THE CABARET SONGWRITERS: DIVERGENCE AND CONVERGENCE
The truth is, American cabaret songwriters have absolutely nothing in common with the traditional German and French counterparts!! Particularly, the contemporary American cabaret writers, composers and songwriters. In France and Germany, the pioneers and creators of the early Cabaret music, wrote CABARET MUSIC for CABARET BOITES, meaning small nightclubs, cafe-cabarets' revues. The American counterparts write big time music for big time flashy dashy cabaret productions for huge stages and elaborate productions. Bigger is better in America! The difference is enormous, like day and night. The American modern cabaret world has lost its romanticism, lyricism and intimacy. And these luxurious and extravagant American cabaret (Broadway) productions killed the mystique, the risqué, the delightful macabre-film-noire aura, the cabaret noire genre of the early era of Montmartre and Rue Le Pic . Consequently, this new kind of lavished productions has redefined the character of cabaret in America, imposed and dictated upon truthfully honest cabaret artists in the United States, new rules "governing" makeup, wardrobe, choreography, decor, stage set, stage lighting techniques, musical arrangements, acting style, accents, sensuality-sexuality physiognomic projection and contours. The list is endless. Fortunately, we still have a great number of authentic artists who prefer to perform in a cozy and charming small boites and clubs which convey an ambiance of intimacy and romance. Amid all these new musical and theatrical changes and distortions, it has become quasi impossible to define the cache and persona of an AUTHENTIC AMERICAN CABARET "ARTISTE"!! Therefore, comparing one American cabaret artist with another cabaret artiste, is like the French say "Chercher midi a quatorzes heures!", meaning verbatim "looking right now for a time which has already elapsed hours ago or searching for a time yet to come! In other words, this is an impossibility. Please excuse my French!
Photos: The legendary Nina Simone, composer, arranger, writer, activist, thinker, cabaret and concert superstar, songwriter, world-traveler, Doctor Honoris Causa, humanist, philanthropist. She was adored in Europe. The French worshiped her!
Photos: From L to R: #1.Lorna Dallas and Queen Mum in the UK. #2. Lorna with Al Hirschfeld during her Carnegie Hall debut. Dame Dallas is highly admired in Europe, and particularly in the United Kingdom. The Europeans "see" in her, the perfect lady of entertainment. Quite a contrast with Britney Spears and Janet Jackson!
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