” This song has always bothered me by referring to Africa as one climate. North Africa, the Sahel, West Africa, East Africa, Southern Africa have different climates, with often completely different weather at any given time.
I decided maybe it was meant to portray a country, but the name of it didn’t fit the rhythm.
Sometimes you just can’t make a word scan the way you’d like.
And/or maybe Africa just seemed more impressive for a lyric.
…
But last time this was posted, I read about it, in Wikipedia and elsewhere, and the fellow who wrote it says it was based on love for the whole continent….
and not just a woman, though there’s a romantic plot about a woman coming to visit a missionary.
He wrote it because he saw a documentary about Africa and felt for people suffering there.
Which doesn’t make sense either, because most of it seems to be about that romance.
However, his co-writer says, laughing, that it’s a song about Africa by a white guy who’s never been there, so most of it is just fantasy anyway.
Basically, he’s saying don’t worry about it; it doesn’t make sense. LOL
“An ideal publication for the American Youth” – – Don’t strain your shoulder patting yourself on the back there, Tex. Yes, indeed, folks, firing bullets barely an inch from someone else’s head is an ideal pastime.
Today’s Songs:
‘I Was Made For Lovin’ You Babe,’ ‘I Will Survive,’ ‘I’m a Man,’ and ‘I’m So Excited,’ and the ‘Cheap Thrills Cuisine’ recipe ‘Asian Inspired Mussels.’
By Wikipedia, Jean Simmons ‘can speak Hungarian, German, English, Hebrew, and some Japanese‘.
Gloria Gaynor really puts herself into the song in this performance.
I had never seen the video of ‘I’m So Excited’ until I found it for this series; it’s quite risqué.
Last edited 1 year ago by Alexikakos
Liverlips McCracken
Guest
1 year ago
You can’t find a better illustration of “iconic” than Casabasset. Boy, this poster brings back memories.
And objectively, still considered one of the best… even though during filming, or so I’ve read, no one connected with it thought it would be especially noteworthy.
The script was only half finished when filming started, so scenes were filmed in sequence, which is very unusual in Howlywood…
The actors had no idea of the next direction it would take, to say nothing of the ending…. just like in real life.
…
And there was Ingrid Bergdog… One of the greats.
I confess to being among those who don’t find her a great beauty…
Not that she isn’t beautiful… with big, brown, expressive eyes and silky fur…but her looks aren’t so stunning that they’re what make her a leading lady.
It’s her other qualities…. her acting, and her grace… and harder to measure ones, like her believability and vulnerability.
…
And Gobark.
What can I say?
Was there ever anyone or anydog as cool as Humphrey Gobark?
He’s proof that most modern “cool” wannabes are barking up the wrong tree…. maybe literally.
Working out, spending a fortune on hair products and clothes… even changing their names trying to get the perfect cool handle.
Did Gobark worry about any of that? What does it look like?
Not that he doesn’t look good… But worried? Hah!
Not handsome, not swaggering… if he’s well built, you’d never know it under the baggy slacks and rumpled jackets… and his name is Humphrey.
Cool is in his attitude.
His knowing glances, his intelligence… even his barely concealed kindness. No need to prove anything, or to one-up anybody, because he knows who he is… and he assumes that we do too.
…
As for the other actors… there’s some trivia here for you Montana Lady!
There were only three American dogs in the cast.
One was Gobark, , and one was a half grown pup, who was given her role because she was the step-puppy of the studio head, Jack Weimaraner… but she acquitted herself well, as a young refugee.
Which is kind of ironic, because a great many in the cast and behind the scenes actually were refugees from the Nazis. That was known to audiences of the day, which earned the film an unexpected, and especially emotional, reception.
The other American was Sammy, the piano player, played by Drooley Wildog.
A bit of trivia about him, known in his time, but later forgotten, is that he was a well known drummer, and had no idea how to play the piano or howl.
He had to learn to fake it for the movie, and in fact the studio came very close to having his howling over-dubbed by a professional canine singer. Luckily they didn’t.
…
This film is so full of great scenes and great lines it’s like a dictionary of famous quotations all on its own.
This 5-second video conveys so much… it’s one of my favorite lines in an already favorite movie… or any movie.
A plot point and a character study in less than a 10th of a minute!
Oh… I forgot another bit of trivia… for ML, of course…
This “not noteworthy” film, with a second-choice director and a confused cast, went on to win TWO Golden Biscuits…
One for Best Director, and the other for Best Picture.
But the real trivia story is that when the producer, Hal Wolfish who would normally accept the Best Picture award, after choosing and working closely with the cast and crew, stood up to go on stage…
he was blocked by a gang of Weimeraners, the family of Jack Weimeraner, the studio head who never really liked the picture or did anything on it … while Jack himself ran up to accept the Golden Biscuit.
Cool, but I’d advise turning down your volume before starting it!
“The rains down in Africa.” This song has always bothered me by referring to Africa as one climate. North Africa, the Sahel, West Africa, East Africa, Southern Africa have different climates, with often completely different weather at any given time.
I used to think the lyrics were mainly confusing.
I decided maybe it was meant to portray a country, but the name of it didn’t fit the rhythm.
Sometimes you just can’t make a word scan the way you’d like.
And/or maybe Africa just seemed more impressive for a lyric.
…
But last time this was posted, I read about it, in Wikipedia and elsewhere, and the fellow who wrote it says it was based on love for the whole continent….
and not just a woman, though there’s a romantic plot about a woman coming to visit a missionary.
He wrote it because he saw a documentary about Africa and felt for people suffering there.
Which doesn’t make sense either, because most of it seems to be about that romance.
However, his co-writer says, laughing, that it’s a song about Africa by a white guy who’s never been there, so most of it is just fantasy anyway.
Basically, he’s saying don’t worry about it; it doesn’t make sense. LOL
Pre-Raphaelite fish costume.
I think I saw one like that just outside The Sea of Holes
Wait…. we changed continents.
So much for Casabasset.
Pretty, though.
“An ideal publication for the American Youth” – – Don’t strain your shoulder patting yourself on the back there, Tex. Yes, indeed, folks, firing bullets barely an inch from someone else’s head is an ideal pastime.
Along with automatically shooting foreigners.
And now we’re in North America.
Part of our round the world tour.
‘I Was Made For Lovin’ You Babe,’ ‘I Will Survive,’ ‘I’m a Man,’ and ‘I’m So Excited,’ and the ‘Cheap Thrills Cuisine’ recipe ‘Asian Inspired Mussels.’
By Wikipedia, Jean Simmons ‘can speak Hungarian, German, English, Hebrew, and some Japanese‘.
Gloria Gaynor really puts herself into the song in this performance.
I had never seen the video of ‘I’m So Excited’ until I found it for this series; it’s quite risqué.
You can’t find a better illustration of “iconic” than Casabasset. Boy, this poster brings back memories.
ravioli
pancakes , AKA hotcakes AKA griddle cakes
Hoecakes!
NO, not THAT kind of hoe.
Ooh… Casabasset!
One of my very favorite films of all time!
And objectively, still considered one of the best… even though during filming, or so I’ve read, no one connected with it thought it would be especially noteworthy.
The script was only half finished when filming started, so scenes were filmed in sequence, which is very unusual in Howlywood…
The actors had no idea of the next direction it would take, to say nothing of the ending…. just like in real life.
…
And there was Ingrid Bergdog… One of the greats.
I confess to being among those who don’t find her a great beauty…
Not that she isn’t beautiful… with big, brown, expressive eyes and silky fur…but her looks aren’t so stunning that they’re what make her a leading lady.
It’s her other qualities…. her acting, and her grace… and harder to measure ones, like her believability and vulnerability.
…
And Gobark.
What can I say?
Was there ever anyone or anydog as cool as Humphrey Gobark?
He’s proof that most modern “cool” wannabes are barking up the wrong tree…. maybe literally.
Working out, spending a fortune on hair products and clothes… even changing their names trying to get the perfect cool handle.
Did Gobark worry about any of that? What does it look like?
Not that he doesn’t look good… But worried? Hah!
Not handsome, not swaggering… if he’s well built, you’d never know it under the baggy slacks and rumpled jackets… and his name is Humphrey.
Cool is in his attitude.
His knowing glances, his intelligence… even his barely concealed kindness. No need to prove anything, or to one-up anybody, because he knows who he is… and he assumes that we do too.
…
As for the other actors… there’s some trivia here for you Montana Lady!
There were only three American dogs in the cast.
One was Gobark, , and one was a half grown pup, who was given her role because she was the step-puppy of the studio head, Jack Weimaraner… but she acquitted herself well, as a young refugee.
Which is kind of ironic, because a great many in the cast and behind the scenes actually were refugees from the Nazis. That was known to audiences of the day, which earned the film an unexpected, and especially emotional, reception.
The other American was Sammy, the piano player, played by Drooley Wildog.
A bit of trivia about him, known in his time, but later forgotten, is that he was a well known drummer, and had no idea how to play the piano or howl.
He had to learn to fake it for the movie, and in fact the studio came very close to having his howling over-dubbed by a professional canine singer. Luckily they didn’t.
…
This film is so full of great scenes and great lines it’s like a dictionary of famous quotations all on its own.
This 5-second video conveys so much… it’s one of my favorite lines in an already favorite movie… or any movie.
A plot point and a character study in less than a 10th of a minute!
Oh… I forgot another bit of trivia… for ML, of course…
This “not noteworthy” film, with a second-choice director and a confused cast, went on to win TWO Golden Biscuits…
One for Best Director, and the other for Best Picture.
But the real trivia story is that when the producer, Hal Wolfish who would normally accept the Best Picture award, after choosing and working closely with the cast and crew, stood up to go on stage…
he was blocked by a gang of Weimeraners, the family of Jack Weimeraner, the studio head who never really liked the picture or did anything on it … while Jack himself ran up to accept the Golden Biscuit.
Supposedly, Wolfish never forgave him.
LOVE all the trivia!!!
Ok… back to North Africa.
Algeria (more or less), not Morocco…
But if for some reason you want a song about Africa whose lyrics make no sense…
You don’t have to go much further than the Clash!
I think this is set in Saudi Arabia.
The backgrounds and costumes mostly look like Saudi Arabia or on that peninsula.
But the most famous Casbah, of movie renown, is in Algeria.
The lyrics make no sense, and the “story” is silly, so I figure, make your choice.😁
‘as time goes by’ still a good song! great movie, stel.
Guess what…
A moth is my guess.
Yes…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hummingbird_hawk-moth