Song Discussion: "It's A Fine Life"

Apples2for10 · Song Discussion: "It's A Fine Life"

Not sure if I ever mentioned this, but OLIVER! is my favorite movie musical. I love all of the songs equally, but for some reason, "Life" always appealed to me a little more than others; I'm not sure why. Anyone love this song as much as me?

"It's A Fine Life": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pg4Pjd6GbYQ

actor

Nancy's best song is As Long As He Needs Me. Although this song also reveals some of Nancy's pain it's not nearly as emotional as ALAHNM. To me it was just an excuse for another jolly chorus number. Far from the best song in the show.

Apples2for10

I agree that ALAHNM is more emotional than "Life", but in terms of melody and lyrics, I prefer "Life". To that end, maybe I also prefer "jolly chorus numbers" to dreary, whiny ballads. But again, I agree that ALAHNM is Nancy's best song and adds a lot more to her character. I guess I wasn't looking at it in terms of who sang it, but just that "Life" is a lot more fun.

Thank you for your post, Actor!

Apples2for10

Bump; I really thought these Song Discussions would be getting more responses.

Melindaisy

Keep in mind that the staging of this song in the stage play is quite different than in the film version. It is much more of Nancy and Bet's number than a chorus number, and it is performed when Nancy and Bet come in the morning to Fagin's lair. The boys join in only a few times as echos on Nancy's "it's a fine life"
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I always enjoyed performing this song when I was in "Oliver", although I really loved "As Long As He Needs Me" much more. I think "Fine Life" is there mostly to show Nancy's relationship to the boys, Fagin and Bet... all neatly established in the course of the song. It also allows the audience to get a glimpse of what her emotional life is like.

As far as "Fine Life" in relation to all the other songs in the show....

So much of the success of many songs depends upon the acting that backs them up.... Fagin's songs, while wonderful are all just a tad too long, if you don't have a great Fagin.., that being said, "Reviewing the Situation" can be the best number in the show.... Bill Sykes' "My Name" can be frightening if you have an awesome actor in the role. Even the comic songs like "I Shall Scream" and "That's Your Funeral" require sound acting to be successful.

I don't think I would lump "Fine Life" in with the "jolly chorus numbers". Very little is (as I said) sung by the boys.
As to the actual chorus numbers: "Food Glorious Food" is a great opening number and allows the audience to enjoy the kids first thing. I was never very keen on "Consider Yourself"- it is rather repeated too often for me (song, then encore), although I do like Dodger and Oliver's part in the beginning. "Be Back Soon" is a good number if it is staged and acted well - if not it can be too repetative. "Om-Pah-Pah" success relies heavily on Nancy for it's success, her energy and movements. I think my favorite of the real chorus numbers is "Who Will Buy" - from it's haunting opening to the energetic mid section and down to the lone seller's voice at the end... I've always really loved that number.

I adore "Where Is Love"... very simple, very moving.

I LOVE "As Long As He Needs Me"....it has always been one of my favorite songs and is wonderful to perform!

Salome

what do you mean by "Even the Comic songs" I find I shall Scream andf Thats Your Funeral far superior to As Long as He needs me, and the lame My Name.

Nancy's Best song I find is "Its a Fine life". I also adored singing OOp Pa Pa.

of course Reviewing the Situation is by far the shows best number.

wicked_boy

I prefer the stage musical to the film.

I prefer "Fine Life Reprise" to the normal one.

I find "Reviewing" boring on the cast recording, but better on stage.

Apples2for10	Song Discussion: "It's A Fine Life" Not sure if I ever mentioned this, but OLIVER! is my favorite movie musical. I love all of the songs equally, but for some reason, "Life" always appealed to me a little more than others; I'm not sure why. Anyone love this song as much as me? "It's A Fine Life": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pg4Pjd6GbYQ
actor	Nancy's best song is As Long As He Needs Me. Although this song also reveals some of Nancy's pain it's not nearly as emotional as ALAHNM. To me it was just an excuse for another jolly chorus number. Far from the best song in the show.
Apples2for10	I agree that ALAHNM is more emotional than "Life", but in terms of melody and lyrics, I prefer "Life". To that end, maybe I also prefer "jolly chorus numbers" to dreary, whiny ballads. But again, I agree that ALAHNM is Nancy's best song and adds a lot more to her character. I guess I wasn't looking at it in terms of who sang it, but just that "Life" is a lot more fun. Thank you for your post, Actor!
Apples2for10	Bump; I really thought these Song Discussions would be getting more responses.
Melindaisy	Keep in mind that the staging of this song in the stage play is quite different than in the film version. It is much more of Nancy and Bet's number than a chorus number, and it is performed when Nancy and Bet come in the morning to Fagin's lair. The boys join in only a few times as echos on Nancy's "it's a fine life" . I always enjoyed performing this song when I was in "Oliver", although I really loved "As Long As He Needs Me" much more. I think "Fine Life" is there mostly to show Nancy's relationship to the boys, Fagin and Bet... all neatly established in the course of the song. It also allows the audience to get a glimpse of what her emotional life is like. As far as "Fine Life" in relation to all the other songs in the show.... So much of the success of many songs depends upon the acting that backs them up.... Fagin's songs, while wonderful are all just a tad too long, if you don't have a great Fagin.., that being said, "Reviewing the Situation" can be the best number in the show.... Bill Sykes' "My Name" can be frightening if you have an awesome actor in the role. Even the comic songs like "I Shall Scream" and "That's Your Funeral" require sound acting to be successful. I don't think I would lump "Fine Life" in with the "jolly chorus numbers". Very little is (as I said) sung by the boys. As to the actual chorus numbers: "Food Glorious Food" is a great opening number and allows the audience to enjoy the kids first thing. I was never very keen on "Consider Yourself"- it is rather repeated too often for me (song, then encore), although I do like Dodger and Oliver's part in the beginning. "Be Back Soon" is a good number if it is staged and acted well - if not it can be too repetative. "Om-Pah-Pah" success relies heavily on Nancy for it's success, her energy and movements. I think my favorite of the real chorus numbers is "Who Will Buy" - from it's haunting opening to the energetic mid section and down to the lone seller's voice at the end... I've always really loved that number. I adore "Where Is Love"... very simple, very moving. I LOVE "As Long As He Needs Me"....it has always been one of my favorite songs and is wonderful to perform!
Salome	what do you mean by "Even the Comic songs" I find I shall Scream andf Thats Your Funeral far superior to As Long as He needs me, and the lame My Name. Nancy's Best song I find is "Its a Fine life". I also adored singing OOp Pa Pa. of course Reviewing the Situation is by far the shows best number.
wicked_boy	I prefer the stage musical to the film. I prefer "Fine Life Reprise" to the normal one. I find "Reviewing" boring on the cast recording, but better on stage.

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Song Discussion: "It's A Fine Life"