John Earl Robinson as Growltiger (Pt. 3)

John Earl Robinson (Growltiger) and Amy Burgmaier (Griddlebone) perform "The Ballad of Billy McCaw" from the musical Cats.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• John
• Earl
• Robinson
• Growltiger
• Amy
• Burgmaier
• Griddlebone
• Cats
• Musical

[bm237]

Interesting that this song has the exact same melody (albeit different timing and tempo) as "Next Time You Fall in Love" from later versions of Starlight Express. Reusing melodies from cut numbers is one thing, but reworking them from already published and performed pieces? Come on, Lloyd Webber!

[johnerobinson]

Interesting insight, bm237. I'll have to check that out. Of course, Webber is notorious for lifting tons of stuff from classical music as pointed out by one of my ex-roommates who studied classical music at a conservatory.

[Disneydanny]

GOD how i wish the U.S. Tour would Billy Mccaw WAY Better then the Aria Esspecially since Andrew changed it so it now ends on that MAGNIFICENT high note wich it never did in London.

[scofield13]

i adore this part...i'm so mad growltiger's last stand including this song about billy isn't included in the dvd :P anyways,thanx for posting :) *cheers*

[loopylupin09]

This is really good, I like it :D

[haynesy2008]

What's wrong with Growltiger or The Awful Battle? They are not irrelevant to the plot, but help show the character of some of the cats - utterly mad! No, Growltiger shows Gus' sentimental side and how he was in the past and The Awful Battle just has them all being bonkers, which is fun to do. 'Irrelevant to the plot'? As a long-time Cats fan, the only thing I can say against it is that it has little plot =D

Finally, please don't bash the tour, or if you do, put it down as an opinion please.

[ThePouncival13]

i am not sure what number this and Growltiger follow, but I have a feeling it is Gus the Theatre Cat which is a deep touching song (though a light melody) that is (when a good actor performs it) capable of touching the audience just as much as Memory does, and Growltiger is a silly number that just can't follow GUS, I do understand just how BIPOLAR this show is, because even with cutting the numbers, Skimbleshanks follows it.

[ThePouncival13]

there is a note in the script at the very end with a paragraph from Webber saying explaining Italian Aria and how much more he prefers Mccaw, the production I am in cut both because we see them irrelevant to the plot and to shorten the show (with all number, the show stretches longer with Sound of Music which is NOT how long CATS needs to be) and the US Tour is so terrible they don't even deserve to perform in the venues they do or call themselves a Pro tour.

[Fannrra]

Thank you.

[ThePouncival13]

they put in Italian Aria instead

[DearPrudence4ever]

The Ballad of Billy McCaw is great!!! I like In Una Tiepida Notte,too, but the Ballat is more beautiful!

[bm237]

I've noticed a few instances of that, too. I Don't Know How to Love Him is one that comes to mind. I'm a huge Webber fan, but he's not entirely original in that regard.