Monday, June 6, 2016

Music Monday - "You Can't Stop the Beat" from Hairspray

I love musicals, whether musical theater or movie muscials.  One of my favorites from recent years is Hairspray.  This musical, first produced on stage in 2002 and adapted as a movie in 2007, is set in Baltimore in 1962. Hairspray was inspired by the 1988 John Waters movie.  The musical version went on to win eight Tony awards.   It tells the story of Tracy Turnblad, who wants to dance on The Corny Collins Show (a dance and music show that resembles American Bandstand).  She is rejected because she is a plus sized girl.  The show tries to hold onto an old fashioned, 1950's image, and also refuses to racially integrate.

The final number of the show features Tracy finally dancing on The Corny Collins Show ... and the show featuring black teens for the first time.  The New York Times called this a "contagiously elating finale."

It is such a fun song with great energy and wonderful dancing.

I'm including a clip from So You Think You Can Dance (season 3) because I love the choreography of this number.


Here is a clip from the 2007 movie musical, which features Nikki Blonsky and John Travolta as her mother.



Have you seen Hairspray?  What is your favorite song from the show?   I'd love to hear from you in the comments, below.