The Great White Way?
May 4, 2008 12:51 PM Subscribe
When Brad and Amy got married, Amy's "Man of Honor" got up to give his toast -- a musical toast. Other friends and family joined in, much to Amy's surprise, and the result, captured here on video, is pretty darned delightful.
So happy! The best weddings are those where the guests spontaneously burst into song - thanks for posting.
posted by puckish at 1:00 PM on May 4, 2008
posted by puckish at 1:00 PM on May 4, 2008
I clicked on the link knowing I would find something to snark about... I failed.... If this doesn't make you smile you have a heart of stone and should eat worms!
posted by HuronBob at 1:03 PM on May 4, 2008
posted by HuronBob at 1:03 PM on May 4, 2008
I guess my heart is made of stone.
posted by MaryDellamorte at 1:18 PM on May 4, 2008 [3 favorites]
posted by MaryDellamorte at 1:18 PM on May 4, 2008 [3 favorites]
I guess they really like Amy
posted by norabarnacl3 at 1:24 PM on May 4, 2008 [2 favorites]
posted by norabarnacl3 at 1:24 PM on May 4, 2008 [2 favorites]
If this made everybody happy, well, good for them. But I think I'm with MaryDellamorte: ugh.
posted by Justinian at 1:25 PM on May 4, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by Justinian at 1:25 PM on May 4, 2008 [1 favorite]
That was awesome!
posted by mewithoutyou at 1:28 PM on May 4, 2008
posted by mewithoutyou at 1:28 PM on May 4, 2008
Heh. Well that was no way spontaneous and a few people seemed to have been short a rehearsal or two, but the overall effect was quite heartwarming, and the knowledgeable quotes from Broadway made it interesting in a way that family photos and videos almost never are.
I was worried it was going to be a lame rendition of Say a Little Prayer For Me, which is nicely done but set in Hollywoodland where everyone knows the lyrics, meter, and pitch, but given they actually had some community theater people involved, it wasn't that bad for a one-off.
posted by dhartung at 1:30 PM on May 4, 2008
I was worried it was going to be a lame rendition of Say a Little Prayer For Me, which is nicely done but set in Hollywoodland where everyone knows the lyrics, meter, and pitch, but given they actually had some community theater people involved, it wasn't that bad for a one-off.
posted by dhartung at 1:30 PM on May 4, 2008
I wish you could turn off all awkward wedding toasts the same way I could turn this one off. They can sing well, though.
posted by salvia at 1:31 PM on May 4, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by salvia at 1:31 PM on May 4, 2008 [1 favorite]
how awesome a family full of failed theater majors!
posted by Roman Graves at 1:31 PM on May 4, 2008 [4 favorites]
posted by Roman Graves at 1:31 PM on May 4, 2008 [4 favorites]
that was pretty powerful and awesome.
and I can snark with the best of them.
huzzah for really celebrating.
posted by Busithoth at 1:37 PM on May 4, 2008
and I can snark with the best of them.
huzzah for really celebrating.
posted by Busithoth at 1:37 PM on May 4, 2008
There are only 8 external javascripts on metacafe. Two more and they can level up to web 3.0.
posted by srboisvert at 1:39 PM on May 4, 2008 [6 favorites]
posted by srboisvert at 1:39 PM on May 4, 2008 [6 favorites]
I liked it!
I don't know why I do this, but with some regularity I like to imagine people around me breaking out into some sort of show tune like song and dance about whatever is going on. It is seriously fun. Imagine - you're at work, the grocery store, on the public transit - and everyone starts to sing about it and dance step over the backs of chairs.
I know in real life it would probably sound awful and be annoying, but in my imagination it's funny and incredibly entertaining.
posted by dog food sugar at 1:49 PM on May 4, 2008 [3 favorites]
I don't know why I do this, but with some regularity I like to imagine people around me breaking out into some sort of show tune like song and dance about whatever is going on. It is seriously fun. Imagine - you're at work, the grocery store, on the public transit - and everyone starts to sing about it and dance step over the backs of chairs.
I know in real life it would probably sound awful and be annoying, but in my imagination it's funny and incredibly entertaining.
posted by dog food sugar at 1:49 PM on May 4, 2008 [3 favorites]
Lots of people seem to break the convention with the first dance. Everyone fell in love in the 80's yo. Brides these days also want to flaunt it down the aisle.
posted by slyrabbit at 1:49 PM on May 4, 2008
posted by slyrabbit at 1:49 PM on May 4, 2008
Well, I'll be darned if that didn't bring a smile to my face. Does it matter if it wasn't perfect? Adds to the charm, I say. And it's bound to be a better memory than someone's second cousin Tina singing a slightly sharp version of "The Greatest Love of All" because she's the only one in the family who can sing except for cousin Barb, but Tina was on a telethon once, so she's like the family star, and Barb really only knows pop renditions of church hymns anyway. You know.
posted by katillathehun at 1:51 PM on May 4, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by katillathehun at 1:51 PM on May 4, 2008 [1 favorite]
And then, then, there was this one time at drama camp ...
posted by ericb at 1:52 PM on May 4, 2008 [3 favorites]
posted by ericb at 1:52 PM on May 4, 2008 [3 favorites]
Well let's see, given that absolutely everybody could carry a tune and manage a not too bad bit of hoofing, I'm guessing Amy is someone with at least a couple dozen friends traditionally found among the "Extras" cast list on the playbills, who work the Broadway restaurant circuit by day, and the bar circuit when the theaters let out. That said, it was fun to watch. I've also been to weddings where spontaneous song eruptions might have made it onto You Tube, but fortunately they all predate mini camcorders, and fewer and fewer people are around who can still sing all 300 verses of "The North Atlantic Squadron" after drinking at least two bottles of the bride's father's home made wine.
Whoops, I've said too much.
posted by Mike D at 1:53 PM on May 4, 2008
Whoops, I've said too much.
posted by Mike D at 1:53 PM on May 4, 2008
Imagine - you're at work, the grocery store, on the public transit - and everyone starts to sing about it and dance step over the backs of chairs.
I was in the supermarket once and did that thing where you try to pass someone coming towards you and you both keep stepping the same way. It was a man aged about 70, and after the third or fourth attempted pass, we both started laughing and I said "shall we dance?". To my astonishment, he took me into his arms and started singing "There may be trouble ahead, but while there's moonlight, and music and love and romance, let's face the music and dance ..." as he twirled me around the aisle. It was wonderful and other shoppers applauded when we stopped.
So, yes, I got with the Amy thing, and even had a little weep at it.
posted by essexjan at 2:00 PM on May 4, 2008 [66 favorites]
I was in the supermarket once and did that thing where you try to pass someone coming towards you and you both keep stepping the same way. It was a man aged about 70, and after the third or fourth attempted pass, we both started laughing and I said "shall we dance?". To my astonishment, he took me into his arms and started singing "There may be trouble ahead, but while there's moonlight, and music and love and romance, let's face the music and dance ..." as he twirled me around the aisle. It was wonderful and other shoppers applauded when we stopped.
So, yes, I got with the Amy thing, and even had a little weep at it.
posted by essexjan at 2:00 PM on May 4, 2008 [66 favorites]
1. The Man of Honor singing at the beginning is the exact kind of thing to which my daughter would respond with "I wish I had a gay best friend!!!!!" (1a: I have no idea if he is gay. But that's what my daughter's response would be.)
2. That was incredibly cute and moving for the bride, and anyone who was there, and will be a treasured memory for them forever.
3. I couldn't watch it passed when the 2nd person started to sing. I was afraid it would get too cringe-worthy for an outsider, and would rather have the experience of it being cute and fun. And since I don't know Amy, why should I be watching her wedding video? (3a: Unless someone gets hit in the balls, falls onto the cake, passes out, or all three, and it ends up on America's Funniest Home Videos.)
posted by Fuzzy Skinner at 2:00 PM on May 4, 2008 [1 favorite]
2. That was incredibly cute and moving for the bride, and anyone who was there, and will be a treasured memory for them forever.
3. I couldn't watch it passed when the 2nd person started to sing. I was afraid it would get too cringe-worthy for an outsider, and would rather have the experience of it being cute and fun. And since I don't know Amy, why should I be watching her wedding video? (3a: Unless someone gets hit in the balls, falls onto the cake, passes out, or all three, and it ends up on America's Funniest Home Videos.)
posted by Fuzzy Skinner at 2:00 PM on May 4, 2008 [1 favorite]
A: I love that the DJ plays a song about nameless casual sex at a wedding.
B: If she thinks she's crying now, she will openly bawl at the video of this after the divorce.
posted by CarlRossi at 2:01 PM on May 4, 2008 [1 favorite]
B: If she thinks she's crying now, she will openly bawl at the video of this after the divorce.
posted by CarlRossi at 2:01 PM on May 4, 2008 [1 favorite]
Ah Bless.
This so reminds me why I left 'showbiz'. In the way that getting repeatedly smacked in the head by golf balls reminds you why it's best not to loiter too long in the bunker.
posted by freya_lamb at 2:02 PM on May 4, 2008
This so reminds me why I left 'showbiz'. In the way that getting repeatedly smacked in the head by golf balls reminds you why it's best not to loiter too long in the bunker.
posted by freya_lamb at 2:02 PM on May 4, 2008
I guess my heart is made of stone.
I think I'm with MaryDellamorte: ugh
how awesome a family full of failed theater majors!
You all are social failures who spend your lives snarking on the Internet because it allows you to ignore the lack of joyful things in your lives that involve normal people in the real world.
We should all be happy that people do things like this for other people on their most important days.
posted by secret about box at 2:05 PM on May 4, 2008 [9 favorites]
I think I'm with MaryDellamorte: ugh
how awesome a family full of failed theater majors!
You all are social failures who spend your lives snarking on the Internet because it allows you to ignore the lack of joyful things in your lives that involve normal people in the real world.
We should all be happy that people do things like this for other people on their most important days.
posted by secret about box at 2:05 PM on May 4, 2008 [9 favorites]
I like to imagine people around me breaking out into some sort of show tune like song and dance about whatever is going on
May I refer you to Improv Everywhere's Food Court Musical?
posted by mhectic at 2:06 PM on May 4, 2008 [1 favorite]
May I refer you to Improv Everywhere's Food Court Musical?
posted by mhectic at 2:06 PM on May 4, 2008 [1 favorite]
You all are social failures who spend your lives snarking on the Internet because it allows you to ignore the lack of joyful things in your lives that involve normal people in the real world.
And sometimes I like ice cream, too!
posted by Justinian at 2:12 PM on May 4, 2008 [5 favorites]
And sometimes I like ice cream, too!
posted by Justinian at 2:12 PM on May 4, 2008 [5 favorites]
I have no idea if he is gay.
As a gay man, may 'gaydar' says he is ... as are a few other of the performers!
posted by ericb at 2:12 PM on May 4, 2008
As a gay man, may 'gaydar' says he is ... as are a few other of the performers!
posted by ericb at 2:12 PM on May 4, 2008
And sometimes I like ice cream, too!
Okay, okay, you're off the list. What kind of ice cream?
posted by secret about box at 2:13 PM on May 4, 2008
Okay, okay, you're off the list. What kind of ice cream?
posted by secret about box at 2:13 PM on May 4, 2008
I cannot stand musical theater or musical films, but this was absolutely marvelous. I would name my first child after anyone who loved me enough to do something like this for me and my wife. How can anyone hate on something this caring?
posted by Pecinpah at 2:13 PM on May 4, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by Pecinpah at 2:13 PM on May 4, 2008 [1 favorite]
Yes mhectic! Just like that!
Similar old but good if you missed it: Lecture Musical.
posted by dog food sugar at 2:19 PM on May 4, 2008
Similar old but good if you missed it: Lecture Musical.
posted by dog food sugar at 2:19 PM on May 4, 2008
slyrabbit! Those rock. Thank you.
posted by houseofdanie at 2:23 PM on May 4, 2008
posted by houseofdanie at 2:23 PM on May 4, 2008
That was great fun. Thank you for linking it!
posted by Joey Michaels at 2:24 PM on May 4, 2008
posted by Joey Michaels at 2:24 PM on May 4, 2008
As a gay man, may 'gaydar' says he is
Dude, do you really need your gaydar to determine that Amy's male maid of honor--who also sings Broadway tunes and has the organizational skills to get an entire cast singing and dancing without, apparently, the bride's knowledge--is gay?!?
That's not gaydar. That's just deduction.
Gaydar is that pinging sensation that goes off in your head when the guy sitting next to you in the movies puts your hand in his lap during a Mel Gibson movie.
posted by WolfDaddy at 2:28 PM on May 4, 2008 [9 favorites]
Dude, do you really need your gaydar to determine that Amy's male maid of honor--who also sings Broadway tunes and has the organizational skills to get an entire cast singing and dancing without, apparently, the bride's knowledge--is gay?!?
That's not gaydar. That's just deduction.
Gaydar is that pinging sensation that goes off in your head when the guy sitting next to you in the movies puts your hand in his lap during a Mel Gibson movie.
posted by WolfDaddy at 2:28 PM on May 4, 2008 [9 favorites]
I'm beginning to think that this might be a viral ad for the new film Made of Honor, starring Dr. McDreamy.
I keed, I keed.
posted by ericb at 2:32 PM on May 4, 2008
I keed, I keed.
posted by ericb at 2:32 PM on May 4, 2008
i think this is one of those things where you had to be there
posted by pyramid termite at 2:34 PM on May 4, 2008 [2 favorites]
posted by pyramid termite at 2:34 PM on May 4, 2008 [2 favorites]
What was the bride's name, again?
posted by Kibbutz at 2:37 PM on May 4, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by Kibbutz at 2:37 PM on May 4, 2008 [1 favorite]
Thanks. Life SHOULD BE a song.
posted by skepticallypleased at 2:38 PM on May 4, 2008
posted by skepticallypleased at 2:38 PM on May 4, 2008
that was the gayest wedding ever. even the groom looked a bit light on his feet, if you get my drift. and i know you do.
posted by billybobtoo at 2:39 PM on May 4, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by billybobtoo at 2:39 PM on May 4, 2008 [1 favorite]
Musical theater actors and choral singers are so painful to be around, yowza.
posted by Joseph Gurl at 2:40 PM on May 4, 2008
posted by Joseph Gurl at 2:40 PM on May 4, 2008
Nooo, it's one of those things where I wish I had been there.
posted by houseofdanie at 2:48 PM on May 4, 2008
posted by houseofdanie at 2:48 PM on May 4, 2008
That was really cute and has certainly brightened my day.
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 2:50 PM on May 4, 2008
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 2:50 PM on May 4, 2008
Poor groom. Amy will be insufferable after this.
posted by vito90 at 2:52 PM on May 4, 2008 [4 favorites]
posted by vito90 at 2:52 PM on May 4, 2008 [4 favorites]
I guess my heart is made of stone.
Mine's not, but I still hated it. And I mean that in the best possible way.
posted by psmealey at 3:00 PM on May 4, 2008
Mine's not, but I still hated it. And I mean that in the best possible way.
posted by psmealey at 3:00 PM on May 4, 2008
Well, sure, it made it to YouTube and MetaFilter, but will it end up on Broadway?
posted by jacquilynne at 3:03 PM on May 4, 2008
posted by jacquilynne at 3:03 PM on May 4, 2008
I genuinely hope the best man gave his toast first. Poor guy.
posted by lilac girl at 3:06 PM on May 4, 2008 [4 favorites]
posted by lilac girl at 3:06 PM on May 4, 2008 [4 favorites]
I was okay until the Fiddler dancing, and then I knew that I hated them all.
posted by fleacircus at 3:07 PM on May 4, 2008 [3 favorites]
posted by fleacircus at 3:07 PM on May 4, 2008 [3 favorites]
This would never work with my tone deaf family and friends. Amy would promptly demand an annulment.
posted by HotPatatta at 3:18 PM on May 4, 2008
posted by HotPatatta at 3:18 PM on May 4, 2008
This wouldn't be such a novelty if gay marriage was legalized.
posted by HotPatatta at 3:20 PM on May 4, 2008 [9 favorites]
posted by HotPatatta at 3:20 PM on May 4, 2008 [9 favorites]
So, this Amy, she knows a lot of theater people?
posted by chillmost at 3:35 PM on May 4, 2008 [2 favorites]
posted by chillmost at 3:35 PM on May 4, 2008 [2 favorites]
Something similar happened at my wedding, but my friends are not theater folks. They are porn actors.
I posted the video, but YouTube made me take it down.
posted by Astro Zombie at 3:47 PM on May 4, 2008 [10 favorites]
I posted the video, but YouTube made me take it down.
posted by Astro Zombie at 3:47 PM on May 4, 2008 [10 favorites]
Hello, I'm Amy Walker ...
Guess no one cared enough about her husband to sing about him too.
But overall, it was cute.
posted by bwg at 3:57 PM on May 4, 2008
Guess no one cared enough about her husband to sing about him too.
But overall, it was cute.
posted by bwg at 3:57 PM on May 4, 2008
Wow, no point in anyone getting married after that, is there? It's pretty much been done.
And dog food sugar, there's a scrubs episode you should check out. (Not to mention the obvious Buffy episode.)
Just to be clear, "episode" is a YouTube Link. I have no idea how to put the little symbol up there. Maybe it does that automatically in which case this is completely wasted. Perhaps not. We only know if we are useful in retrospect.
posted by Naberius at 4:12 PM on May 4, 2008
And dog food sugar, there's a scrubs episode you should check out. (Not to mention the obvious Buffy episode.)
Just to be clear, "episode" is a YouTube Link. I have no idea how to put the little symbol up there. Maybe it does that automatically in which case this is completely wasted. Perhaps not. We only know if we are useful in retrospect.
posted by Naberius at 4:12 PM on May 4, 2008
BWG - I was totally waiting for him to wrap that all up and go, "okay, now who wants to toast the groom?" :-)
posted by Naberius at 4:13 PM on May 4, 2008
posted by Naberius at 4:13 PM on May 4, 2008
I gotta get me some a them show biz kid frendz before my next wedding.
posted by subgear at 4:14 PM on May 4, 2008
posted by subgear at 4:14 PM on May 4, 2008
I'm in the "if you hate this, there's something wrong with you" camp.
posted by lupus_yonderboy at 4:15 PM on May 4, 2008
posted by lupus_yonderboy at 4:15 PM on May 4, 2008
Poor groom. Amy will be insufferable after this.
She's already a vegan theater dork, how much more insufferable could a person get?
posted by padraigin at 4:17 PM on May 4, 2008 [9 favorites]
She's already a vegan theater dork, how much more insufferable could a person get?
posted by padraigin at 4:17 PM on May 4, 2008 [9 favorites]
I'm with MaryDellahottie on this one, but essexjan's story made me smile.
posted by vronsky at 4:20 PM on May 4, 2008
posted by vronsky at 4:20 PM on May 4, 2008
I'm in the "if you hate this, there's something wrong with you" camp.
I'm positive that there's plenty wrong with me, lupus. But not being moved by broadway-esque recitatives and gestures is not really among my more serious problems.
posted by psmealey at 4:27 PM on May 4, 2008
I'm positive that there's plenty wrong with me, lupus. But not being moved by broadway-esque recitatives and gestures is not really among my more serious problems.
posted by psmealey at 4:27 PM on May 4, 2008
Something about that guy reminds me of Ben Linus, so much so that a part of me was expecting him to smash the caterer's face in with a spring baton and then pirouette and mincingly do jazz hands to shake the blood off himself.
posted by bunnytricks at 4:31 PM on May 4, 2008 [6 favorites]
posted by bunnytricks at 4:31 PM on May 4, 2008 [6 favorites]
My name is Amy, and now I have to go shoot myself in the face to get that goddamned tune out of my head.
posted by tristeza at 4:44 PM on May 4, 2008
posted by tristeza at 4:44 PM on May 4, 2008
It looks as if everyone there was having a great time, so that's wonderful. Weddings are for those who are at them, so I'm glad all of Amy's friends and family pulled off this massive surprise. But I stopped watching after the dad chimed in (which was endearing, mind you), because I kind of knew where it was going but it didn't mean much to me as entertainment. I'm just not a showtunes kind of gal. But I'm pretty sure Amy's friends and family don't care one way or another what you or I think.
So -- yay that they did this, that they made Amy happy, and that they made a permanent record for everyone who loved it to watch as many times as they like. I guess this means that I fail to meet the criteria for a heart of stone. But you know how freshly made custard develops a thickened skin as it cools and sets? I think I meet the heart of custard-wrapped-in-leather criteria. I can live with that.
posted by maudlin at 4:46 PM on May 4, 2008
So -- yay that they did this, that they made Amy happy, and that they made a permanent record for everyone who loved it to watch as many times as they like. I guess this means that I fail to meet the criteria for a heart of stone. But you know how freshly made custard develops a thickened skin as it cools and sets? I think I meet the heart of custard-wrapped-in-leather criteria. I can live with that.
posted by maudlin at 4:46 PM on May 4, 2008
Speaking as a fellow vegan theater dork, this warmed the cockles of my cold, dead heart.
Seriously people. It was a thoughtful gesture by loving friends who clearly took an awful lot of time and effort to put together something they knew she would love and pulled it off well. We should all be lucky enough to have friends like that.
posted by kyrademon at 4:46 PM on May 4, 2008 [2 favorites]
Seriously people. It was a thoughtful gesture by loving friends who clearly took an awful lot of time and effort to put together something they knew she would love and pulled it off well. We should all be lucky enough to have friends like that.
posted by kyrademon at 4:46 PM on May 4, 2008 [2 favorites]
I would do that for friends. I would hope friends would do that for me. But that's the musical freak inside, and honestly, who doesn't love THIS stuff? Spontaneous or rehearsed, the glass is half full, my heart is mushy, and heck yeah.
(Although Bunnytricks is kind of right on. So I am just partly cynical about it. But it's a small, small part.)
posted by cachondeo45 at 4:51 PM on May 4, 2008
(Although Bunnytricks is kind of right on. So I am just partly cynical about it. But it's a small, small part.)
posted by cachondeo45 at 4:51 PM on May 4, 2008
The amount of organization that must have required is hard to imagine. Good for the man of honour, and the bride will be talking about this when she's 95. But, yeah, for this random internet viewers it was pretty long and painful.
posted by jamesonandwater at 4:56 PM on May 4, 2008
posted by jamesonandwater at 4:56 PM on May 4, 2008
You all are social failures who spend your lives snarking on the Internet because it allows you to ignore the lack of joyful things in your lives that involve normal people in the real world.
Color me a joyless social failure then, because that video made me gag. I lasted until the second person started singing, and that was it for me.
I think it's cute if it involves you or your close friend, and otherwise it is somewhere in between watching someone else's vacation photos (on a slide projector) and hearing the sex through the motel walls. Nice for them, but not something that needs to be shared with me.
posted by Forktine at 5:10 PM on May 4, 2008 [4 favorites]
Color me a joyless social failure then, because that video made me gag. I lasted until the second person started singing, and that was it for me.
I think it's cute if it involves you or your close friend, and otherwise it is somewhere in between watching someone else's vacation photos (on a slide projector) and hearing the sex through the motel walls. Nice for them, but not something that needs to be shared with me.
posted by Forktine at 5:10 PM on May 4, 2008 [4 favorites]
Now I know the real reason gay marriage is outlawed.
And I agree!
posted by Project F at 5:10 PM on May 4, 2008 [1 favorite]
And I agree!
posted by Project F at 5:10 PM on May 4, 2008 [1 favorite]
Don't you guys feel mildly embarrassed for everyone? Like "the buttsweep" comment? And the groom looks so nervous!
I could just barely handle that, but cracked when that next guy leeringly hinted that they'd shared a room (did that seem awkward to anyone else?) and started singing about how they'd almost died of the flu and survived on crackers and soda water. Hey, I've puked my guts out too, but I don't sing about it in public.
Only in private.
Look at the embarrassed laugh on her face right after that guy sang, oh, how painful!
If I had a heart of stone, I'd have sailed right through that part to whatever heart-wrenching finale might ensue. So, I say the non-watchers are the more sensitive crew here. There are just too many opportunities to feel the pain of the participants and onlookers.
posted by salvia at 5:13 PM on May 4, 2008
I could just barely handle that, but cracked when that next guy leeringly hinted that they'd shared a room (did that seem awkward to anyone else?) and started singing about how they'd almost died of the flu and survived on crackers and soda water. Hey, I've puked my guts out too, but I don't sing about it in public.
Only in private.
Look at the embarrassed laugh on her face right after that guy sang, oh, how painful!
If I had a heart of stone, I'd have sailed right through that part to whatever heart-wrenching finale might ensue. So, I say the non-watchers are the more sensitive crew here. There are just too many opportunities to feel the pain of the participants and onlookers.
posted by salvia at 5:13 PM on May 4, 2008
Oh, I'm a cynical, mean, snarky ol' black wearing punk trapped in suburban hell, and even I thought this was adorable.
(I do however agree that the potential for the "husband" to come out of the closet and be found in bed with the best man is pretty high though...)
posted by dejah420 at 5:32 PM on May 4, 2008
(I do however agree that the potential for the "husband" to come out of the closet and be found in bed with the best man is pretty high though...)
posted by dejah420 at 5:32 PM on May 4, 2008
You all are social failures who spend your lives snarking on the Internet because it allows you to ignore the lack of joyful things in your lives that involve normal people in the real world.
Get over yourself, please. I think it was exceptionally well done. I can still hate it.
If you care, the reason I hated it was because I have an involuntary revulsion to all things smacking of Broadway musical. I've seen several therapists and psychiatric physicians about this. They have mostly hypothesized that it is tied to some form of inert or subconscious homophobia, but I disagree. I think it was because my mother used to beat me with a wooden spoon while listening to Rodgers and Hart original cast recordings.
posted by psmealey at 5:59 PM on May 4, 2008 [3 favorites]
Get over yourself, please. I think it was exceptionally well done. I can still hate it.
If you care, the reason I hated it was because I have an involuntary revulsion to all things smacking of Broadway musical. I've seen several therapists and psychiatric physicians about this. They have mostly hypothesized that it is tied to some form of inert or subconscious homophobia, but I disagree. I think it was because my mother used to beat me with a wooden spoon while listening to Rodgers and Hart original cast recordings.
posted by psmealey at 5:59 PM on May 4, 2008 [3 favorites]
Wow. I'm an Amy too, and I grew up with a love-hate relationship with that song. At my wedding brunch we had a piano player playing mood music and I swear he played it every hour on the hour. No one sang to me though. It would have been awesome if my gay best friend had burst into one of the routines we made up in college but neither "Copa Cabana" nor Alan Sherman's "You Went the Wrong Way Old King Louie" are really appropriate for a wedding.
posted by Biblio at 6:26 PM on May 4, 2008
posted by Biblio at 6:26 PM on May 4, 2008
This was awesome. My music major "friends" were asked to sing at my wedding, practiced once and totally sucked. And yes, I'm bitter.
And jealous of Amy.
posted by pearlybob at 6:44 PM on May 4, 2008
And jealous of Amy.
posted by pearlybob at 6:44 PM on May 4, 2008
Biblio, tristeza, I don't know about you, but as an Amy, that song with the bride made me feel like a terminal failure. A beautiful happy family and friend chorus all singing to a beautiful happy bride named Amy? Oh God, what a cruel mockery. It's the aural equivalent of my dad needling me about how he wants grandkids and I should get out more often.
I promise I'd find it adorable and heartwarming under any other name!
posted by Countess Elena at 6:52 PM on May 4, 2008
I promise I'd find it adorable and heartwarming under any other name!
posted by Countess Elena at 6:52 PM on May 4, 2008
I thought I would hate it, and I'm a musical theatre guy (a musical theatre guy in law school, even) and yet, that was awesome. I hated the song, but the effort put into it and the joy of everyone involved was infectious.
My girlfriend's family and family friends are all involved in Broadway, and our friends are all almost competitively creative. I can only hope that we can pull off something this cool if (when?) we get married.
Thanks for posting.
posted by Navelgazer at 7:07 PM on May 4, 2008
My girlfriend's family and family friends are all involved in Broadway, and our friends are all almost competitively creative. I can only hope that we can pull off something this cool if (when?) we get married.
Thanks for posting.
posted by Navelgazer at 7:07 PM on May 4, 2008
I think if the Bride's *straight* best friend presented a musical number about how much he loves her, invoking a song that ends "trouble is the answer will be/that Amy'd rather stay in love with me", it might be a little awkward.
posted by ManInSuit at 7:38 PM on May 4, 2008
posted by ManInSuit at 7:38 PM on May 4, 2008
I don't think any man of honor would be caught dead doing that.
I'd do it, but that's because I have no honor to defend.
posted by HotPatatta at 8:21 PM on May 4, 2008
I'd do it, but that's because I have no honor to defend.
posted by HotPatatta at 8:21 PM on May 4, 2008
I expected Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal to be somehow involved
posted by mattoxic at 8:22 PM on May 4, 2008
posted by mattoxic at 8:22 PM on May 4, 2008
Another Amy here, and I work in musical theatre.
That was amazing.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 8:38 PM on May 4, 2008
That was amazing.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 8:38 PM on May 4, 2008
Rarely do you see weddings where not a single straight man is in attendance.
posted by geoff. at 8:52 PM on May 4, 2008
posted by geoff. at 8:52 PM on May 4, 2008
Just wondering aloud: why was the Man of Honor barefoot?
It's because he was killed and replaced with an exact double before the wedding, and this is a way of letting us know, you see, barefeet represent death and if you play the amy song backwards you can hear `the man of honor is dead' repeated, and he's wearing white which is the colour of death in some asian societies, and if you count the number of times that he blinks... well, I'll let you work that out. IT'S ALL RIGHT THERE, PEOPLE.
posted by tomble at 9:10 PM on May 4, 2008 [3 favorites]
It's because he was killed and replaced with an exact double before the wedding, and this is a way of letting us know, you see, barefeet represent death and if you play the amy song backwards you can hear `the man of honor is dead' repeated, and he's wearing white which is the colour of death in some asian societies, and if you count the number of times that he blinks... well, I'll let you work that out. IT'S ALL RIGHT THERE, PEOPLE.
posted by tomble at 9:10 PM on May 4, 2008 [3 favorites]
I liked it, but then I like showtunes. What a great memory from a whirlwind day. Thanks for the post!
posted by gemmy at 9:19 PM on May 4, 2008
posted by gemmy at 9:19 PM on May 4, 2008
"You all are social failures who spend your lives snarking on the Internet because it allows you to ignore the lack of joyful things in your lives that involve normal people in the real world."
You say that like it's a bad thing.
I wanted to hate it. I'm an ex-theater dork who now spends what I can of my life (that isn't spent working and doing things I hate) snarking on the Internet because I happen to enjoy it, and it allows me to further enjoy the lack of things in my life that other petty and judgmental 'normal' people think I'm suppose to want in my life.
I wanted to hate it.
I was smirking at the people as they stood up and was wondering to myself what's the soap opera here? How many of these guys have already had Amy? How many of these girls have had Amy? How much of a geek does her groom look like? How many of the people not singing are quietly thinking the same thing about the people who are making fools of themselves.
I wanted to hate it. Then Bradley's dad stood up.
Brad's dad stood up and welcomed Amy into his family by way of song. He wasn't great, but he carried a tune, and (for me anyway) his performance was the most genuine. That took balls, and it was sincere. I'm not a father. I don't wanna ever be a father, but if I ever were a father of a son who found the woman of his dreams, I'd wanna have balls like that, and break out into song and welcome her into the family. That was fucking cool.
So yeah. Tears welled up in my eyes right there and by the end of the piece I was completely suckered into it. It didn't matter any more what the 'behind the scenes' bullshit was with these people. They obviously loved Amy enough to do for her something they thought would make her happy. Even and especially the guys who just stood up and said "WE DO!" They all showed her affection in the way that their little brood shows affection, and damn all the rest of us for judging them for that.
Corny? Sappy? Stupid? Gay? Pull out your thesaurus and point blindly at randomly chosen pages twenty times. It's all those things and more. So? They love Amy. And tho I'll never meet her, I gotta admit now that I think I love her a little bit too. So do some of you. And that's completely okay. And those of you who don't? That's completely okay too.
posted by ZachsMind at 9:30 PM on May 4, 2008 [8 favorites]
You say that like it's a bad thing.
I wanted to hate it. I'm an ex-theater dork who now spends what I can of my life (that isn't spent working and doing things I hate) snarking on the Internet because I happen to enjoy it, and it allows me to further enjoy the lack of things in my life that other petty and judgmental 'normal' people think I'm suppose to want in my life.
I wanted to hate it.
I was smirking at the people as they stood up and was wondering to myself what's the soap opera here? How many of these guys have already had Amy? How many of these girls have had Amy? How much of a geek does her groom look like? How many of the people not singing are quietly thinking the same thing about the people who are making fools of themselves.
I wanted to hate it. Then Bradley's dad stood up.
Brad's dad stood up and welcomed Amy into his family by way of song. He wasn't great, but he carried a tune, and (for me anyway) his performance was the most genuine. That took balls, and it was sincere. I'm not a father. I don't wanna ever be a father, but if I ever were a father of a son who found the woman of his dreams, I'd wanna have balls like that, and break out into song and welcome her into the family. That was fucking cool.
So yeah. Tears welled up in my eyes right there and by the end of the piece I was completely suckered into it. It didn't matter any more what the 'behind the scenes' bullshit was with these people. They obviously loved Amy enough to do for her something they thought would make her happy. Even and especially the guys who just stood up and said "WE DO!" They all showed her affection in the way that their little brood shows affection, and damn all the rest of us for judging them for that.
Corny? Sappy? Stupid? Gay? Pull out your thesaurus and point blindly at randomly chosen pages twenty times. It's all those things and more. So? They love Amy. And tho I'll never meet her, I gotta admit now that I think I love her a little bit too. So do some of you. And that's completely okay. And those of you who don't? That's completely okay too.
posted by ZachsMind at 9:30 PM on May 4, 2008 [8 favorites]
Cute, but a little long.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 9:35 PM on May 4, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 9:35 PM on May 4, 2008 [1 favorite]
Heartwarming. I did a half-assed blues band set for my sister's wedding; but it was good cuz I was a relative. Also, I wrote a song about their courtship. Again, not a masterpiece, but it sure went over well. And that is what music is supposed to be about. It was about their love story.
Do not hire a DJ. Hire a mediocre wedding band or, more cheaply, a great jazz band. It will make the affair more human. And the marriage thing is about being human (and maybe bringing together two flawed families with flawed musicians striving toward transcendence?).
There is the marriage vows thing, too.
And, having been in wedding bands in a couple of hundred weddings, I've seen it all. From the pathetic scrambling for the misthrown bouquet to the embarrassingly drunken toasts to the heart attack victim on the dance floor...
Anyway, this was a nice demonstration of folks coming together to celebrate Amy and....umm...what's his name. I vote for celebration, over the alternative, like, families shooting each other.
posted by kozad at 9:35 PM on May 4, 2008
Do not hire a DJ. Hire a mediocre wedding band or, more cheaply, a great jazz band. It will make the affair more human. And the marriage thing is about being human (and maybe bringing together two flawed families with flawed musicians striving toward transcendence?).
There is the marriage vows thing, too.
And, having been in wedding bands in a couple of hundred weddings, I've seen it all. From the pathetic scrambling for the misthrown bouquet to the embarrassingly drunken toasts to the heart attack victim on the dance floor...
Anyway, this was a nice demonstration of folks coming together to celebrate Amy and....umm...what's his name. I vote for celebration, over the alternative, like, families shooting each other.
posted by kozad at 9:35 PM on May 4, 2008
Like "the buttsweep" comment?
I thought they said "mudsweep."
posted by hjo3 at 9:58 PM on May 4, 2008
I thought they said "mudsweep."
posted by hjo3 at 9:58 PM on May 4, 2008
I thought they said "mudsweep."
So i herd they liek mudsweeps.
posted by dersins at 11:36 PM on May 4, 2008
So i herd they liek mudsweeps.
posted by dersins at 11:36 PM on May 4, 2008
Gawd, I just lost two friends whose bridezilla-ing extended to giving me a dressing-down last night at my housewarming party over perceived crimes I committed at and around their wedding (like dyeing my hair pink without asking first, even though when they asked me to dye it back for them, I did so cheerfully), it's wonderful to see such outpourings of love, dorky as they may be, because taking things seriously and being uptight is not fun, and celebrations are supposed to be fun. Amy's friends will do whatever it takes to make her feel appreciated and happy, and that is quite a show in and of itself.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 12:18 AM on May 5, 2008
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 12:18 AM on May 5, 2008
Zachsmind, I got all chokey at Brad's Dad welcoming Amy by song too. There's a fatherinlaw I'd love to have!
posted by dabitch at 1:39 AM on May 5, 2008
posted by dabitch at 1:39 AM on May 5, 2008
totally fake methinks:
too many camera angles
too smooth
not enough old people/kids in room for a wedding
posted by mrmarley at 4:00 AM on May 5, 2008
too many camera angles
too smooth
not enough old people/kids in room for a wedding
posted by mrmarley at 4:00 AM on May 5, 2008
I hate musical theater and show tunes with the heat of a thousand suns but by gawd that was amazing. And the guy who got the flu with Amy? C'mon, he obviously is more likely doing the man of honor or the groom than Amy.
posted by Ber at 6:33 AM on May 5, 2008
posted by Ber at 6:33 AM on May 5, 2008
I loved it. It was much better than "Cats." I'm going to see it again and again.
Gaydar is that pinging sensation that goes off in your head when the guy sitting next to you in the movies puts your hand in his lap during a Mel Gibson movie.
Hmmm. When that happened to me I didn't think of it as gay. I just considered it a perfectly normal moment that two straight men would share while watching "What Women Want."
posted by pardonyou? at 7:17 AM on May 5, 2008
Gaydar is that pinging sensation that goes off in your head when the guy sitting next to you in the movies puts your hand in his lap during a Mel Gibson movie.
Hmmm. When that happened to me I didn't think of it as gay. I just considered it a perfectly normal moment that two straight men would share while watching "What Women Want."
posted by pardonyou? at 7:17 AM on May 5, 2008
I did feel it was odd to leave the groom out of tribute!
On the topic of spontaneously breaking into song, mr. thinkpiece and I were recently on vacation in Belize and were walking along the beach. We saw a couple sitting on their veranda -- the guy was wearing a Columbia University t-shirt. mr t-p said, Hey, Columbia, me too, and the guy stood up, closed his eyes and sang the school song, at the top of his lungs. Same trip, a cab driver was extolling the virtues of BZE, and at the end of his little speech, sang the national anthem, beautifully. He had a gorgeous voice -- it brought tears to my eyes!
posted by thinkpiece at 7:34 AM on May 5, 2008
On the topic of spontaneously breaking into song, mr. thinkpiece and I were recently on vacation in Belize and were walking along the beach. We saw a couple sitting on their veranda -- the guy was wearing a Columbia University t-shirt. mr t-p said, Hey, Columbia, me too, and the guy stood up, closed his eyes and sang the school song, at the top of his lungs. Same trip, a cab driver was extolling the virtues of BZE, and at the end of his little speech, sang the national anthem, beautifully. He had a gorgeous voice -- it brought tears to my eyes!
posted by thinkpiece at 7:34 AM on May 5, 2008
I can't even stand hearing/seeing the Electric Slide at a wedding,
I'm not sure how many shots I would have to drink to make me sit through that.
(my personal horrors aside, it was a nice thing for the bride).
posted by stifford at 8:35 AM on May 5, 2008
I'm not sure how many shots I would have to drink to make me sit through that.
(my personal horrors aside, it was a nice thing for the bride).
posted by stifford at 8:35 AM on May 5, 2008
not enough old people/kids in room for a wedding
Looks like it was a destination wedding - it was at a resort on Sanibel/Captiva. People don't often bring kids to those, and not every great-aunt/uncle is going to travel for it either. And who's to say that they even know old people or people with kids.
All you cranky people puzzle me. I laughed, I cried, it was a lovely performance.
posted by rtha at 9:02 AM on May 5, 2008
Looks like it was a destination wedding - it was at a resort on Sanibel/Captiva. People don't often bring kids to those, and not every great-aunt/uncle is going to travel for it either. And who's to say that they even know old people or people with kids.
All you cranky people puzzle me. I laughed, I cried, it was a lovely performance.
posted by rtha at 9:02 AM on May 5, 2008
totally fake methinks:
too many camera angles
too smooth
not enough old people/kids in room for a wedding
MrMarley: It was clear by how (agonizingly) long they sat on the reaction shots that this was a two-camera production. They knew that their only cutaway while camera 2 moved was the camera on the bride and groom. If they had three cameras, we would have seen singers sooner... But then you have to choreograph your camera operators' movements as well, to prevent spoiling the surprise.
The wedding's location on an island could have something to do with why there are few elderly and children in attendance.
I don't think having two DV cameras at a wedding reception is totally out-of-line.
posted by bugmuncher at 9:22 AM on May 5, 2008
too many camera angles
too smooth
not enough old people/kids in room for a wedding
MrMarley: It was clear by how (agonizingly) long they sat on the reaction shots that this was a two-camera production. They knew that their only cutaway while camera 2 moved was the camera on the bride and groom. If they had three cameras, we would have seen singers sooner... But then you have to choreograph your camera operators' movements as well, to prevent spoiling the surprise.
The wedding's location on an island could have something to do with why there are few elderly and children in attendance.
I don't think having two DV cameras at a wedding reception is totally out-of-line.
posted by bugmuncher at 9:22 AM on May 5, 2008
late to the party, I know
WolfDaddy: That's not gaydar. That's just deduction.
Gaydar is that pinging sensation that goes off in your head when the guy sitting next to you in the movies puts your hand in his lap during a Mel Gibson movie.
That seems more like "action stations" to be honest; everyone at attention and straining to clash. Gaydar (in my experience) is more about eye movement and body language; sonar or radar where you watch and infer intention from action (for more action, come to think of it.)
posted by heeeraldo at 9:58 AM on May 5, 2008
WolfDaddy: That's not gaydar. That's just deduction.
Gaydar is that pinging sensation that goes off in your head when the guy sitting next to you in the movies puts your hand in his lap during a Mel Gibson movie.
That seems more like "action stations" to be honest; everyone at attention and straining to clash. Gaydar (in my experience) is more about eye movement and body language; sonar or radar where you watch and infer intention from action (for more action, come to think of it.)
posted by heeeraldo at 9:58 AM on May 5, 2008
Best moment: almost exactly one minute in when they cut to Amy dabbing the tears at the corners of her eyes, and the second vocalist stands up singing, and you see the moment of pure surprise and shock on Amy's face.
That was pretty fucking awesome.
posted by quin at 10:20 AM on May 5, 2008
That was pretty fucking awesome.
posted by quin at 10:20 AM on May 5, 2008
Cool! But missing one crucial element.
You all know what I'm talking about. That Flying French Guy on those six horses.
Otherwise, A for effort.
posted by storybored at 11:21 AM on May 5, 2008
You all know what I'm talking about. That Flying French Guy on those six horses.
Otherwise, A for effort.
posted by storybored at 11:21 AM on May 5, 2008
Based on what I recall was the sense of humor of musical theatre types in college, I was totally waiting for something like this:
Man of Honor: And who here has made it with Amy?
CHORUS: WE HAVE!
Man of Honor: Is there anyone who hasn't been with Amy?
CHORUS: HER DAD!
Man of Honor: Make a fist, and thump it
If you've been with this strumpet
Then Brad will know who else his bride knows...
CHORUS: (thump, thump) SHE'S GOOD, BRAD!
posted by bugmuncher at 1:33 PM on May 5, 2008 [1 favorite]
Man of Honor: And who here has made it with Amy?
CHORUS: WE HAVE!
Man of Honor: Is there anyone who hasn't been with Amy?
CHORUS: HER DAD!
Man of Honor: Make a fist, and thump it
If you've been with this strumpet
Then Brad will know who else his bride knows...
CHORUS: (thump, thump) SHE'S GOOD, BRAD!
posted by bugmuncher at 1:33 PM on May 5, 2008 [1 favorite]
So bad. I like musical theater and I sort of hated it. I only got halfway through (yes, the Fiddler dance sequence did it), but it was weirdly discomforting.
A for effort, though.
posted by mrgrimm at 4:57 PM on May 5, 2008
A for effort, though.
posted by mrgrimm at 4:57 PM on May 5, 2008
Great toast. Great song. Would have worked (better) without the dancing.
It's a good thing that Amy has such good friends, because she's going to need them when her husband runs off with her "man of honor."
posted by Frank Grimes at 5:54 PM on May 5, 2008
It's a good thing that Amy has such good friends, because she's going to need them when her husband runs off with her "man of honor."
posted by Frank Grimes at 5:54 PM on May 5, 2008
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posted by houseofdanie at 12:58 PM on May 4, 2008