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Jukebox musical

A jukebox musical is a stage musical or musical film in which a majority of the songs are well-known popular music songs, rather than original music.

Some jukebox musicals use a wide variety of songs, while others confine themselves to songs performed by one singer or band, or written by one songwriter. In such cases, the plot is often a biography of the artist or artists. In other jukebox musicals, the plot is purely fictional. For musicals about a musician or musical act, some of the songs can be diegetic, meaning that they are performed within the world of the play or film. Works in which all of the music is diegetic, however, such as a biographical film about a singer who is at times shown performing their songs, are generally not considered jukebox musicals.[1]


Revues that lack a plot are also usually not described as jukebox musicals,[2] although plotless shows that include a dance element sometimes are.[3]

History[edit]

In Europe in the 17th and 18th century, many comic operas were produced that parodied popular songs of the time by performing them with modified lyrics. Comédie en vaudevilles and ballad operas are two genres that made heavy use of well-known melodies. The Beggar's Opera (1728), the first ballad opera and the most famous, has been called "the original jukebox musical".[4]


Films considered early examples of jukebox musicals include An American in Paris (1951), Singin' in the Rain (1952), Rock, Rock, Rock (1956) and Rock Around the Clock (1956).


The songwriting team of Robert Wright and George Forrest pioneered the concept of musicals whose songs are derived from one composer's instrumental works, with newly-written lyrics. Some of these musicals also told the life story of that composer. Musicals and operettas that they produced in this fashion include Song of Norway (1944, using the music of Edvard Grieg), Magdalena: a Musical Adventure (1948, music of Heitor Villa-Lobos), a 1949 reworking of the 1934 musical The Great Waltz (music of Johann Strauss I and Johann Strauss II), Kismet (1953, music of Alexander Borodin[2]), and Anya (1965, music of Sergei Rachmaninoff).


The origin of the phrase "jukebox musical" in its current meaning is unclear. The word "jukebox" dates to around 1939. The first documented use of "jukebox musical" in print may have been in a 1962 description of the musical Do Re Mi,[5] but that was a musical (with original music) about a man who sells jukeboxes. In a 1964 review of the Beatles film A Hard Day's Night, critic Andrew Sarris described that film as "the Citizen Kane of jukebox musicals",[6] but he too may have had a meaning in mind other than the contemporary one, since most of that film's songs were original.


Although jukebox musicals had achieved success for years (for example, the 1989 musical Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story), a surge in popularity was led by the success of Mamma Mia! (1999), built around the music of ABBA.[7]

Types of jukebox musicals[edit]

The most common format for jukebox musicals is a show that tells the life story of a famous musician or musical group, while incorporating songs from throughout their career. Artists whose life and songs have served as the basis for a jukebox musical include Peter Allen, Susan Boyle, Shlomo Carlebach, Johnny Cash, Cher, Patsy Cline, Bobby Darin, The Drifters, Emilio and Gloria Estefan, Buddy Holly, Michael Jackson (twice), Janis Joplin, Carole King, The Kinks, Fela Kuti, John Lennon, Udo Lindenberg, Bob Marley (twice), Johnny O'Keefe, The Seekers, Dusty Springfield (twice), Donna Summer, The Temptations, Tina Turner (twice), Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, Hank Williams, and Neil Diamond.[3] Others who have gotten similar treatment include songwriter/producers Bert Berns, Berry Gordy and Ellie Greenwich, record producer Florence Greenberg, and composer/songwriter Norbert Glanzberg.


For jukebox musicals with a fictional plot, one common approach is to center the plot around one or more (fictional) singers or musicians, thus letting some of the songs be performed as songs within the show. Examples of such musicals include Boogie Nights (1998), Mamma Mia! (1999), We Will Rock You (2002), Hoy no me puedo levantar (2005), Bésame mucho, el musical (2005), Rock of Ages (2005), Daddy Cool (2006), Never Forget (2007), Viva Forever! (2012), All Out of Love (2018), and Jukebox Hero (2018).


Some jukebox musicals are adaptations of a film, in which songs from the film's soundtrack are now sung by the characters; examples include Saturday Night Fever (1998), Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (2006), Cruel Intentions: The '90s Musical (2015) and the upcoming My Best Friend's Wedding.


Some shows and films combine original and previously-released songs; it may be a matter of opinion whether these qualify as jukebox musicals. For example, the stage musicals 42nd Street (1980), Five Guys Named Moe (1990), Crazy for You (1992), and Xanadu (2007) are all adaptations of earlier source material that added to the original score other well-known songs written by the original songwriters. The stage musicals The Last Ship (2014) and Standing at the Sky's Edge (2019) and film musicals Yellow Submarine (1968) and Idlewild (2006) are all musicals that combine original and previously-recorded songs by a single artist or group. Other films that combine old and original songs include Singin' in the Rain (1952), Trolls (2016), and Cinderella (2021).

(1942), a picture dealing with the life of playwright and composer George M. Cohan, and featuring many of his songs, which were among the most popular songs of their day (late 19th century – early 20th century).

Yankee Doodle Dandy

(1945), featuring mostly popular songs from the earlier 20th century and three new songs written for Judy Garland.

Meet Me in St. Louis

(1946), a biopic of composer Jerome Kern, featuring his songs.

Till the Clouds Roll By

(1948), a biopic of composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist Lorenz Hart, featuring their songs.

Words and Music

(1948), featuring a collection of songs by Irving Berlin.

Easter Parade

(1948), featuring popular songs from the earlier 20th century.

One Sunday Afternoon

(1950), a biopic of composer Harry Ruby and lyricist Bert Kalmar, featuring their songs.

Three Little Words

(1951), featuring popular songs from the 1910s to 1930s.

Painting the Clouds with Sunshine

(1951), a fictionalized story based around George Gershwin's "An American in Paris" suite. The score consists entirely of George and Ira Gershwin pieces, with "American in Paris" being a recurring theme.

An American in Paris

(1952), featuring popular songs from the 1920s and '30s and songs by Arthur Freed, with the exception of two numbers ("Make 'Em Laugh" and "Moses Supposes")

Singin' in the Rain

(1953) shared a title with The Band Wagon (musical), but only used three songs from the show. It featured an entirely new book by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, written to showcase the Howard DietzArthur Schwartz songbook, including songs from Between the Devil, Flying Colors, and others. Only one song, "That's Entertainment!", was written for the film.

The Band Wagon

(1954), a biopic of operetta composer Sigmund Romberg, featuring his songs.

Deep in My Heart

(1955), featuring popular songs from the 1930s by Ruth Etting.

Love Me or Leave Me

(1956), the first rock-and-roll movie musical, featuring the commercial recordings of Bill Haley and His Comets and The Platters.

Rock Around the Clock

Don't Knock the Rock (1957), another Bill Haley jukebox musical, with the commercial recordings of Haley, , and The Treniers.

Little Richard

(1963), a low-budget MGM picture intended to capitalize on the folk music craze then sweeping America, featuring on-screen performances by Johnny Cash, Judy Henske, and several other folk music artists.

Hootenanny Hoot

(1968), based on the songs of The Beatles.

Yellow Submarine

(1974), featuring songs from Harry Nilsson's albums Nilsson Schmilsson and Son of Schmilsson.

Son of Dracula

(1975), based on the songs of Cole Porter.

At Long Last Love

(1979), featuring popular music from the earlier 20th century.

All That Jazz

(1980), featuring contemporary disco songs.

Can't Stop the Music

(1980), featuring various popular rhythm & blues songs.

The Blues Brothers

(1981), featuring American popular music ranging from the 1900s to the present (at the time of the film's release).

American Pop

(1996), featuring popular music from the earlier 20th century.

Everyone Says I Love You

(1998), featuring various popular rhythm & blues songs.

Blues Brothers 2000

(2000), featuring classic Broadway songs of the 1930s.

Love's Labour's Lost

(2001), featuring a variety of pop songs from various decades.

Moulin Rouge!

(2005), various artists, featuring a variety of pop songs from various decades.

20 centímetros

(2006), featuring a variety of pop songs from various decades.

Happy Feet

(2006), featuring the songs of OutKast.

Idlewild

(2006), featuring mostly love themed pop-songs from the 1950s through '70s.

Romance & Cigarettes

(2007), featuring the songs of The Beatles.

Across the Universe

(2008), featuring Soviet rock songs from the 1970s and '80s.

Stilyagi

(2008), based on the musical Mamma Mia!, which is based on the songs of ABBA.

Mamma Mia!

(2011), featuring a variety of pop songs from various decades.

Happy Feet Two

Toi, moi, les autres (2011), featuring a variety of French songs.

(2012), featuring hard rock and metal songs of the 1980s, and is based on the stage musical of the same name.

Rock of Ages

(2013), featuring various pop and dance songs of the 1980s through present.

Lovestruck: The Musical

(2013), based on the musical Sunshine on Leith, which is based on the songs of The Proclaimers.

Sunshine on Leith

(2014), based on the musical Jersey Boys, which is based on the music of The Four Seasons.

Jersey Boys

(2014), featuring various pop songs.

The Book of Life

(2014), featuring pop songs from the 1980s.

Walking on Sunshine

(2015), featuring various genres and various artists.

Strange Magic

(2016), featuring various genres and various artists.

Trolls

(2016), featuring various genres and various artists.

Sing

(2018), sequel to the first film based on the musical Mamma Mia!, which is based on the songs of ABBA.

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again

(2019), based on the songs of Tomas Ledin.

A Piece of My Heart

(2019), featuring songs of The Beatles.

Yesterday

(2020), featuring pop-songs from the 1980s.

Valley Girl

(2020), based on the songs of Raffaella Carrà.

My Heart Goes Boom!

(2020), featuring various genres and various artists.

Trolls World Tour

(2021), featuring various genres and various artists.

Cinderella

(2021), featuring various genres and various artists.

Sing 2

(2022), featuring songs of Hombres G.

Voy a pasármelo bien

(2023), based on the stage musical The Band, which is based on the songs of Take That.

Greatest Days

(2023), featuring various genres and various artists.

Trolls Band Together

(1984-1994), featuring various genres and various artists.

Kids Incorporated

(1984-1985), featuring various genres and various artists.

Kidd Video

(1993), featuring various artists from 1920 to 1960.

Lipstick on Your Collar

(2004), featuring various genres and various artists.

Blackpool

(2005), based on the life and music of Elvis Presley.

Elvis

(2007), featuring various genres and various artists.

Viva Laughlin

(2009-2015), featuring various genres and various artists.

Glee

(2011), featuring various pop songs.

The Kitchen Musical

(2012-2013), which alternates between previously recorded material and original songs.

Smash

(2016-2018), which uses different Beatles songs.

Beat Bugs

(2018-2019), which uses different Motown songs.

Motown Magic

(2019-2020), featuring various genres and various artists.

Soundtrack

(2020-21), featuring various pop songs.

Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist

The 1974 musical , based on the 1967 album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band on the Road

The 1975 film , based on the 1969 album Tommy by The Who

Tommy

The 1978 film , loosely based on Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band on the Road, although it incorporates songs from some of the Beatles' other albums as well

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

The 1982 film , based on the 1979 album The Wall by Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd – The Wall

The 1992 musical , also based on the album Tommy

The Who's Tommy

The 2010 musical , based on the 2004 album American Idiot by Green Day

American Idiot

The 2023 musical , based on Illinois by Sufjan Stevens

Illinoise

In a different category are films or stage musicals based around a concept album, in which the story being told is not original but rather a fleshed-out version of the narrative already contained in the album. Examples include:

Mandelbaum, Ken. "Preview '05-'06: The Jukebox Plays On," July 27, 2005.

Jukebox musicals trend