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What the heck does opera have to do with cartoons? you ask… Well, more than you might think! Opera is an all embracing artform, incorporating live theater, singing, orchestral music, and dance all into one package. Cartoons are like that too… a great big ball of drawing, music, comedy and interesting characters that creates its own world. The stories in operas are generally soap opera potboilers- incestuous love affairs, treachery, deathbed revelations, and even hunchbacks dragging around their murdered daughter in a sack! Cartoon stories are generally pretty simplistic too… the plot of the story isn’t nearly as important as the visual artistry that goes into telling it.

One of the things I admire in classical music is the way great conductors create magic by varying their tempi through accelerando and retardando (that’s speeding up and slowing down for us non-musicians). Minute adjustments in just the right places (aka rubato) can make the music broaden out or seem hurried, or languid… it’s the power to create emotion in time. Animators do exactly the same thing when they do “slow ins and outs”, “staggers” and “hitting accents”. Just a fraction of a second’s difference can make the heart swell.

The world of opera is huge and varied. It’s hard for me to boil down a recommendation. The best introduction on DVD (Zefferelli’s La Traviata) is out of print. But I encourage you to attend live performances, listen to the Met’s live HD simulcasts, add some operas to your Netflix cue, and perhaps pick up the DVD this clip comes from, Great Recordings of the Century.

Stephen Worth
Director
Animation Resources

This posting is part of a series of articles comprising an online exhibit entitled Adventures in Music.

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Buck Owens was the poster boy for the “Bakersfield Sound” of the early 60s. At this time, many country artists like Eddie Arnold, Ray Price and Jim Reeves were softening their sound and adding lush strings. But the Bakersfield Sound went the exact opposite direction, by merging the raw honky tonk style with rock and roll licks (and even Mexican polka music!)

In this great clip from the Jimmy Dean Show, Owens’ partner, Don Rich steals the show with his beaming smile, goofy guitar pyrotechnics and perfect backing harmony, but pay attention to Owens’ rhythm guitar work. It’s rock solid.

I used to think I didn’t like country music. But I realized that I had just never listened seriously to it. My pal Jim Smith was the one that turned me on to Buck Owens. Jim wrote the Ren & Stimpy theme song and was one of the creators of the show. He’s a Texan, drawl and all, and his guitar playing owes a lot to the cartoony fun of Don Rich. Glittering nudie suit, pedal steel guitar, and great singing… what more can you ask for?

Sadly, the “Best of the Jimmy Dean Show” DVDs appear to be out of print. It’s a very important show for more than just country music fans… I’ll explain that a little later in our adventure. But there’s lots of great Buck Owens on CD. (The Very Best Of Buck Owens Vol. 1 and Vol. 2). Merle Haggard is the dark contrast to Buck’s bounce in the Bakersfield sound. Also check out Hank Williams (of course) and Hank Thompson. If you ever get to Bakersfield, CA, visit Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace. It has great sound and food and a lot of Buck’s wild Nudie suits are on display.

Stephen Worth
Director
Animation Resources

This posting is part of a series of articles comprising an online exhibit entitled Adventures in Music.

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Booker T and the MGs

Don’t waste a second. Go buy this DVD right now. (Stax/Volt Revue Live In Norway 1967) Sam & Dave, Otis Redding… wow! this concert captures Memphis Soul at its absolute peak. Booker T and the MGs were the house band at the Stax Records label, playing back up to a host of great soul artists. Their big hit, “Green Onions” contains one of the most recognizable riffs ever, and the soulful organ sound has gone on to become the epitome of “cool”.

As animators we know that it’s important to grab our audience and get them into the rhythm of the cartoon right away. No music does that better than this. The metronomic walking bass line and the slashing organ and guitar accents would be the perfect soundtrack for cool character walks. Get up and walk around the room while you’re listening to this. It’s impossible not to walk cool to this song!

If you like this, check out other artists on the Stax label, as well as organ trios like Jimmy Smith and Bill Doggett; surf instrumentals and “secret agent” style guitar bands, like The Shadows.

Stephen Worth
Director
Animation Resources

This posting is part of a series of articles comprising an online exhibit entitled Adventures in Music.

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