Julie Andrews Sings "The Lusty Month of May"

[shellybellysf]

Agreed, however Julie had the pipes. Lucky kid was I to see the original broadway play and the movie doesn't compare. Add an orchestra and a stage, and it something to behold

[Shamsithaca]

@shellybellysf There is a live version of her singing it on stage on broadway u lucky MAN!

[donnagirl66]

beautiful!!!!!

[highpsi11]

LYRICS: Continued:

Whence this fragrance wafting through the air? What sweet feelings does its scent transmute? Whence this perfume floating ev'rywhere? Don't you know it's that dear forbidden fruit! Tra la la la la! That dear forbidden fruit! Tra la la la la! Tra la la la la! GUENEVERE & CHORUS: Tra la la la la [etc.] GUENEVERE:

Tra la! It's May! The lusty month of May! That darling month when ev'ryone throws self-control away.

[highpsi11]

LYRICS:

GUENEVERE: It's May! It's May!;The lusty month of May!; That lovely month when ev'ryone goes blissfully astray. It's here, It's here! That shocking time of year when tons of wicked little thoughts merrily appear! It's May! It's May! That gorgeous holiday, when ev'ry maiden prays that her lad will be a cad! It's mad! It's gay! A libelous display! Those dreary vows that ev'ryone takes, ev'ryone breaks. Ev'ryone makes divine mistakes, the lusty month of May!

[donnagirl66]

She played what most men really want. A lady in public and a whore in the bedroom.

[OperaMystery80]

Julie Andrews had the most beautiful angelic voice on Broadway.....but although she's a fabulous Eliza Doolittle, Maria Von Trapp and Mary Poppins, her Queen Guenevere is unconvincing. Guenevere is an earthy, carnal creature, a tragically sinful Queen who caused the downfall of Camelot when she committed adultery with Sir Lancelot and betrayed her husband King Arthur. Listening to the purity of Julie Andrew's voice can you honestly see her cheating on her husband ??? LOL

[catiaadao]

@OperaMystery80 I suppose I could agree with that, if those were the only movies Julie has ever done, or if I thought she couldn't do anything else, or she couldn't be more daring or sexier, which being her fan and having seen most things she's done, I know she can do! And anyway, I read that the Broadway version was slightly different, but I've never seen in so, I can't really so! And Julie must have been convincing, because the show was on for almost 3 years, and always sold out...

[OperaMystery80]

@catiaadao My point was based on this version alone, singing with tra-la-la sweetness, singing like a sugary sweet Disney Princess in a forest, the suggestiveness and sensuality of this song is completely lost. Vanessa Redgrave singing Lusty Month really does sound lusty, and she can really convince as a sinful Queen. Julie is the best Maria Von Trapp & Mary Poppins though.

[swiftwind26]

@OperaMystery80

Vanessa is so dry and cold it is a total wonder to me how anybody including her real life lover the oh so sensual Franco Nero found any passion there. Vanessa the Queen of icy looks, and I do think that can be a thing but it is NOT the sensual earthy female animal you describe as the necessary character of Gueneviere. I think VR has everyone fooled and Julie's tra-la-la sweetness could've easily been 'slowed down" for the pace of the movie...but why? B'waywasperfect.livjulie

[swiftwind26]

@OperaMystery80

Vanessa is so dry and cold it is a total wonder to me how anybody including her real life lover the oh so sensual Franco Nero found any passion there. Vanessa the Queen of icy looks, and I do think that can be a thing but it is NOT the sensual earthy female animal you describe as the necessary character of Gueneviere. I think VR has everyone fooled and Julie's tra-la-la sweetness could've easily been 'slowed down" for the pace of the movie...but why? B'waywasperfect.thnks

[swiftwind26]

@OperaMystery80

Vanessa is so dry and cold it is a total wonder to me how anybody including her real life lover the oh so sensual Franco Nero found any passion there. Vanessa the Queen of icy looks, and I do think that can be a thing but it is NOT the sensual earthy female animal you describe as the necessary character of Gueneviere. I think VR has everyone fooled and Julie's tra-la-la sweetness could've easily been 'slowed down" for the pace of the movie...but why? B'waywasperfect

[swiftwind26]

@OperaMystery80

Vanessa is so dry and cold it is a total wonder to me how anybody including her real life lover the oh so sensual Franco Nero found any passion there. Vanessa the Queen of icy looks, and I do think that can be a thing but it is NOT the sensual earthy female animal you describe as the necessary character of Gueneviere. I think VR has everyone fooled and Julie's tra-la-la sweetness could've easily been 'slowed down" for the pace of the movie...but why? B

[Shamsithaca]

@catiaadao This song has a live broadway version that was on youtube for a short time...it is sung exactly the same, maybe her voice is much more powerful on the stage version, she sings better live on stage...si u can imagine HOW AMAZING of a singer SHE REALLY IS! WE NEED AN INTERVIEW ON HER SINGING ONLY!

[JudgeJulieLit]

@OperaMystery80 If the character of Guinevere is earthy and carnal--here, when as a newly sexually awakened nubile newlywed she sings that "every maiden prays that her lad / Will be a cad" (note the words "maiden" and "pray," indicating her recent life status and lifelong life habit of religiosity), and when b4 meeting Arthur she sings to her patron "St. Genevieve," "You know how faithful & devout I am / You must admit I've always been a lamb"--then why did L&L write such words?

[JudgeJulieLit]

@OperaMystery80 (cont.) Answer (to why L&L had her sing these two songs)--to establish her maiden purity before her marriage to Arthur (who himself was much older and had a bastard son), and her naivete as a newlywed bride in over publicly celebrating and confiding her newly awakened sexuality and sensuality.These establish Jenny as intent on being faithful to Arthur ... with a conflicting passionate nature. So blindly and unawares, she falls in LOVE with Lancelot (her age & energy peer). No ho.

[Tlyna1952]

@OperaMystery80 @OperaMystery80 In the Lerner and Loewe's Camelot Guinevere never actually commits adultery. After she sings I Loved You Once In Silence she tells Lancelot that they can never be. Unfortunately that is when Mordred and the other knights catch them.

[dog9girl]

0 dislikes.

No one hates on Julie Andrews.

[LiltedLullaby]

She's just sublime!

[BTURNER1961]

The composing team of Lerner and Lowe should be as grateful to Andrews as Andrews should feel blessed those two met. She brings to life the lyric and score beautifully here just as she did in My Fair lady. Despite the monumentally demanding nature of both the Eliza and Guinevere roles, I never heard Andrews in better form in subsequent work.

.

[rosebud961]

happy May Day everyone!!!

[rbrtptrck]

What a lovely, lovingly arranged slideshow. Thank you so much.

[SjjSic2]

May PEACE be with YOU !

love it !

[NardoWolfbart]

It's May!!!!

[cilrogers]

This is May 1, so this is appropriate for today. Julie is my favorite, and I enjoy her music, even from the London concert, May of '10. If she had done "My Fair Lady" movie, she would not have done "Mary Poppins." I love to watch her performance of "Just You Wait" that was done on the Julie Andrews Hour in 1972. It is available on You Tube.

[dahsuerk]

Much faster then the movie version. 

[g1rlfromJup1ter]

Oh my. I've grown up listening to Vanessa Redgrave's version, so maybe I'm biased and this just takes some getting used to. But I had to laugh when it started playing. Julie's just so... well... perky! I can't reconcile her voice with what she's singing about.

Except "tralalalala, that dear forbidden fruit"... that fits.

[EnniThomas]

@g1rlfromJup1ter The role of Guenevere was radically changed for the film adaptation. In the Broadway original the Queen betrays Arthur only in her mind, she never "sleeps" with Lancelot and is, overall, a more child-like and virginal character. In other words she is more "Julie Andrews-like". Hence the different renditions of the song by Andrews and Redgrave. I find the overall singing in the film APPALLING, whilst the Broadway cast album contains some of the best singing in theatrical hisotry

[luckichrm003]

@EnniThomas I couldn't have said it any better myself. :) 

[hinomusic]

julie is the QUEEN of musical theatre and HOW OUTRAGEOUSLY unfair it was audrey got my fair lady in stead of julie...it was julies role...unfair unjust...queen julie...bless her...and her difficulties...bless julie xx the sound of musical ever in the world in space!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!

[akb39400]

Beautifully done! Thank you!

[gigicd86]

May is OFFICIALLY my favourite month of the year <3

[krofan]

where can I find this pictures??

[mylesag2]

I was being faceitous when I said that Redgrave was far Better than Andrews. Anyway, the point is when Andrews expressed no interest in doing the Camelot film, they firmed up Joshua Logan who had a far darker, less-operetta approach to his film (than the operatta-ish approach on stage), so Vanessa fit right in as a semi-singing Guenevere, since Richard Harris anyway was also going to deliver a sing-talk Arthur; so a mildly musical Guenevere/Redgrave was perfectly acceptable in that sense.

[mylesag2]

Vanessa Redgrave was soooooooooo MUCH BETTER!! I think Julie messed up CAMELOT which is why she didn't get the film role!!

[jspankin]

@mylesag2 According to Wikipedia (I know it's not the most reliable site on the net) The original cast album of Camelot staring Julie Andrews was America's top-selling LP for 60 weeks and the songs in Camelot were specifically write for Her.

NB the movie version was after the Mary Poppins and the Sound of Music, trust me they wanted Julie and she declined.

Venessa Redgrave can't touch Julie, no way no day

[catiaadao]

@jspankin That is all very true! Thank you jspankin! And mylesag how can you Vanessa was so much better if you didn't see Julie in Camelot? Or did you? For starters Vanessa can't sing, in my opinion that loses all the charm! Julie was what hold the the whole show together when they were doing it on Broadway! The show was a huge success, as was the soundtrack as mentioned by jspankin! And not only the soundtrack but also the show was written with Julie in mind...

[catiaadao]

The authors of the show, Lerner & Loewe, had worked with Julie in My Fair Lady! When the movie was done, Julie declined the role, as she thought she was old to play the part, which is true but didn't stop Vanessa from saying yes, apart from that Richard Harris truly disliked Julie and didn't want to work with her at all, so it all worked out in the end! The fact remains that there's nothing more magical than Julie Andrews singing...you can debate me on that but I'll stick to it!

[Cubachik]

This is delightful. Thanks for posting. And precise diction can be VERY sensual. The contrast between the lyrics and her delivery is a very deliberate choice, and to have sung it any differently would have been too obvious a choice. It's very sophisticated and breezy, and I think ultimately very successful.

[mylesag2]

@Cubachik Precise diction is toooo put-on. Doesn't sound natural.

[jspankin]

@mylesag2 Julie Andrews was born in 1935 London, England. That's her personality which suits the role of Queen Guenevere perfectly.

[mylesag2]

@jspankin So what you're saying is that because Julie is English, she qualifies. OK, point granted. But what is Vanessa Redgrave? German? Japanese? I think she was born in the same country as Ms. Andrews.

[Prancer1231]

tra la la

[juliamacadam]

Blessed Beltain!

[mymsplk]

Vanessa Redgrave Stunk in that movie. Julie should have gotten the role, we all know that! She just wasn't as well known as Vanessa. Vanessa even admitted that she couldn't sing. She was right!!! The Lively Month of May was suppose to be "lively" hello!!!!! Vanessa had no right to take that role away from Julie.

[mylesag2]

@mymsplk Julie was NOT interested in doing the movie (I think because it was still Warners doing it). So DON'T blame Vanessa Redgrave. It was then offered to Vanessa; and she accepted. There was nothing wrong with that. And the whole focus of the movie shifted to maked it LESS an operetta which it would've been had Julie starred in it. You cannot compare Julie to Vanessa-- apples and oranges.

[jundiwa]

Julie Andrew's voice is so angelic and her version of this song is much more superb than any other singer who sang this song.

[johnnations]

To me, there is no way this song can be performed better than by Julie Andrews and this choir.. she is perfect. And it's an immortal recording.. i hope we can treasure and hear it forever ! !! long live Camelot! and Julie's voice!

[dahsuerk]

Who is more lusty? Julie or Vanessa?

[captainelderly]

I have listened to this since childhood! I love Julie Andrews in this and every singing role she has had.

[januaryjewel]

happy may first, everybody! lol this has become a tradition for me haha.

[whatwouldyouchoose]

so in may was everyone allowed to cheat on their husband or wife?

[catiaadao]

HAHA!! The thought has occured to me! I'm thinking they were...this is Camelot, Guinevere ends up falling in love with Lancelot, I'm guessing it was May...

[pkwitch]

May day /Beltaine was known as "the Greenwoods Wedding Day" when you could go running off into the woods with whomever took your fancy...google it, more details on the practice will be out there somewhere...

[britcrit09]

After making a direct comparison between Julie Andrews and Vanessa Redgraves; I believe that Vanessa better fits this role for her lusty performance.

Julie is brilliant in other shows like "The Sound of Music" and "Mary Poppins." Both are fantastic singers/actresses, and are just as talented - but in different ways.

[Hexenkatze]

@britcrit09 I totaly agree with you. They are both brilliant but they cant be compaired. This is no roll for Julie because she is to nice for it. It is unlikly for her to cheat at her husband, this is a roll who fits better with Vanessa.

[catiaadao]

@Hexenkatze Obviously, we're not talking about the same Julie Andrews! You do remember JULIE originated the role on Broadway? With raving reviews as well? She played it for 2 years... if you've seen more of Julie's work, and not only the sound of music, Mary Poppins and the Princess Diaries, you'd never say that she isn't good enough for this role. Movies like Duet For One, SOB, 10, The americanization of Emily, Darling Lili and etc prove you wrong!!

[Hexenkatze]

@catiaadao I did not say that she is not good enough for this roll. She is too good and nice for it!

[catiaadao]

@Hexenkatze my point is still valid...what makes you think she's too good and nice for it? Because you think so it doesn't really mean she is, does it? And the same goes for other performers who often get typecasted. And the main thing is, we'll never know because it's not like she's going to be playing it anyway....

[AllMyLovingIsToPaul]

@Hexenkatze Now, personally I think that Vanessa was too old to play Guenevere when she did, but carried the part well, and gave her character more. It doesn't help that I grew up around her protrayal either. I think Julie Andrews has a better voice however.

[cocodance3]

@Hexenkatze ...that's why it's called "ACTING"

It's a role. Not real life.

[catiaadao]

@britcrit09 And you say that, because possibly you've only seen Julie in those 2 movies, right? She's done other wonderful movies ... and I wouldn't go as far as to sa Vanessa is a fantastic singer, but that's just my opinion. :)

[britcrit09]

@catiaadao I think it's a little unjust to suggest that I have only seen Ms Andrews in the two film/musicals which I have mentioned. Only I know what I know! I have in fact seen her in a lot of films and productions and know a great deal about her career.

I believe my comment on each person's different personalities was only my own opinion, and was presented in a fair and well balanced manner. If you feel that it was in any way not acceptable to air it, then I welcome you to remove it.

[mymsplk]

@britcrit09 Sorry, I know that your comment is 9 months old. However, I was around for both performances and we ALL thought that Vanessa Redgrave "stunk" in that role. She couldn't sing and admitted it. It's suppose to be a lively song. She sang it like she was almost dead! She ruined it. Just because Julie wasn't as well known as Vanessa is the ONLY reason she didn't get the role in the movie. Once again Vanessa Redgrave STUNK!!!!!

[09phall]

@britcrit09 I have to agree with you. Julie Andrews is great. She can sing rings around Vanessa Redgrave, in terms of pure voice. But if you don't pay attention to the lyrics here, she could be singing A Spoonful of Sugar. Both songs are sung exactly the same way. But Mary Poppins and Queen Guenevere are very different women. I think Vanessa was a better choice. She looked and acted like someone who could cause two men to be hopelessly in love with her.

[catiaadao]

@09phall I'm not sure to which songs you're listening to, but obviously there's something wrong when you say she both songs are sung in the same way, because they're not at all the same! And to say that Julie couldn't act like someone who cause two men to be hopelessly in love with her means exactly what? I tend to defend Julie a lot, but I know when people are right, and you aren't! You may think Vanessa is a great actress, which she is, but she wasn't that good in Camelot;

[catiaadao]

@09phall And Julie was absolutely brilliant in the stage versions, so say raving reviews and the 2 years she was in it, so obviously she could play someone cause 2 men to be in love with her; Julie was actually considered to do the movie, but turned it down because she thought she'd be to old to do it and Richard Harris didn't really like Julie, so it was for the best! I could give you a huge list of movies Julie turned down, where it's obvious other people thought she's a great actress.

[catiaadao]

@09phall But of course, for people that have only watched The Sound of Music, Mary Poppins, and maybe possibly the Princess Diaries, that's an easy mistake to do (to say she's to nice or she can't do this or that), I advice you to watch some other Julie movies, sorry I tend to get slightly over protective over Julie and my fandom, but it doesn't make my words any less true :)

[09phall]

@catiaadao I grew up with Julie Andrews on the OBS of My Fair Lady as well as several of her LPs; I love Julie. No doubt she got raves for the STAGE version, stage productions are more stylized, and songs/singing are paramount. Film requires more realism. I do feel this song is sung like the songs in Mary Poppins; her extremely precise diction and lack of nuance don't convey any feeling of naughtiness or sensuality as conveyed by the lyrics. We'll have to agree to disagree.

[catiaadao]

@09phall I suppose we have to do that, then... Not always a bad thing, I'd say! Butm thanks for leaving a comment (even if any of it is actually mine) ...

[Goddessdaughter]

Stunning Queen, and beautiful in this production...only problem is....I can't see her doing something like having an affair xD

[Lar24man]

No only is she absolutely beautiful. Her voice is perfect. Love her! She was hot in Marry Poppins!

[Juliaflo]

She should have played Eliza in the movie version of My Fair Lady.

[JiggleSmax]

What a great song from such a great musical. I was in a production of this show a few months ago, and I miss it so much! =]

[Camalot777]

Whoever chose not to cast her as Gwen in the movie screwed up big time!

[catiaadao]

Actually, the same people who decided not to cast her for My Fair Lady, The Warner Bros ... but there 2 major issues concerning this one: 1- they couldn't get Richard Burton because he was doing Cleopatra 2 - Richard Harris was asked to do the part, but he refused to work with Julie, whom he hated solemnly (they worked together in Hawaii, Richard couldn't stand Julie at all)...and the result is a very bad movie!

[dolphinjjam]

how could ANYONE hate julie?!?! its like impossible. she is an angel

[JamaicaForDreams20]

@dolphinjjam I agree with you, cause I suspect that she is truly an angel. I LOVE JULIE!! How could someone hate her?? She's "Pratically perfect in every way".

[MrNietzschesMustache]

Am I the one who finds Julie more than just a bit sexy?

[catiaadao]

YOu and a few other thousand... ;) She really is sexy, I'd say what makes her even sexier, is that she's gorgeous and sensual, without being too brazen about it, or without making a huge spetacule out of herself, she's very subtle....

[MrNietzschesMustache]

Ah, ass, I meant to say "only one". Retarded me is retarded.

[sawyermac20]

Gorgeous!!!!! Perfect to a T! Although Vanessa Redgrave was much more sultry with her version in the film, she can eat her heart out when she hears this! :)

[catiaadao]

What original darling? Julie IS the original!! Juie was the first performer ever to play this character on Broadway. And if you say she's too innocent, that's because you don't know Julie at all, what have you seen? The Sound of Music and Mary Poppins? The thing is people just let themselves be caught in that, that's why Julie is one of the most over looked actresses ever! I could go on and on, but I don't see a point in disccusing things with a person who's a fan of the Jonas brothers...

[JoenasLover7]

Okay.. I like Julie Andrews!:) My sister did not see that it was my account on here, and she went ahead and commented, but I didn't. So I am sorry. And I am sorry you don't like the Jonas Brothers!:) I do not want to start a fight..

[catiaadao]

I'm not starting a fight, I just don't like it when people come and comment and talk about things that they do 't know a thing about...it's just better keep it shut! And, no I don't like the Jonas Brothers, I think they're a bith superficial, and not really talented..but we can't all love the same things, can we? It would a rather dull world...

[theatregeekmania]

Okay, this is driving me nuts: Where else is this song from? The instrumental or at least something incredibly similar to it I could swear I've heard in a Disney movie. Or maybe I've only heard it in Camelot and I'm just insane, but does anyone know what I'm thinking of?!

[khtx]

The 60s. She never sang better!

[thomaswicked]

oh my GOD sh'es AMAZINg

shes just so amazing

THAT VOICE i miss it sooooo much

[barcalonga]

marvellous production photos!!! Thank you so much for posting these!

[cuiml8]

I think Jules is pregnant in a few of these shots...look closely.

[cristoforoantonio]

i play this every may first !!!

[beanmachine104]

just so y'all don't make a "wretched" mistake, it is Richard HARRIS, not Burton!!!!!!!!

[catiaadao]

No, you're the one who is mistaken!! The movie starred Richard Harris, yes! But the original Broadway production starred Julie Andrews and Richard BURTON.

[beanmachine104]

oh, right, sorry

[SuiYipLee]

Happy May Day guys, what better way to celebrate than Julie...it's nice :D

[znikkisan]

Tra la! It's may! Happy May Day!!

[acelsen07]

Happy May Day!

[yuer7676]

Julie is marvelous!!!

[oOWickedRulesOo]

I love the tra-la's

[idoroles]

I absolutely agree with coralprincess. Both performances have their merits, appreciate them for the unique qualities they offer. I am a fan of both ladies.

[coralprincess25]

LOL -- keep spreading the "Julieness"! I, too, love Julie's perfect singing but I grew up listening to Vanessa Redgrave's lusty performance of this song, which is grittier. Thanks for posting.

[beanmachine104]

same here. i love the movie!!! except Lance is SO annoying!!!

[maxdoggie628]

i love her voice!