Gilbert and Sullivan Parody

  An interesting, and sometimes frightening, thing can occur when music moves from the realm of copyright into the public domain.  In the case of the music to the Gilbert and Sullivan operettas, there has been plenty of both.  There have been parodies ranging from Forbidden Broadway’s original season (‘Poor Warbling Star’, ‘I am a Kevin Kline’, etc.) to a version of ‘Baby Got Back’ sung in the ‘style’ of G&S with video footage from the Pabst Pirates of Penzance movie staring Kevin Kline.  The latter is found here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkJdEFf_Qg4

Gilbert and Sullivan tunes have been used for advertising purposes from nearly the moment they became public domain.  One example I know is an advertisement for Brillo pads to the tune of “Willow tit-willow” from The Mikado.  Another is for Blue Bonnet margarine, to the tune of “I’m called little buttercup” from H.M.S. Pinafore.

Then there have been very witty parodies that have been used for sending messages, or educational purposes.  A few are linked below:

Here, Pinky and the Brain sing about the importance of knowing your history to the tune of “When I was a lad” from H.M.S. Pinafore. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPlTB0eJbQQ

In this video, the elements of the periodic table are identified by Tom Lehrer, to the tune of “I am the very model of a modern major-general” from The Pirates of Penzance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGM-wSKFBpo

Finally, one of the most recent uses of that same song comes from a video about President Barrack Obama.  In this video, the lyrics are brilliantly set to send the political message of Obama’s success in office thus far.  A professionally edited video, the cast is impressive.  Not only does Ron Butler look fairly like Obama, but he has a clear voice that effectively presents the words intelligibly and musically.  One of the most impressive aspects of this video, in my opinion, is the incorporation of a chorus of office employees that wrap up each verse and add a layer of fun and amusement that most other parodies of this song miss.  If only more parodies of the music to the Savoy Operas were this well presented...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGM-wSKFBpo