Thursday, May 21, 2020

                                            A Switch of Dialogue

For those of you who aren’t aware, Richard Wayne Penniman, better known as Little Richard, died on May 9, 2020 at the age of 88. He was an American singer, songwriter, and musician. An influential figure in popular music and culture for seven decades, he was nicknamed "The Innovator", "The Originator", and "The Architect of Rock and Roll."

I’ve included several links to various videos of Little Richard performing the first of which is:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OfhmVmhL7s, from the 1956 film,"Don't Knock The Rock," which introduced the world to Little Richard and “Long Tall Sally.”
“If parents hated Elvis, they must have thought Little Richard was Satan! -- Videobeat dotcom. Sept 23, 2012

I remembered watching LR briefly during his heyday of my youth. I wasn’t into his music back then although it was high energy and had a good beat; the difference being I never had this kind of energy. Watching it makes me know I wouldn’t have made it to the end of the night had I been there, despite enjoying watching female individuals dance with seductive abandon, and the music being that of my past as a baby boomer.

I see similarities in Little Richard to the man who became “Prince.” Their mannerisms, physical build, costume; their appreciation of audience adoration, and their band-land camaraderie must have been an exhilarating ride off the top of the mountain into the stratosphere.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_KQd9Oe1p8 (Little Richard Part 1)

Although some people live mundane lives by choice or circumstance, especially now with the Coronavirus, others have experienced lives of wild diversity as had Little Richard, in 1964, who blew the minds of viewers on what was a typical UK TV program resembling a combination of American Bandstand and Ed Sullivan shows one evening ‘on the telly’, when LR and The Shirelles, were fronted by a synchronized multiple-saxophone version of William Tell’s 1812 Overture; this fact alone should’ve alerted audiences to what was to follow and to grab a beer and a big bowl of carmelized popcorn then commandeer dad’s LazyBoy or a comfortable couch, because this’ll be a show to tell your grandkids about.

Enter Little Richard, wearing a suit and tie, playing a tambourine as he ascended a pyramid of steps above the saxophone ensemble whose drummer keeps beat. Reaching the top, Little Richard begins singing “It’s Saturday Night an’ I just got paid . . .” eventually descending the steps as the kids in the audience, including those wearing cowl-neck sweaters and what appear as overcoats, energetically clap to the music. (I note this.) LR hasn’t broke a sweat.

Taking a microphone, he announces, “From the United States, we bring you the greatest female group, “The Shirelles!”, an all black quartet in close-fitting spagetti-strap dresses, singing their greatest hits including, “Will You Love Me Tomorrow?” and “Tonight’s The Night,”  further lulling the audience into an ‘easy listening’ doo-wop, soul, and R & B genre. (LR presumably takes a nap backstage to prepare for his role as The Terminator of Energy.)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shirelles

After their set, The Shirelles dance over to the grand piano as they clap the beat and Little Richard comes out refreshed from his nap singing, “I’ve got the joy, joy, joy down in my heart . . .” and we know he has it all pent-up and ready to burst at the seams.

And thus ends "It’s Little Richard Part One."

What? Little Richard Part One? We watch on. With the all male saxophone marching band in the background, it’s players ‘energetically’ clapping and gyrating to the music Little Richard begins to stealthily build to crescendo while standing up at the piano and striking the keys with a wild flurry of keystrokes and begin singing, “LUCILLE!” In the background cameras capture the innocence of young women dressed smartly in polyester and wool coats buttoned up to their necks...

The saxophone accompanists played their hearts out while performing syncopated steps worthy of a marching band in a St. Patrick's Day parade; Little Richard has begun building just a shine of perspiration along his neck. Three freshmen in matching sports coats, turtlenecks and haircuts (just like I had when I graduated from high school in 1969), coolly ‘rock’ to the beat. A woman in the audience, under her bleached-blonde bouffant hairdo, smiles, and holds a frightened Chihuahua against her chest thus initiating the take-your-dog-everywhere-you-go era. Little Richard throws his right leg onto the top of the piano, his forehead glistening, pauses just briefly then launches into Long Tall Sally.

Sitting in the nose-bleed bleacher seats almost on one another's shoulders teens stay the course. Facial closeups reveal unrealistic glassy-eyed smiley expressions created for possible TV stardom. “We’re going to have some fun tonight, have some fun tonight, have some fun ...”

When’s it going to start? It’s almost my bedtime. If I don’t get my second wind in the next couple minutes, I’m outa here. “Send Me Some Lovin’”  Oh no! Not a slow dance! Criminy! “Can I sleep on your shoulder through this?"

Stage dancers wobble and slowly wiggle in a vain attempt to appear they know how to dance. The winter-coated young women have removed their insulated coats, and although their hair clings to their sweaty necks and foreheads they continue to clap to the music. The saxophone ensemble croon their way to drudgery, wishing they were at the local pub enjoying a cold pint of black instead. Bouffant lady and her dog rock in the seat; stage dancers snap their fingers; a female couple (apparently coached from an unseen source) suddenly stand upright and smile at the cameras for no reason.

“WELL ALL RIGHT! WELL ALL RIGHT! I’M GOING TO SING, “”A WHOLE LOT OF SHAKIN’ GOIN’ ON!”“

LR obviously knows how to read a crowd of sleepy heads and announces he’s employing audience participation, telling them to throw their arms in the air and shake their bodies. The audience is ecstatic. Twenty-two minutes into the show he removes his coat; and he’s just getting started. The Shirelles are pumpin’ out the moves . . . and I’m heading off to bed. Who can carry-on like this? (Other than Chairman Joe at a family reunion) LR plays “Tutti-Fruitti-O-Ruitti” as he blasts away at his piano; the saxophone players begin to pass out, one by one, with exhaustion, just when Little Richard begins yet another song to end the show. I couldn’t stay awake for it, sorry. Sorry Richard.



PS: Little Richard was a gay man, but on this David Letterman Show he suggests something has changed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqxbyZDoFnk 
Hmmmmm.





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