In celebration of all things sunny, and to promote an enriched environment, Parking Suns now features every Sunday a different YouTube music clip about the sun!
Today we listen to the upbeat, tragicomic song, “Bye, Bye Birdie,” from the movie of the same name.
I use the term “tragicomic” because at the time the movie takes place, 1958, the USA was not involved in a war, so going off to join the army was not a potentially dangerous move. World War II and the Korean War had concluded years earlier, and the American involvement in Viet Nam was years ahead. For a few months in 1958 (July 15 – October 25, 1958) the US got involved in the Lebanon crisis, but this ended quickly and I think with few American casualties. The USA could accept a funny musical about an Elvis Presley-like teenage idol being drafted into the army.
What would the plot and songs be like if a similar movie was made today?
Bye, Bye, Birdie
I’m gonna miss you so;
Bye Bye Birdie,
Why’d ya have to go?
No more sunshine,
It’s followed you away;
I’ll cry Birdie,
Till you’re home to stay.
The five young woman who sing this have terrific smiles on their faces, even though their idol is about to go off to the army, and they really work the table they’re sitting at.
Meanwhile, click here for previous Sunny Sundays vids.
