Oscar Hammerstein II - Flower Drum Song (1958 Original Broadway Cast)

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Free Music Notes for Flower Drum Song (1958 Original Broadway Cast)

Free Music Review: Not only relevent, but also R&H's best.
Hit: 5 Stars

First of all, the music. Not only did Richard Rodgers provide one of his most energetic and show-stopping scores, Oscar Hammerstein was able to write lyrics that, though sometimes (generally in "Chop Suey") were stretching it, mostly were creative and original. Songs like "I Enjoy Being A Girl" which may be considered dated merely portrays the character and her personality perfectly. "Grant Avenue" is the best number in the show, with lyrics that reveal the American culture in Chinatown. Slower ballads like "I Am Going To Like It Here" and "Love Look Away" are beautiful and serve the characters, not necessarily the audience. The music on this CD is incredible.

But the subject matter is what really drawed me to "Flower Drum Song". Of course, the show is not without stereotypes. The subservient mail-order bride and her fortune-cookie spouting father were the most obvious Chinese generalizations. However, there seemed to be one great inner message to this show: "People born in other countries can be Americans as well". I have never seen a show or play or book written by Caucasians that made Asian-Americans, especially of the second generation, seem just as American as anyone else. The second generation play American sports, drive American cars, eat American foods, and speak American English. "Chop Suey", though a bit hard on the listener, was a perfect example of how many Asian-Americans feel about themselves. This musical isn't dated, it's message is still relevent, and the music is amazing.

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