LLOYD-WEBBER CATS BALLAD OF BILLY M'CAW

Included in the original London production, this ballad was omitted from Broadway shows. D'ya think I could find a recording of it anywhere?

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• LLOYD-WEBBER
• CATS
• BALLAD
• BILLY
• M'CAW
• MCCAW

[CosplayCore]

So was this supposed to be a part of Growltiger's Last Stand, or is it on it's own? This is the first time I've heard this song, despite being a really obsessive CATS fan for about a year or two.

[shumbashaba]

Hello. Yes, this is in (what I call) the dream scene. Gus reminisces on the days on the barge and his flirting with Griddlebone. Billy McCaw was in the London production but when the show moved to Broadway the producers thought a more showy piece was needed and so "In Una tepida notte" was chosen to replace it.

[charlesajones77]

This is quite possibly my favorite piece from Cats. I wish this song hadn't been replaced by that Italian aria (although I can understand why they did so, I still prefer this version).

Anyway, really great performance. I sing bass, so I can't sing this song worth a damn. I wish I could though (I can sing it an octave lower if that counts for anything).

Long story short, you did a great job. 5 stars from me.

[shumbashaba]

@charlesajones77 Hey thanks! Made my day. At the mo' we're rehearsing 'The Wedding Singer", and next year we're planning to do Les Miserables. Lots of fun.

[zerotothe5th]

Nice job hitting that high G# (multiple times). I'm singing this part in our high school production and I'm a bit worried about the high note hahaha :) Very nice performance.

[shumbashaba]

Thanks, Ben. I couldn't reach it in rehersals but with the tension of the show plus giving it all in the other numbers my voice just made it. Have a great show!

[LoveKaoruHitachiin]

Oh, I've been looking everywhere for a video of this. I love the Ballad of Billy M'Caw, I like it better than the aria.

You've made my day.

[supergrl459]

When my highschool did Cat's the director decided at the last minute to take the Ballad Of Billy M'Caw out, and I was so sad because it was so much fun to do, thanx for posting it.

[firemadge]

@RevolErtaeht

Totally, I didn't even know it was a reproduction

[Jokerman665]

I know it's Cats and there's not real narrative, but this song doesn't make any damn sense!

1. Gus just had his sad "those were the days 'singing-directly-to-the-audie­nce" song, and then imagines that he's back playing Growltiger again. And then he has another "singing-directly-to-the-audie­nce" song as Growltiger!

2. It's set up "as the lovers sang their last duet" implies a passionate love song, but then they just go on about a Parrot!

This is the most idiotic song in the show!

[Disneydanny]

@charlesajones77 you are in luck. I was reading a newsapaper article on the National Tour anit sounds like next year in celebration of the show's 30th anniversary th tour will bring back several elements that haven't been seen since the show closed on Broadway, and will also *possibly* introduce Americans to "Billy Mccaw"

[RevolErtaeht]

You did a great job playing the part, you sound like the original Growltiger.

[Marcieb21]

@littlesongbird1 unfortunately I don't. I wish i did though, it was so much fun to do!

[littlesongbird1]

@supergrl459 Awww...do you have any vids of your production?

[littlesongbird1]

@shumbashaba Great job. I had heard a rumor that more productions were using this instead of the madam butter fly parody. (I heard Webber liked the ballad better)

[JKrowlingrockx]

you mean this wasn't sung as a duet with Growltiger and Grittlebones? that is how i imagined it. or was this you being original? cause either way, great job! "make us order, more beer. haha" LOL