Everything’s a Remix, German Expressionistic Version

Last updated on: March 17, 2017 at 3:07 pm by Joseph Susanka

Everything’s a Remix, German Expressionistic Version 2017-03-17T15:07:39-06:00 Joseph Susanka

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The dances I attended during my college years provided me with some of the fondest musical memories I own. Among those memories, Bobby Darin’s lilting “Mack the Knife” holds a place of particular prominence. (I’m not quite sure why; I suspect it’s equal parts unusual rhythmic construction and the strange dichotomy between the song’s easygoing mood and downright unsettlin’ lyrics.)

Naturally, I grew familiar with Louis Armstrong’s version in subsequent years, as well as with Ella Fitzgerald’s. And most recently, with Mark Lanegan’s jaggedly Waits-like interpretation. (A Michael Buble version? I have no idea what you’re talking about.) But Darin’s remains the only performance capable of instantly transporting me back to those carefree college days.

SMASH CUT TO THE PRESENT:

A couple nights ago, I found myself in the mood for a bit of German Expressionistic Cinema. (Come on! You’ve felt that way before, right? It’s a pretty universal human trait.) So I decided it was time to give G.W. Pabst’s The 3 Penny Opera a try. Which was easy, thanks to The Criterion Collection and Hulu+.

And I ran smack into this:

Wait. Darin’s peppily creepifying ballad is not an original work? Is nothing sacred?

Of course, The 3 Penny Opera is itself an “unoriginal,” strictly speaking. It’s an adaptation of “Die Dreigroshchenoper” — an opera “by and for beggars,” with libretto by playwright Bertolt Brecht and music from composer Kurt Weill. Described with charming self-deprecation and humility as a work that “transformed saccharine, old-fashioned opera and operetta forms, incorporating a sharp political perspective and the sound of 1920s Berlin dance bands and cabaret,” subsequent press clippings say that “Weill’s acid harmonies and Brecht’s biting texts created a revolutionary new musical theater.” It was a huge success.

Pabst’s cinematic version was a bit of a troubled child, suffering early on from its creators’ vicious infighting and later from the destructive opposition of the Nazis. In fact, all original prints of the film were destroyed as a result of the Nazis efforts, and the film as we know it was reconstructed years later.

Oh, wait. One last note on the origin of the song that I would once have categorically insisted was a Darin Original: the idea behind Weill and Brecht’s massively-successful work came from “The Beggar’s Opera”, a massively-successful work from British poet and dramatist John Gay, inspired (supposedly) by his friend Jonathan Swift’s letter to Alexander Pope.

Maybe Darin’s not in such bad company after all.

(In keeping with the …entrepreneurial the spirit of this post, I blatantly stole its title from Kirby Ferguson’s fantastic web series. I have no shame.)

Movies

Music

Quodlibets

Previous Post

November 12, 2013

Mark O'Connor, Gypsies, and a Whole Mess of Fiddles

Next Post

November 15, 2013 Fun with ReCut Trailers

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Art Baseball Faith Family Lenten Music Movies Music No Commentary Necessary Parked By the Jukebox Photography Politics Quodlibets Streaming Video Suggestions Summa Short Films Television The Man Behind the Booth Through a Lens, Darkly

Select a Month December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 July 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 November 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz