Billy Merson Singing 'Desdemona' (1927)

[rbbonotto]

The face reminds me a bit of Joe E. Brown, the American vaudevillian.

[bbcisrubbish]

Desdemonia? This is really good.

[janletterio]

In times of swine flu I thought of this...

[nathanielbagshot]

Who was Stephen Donaghue?

[postscript67]

Champion Jockey, I think.

[laerad]

Puts Justin Timberlake in the shade.

[HardThing88]

is this video authentic?

[footlightnotes]

This may indeed not be Billy Merson at his best, but who cares? It really is a treat to see him in action. And that little dance reminds me of a gentler version of Max Wall. Thanks for posting this gem.

[jackofhr]

Not Billy Merson at his best - "The Spaniard who blighted my life" or "The night I appeared as Macbeth" are much better. e.g. "I'll raise a bunion on his Spanish onion If I catch him bending tonight!" or "Shakespeare dead? Poor old Bill! Why I never knew the poor chap had been ill."

[LaGrasDanya]

I remember seeing several years ago on British TV, probably the BBC, an old film clip of Billy Merson singing the comic song of The Spaniard who blighted my life. I don't know if it's somewhere in the depths of the British Film Institute now. I would be interested in seeing it on You Tube

It seems that Billy Merson wrote that Spaniard who blighted my life song, and then Al Jolson in America seems to have made all the money from it.

[egapnala65]

Indeed, Merson took out a lawsuit and lost on a technicality. He died in virtual poverty, it seems, as a result.

[TheWhatsinaname]

But Merson is being given more, later, credit for this artwork as being the unofficial 1st music video. Read some of the other comments I posted this evening.

[junkman19571]

@LaGrasDanya i agree yanks are always on the make,and compared to billy merson,al jolson was a one trick pony who's only claim to fame is he was in the first sound film and a few songs......give me billy merson every time......

[ZINZIN77]

Look in historical context 1927, not to be judged by a post millennium audience

[TheWhatsinaname]

Actually other websites list this officially as being from 1926 & is considered by many as unofficially the 1st music video -- in many ways you can actually see Merson's work in this possibly influencing others that were to follow in the official music videos. Wonder how many artists that we know better might have seen Merson's performance in this & perhaps inspired a bit by it. I think Merson may have had the last laugh in his grave.

[rego21a]

"Billy Merson" was a man of many talents, and truly one of the British Music Hall Greats. He had an distinctive voice unusually combined with acting and acrobatic skills. He was the original artiste that recorded "The Spaniard That Blighted My Life" long before Jolson in the states. He appeared in both Music Hall and Review and was for a time manager of the Shaftesbury theatre.

[fox408]

whaddaya mean, died? ...rise again? we think we're so sophisticated in the 21 century, but all a comedian has to do is throw us a catchphrase and we're rolling around on the sofa, pissing our pants with laughter... ricky gervais and peter kay are prime examples of how sophisticated we're not!

[david552]

3.40-3.45 is that the Ricky Gervais crab dance?

[david552]

And they wonder why music hall died...

[rego21a]

You are looking at one of the reasons ie. "talking pictures" Fotunately it is by this medium we can see some of the music hall artistes perfomances today.

Notice how clear & precise the diction is. This was caracteristic of the Music Hall artistes. with no amplification in theatres in the early 20th century, performers relied on their natural ability, rather than artificial voice enhancements. Good diction was vital in the early talkies. Because of the limitations of the recording equipment.