Grizabella the Glamour Cat | Cats the Musical

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Lyrics:
Remark the cat
Who hesitates towards you
In the light of the door which opens on her like a grin
You see the border of her coat is torn, and stained with sand
And you see the corner of her eye twist like a crooked pin
Continued: bit.ly/1LzDyFk
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About:
Based on T. S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, the show is set amongst a larger- than-life junkyard playground and is alive with our favourite feline characters including Rum Tum Tugger, Mr. Mistoffelees, Macavity, Jennyanydots, Old Deuteronomy, Grizabella and Skimbleshanks.
The Jellicle Cats come out to play on one special night of the year - the night of the Jellicle Ball. One by one they tell their stories for the amusement of Old Deuteronomy, their wise and benevolent leader, who must choose one of the Cats to ascend to The Heaviside Layer and be reborn into a whole new Jellicle life.

[@alanafowler7083]

I like how Grizabella kind of acknowledged the kittens but then she looked at the adults because they are the ones who are judging her. While the kittens are curious about her. And when she sings "Memory" at the end you notice that it's a kitten that joins in, and it's also a kitten Victoria who touches her paw.

[@coryman125]

It's not in this video, but in the transition from The Rum Tum Tugger to this one, you can really see that. The kittens all approach her, and the adults all stop them. You can see on their faces how they go from a sort of innocent curiosity to fear throughout this song, and it's genuinely quite sad

[@Pluveus]

In a show full of "I am" songs, Grizzabella gets an "I was" song.

[@jdprettynails]

She gets an "I was" song AND an "I want" song. *sigh* I was JUST starting to get people to take this show seriously and then the damn movie happened!

[@pinkfeiry]

The way she walks with that limp makes me think she's not only old but hurt. It makes her rejection look more tragic.

[@gltchundertale2756]

she abandonned the jellicle tho didn't she? She left to become famous and came back when she got old.

[@dudsa9155]

i always thought the line "and the postman sighed as he scratched his head/ you'd really have thought she ought to be dead" was telling us how she got ran over by a mail truck

[@HaHa-qt2zj]

liddol duds that’s a really good analysis

[@exodia1510]

The Norma Desmond of cats

[@NA-AN]

@@exodia1510And I mean Andrew Loyd Weber also made the Sunset Blvd musical so…

[@joeytaucher8402]

She was throwing Mom stares at Munkustrap right from the get go. When she sings “remark the cat who hesitates toward you”, Munkustrap reacts and straightens up immediately.

[@micaylab1]

Asami Fujii where's the similarity in fur colours?

[@rosenrot234]

@@micaylab1 They're both black and gray

[@amanogirl1]

Actually Grizabella is Rum Tum Tugger’s mother and Munkustrap’s step mother.

[@rosenrot234]

@@amanogirl1 That's another open to interpretation thing.

[@roxannabellkuehn4645]

@@rosenrot234 not exactly. She is grey from age, matted fur, dust, neglect, ect. The black under the grey coat shows she was probably a black cat in her youth when she was the Glamor Cat.

[@roxannabellkuehn4645]

My personal headcanon here is that when Grizabella started to grow older and was loosing popularity of being "The Glamour Cat" she attacked whoever the new uprising pretty young thing, causing the other cats to turn away from her and even fear her. That is why she is alone and why the other cats are so protective of the kittens being near her.

[@gltchundertale2756]

oh thats a good theory actually. The headcannon i come across most often and also kinda believe is that she abandonned th tribe to become famous

[@Ghostbuster07]

I heard that she left the cats to go live with a family but then she got old and her family abandoned her and she was left to streets where she was forced to return to the tribe 🤔 And during this song she is originally rejected by the rest of the cats but then she comes back later and Victoria accepts her. Then the rest is history

[@shotyslawa]

I think living with a family isn't a bad thing for the Jellicles - a lot of them have collars, and especially Gumbie Cat song points out that Jennyanydots lives in a family home. For me, the real reason they scorn her, is that she completely rejected the Jellicles - and now that she's back, they're like "so what, you thought you were better than us"? Also interesting thing is that Munkustrap doesn't really chase her away, and kinda seems to try and protect her when it seems that Cassandra is about to play a prank on her.

[@TheBlueDragon15]

@@shotyslawa that actually makes more sense then the theories I usually read. Many people say they rejected her because she wanted to see the world or become famous, but Gus the theater cat was famous back in his prime and Skimbleshanks is so famous at train stations and mail stations he's practically a mascot and lucky charm and he gets to travel all the time cuz of the trains. The idea that she rejected the Jellicle tribe and possibly acted out in violence is why they reject AND refuse to let anyone touch her sounds better in my opinion.

[@jdprettynails]

Actually they mention the reason in the song itself. She's looked down on because "She haunted many a low resort. The grimy road of Tottenham Court." Tottenham Court is famous for being a place of "ill repute". In TS Elliot's day, that's where prostitutes would meet clients. The cats are slut-shaming her for being a "lady of the night". Another clue is Grisabella's costume. Particularly her stockings and make up. Not very cat-like, but rather more akin to what prostitutes of the time would have worn.

[@Mymloch]

The acting in this is just so fantastic.. the side-eye from Munkustrap is just perfect.

[@autumnbriggs1035]

Omg yes. You kinda feel bad for him too

[@ashlynnheller8400]

Not to mention the glare he gives Cassandra.

[@kosmonavt5125]

Except what even was that face cassandra made

[@pytheena808]

I agree, its so good that you forget that it was performed on a stage

[@petermcnallt12pm]

How do u all learn the cats name?! Is each cat given a name? I have seen this a few times and can't name them all. What a beautiful musical.

[@megcormier]

I love how, when Demeter starts singing, Grizabella is walking away like, "Yeah bitch, that's who I am. What are you gonna do about it?" But then when Grizabella stick out her paw behind her and Demeter sings, "And who would ever suppose that that was Grizabella the Glamor Cat," Grizabella realizes Demeter's not complimenting her and no one's going to accept her. Grizabella continues walking away, but less confidently, as more of the others join in, still insulting her.

[@abovearth6740]

Interesting translation in french about the postman's part, that's what is said in french, it makes you think a little bit (just google translate it, if you want a word for word traslation but mine is that): "En la voyant le facteur se dit.... Qu'elle aurai mieux fait de perdre la vie !" "When looking at her, the postman thought, that she sould have lost her life" It makes you think on HOW MUCH she was actually rejected.

[@gigi_monster]

Actually I think she was just remembering what it was like and trying to embody it again but failed. Just my interpretation

[@WTKB82]

Book Nerd's Diary yeah my interpretation is that, for a moment, Grizabella is remembering her glory days and then she gets brought back to reality at the last part.

[@8r3n69]

This is one scene I feel the movie had an interesting approach. I like how shes’s “cut-off” & dismissed as opposed to sashaying away.

[@8r3n69]

Book Nerd's Diary my interpretation is that she can’t actually hear them singing. She’s kind of in her own world remembering her happiness and having reality sink in just as the song is making it clear how far she’s fallen & she could never belong.

[@justme0910]

The mystery behind Grizabella is so fascinating to me precisely because we never get an answer as to what her "crime" actually was. The entire musical seems almost centered around disproving various theories: - Grizabella is old and disheveled, and possibly near death, but so is Gus and he is lovingly cared for by the other cats. - She probably wasn't exiled for being a troublemaker or criminal, because Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer proudly proclaim themselves to be "cat burglar cats" and they're still part of the tribe. - It's possible that she had something going on with Macavity, but so did Demeter and no one holds it against her. - If Grizabella left the tribe to see the world ... well, how come everyone is so excited to see Skimbleshanks who spends his entire life on trains? - It can't be because she wasn't a stray at the time - neither are Rumple and Jerrie, Jennyanydots, and possibly various others. - In fact, it wasn't because she had it better than them and maybe even bragged about it - Bustopher Jones is a lot fancier and more well-fed than the other cats, and they admire him for it. - There are some references to sex work in Grizabella's songs ("Rhapsody on a windy night", the poem most of her lines are based on, is very clearly about a sex worker), but 1) the Jellicles are very open wrt sexuality (Tugger and Bomba in particular spend the entire show being horny on main, and let's not forget about the cat orgy), I highly doubt they'd draw the line at having sex for compensation, and 2) what would the feline equivalent to sex work even BE? Did Griz let random toms mount her for a hit of catnip? Whatever she did, it must have been pretty bad for the others to treat her with such vitriol, but in the end? It doesn't matter. She is eventually forgiven and offered a second chance at life, because mercy and compassion are ultimately more powerful than hate. (It goes well with the Christian themes of the musical, I suppose, although personally, I prefer a more secular take on that narrative. I mean, they're CATS. Their spirituality might just as well be a metaphor for their innate "catness" - the divinity of their unashamed felinity, so to speak. Cats are marvelous, mysterious, fiercely individualistic and utterly captivating creatures. There's a reason they've been associated with the supernatural and, at times, literally venerated by humans.) Is it the most sophisticated moral ever written? Of course not. However, it's one we all need to hear from time to time. Sometimes, you just have to will yourself to leave your cynicism behind and dare to believe in people who seem undeserving of that trust. It's something that we instinctively do while we still have a certain childlike innocence (represented in the play by the kittens, especially Jemima) and rediscover in our old age, as we learn to move past the bad experiences that have hardened us, and towards greater wisdom (represented by Old Deuteronomy). Anyway, that's why I don't think this musical is anywhere near as random as most people think. Grizabella really ties it all together.

[@fossilfighters101]

excellent analysis

[@b.d6642]

Spectacular analysis

[@343Simone]

@Trevor Martin Gus seems older than Grizabella AND has palsy, but he hasn't been rejected

[@343Simone]

@Trevor Martin So then what did Grizabella do that got her rejected, but Gus didn't do? Seems like to older cats would need more help as they get up in age. It would be unfair to just kick Grizabella out for being old but keep Gus around because he has a disability.

[@arsenicwafers7536]

It’s an allegory to AIDS. “Cats“ came out a month before the AIDS pandemic was declared in The world. Cats-May 1981, AIDS-June 1981. Listen to her songs, and re-listen to the song. Notice how the cats are scared to even touch her, or come close to her. “Touch me, it’s so easy to leave me.” Referenced to nobody touching AIDS patients, and how they were left to die all alone in hospital beds. Musicals are often influenced by LGBT, a lot of musicales cast gay characters. Grizabella is most likely based off of drag queens, who lost their glamour and became weak dying of AIDS. People were dying of AIDS, also known as g.r.i.d (gay related immune deficiency) while Webber wrote this musical.

[@Laurienart]

I didn't notice this before, but I like how when Etcetera and Victoria approach Grizabella at 0:25, even though she's hurting and justifiably angry at everyone else, she never sings in anger to/at them. She acknowledges them for a moment, a glance here and there, but she reserves her full fury for the rest of the adults/elders. She has every right to be angry at everyone else, but she doesn't take it out on those that don't deserve it. It's just a nice little character choice in the song I didn't pick up on until now!

[@Zodia195]

I noticed right away that it was always Victoria who never really rejected her either, besides Deuteronomy, unless Jellyorum was there preventing her, until she finally got the chance to finally reach out to her.

[@roxannabellkuehn4645]

The kittens don't understand what is so wrong with her where all the other cats don't like Grizabella and are even afraid of her being near the kittens

[@Hinatachan360]

@@sillylittlesalmon Etcetera is the kitten that screams over Rum Tum Tugger. I think that's actually Elektra and Victoria.

[@levi_ackerman_119]

@@Hinatachan360 It is Etcetera. See 0:25 when she and Victoria glance at each other.

[@newhorizonsforfifty2833]

Can I just say how refreshing it is to sit and read these comments, which people post as an indication that they can see beyond the stage show and into the actual characters and themes of the show? Maybe some of these kittens belong to her?

[@SirCraigius]

2:08: Damn. The total disdain in her voice, the way she says "cat". Its like she thinks Grizabella barely qualifies as a real cat anymore. EDIT: To be clear, I actually meant the second "cat", but yeah, their both pretty scornful.

[@nylathemysticalcat9518]

Which one? Demeter or the cat next to her?

[@ABPL0522]

Bombalurina, the one next to demeter.

[@nylathemysticalcat9518]

@@ABPL0522 okay, thanks!

[@born4thisalltimelow]

It’s ok I didn’t need my heart today

[@codenamejinza]

My friend's headcanon is that Demeter is likely either a daughter of Grisabela or was once super close to her, but then whatever happened happened and she left, which hurt Demeter. And Bombalurina is Demeter's best friend/big sister, so she likely holds double the disdain for her for Demeter's sake. I've also adopted this headcanon.

[@irisgarcia9641]

2:24 - 2:32 Get chills everytime I hear the whole cast slowly join in and build up to that first long note they sing together..

[@cassandragilson7342]

Same ❤️ goosebumps

[@rosem5062]

That last "THAAAAAAAAT!!" shows the entire group's utter contempt for Grizabella. Like she's just a disgusting thing that's been discarded. So powerful!

[@alexa.9923]

The idea of Grizabella being the mother of Munk, Tugg, and Macavity seems a bit truthful. Munkustrap straightens himself when she has that motherly tone and seems to keep the other cat (I think Cassandra, who seemed pretty hissy with her) away with a look. There are also moments where he seems to watch out for when a cat may touch her like Demeter. Tugger is a little cold but he is the youngest and does, albeit a bit sarcastically, let her pass him by. And it's pretty obvious by now that Deuteronomy, in this life at least, fathered the boys and has reached out to her with tears down his face. He openly wants her back in the clan and the moment she is, gives her the greatest honor and gift of getting a new life. I think as well the song isn't totally spiteful. It seems like they claim "Who would've thought it was her who would do it" both honestly and soon in anger. She left the clan, her sons and Deuteronomy- who could've thought it and how dare she have done it? God I love Cats, it's like a big old puzzle with such a deeper story in it!!

[@alexa.9923]

I also just noticed he really doesn't sing with the other cats when they seems crueler and as Grizabella holds her hands back he hesitantly mildly holds out his hand for and follows her. Then at the end outright arm out, reaching towards her.

[@gltchundertale2756]

not to mention, where is Tugger in this song? His song was the last one but i can't seem to find him at all in this one. So here's an idea as to what happens in the musical: Tugger finishes his song, they start setting up for the next cat's song, and he spots her and leaves, not wanting to see his mom who abandonned him. Also in Grizebella's Rejection, Tugger makes a point to not officially greet Grizebella, pulling up his fur as he walks past her

[@shinjineesen400]

Alex is right. Munkustrap doesn't join in with the scornful chorus, and reaches out to her.

[@cupley8242]

Old comments? Whatevs. I got another little detail, Munkustrap dropped his arms when everyone reached out theirs. By the time everyone kind of took their hand back, Munkus would then stretch out his own paw. I'm obsessed with little details like these.

[@cupley8242]

Oh, and one more. When Demeter said 'she'd ought to be dead', Munkus looks at her probably out of concern. Does it again when Bombalurina joins in on the scorning like "do you girls really treat your elders like this?"

[@SirCraigius]

0:45: I love the way Cassandra gets that look on her face, like "Oh, what fun! I'm going to mess with this mangy old cat!". But then Munkustrap stares her down, like "Don't make trouble or I'll have to stop you" and she slinks away.

[@spshouppe]

You don't get to be Sentinel of the Tribe without drawing hard lines

[@thetank9571]

I know Memory is the iconic Cats song, but I enjoy this song way better.

[@Silvercentipede]

Oh my god same

[@clivegoodman16]

The lyrics of this song was by T.S. Eliot, though it had been not been published. Valerie Eliot (his widow) gave this to Andrew Lloyd Webber and this poem became the seed for the central theme of the musical. The lyrics of "Memory" was written by Trevor Nunn in the style of T.S. Elliot.

[@pistenqueen]

Me too!

[@limesquared]

@@clivegoodman16 I know this late but most of "Memory" is actually Eliot's poem "Rhapsody on A Windy Night".

[@chinieesparrago4633]

⚠ *WARNING: very, very long* ⚠ From the start of the song, it's very noticeable to me that Munkus's demeanor towards Grizabella changes from hostile to somewhat cautious (not shown in the video but it's super obvious in the full film) as soon as she starts singing, then as Demeter sings about Griza, Munkus is still frowning but it's because the gears in his head are slowly turning, like he knows she's familiar but can't quite place it. Then, as Deme calls Griza by her name and Bomba joins in the singing, it's like the realization hits Munkus and it hits *hard*. Once Griza leaves, he and Deme seem to want to call her back but are too hesitant to go through with it, like they have this great baggage concerning her that they haven't really resolved by then. It can also be noted that Munkus's change in attitude as Griza sang was also affected by the presences of Victoria and Electra, since I suppose he didn't really want them to see him the way he was when he (most likely) shoved Quaxo/Misto away from Griza as if it was instinct and glowering at her like an enemy, but the fact that he didn't recognize her at all was probably why unlike Tugger who angrily left upon seeing her (and possibly mouthing "f__k you" as he puffed out his fluffy mane, but that's just me influenced by a subbed tumblr gif, or is it?? 🤔 ). While I am a firm believer of the "Griza is Munkus, Tugger, and Mac's mom" theory, I also think that Griza was very close to Deme and Bomba (especially Deme) before she left, and that's why the two queens reacted very differently when they saw her again: Bomba with disdain and disgust like Tugger, and Deme with hurt and pity like Munkus eventually showed. Man, this musical is damn nuts. I love it.

[@mdsr4328]

According to the casting calls Munkustrap is the son of Old Deutoronomy and it is obvious that Grizabella is her mother. Munkustrap and Tugger are brothers but I don't think they are both sons of Grizabella, by the way Tugger sings about Old Deutoronomy and Grizabella and the colour of his fur I would say Munkustrap and he only share father.

[@bluerisk]

Deme and Bomba...lol But they are among my favourites, especially in this version. And they killed this duo off in the dam movie. Demeter has a very noble facial bone structure while Bombalurina is oozing sexuality. And their vocal performance as well as their acting is a joy. As much as I like Taylor Swift, but she is hideous compared to this due: Aeva May and Rosemarie Ford that is.

[@Princess2737]

It could be that she was with Mac while Dem and Bomba where still with Mac and got to know them a little. I always thought that she helped the queens escape Macavity after he did that awful deed to Dem but since she didn’t do it until after it happened, Dem and especially Bomba can’t forgive her.

[@crazyguy98456978]

I always say that I like to believe that Bombalurina and Demeter are the daughters of Grizabella. I feel like it adds more impacting to them basically insulting her.

[@abrilbarraza5364]

Mmm no, they're not her daughters and they are not sisters

[@milliejay1451]

Abril Barraza they should be though because that would make the song more darker and sadder

[@theprancingpony6075]

Pauly- Walnuts No, Demeter was raped by Mcavity at the same time Grizabella was with him. She doesn't like either and Bombalurina protects and comforts her friend.

[@milliejay1451]

The Prancing Pony wow grizabella was the biggest cougar ever in that case

[@theprancingpony6075]

Musical star I suppose so then! 😂

[@vraelichhh8227]

2:09 that line delivery is perfect

[@archielang7427]

I never noticed the look of "BUSTED and ASHAMED" on her face.

[@marissaflores418]

2:08 Bombalurina - Grizabella, the Glamour Cat.

[@HK4712]

It's amazing how much poison one can inject in the word cat.

[@coryman125]

It hurts my heart to watch Jemima during the intro to this song. She starts off innocent, wanting to meet Grizabella, but you can see her face drop as the other cats shun her. Then when Pouncival reaches out, Jemima looks so excited, but of course he just scratches at her instead :(

[@crustyplush]

1:43 i like alonzo with his arm around cassandra. is he like, holding her back from being any more sassy, or

[@crazycatzg3481]

They groom in the Mating dance

[@crazycatzg3481]

@A Lundmark i think so

[@crazycatzg3481]

@A Lundmark cool

[@javieralbadalejo6354]

The music and lyrics by default are extremely haunting and emotional - but the incredible, intense capacity of the whole cast to output and show the motion of the scene, with just subtle movements, eyes, the singing, it's seriously FANTASTIC. It just adds up to an incredible haunting song by default and raises the bar.

[@autumngreen6713]

1:54 in the back, alonzo and cassandra are together, his arm around her waist. They act like a couple through the entire show. I love them two together.

[@ladderstothemoon7415]

I never noticed that! They're So Cute together

[@nylathemysticalcat9518]

I wish they could show the scene where she arrives because I found a gif of Mistoffelees going to her and looking at her curiously, but then Munkustrap pushes him away from her

[@greypandatic]

i love that her coat is literally what a severely matted ungroomed cats fur would look like.. it’s so realistic and that is the most severe type of matting a cat can get

[@aleashacasarez855]

My cousin and I always called her the "Witch Cat" not fully understanding what was happening. Reading through and learning she left the clan when she was young, became a prostitute, contracted mange and was rejected by the family she left is much deeper than "she's a witch so they don't like her." What a beautiful story of redemption and second chances by Old Deuteronomy.

[@stephnes2505]

Aleasha Casarez my cousin and I called her the swamp monster I feel awful about it now

[@micahrv4405]

Wait is that canon information? Could you link to where you found it?

[@finleyforevermore]

@@micahrv4405 Actually, this is just a popular headcanon in the Cats fandom that Grizabella became a prostitute. Although, more people believe that the younger Grizabella from the 2014 London revival became a prostitute.

[@StubbornStupidity]

That's all someone's headcanons. It's pretty obvious that this show is horny on main so why would they care about feline sex work? Amd what does feline sex work mean? And that's not mange. Her coat is matted. Mange is a disease that affects the skin and makes animals bald. She clearly has a coat.

[@Joyce-hb9zg]

The harmony from 2:21 to the end wow THE POWER THAT THIS CAST HAS

[@EyelashRouge]

The voice of Grizabella and Demeter are soooo beautiful in this song!

[@AntiCisPills]

_demeter starts singing_ _grizabella: yeahh~ yup that's me!_

[@DarkTider]

That moment when she tries to keep her head up, telling us everything about her character and previous pride, only for her attempt to completely collapse. How to capture the core flaw of a character and a story arch in just a few seconds of acting ^^ Also, a big narrative trick: She is one of the only cats to start her own song and talk about herself, only to then get completely torn down by the other cats that sing the majority of her song, as opposed to getting introduced by someone else and praised by the others. So structurally its also opposite to the other songs :D

[@imjustlucy_29]

That intense moment with Grizzabella and Munkustrap though😭

[@vintagetaxidermy]

I kind of like how at the line "she ougt to be dead," Munkus' kind of snaps towards Demeter and she looks away sharply. I think that was his way of basically telling her that she was starting to overstep.

[@Cats_gacha812]

He's like:BITCH!!! ARE YOU CRAZY??? THAT'S MY MOTHER!!!

[@stuckinabush]

The weird thing about the end of this song is that you can see Demeter lurch towards her, as if to apologise for the tribe’s cruelty, but the next cut scene shows Bombalurina being the one to run forward, as if she’s making sure she’s gone for good. The differing attitude between the two is so odd

[@marissaflores418]

1:08 Demeter - She haunted many a low resort, near the grimy road of Tottenham Court; She flitted about the No Man's Land, from "The Rising Sun" to "The Friend at Hand". And the postman sighed as he scratched his head: "You really had thought she ought to be dead. And who'd had ever suppose that. That was Grizabella, the Glamour Cat."

[@amanda6993]

Macavity , Munkustrap and tugger are Grizabellas kittens I reckon. Old doot is their dad

[@dumbeetle]

Really!?

[@Melonhii]

Yeah, that’s a widely accepted theory

[@christopherbacon1077]

If so it puts a serious twist on Macavity kidnapping Old Deuteronomy and the fight between him and Mukus. The good and bad sons.

[@gltchundertale2756]

In my head that was always correct. I feel like tugger feels abandonned by his mom, so he loves getting attention from others because of that

[@theamericanyoutuber]

OLD DOOT.

[@Panthorius]

That vibration at 2:27 from all of them singing “suppose at that” line sends chills down the spine if you close your eyes, deeply listen and Feel it! Damn 👏👏 So very clean!

[@Eliza_-pv3zl]

She must have strong lungs and love the singing this is the best

[@edslushie570]

I feel like this is one of the only songs in the show that works as a metaphor as well as literally. One thing I only noticed when reading the original poems was that many of them sound less like they’re describing anthropomorphic characters and more like exaggerations of the kinds of cats people meet in real life. Rum Tum Tugger is the cat that’s fun and energetic but completely irrational, Mister Mistofelees is the cat that moves stuff around when you’re not looking, Skimbleshanks is the stray that’s so independent they like to pretend he’s a person, and Grizabella is the stray that used to get pampered and shown off by people who were only using her for attention.

[@kammi9998]

grizabella has such a beautiful voice

[@artsyswarley]

Anyone else feel like Jennifer Hudson was too young to play this role?????

[@pistenqueen]

She has a beautiful voice but not the right one for Grizabella!

[@jacksonherring5169]

Agreed. This representation is my favorite

[@Erufailon42]

I mean, Elaine Paige was 6 years younger than Jennifer Hudson when she first played Grizabella in 1981

[@CoRLex-jh5vx]

@@Erufailon42 I mean, that's fine, but part of Grizabella's design is the added age lines, which they got rid of in the movie. Also Judi Dench was the first choice for Grizabella before being replaced by Elaine Page. Judi Dench would've been in her late 40s

[@Nakia11798]

Yes. Grizabella is supposed to be old and ragged and Jennifer Hudson didn't fit that at all.

[@yeti_rex07]

0:39 Grizabella, being a sad old lady: Cassandra: *lmao time for my dance solo*

[@belaorhideja4020]

Remark the cat who hesitates toward you In the light of the door which opens on her like a grin You see the border of her coat is torn and stained with sand And you see the corner of her eye twist like a crooked pin She haunted many a low resort Near the grimy road of Tottenham Court She flitted about the No Man's Land From "The Rising Sun" to "The Friend at Hand" And the postman sighed as he scratched his head "You'd really had thought she ought to be dead" And who would ever suppose that That was Grizabella, the glamor cat Grizabella, the glamor cat, Grizabella, the glamor cat And who would ever suppose that That was Grizabella, the glamor cat

[@danielstewart6509]

mukustrap is looking at her saying " You look familiar mom , but you cannot come back " she wants to come back and repent of her ways , but they won't let her

[@dustyhunter1]

mom? wtf

[@theprancingpony6075]

Daniel Stewart I don't think so. Munkustrap didn't seem to recognise her.

[@milliejay1451]

The Prancing Pony ima back but alw did say they were mother and son in an interview

[@theprancingpony6075]

Musical star They aren't though. I've checked Wikipedia and the official Cats page and asked a lot of Cats fans who know everything. They aren't related.

[@theprancingpony6075]

melissa langevin I bet you did. 😂🙄 They aren't related.

[@actorjulion101]

Every time I watch this scene, I always forget how powerful and dramatic that crescendo is towards the end with the ensemble. Wow!! 😐

[@Aramanth]

👉 Love how slinky Cassandra shows off in front of Munkustrap! 0:48

[@cassandragilson7342]

Her voice will always be iconic 😍

[@AzDoll714]

I would love to have seen this cast in person

[@pompe221]

I was pretty young and naive the first time I saw "Cats" and I couldn't understand why all the other cats were so hard on Grizzabella. Now that I get it, I still think they're being cruel.

[@pompe221]

@Sarah Hamilfan Grizabella's songs are based on another poem by T.S. Eliot -- one about a woman where it's implied she's a prostitute.

[@TheHedgehogGiraffe]

@Sarah Hamilfan Probably a superiority complex. They are Jellicle cats after all, and extremely proud of it. I've always thought that they thought of her as smearing the Jellicle name by being a prostitute and so booted her out

[@TheHedgehogGiraffe]

@Tristan Tries Yeah, I agree their reasons for disliking her are petty, that's why its always satisfying when she get's accepted back in at the end of "Memory." And the prostitute analogy is because some of her lines are based on a poem Elliot wrote that alluded to prostitution.

[@s.w.d4010]

Sarah Hamilfan They don’t like her because she was a beautiful cat in her youth and she thought she was better than the tribe so she left. But as she started to age she lost her beauty and now she is crawling back to the tribe.

[@gltchundertale2756]

She abandonned the tribe, and expected to be welcommed back. Many people believe she's Munk's and Rum's mom, as well as OD former mate, so it would make sense that they would hate her for leaving

[@fridaeskesen9086]

Okay, so what if Bombalurina and Demeter are Grizabellas daughters and that’s why Grizabella smiles when Demeter hits the high note because she is so proud of her singing. And that’s why she is like sad when the two call her Grizabella The Glamour Cat because she did something that made them dismissive of calling her “mom” anymore. Like maybe they are embarrassed to call her mom. And then bomba joins Demeter and also calls her Grizabella and it becomes like too much for her when all the cats calls her that

[@fridaeskesen9086]

I know that this probably isn’t the real storyline or anything near it but like just imagine it

[@fynncarter2327]

Woah!

[@Mary-sy8ox]

I think that Demeter was rapped by macavity when grizabella was his mate/couple? And thats why Demeter and her friend hate her.

[@capsuladahamiko]

@@Mary-sy8ox Wtf????

[@Mary-sy8ox]

@@capsuladahamiko Well, Cats it's about a Cat cult that kill one of the members every year, Deuteronomy has a lots of sons and the actress that has the rol of Demeter had to express in her dance (,in the Macavity song) "I love what he did to me but I hate him" So...why the "WTF"? Cats is a weird show.

[@devonlloydsebastianlindsay2024]

Still watched like it’s my first time, best Broadway production ever

[@superstarq5585]

I can't wait to see Jennifer Hudson in this role

[@austinpearce5442]

Super StarQ and Judi Dench as Old Deuteronomy

[@veselinnedkov643]

Everyone knows and remembers Memory, but this here for me was the absolute wow of the entire show.

[@shotaaizawa9706]

Me and my dad listen to this song I finally understand the song and what it means. Thank you to the people that created this piece of art.

[@briannamyrthil590]

What's the meaning, I don't get it

[@muffassa6739]

Even after all these years we still love this musical 😊😊❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@abovearth6740]

Interesting translation in french about the postman's part, that's what is said in french, it makes you think a little bit (just google translate it, if you want a word for word traslation but mine is that): "En la voyant le facteur se dit.... Qu'elle aurai mieux fait de perdre la vie !" "When looking at her, the postman thought, that she sould have lost her life" It makes you think on HOW MUCH she was actually rejected.

[@gltchundertale2756]

Im sorry but thats not quite right. Im fluent in french and live in France. elle aurait mieux fait de perdre la vie actually means she would have been better off if she had lost her life. Its saying that she has suffered so much that death is mercy.

[@justanotherredheadattheend955]

God, this number is something else in comparison to the whole score. It's so unsettling to see all these familiar and otherwise fun characters go ice cold. It's such a sudden 180 in everyone's tone and behavior, it really sends this feeling of almost dread down my spine every time I get to it during a watch. As if this clan is deliberately concealing something truly dark and harsh from the audience. Actually there's this running theme of little incidents in Cats that almost seem designed to make the audience feel uneasy, like you've stumbled into a friendly cult. And then they do something...weird and unsettling. And you almost wonder how safe you really are with them.

[@groovypullet2337]

Trivia: the Friend at Hand and the Rising Sun are real pubs. The former is near Russell Square Station (and the Hotel Russell) and the latter is on Tottenham court road

[@kennedyaverett7907]

groovypullet that’s cool!!! Thanks!

[@paiganbrady6200]

This just gives me complete goosebumps and tears flow in my eyes for Isabella the glamour cat. If anyone knew i was in Love with musicals in general as a heavy metal fan... I don't think I'd hear the end of it... I love Cats the musical so much!!! Only time i get to cry in my own with joy and sadness.

[@brunobucciaratiswife]

I wish I had a cat like Griz. I’d give her love and acceptance.

[@nil-8026]

So... it seems like the original arrangements of the songs and performances were a lot better than the disastrous 2019 movie. In the movie the soundtrack sounded incredibly boring and these are a lot more catchy

[@vulpezerdavulcan9055]

nil - that’s what happens when you bring in stage singers to sing showtunes, and dancers to dance, and don’t try to shove film celebrities into those roles.

[@bluerisk]

@@vulpezerdavulcan9055 The problem, or my problem: Swift is a good singer, one of my favourite, and yet I find her solo performance, what should have been a duet with Demeter, hideous. Not only the arrangement, but also how she performed the song. A singer failed to sing. When she sings her own songs, she is lightyears ahead of the performance she gave in the movie version. She and her talent was not only wasted, they director literally tore this song (the duet) apart to give the big star a solo, but like so much else in the movie, it failed abysmally. The performing artist should serve the work of art, the musical in this case, and not the other way around. The one I don't name here, destroyed the song Macavity, so that the musical could serve the "star" as platform to shine above them all, and how it failed. This musical does not need a star, but an ensemble in which everybody plays his or her part as seen here: Everyone - Page, May, Ford, Gruber etc. pp. - delivers their part on the spot. It's haunting and beautiful at the same time.

[@analicious94]

2:05 you can tell she completely breaks with that “glamour cat” line. Elaine Page is the fucking MVP.

[@baconator667]

*Don't you just love Bombalurina's voice*

[@saschashingles7902]

I love singing this one

[@danielstewart6509]

man they treat her like garbage , both she and macavity were banned from the jellicle ball , and i don't know what was his issue with Old Deuteronomy and why do they hate Grizabella and Macavity for no reason

[@theprancingpony6075]

Daniel Stewart They actually do have a reason. Firstly Mcavity is bad and secondly Grizabella left the clan.

[@carysappel2459]

The Prancing Pony actually grizzabella got attacked by a dog so now they are mean to her and discarded her form the clan and Maravich is evil because I think he got mad because they discarded Grizzabella

[@theprancingpony6075]

Carebear0404 No it's not. One the official Cats website it says she leaves the clan at an early age to experience life, maybe then she gets attacked but the other cats aren't mean to her for that. And Macavity is just a bad cat.

[@carysappel2459]

The Prancing Pony oh

[@theprancingpony6075]

Carebear0404 But there are many different versions so you might be right on some of them.

[@theamericanyoutuber]

1:52 Munk starts looking concerned but doesn’t help. Also... 0:21 He isn’t looking at the kits (and Jenny is also trying to keep them back from her place on the other side of the stage).

[@rolyngeorges7315]

Tbh: I really feel bad for Grizzabella The Glamour Cat. She just wanna be apart of her family again and them being mad at her for experiencing life. I mean damn!!! The Jellicles are starting to sound like a Cult.

[@mar2873]

Demeter was always my favorite

[@euhopeia479]

Mine was always Bombalurina

[@brunobucciaratiswife]

In my town, I’ve been kinda shunned by people my age and a few adults who see me as a disgrace. I live in a town that covers up its issues with a fake smile. Anyway, People saw me as inferior because of my mental illness. I left school, and whenever I’d go outside I’d be pointed at and laughed at. I saw this musical, and immediately felt like I could relate to Grizabella. Like her, I want to be accepted and loved by my peers. Thanks for reading! Enjoy the musical

[@mikulover9452]

That sounds rough, I hope things get better for you!

[@elenasmcanonico3163]

I'm sorry for that. I hope things will get better for you!

[@coffee2535]

Sorry about that but why do they see you like that?

[@omgeliza]

0:01-0:15 but why is that me trying to change the radio when my mom is listening to her dang Country music

[@miressapeters2640]

Cassandra at 0:47 omg

[@sunnylife3374]

Miressa Peters Mine too

[@jill5274]

Miressa Peters same

[@dila1675]

Mine too

[@LaLaLaAllDayLong]

Definitely the most beautiful

[@howsentimental]

Sassy and classy AF.

[@kdpotter1]

cassandra 0:47 😍❤😻

[@allison3852]

Cassandra my Fav

[@GabeKadanza]

I think Grizabella is Munkustraps mom or old mate from before she was kicked out of the tribe

[@kennedyaverett7907]

Gabe Kadanza I think she’s too old to be the mate I think she’s old deuteronomys daughter and then she had Munkustrup so

[@gltchundertale2756]

She didn’t get kicked out, she left, abandoned the tribe to become famous.

[@theamericanyoutuber]

I speculate that she was Deuteronomy’s mate and the mother of Munk, Tugger, (and Mac?)

[@openpeacecontrol]

Uh😆 this gives me chills every time!!

[@GustavoGplay]

My head cannon is that Grizabella was Old Deuteronomy's lover, Munkustrap and Tugger are their children and she left Deuteronomy to explore the world and be with other cats, leaving Deuteronomy devastated, and that's why the jellicles hate her.

[@judithkronemeijer6079]

Okay I'm gonna add on to the theory that grizabella is the mother of bombalurina and Demeter. Grizabella left them all alone and bombalurina is the older sibling. Demeter is really upset with her mother and is mad at her for leaving. Bombalurina is just like "we don't need you, I don't care that you're here, I don't even know you"

[@gomezlol19]

Love this part yesss honey 2:15

[@chaoticcatartist]

I wish this version was on spotify

[@katarinabakovic1512]

never fails to give me goosebumps...

[@katielawrence5420]

I love Elaine Paige, Linda Mae Brewer, (Aeva May) and Rosemarie Ford.

[@latashaperry108]

I love them too

[@carriioneater]

I absolutely adore the use of actual cat body language with the cats' behavior, especially with Munkustrap doing the Side Eye thing, cats actually do that as a sign of aggression/warning, so him doing it to call off Cassandra, and to tell Demeter to tone it down (with which she averts eye contact, another cat thing to diffuse a situation/show submission), AUGH it's so good i love this musical

[@ianhimmelstein5915]

My eyes can’t be open during this because Elaines eyes stair into my soul

[@puppyhowler]

0:43 cassandra's like "okay i'll just sneak out of here and... SHIT she saw me!"

[@archielang7427]

There are parts of this show that are so gorgeous and parts that are silly. This is song is so gorgeous like several others. I don't think the movie will capture this using a young woman as Grizabella.

[@buildthebrick]

0:30 "Try not to get goosebumps"

[@awhellyeah12]

This makes me so sad She didn’t deserve this

[@gltchundertale2756]

she abandonned the tribe to become famous, ended up as a prostitute and when she got too old for the fame she expected to be welcommed back And if the theory that she's Tugger and Munk's mom, therefore Old D's former mate is correct, she also left they're leader, and abandonned (at least) two kits, both of whom are now very popular and loved by the tribe.

[@danacarter9147]

​@@gltchundertale2756😒Those other cats are such judgmental m§¥‡€&#*@‰?£s to Grizabella; not only does that break our hearts, it also ₱*&§es us off.💔😢💢😠🤬

[@rzeko1877]

wish this clip had the intro, it really throws you right into it

[@ivyj.9489]

I like her, she’s has goth witch energy and I respect that

[@marissaflores418]

0:02 Grizabella: Remark the cat who hesitates toward you in the light of the door, which opens on her like a grin. You see, the border of her coat is torn and stained with sand. And you see the corner of her eye twist like a crooked pin.

[@fucknut8918]

idk if anyone has said this before, but my personal headcanon is that her crime is that she mated with Macavity, and that Demeter is her daughter and product of that affair. She's canonically coded as a sex worker, which in itself isn't a crime amongst the jellicle cats, because they have nothing against open sexual promiscuity. And just being associated with Macavity, or committing crimes like Macavity, isnt worthy of exile because Mungojerrie, Rumpelteazer, and Grittlebone are still welcomed by the Jellicles. However, I think mating with Macavity would be worthy of exile in the eyes of the jellicles, because its a sacred thing being performed with their sworn enemy and a criminal guilty of literally EVERYTHING. This theory would also explain why Demeter is so afraid of Macavity, more so than any other Jellicle, and is also the most visibly torn over Grizabella's disheveled, broken state. in this number, Demeter approaches to touch her but then bails with a pained expression, and then is the first to go after Grizabella as she exits offstage at the end. And in Grizabella's Rejection she reaches out to catch Grizabella from falling over on instinct. The theory also explains why Macavity practically singles Demeter out in the fight number, grabbing her and trying to get away. She's HIS daughter, and in his eyes his property.

[@lofi_killer2603]

Thats a really interesting theory, i like that

[@markvanhelsing4069]

I Hated This Scene & Still Do. When I First Saw CATS On Stage & They Way They Treated Grizabella It Made me So Angry & Sad. How They Made Her Feel So Lost, Lonely & Rejected....I Cried During MEMORY.....The Ending Though Was Worth It...She Found Her Happiness After all ..I Love Grizabella.

[@pfefferminzprinz5642]

This is so powerful

[@Grinning_Ghost]

It really shows how much the adult cats don’t like Grizz and care for the kittens when they try to stop them from approaching her

[@marissaflores418]

2:21 - 2:32 The Cats: Who'd had ever supposed that. That was Grizabella, the Glamour Cat.

[@singamummy8420]

This makes so sad rewatching I had a bengal cat who was “different” she wasn’t the brightest but she was so sweet, all the other cats bullied her like they knew she was the odd one out, one of our cats adored her though, when he was a kitten he got lost in the spare room twice and both times she had to rescue him, they had such a special bond, he was her only friend out of all the animals, so this makes me cry

[@sylvia1797]

The song is sad as it is, but to add even more context and heartbreak-Tottenham Court (mentioned around 1:21) was a street in London known for sex work from the late nineteenth through the early twentieth centuries

[@mojododo6363]

I've no idea if this is canon, but what if Victoria became pregnant after her first mating & Grizabella literally became reborn to the one who reached out and accepted her?

[@micaylab1]

Grizabella really feels hurt by all the other cats who were once her friends.

[@Whitedark1093]

I love this so much and it always bothers me that I've never been able to find this in any of the soundtracks. Even the soundtracks that have "Grizabella: The Glamour Cat" don't have the first verse that Grizabella sings. :(

[@aquamarine6223]

I think it's interesting to look at the 2019 take on this scene. *Very* different Griz, (inferior in my opinion, but valid as an interpretation) who's not proud, and feels like she's begging much more than Paige here. But I thought the transition to, Cassandra in the 2019, singing was interesting. Hudson starts 'remark the cat...' and it sounds like she's begging to be let back in. From Victoria, which is kinda weird but whatever, fine. Paige, on the other hand, confronts the adults (and only the adults, not Vic or Electra who try to be kind to her) singing more like an accusation. When she says 'you see the border of her coat is torn...' it's not a pitiful cry for help, it's an accusation of 'you see and you do nothing'. Later, this will be flipped when Jelly repeats the line in a scornful way after the jellicle ball. Hudson is not so proud in her portrayal, seeming to fight for sympathy or pity, while Paige would scorn it. The second interesting part is Demeter and Cassandra 2019. When Demeter starts to sing 'she haunted...' Paige is proud, indomitable, owning her past and the, albeit fleeting, glamor she must have had. Demeter is sympathetic in her singing, having obviously felt bad for Griz and tried to reach out, but kept back by fear. Cassandra 2019 is openly scornful, starting right off with 'she haunted...' as a condemnation. Hudson is threatened into silence, Cassandra literally cutting her off from imploring the others to help her, and instead delivering the song like a cautionary tale from the get go. Hudson openly cries at the cats' ridicule and hisses at them briefly, but slinks away on her hands and knees, defeated. It is a much softer take on Griz, than Paige's pained but proud departure, with her head held high, accepting of and holding herself aloof from their scorn. As far as others in the scene, 2019 basically removes the significance of the kitten characters, substituting just Victoria 2019 who is the sympathetic one. Cassandra'19 and Demeter'19 are more openly 'mean girl' characters, and Munkustrap literally has to physically restrain them as they taunt Griz. Which here he sort of does to Cassandra, but much subtler. In 2019 he has no interaction with Griz, nor does Jelly or Bomba, though he sounds an appropriate mix of regretful/scornful/sad when he says 'then she went with Macavity' (a BS explanation imo, but whatever). Tugger is the same sort of disgusted in both, and quickly disappears.

[@yellowsnake7300]

This analysis was really fun to read, thank you for taking the time to do so!

[@noraisabel6557]

2:22 Whoa! You can feel the desdain and pure hate when they raise their voices. Makes you nervous

[@Tessahayashida]

I’m very disappointed in you Mr Mistoffolies I thought you were better

[@autumnbriggs1035]

He's still young. He probably only knows what he has been taught

[@brettewilson]

I was also surprised by his behavior during this number (acting exactly like the other adult cats). I suppose he might have thought that she was going to harm the others when she was angry during the first minute (such as Skimbleshanks while Jemima was with him - or was that Etcetera?).

[@blackraptor2260]

*She. I mean, maybe in this version, Mr Mistoffolies was actually male, but the whole point--the "punchline," as it were--of the original poem was that everyone (her owners) thought that Mr Mistoffolies was male up until she was a mom, or "produced seven kittens straight out of a hat" (or however it went in the original poem).

[@Kamechan98]

Tessa Hayashida You can’t see it in this clip, but in the full scene you can see Misto try to go towards her but Munkustraps gets between them pushes him away from her. And he is pretty young (not quite a kitten but not really an adult, somewhere in between) so he probably just follows the other older cats. Plus, you can see the kittens sing along at the end too, so it’s not like he’s the only one joining in.

[@utterlyviolet]

Tessa Hayashida He's on the right path right before Memory's reprise later. He goes towards her, but then walks away. Ambivalent, but not cruel.

[@roserusso3133]

Wait..... WOAH is Demeter actually telling us how she got to be how she is? I started to carefully listen to the lyrics and it seems like either she ran away and regretted it, or she formed some sort of addiction or something. Maybe I'm wrong it's just so interesting to theorize