#if I were a rich man

[musicaltheatregirlsandsongs]

Musical Theatre Song Contest: Semi-Finals

Submitter’s propaganda under the cut

If I Were A Rich Man

I’m learning the melody on the flute! Very fun song!

"I realise of course that it’s no shame to be poor, but it’s no great honour either"

One Day More

Those final notes where the whole cast is singing in unison get me every time I swear

Literally iconic. The most musical theatre song. Incorporates nearly every main character in the show with a solo, all at the same time. Lots of stage choreography and marching, which I can tell you is a huge pain to organize for some reason. Also, Les mis is a prominent story, not just with the song structure but with the themes. And there's a revolution and flag waving! Just well done.

It's unique in the way that the full cast sings completely different parts yet are all still unified in the way that it ties all of the different storylines together.

#musicaltheatresongs #song polls #round six #semifinals #if i were a rich man #fiddler on the roof #one day more #les miserables #Youtube

[lingthusiasm]

Lingthusiasm Episode 87: If I were an irrealis episode

Language lets us talk about things that aren't, strictly speaking, entirely real. Sometimes that's an imaginative object (is a toy sword a real sword? how about Excalibur?). Other times, it's a hypothetical situation (such as "if it rains, we'll cancel the picnic" - but neither the picnic nor the rain have happened yet. And they might never happen. But also they might!). Languages have lots of different ways of talking about different kinds of speculative events, and together they're called the irrealis.

In this episode, your hosts Gretchen McCulloch and Lauren Gawne get enthusiastic about some of our favourite examples under the irrealis umbrella. We talk about various things that we can mean by "reality", such as how existing fictional concepts, like goblins playing Macbeth, differ from newly-constructed fictions, like our new creature the Frenumblinger. We also talk about hypothetical statements using "if" (including the delightfully-named "biscuit conditionals), and using the "if I were a rich man" (Fiddler on the Roof) to "if I was a rich girl" (Gwen Stefani) continuum to track the evolution of the English subjunctive. Finally, a few of our favourite additional types of irrealis categories: the hortative, used to urge or exhort (let's go!), the optative, to express wishes and hopes (if only...), the dubitative, for when you doubt something, and the desiderative (I wish...).

Read the transcript here.

Announcements:

Thank you to everyone who shared Lingthusiasm with a friend or on social media for our seventh anniversary! It was great to see what you love about Lingthusiasm and which episodes you chose to share. We hope you enjoyed the warm fuzzies!

In this month’s bonus episode, Gretchen gets enthusiastic about swearing (including rude gestures) in fiction with science fiction and fantasy authors Jo Walton and Ada Palmer, authors of the Thessaly books and Terra Ignota series, both super interesting series we've ling-nerded out about before on the show. We talk about invented swear words like "frak" and "frell", sweary lexical gaps (why don't we swear with "toe jam!"), and interpreting the nuances of regional swear words like "bloody" in fiction.

Join us on Patreon now to get access to this and 80+ other bonus episodes! You’ll also get access to the Lingthusiasm Discord server where you can chat with other language nerds.

Here are the links mentioned in the episode:

'Irrealis' entry on Wikipedia

'How do you get someone to care about Shakespeare? Two words: Goblin Macbeth' on CBC

xkcd comic 'Conditionals'

'Pedantic about biscuit conditionals' post on Language Log

'The pragmatics of biscuit conditionals' by Michael Franke

Lingthusiasm episode 'This time it gets tense - The grammar of time'

'Realis and Irrealis: Forms and concepts of the grammaticalisation of reality' by Jennifer R. Elliott

'If all the raindrops' on YouTube

'If I Were a Rich Man (song)' entry on Wikipedia

'Rich Girl (Gwen Stefani song)' entry on Wikipedia

'Louchie Lou & Michie One' entry on Wikipedia

'Louchie Lou & Michie One - Rich Girl' on YouTube

'Semi-Toned - Rich Girl (acapella)' on YouTube

'Subjunctive mood' entry on Wikipedia

'Céline Dion - Pour que tu m'aimes encore' on YouTube

WALS entry for 'Feature 73A: The Optative'

Lingthusiasm bonus episode 'How we make Lingthusiasm transcripts - Interview with Sarah Dopierala'

Lingthusiasm episode 'Listen to the imperatives episode'

'Dubitative' entry on Wikipedia

'A grammatical overview of Yolmo (Tibeto-Burman)' entry on WikiJournal of Humanities

You can listen to this episode via Lingthusiasm.com, Soundcloud, RSS, Apple Podcasts/iTunes, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also download an mp3 via the Soundcloud page for offline listening.

To receive an email whenever a new episode drops, sign up for the Lingthusiasm mailing list.

You can help keep Lingthusiasm ad-free, get access to bonus content, and more perks by supporting us on Patreon.

Lingthusiasm is on Bluesky, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Mastodon, and Tumblr. Email us at contact [at] lingthusiasm [dot] com

Gretchen is on Bluesky as @GretchenMcC and blogs at All Things Linguistic.

Lauren is on Bluesky as @superlinguo and blogs at Superlinguo.

Lingthusiasm is created by Gretchen McCulloch and Lauren Gawne. Our senior producer is Claire Gawne, our production editor is Sarah Dopierala, our production assistant is Martha Tsutsui Billins, and our editorial assistant is Jon Kruk. Our music is ‘Ancient City’ by The Triangles.

This episode of Lingthusiasm is made available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike license (CC 4.0 BY-NC-SA).

#language #linguistics #lingthusiasm #episode 87 #podcasts #episodes #irrealis #morphology #syntax #semantics #mood #if I was a rich girl #if I were a rich man #SoundCloud

[unwelcome-ephestion]

We have lost a legend today in Chaim Topol, who immortalised Reb Tevye onscreen in Fiddler on the Roof. Zero Mostel originated the role on Broadway, but Norman Jewison was keen to hire someone who did not bring a pre existing persona to the role, and so the role went to Israeli actor Topol. He was a rogue choice - only 30, a role of a man supposed to have adult daughters, and with very little English, but Jewison's casting was inspired. Tevye would become the role of a lifetime for Topol - he would play him onstage more than 3,500 times.

During the famous If I Were a Rich Man scene, he later revealed that he was fighting a horrendous toothache, claiming that he sounded odd because of it. The scene took three days because of the pain. It's still a wonderful scene - take a look below.

L'chaim, sunrise, sunset. May his memory be a blessing.

#musical theatre history #musical theatre #topol #chaim topol #may his memory be a blessing #fiddler on the roof #rip topol #zero mostel #if i were a rich man #Youtube

[fretbored34]

I may be crushed, but at least I'm rich 🤷‍♀️

#dank memes #fresh memes #funny memes #memes #lol #funny but true #so true #me irl lol #funny but not funny haha #oh no lol #adulting #mental health #twitter rant #funny twitter #twitter #nickels #nickel #rich girl #if i were a rich man #crushed #if i had a nickel #if i had a dollar for every time #i have no money #i need money #give me money #confused #confusion

[humbababa]

#if I were a rich man #fiddler on the roof #tevye #doc ock #alfred molina #spider-man #respect the hyphen #Youtube

[peasant-sized-snickers]

Preminger's "how can I refuse" is just "if i were a rich man" but evil

#preminger #barbie #princess and the pauper #h #how can i refuse #if i were a rich man #fiddler on the roof #musicals #idk the songs just have the same vibe to me

[heythereimashley]

"If I Were A Rich Man" from Fiddler On The Roof

#alfred molina #doc ock #fiddler on the roof #if i were a rich man #sorry for the quality

[dewitty1]

Chaim Topol, the actor best known for playing Tevye in ''Fiddler on the Roof,'' has died, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced. He was 87.

Netanyahu paid tribute to Topol on Thursday and conveyed his condolences, calling him a ''multi-faceted artist, with great charisma and energy.''

''Sadly, the Fiddler on the roof is no longer with us. The strings of the Fiddle have fallen silent. The story of Chaim Topol's life has been sealed but I am certain that his contribution to Israeli culture will live on for generations, " Netanyahu said in a statement. ''He greatly loved the land of Israel, and the people of Israel loved him in return.''

#Chaim Topol #may his memory be a blessing #Actors #Jewish actors #Israeli actors #Fiddler on the roof #if i were a rich man #70s movies #70s musicals #Celebrity news #Celebrities #Celebs #celebrity death #tw celebrity death #Youtube

[acaplaya-musings]

Voiceplay Visuals: If I Were A Rich Man/Girl

This video was released on the 24th of July, 2021, and is the first guest feature of the amazingly-talented miss Ashley Diane, as well as Cesar's first video as an actual Voiceplay member! I'm not entirely sure how much I'll actually have to say about this video, but there was no doubt in my mind about me making a post for it, so let's dive right in!

A few things right off the bat:

1. It's cool how the screen "opens up" at the start of the video; I believe Voiceplay did the same thing or something similar with In The Air Tonight iirc (and both videos end with the screen "closing back up" as well)

2. Definitely a bit more of a creative video format for Voiceplay, with the completely-white setting and the cuts between different shots of the vocalists - it's not got choreography or any overly-complex direction (probably), sure, but it's not exactly a "everyone stays standing or sitting in one spot" video either. Shoutout to Layne, who was in charge of this video as well as the arrangement!)

3. Oh my god Geoff is wearing a shirt that isn't just black, white, or blue! 😂 (listen, I make fun of him because I love him, but also you know I kinda sorta have a point!)

(Bonus note: Layne and Tony are credited with costuming in the description, so clearly there was in fact some deliberate thought put into everyone's outfits)

Okay but for real, everybody is styling in this video! (Also one could argue that technically Geoff has the most "simplistic" outfit overall in this video (which wouldn't be for the first time), but I shan't hold it against him)

Also, related to the first image and not the one above, but I'm pretty sure Eli is wearing the same hat he wore in Bang!

Oh yeah and Geoff has a lot of lovely smiles in this video, so, y'know, I'm a fan 😁

(Also peep the bit of grey coming through on one side of his fringe/bangs <3 )

"Please" (SIR-!)

This is a very random thing to care about but whose hand is this? I thought it might be Ashley's, but no, she's got yellow manicured fingernails in this one (very cute btw) (oh and also her top is long-sleeved). It's not Cesar's hand, obviously, and I'm 95% sure it's not Geoff's hand (especially since there's nothing on the wrist. it could be Layne's hand, but does he still have that wrist tattoo on his right hand? So basically, either it's Eli's hand, or one of their behind-the-scenes helpers (Kathy maybe?)

Queen. Love her

(Also shoutout to both Eli and Layne for the lighting design on this one!)

I'm assuming these are all fake dollar bills? (Also how do you do shots like this? It looks very cool. A fan/blower? Someone dropping/throwing them down from above?)

Cesar: *Looking all cool and suave with the dollar bills*

Geoff: Ooooo money! :0 :D (turn your brightness all the way up!)

(I love him)

Go off, Eli! (I like his outfit too!)

Get it, Cesar 💅

🤔

Crazy how lighting colouration can alter the perceived colours of things. Ashley's top doesn't look yellow at all here!

"what?" (girl you know dang well what!)

(I knew this moment would be worth at least a couple of screencaps and it did not disappoint! 😁)

Honestly between Ashley and Geoff in this video, serving Looks (different kinds, though both as powerful), and vocals, well, if I wasn't bi already...

And that's the video! Certainly not a standard Voiceplay video, but frankly does VP even have a "standard" these days? Their music videos can be literally anything, near impossible to predict. Also, this is a killer arrangement from Layne, and one so dang complex that even though I've by and large mastered the lyrics, this is one of the few where I've been trying to memorise the arrangement, but there are bits I forget or can't replicate the right way (not that I can go as high as Ashley can (that freaking riff! girl!) and definitely not as low as Geoff, but y'know). Stay tuned for my next Voiceplay Visuals post! It's probably gonna be a big one!

#voiceplay #acapella #If I were a rich man/girl #If I were a rich man #geoff castellucci #eli jacobson #layne stein #cesar de la rosa #ashley diane #acaplaya analysis #voiceplay visuals

[mod-a-day]

Rob Hubbard, Matthew Simmonds (4-mat) Entire Soundtrack (PC remake, various modes) Jet-Set Willy (1984, 1997) Software Projects

Note: This music's quality was reduced to 64 Kbps in order to fit onto the site's 10 MB file limit.

#music #Ludwig van Beethoven #Piano Sonata No. 14 #Moonlight Sonata #1801 #1802 #Sheldon Harnick #Jerry Bock #If I Were a Rich Man #Fiddler on the Roof #1964 #Edvard Grieg #In the Hall of the Mountain King #Peer Gynt #1875 #probably more #Pot Keyboard Integrated Circuit #POKEY #Rob Hubbard #Manic Miner #1983 #Jet Set Willy #1984 #Software Projects #remake #remix #FastTracker 2 #XM #Matthew Simmonds #4-mat

[musicaltheatregirlsandsongs]

Musical Theatre Song Contest: Third Place Poll

Submitter’s propaganda under the cut

Chant

It matches perfectly to my walking speed and it's so fun to listen to while walkin around. You ever go up the stairs while listening to this song? Unparalleled

The combination of the defining themes of the musical over a kick-ass chorus. If you wanna keep your head ohhhh you gotta keep your head low…

If I Were A Rich Man

I’m learning the melody on the flute! Very fun song!

"I realise of course that it’s no shame to be poor, but it’s no great honour either"

#musicaltheatresongs #song polls #round seven #third place poll #if i were a rich man #fiddler on the roof #hadestown #chant #Youtube

[whosangitbetter]

#if i were a rich man #fiddler on the roof #zero mostel #alfred molina #chaim topol #spotify #tumblr polls #polls

[mellowchouchou]

Fiddler on the Roof - If I Were a Rich Man

#Fiddler on the Roof #If I Were a Rich Man #musicals #movies #movie scenes #Broadway #relatable

[fandoms-my-fandoms]

What is the musical you are hyper fixated on at the moment??

Cuz…I’m currently hyperfixated on Fiddler on the Roof. It’s…it’s just so good. It’s beautifully written. And it’s gut wrenching. And I love a period piece. Anyway…fiddler on the roof. Please reply to this and tell me what musical is currently burned in your brain. I’m back in my ✨listening to cast albums era✨

#theatre #theatre school #theatre major #theatre kid #musical theatre #fiddler on the roof #tevye #golden age musicals #reb tevye #tevye’s daughters #if i were a rich man #sunrise #sunset #matchmaker #make me a match #yente the matchmaker #musicals #theater kid #musical theater #favorite musical #acting #acting major #weddings #far from the home i love #tradition #the papa #the mama #the sons #the daughters #jewish

[unwelcome-ephestion]

Lots of actors wanted the role of Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof - Frank Sinatra, Walter Matthau, Danny Kaye - but the pressure was on for director Norman Jewison to hire Zero Mostel for the film, the actor who had originated the role in the Broadway production. Jewison felt that Mostel's fame and personality would overwhelm the character and so gave the role to the comparatively unknown Topol, who had played the role onstage in Israel and London, learning the role phonetically before he was fluent in English.

There's no doubt that Topol gives a note perfect performance in this film. What is perhaps surprising is that he is only in his 30s here! Lots of work went on his physicality, but also on his make up and hair. Legend has it that hair and make up used to pluck grey hairs from Norman Jewison's beard and add them to Topol's eyebrows!

#fiddler on the roof #topol #chaim topol #if i were a rich man #musical film history #musical theatre history #musical theatre #norman jewison #sheldon harnick #jerry bock #joseph stein #zero mostel #frank sinatra #danny kaye #walter matthau #Youtube

[daybreakwarrior]

Dreamt I had $ 32,000 and went… it’s kind of sad how much this wouldn’t change my life but would make a few things easier.

#dreams #if i were a rich man