[Monsieur D'Arque]

I recently heard Eric Idle's The Rutland Isles CD, released in the eighties, and was surprised to notice that, in the grand tradition of Python material recycling, his short "Gay Animal Song" was given new lyrics and put in Spamalot as You Won't Succeed On Broadway! It's hysterical to hear this early version of the song, as well as to note that David Hyde Pierce's patter-song delivery was not a way to get around being a nonsinger, but merely an imitation of Eric Idle.

[cecily_marla_smith]

You're right! How very similar it is! But then I'm sure there are many other songs who are in exactly the same style... but, even from only hearing a small clip of Gay Animal Song you can definitely hear the major similarities!

[Monsieur D'Arque]

Well, everything is the same. The chords I could overlook, but the phrasing, the particular "voice" used, and everything are almost exact matches.

[drewkingsbury]

you mean the gay animal song that goes something like, "Gay gay gay, they all are madly gay...." etc? and there was a lyric about a sheep who was into meryl streep.....hahaha...... is that the same one?

[Monsieur D'Arque]

Yes. That's the one.

[SilverWing]

I actually really liked Hyde Pierce's singing.

He made an amazing Sir Robin.

[Luc]

[Eponine93]

I wouldn't say Hyde Peirce is a non-singer. I didn't see him in Spamalot, but he managed to sing just fine in Curtains. He's more of an actor than a singer, definitely, but that's really preferable to the majority of today's Broadway stars who have really nice, polished voices but can't act to save their lives.

[cecily_marla_smith]