Now we’ve all seen or perform a Cliché filled routine – In my case I feel the song I use ‘Big Spender by Peggy Lee’ seems quite the obvious choice for a burly q routine & therefore a cliché in itself and I know it.
When I chose the music for my debut act many, many moons ago I actually chose Peggy Lee’s Big Spender because I could picture in my head doing a routine in a women Tuxedo – lots of rhinestones, sequins and glitter with a champagne pop finale based around Old Hollywood movies & the icon of all icons Marilyn Monroe. The first time I’d seen the Champagne pour finale was actually Millicent Binks & when I did I fell head over heels. I realise these days most people UK based anyone in or interested in the Burly & Cabaret scene think of Banbury when it comes to the champagne pour and she does a fabulous job but she isn’t the only one, there are many gorgeous ladies out there who also do a good pop & pour.
I researched burly q acts to see who else used Big Spender & I was shocked to find no one, no one as a solo performer used that track only a couple of troupes used it for choreographed routines around the world. This was a pretty surprising revelation & made the decision to use it even easier – however it wasn’t till two years after my debut that I actually used the song for what is now one of my signature acts ‘Champagne Pop’.
When choosing a song I try not to be too cliché, I can’t stand when performers don’t mix their songs when you want to use two or more tracks you should really invest in getting someone to mix them for you or learn yourself – I can’t even describe how many performances I’ve sat through listening to a whole track then there’s a small gap of silence and a new track starts, it’s painful even my friends who reluctantly have come along with me to watch shows have pointed this out. Timing is everything & music is key as much as your props, costume etc. the music sets the scene as well as the mood and with a pause in between tracks as well as using two full length tracks it isn’t setting the right atmosphere.
I also feel it would be good to point out don’t just choose a track because ‘Dita uses it’ because it’s probably been done before & ridiculously over used.
Here’s a little list of those tracks:
The Stripper - David Rose
[This track is very effective when used in a comedy routine or mixed in to another track but alone it’s just a no go]
Harlem Nocturne
Night Train
Diamonds are a girl’s best friend
Sing, Sing, Sing
In the mood
When used cleverly or in a different way these songs really work by themselves I’ve heard them so many times & seen so many similar routines to each song they lose something.
Photographs are from ‘This was Burlesque - Ann Corio’