I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General

[@robertrouse4503]

The girl at the beginning was Linda Ronstadt. It was her very first appearance in a musical after selling over 100-Million albums.

[@TheZodiacz]

Wow, didn't realize it was Linda!

[@davidroberts4769]

This song is 140 years old. (1879) It's from 'The Pirates of Penzance' by Gilbert & Sullivan.

[@dawnfire1]

I grew up on this stuff. my dad was a big Gilbert and Sullivan fan.

[@bookwoman53]

We weren’t very good in high school but we gave Pirates... our all. G&S would not approve.

[@gertrudelaronge6864]

I've loved it since I was a kid.

[@alexandrapedersen829]

The whole point of this song is to ridicule the major-general, to show him bragging about skills completely unrelated to the position of Major-General, only to reveal his utter inadequacy in this regard. The humour is heightened when you consider that most of what he is boasting about is rather unimpressive (Caractacus, for example, was a tribal cheiftain and was therefore mostly depicted as wearing only a loincloth, which makes the major-general's boast that he "can tell you ev'ry detail of Caractacus' uniform" rather banal). Other boasts, like claiming to be able to hum a fugue, are literally impossible and therefore show that he has no idea what he's talking about.

[@S_Evenwar]

I Am the Monarch of the Sea from H.M.S Pinafore pairs so well with this.

[@janedoe5229]

And he does not know what "commissariat" means: that's the mess hall. He said that he can't tell by site a mouser rifle from a javelin. One is a gun and one is a spear.

[@TheThreeHeadedDragon]

The bigger joke is that Pinafore was another operetta written by Gilbert and Sullivan.

[@MisterSynyster]

The joke is he's implying these are things he DOES know, but they're actually the gaps in his knowledge.

[@joshc7123]

The pirates of Penzance

[@danhollifield]

This is opera, but a comedic one. The whole point is for the actor to rattle off the lines as rapidly as possible. This guy is pretty good! Not many people can sing this correctly.

[@bookwoman53]

I love this tongue twisting song. We did this operetta in high school. The pirates of Penzance features the swaggering Kevin Kline as the Pirate King. He predates Captain Jack Sparrow and is funnier, and can really sing. I suggest I Am A Pirate King as sung by Kevin.

[@PartTimeSarah2]

This specific production made me fall in love with the show. I LOVE it (more than the theatrically released film). I HIGHLY recommend checking out the whole show!

[@GrumpyOldGuyPlaysGames]

An absolute classic! Gilbert and Sullivan were brilliant playwrights in the late 1800s and early 1900s, and specialized in musical comedies. "The Pirates of Penzance" was their first Broadway production (both Gilbert and Sullivan were British, and produced plays for the British stage, and came to America on special tour). This is why "Penzance" is sometimes called "The American Play." For the longest time, George Rose, the actor who plays the Major General in this clip, held the world record for the most appearances on stage in a single role, and it was this role. For his entire life, he played Major General Smedley more often than any other actor played any other role. His record was finally broken by Donnie Osmond playing Joseph (in "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat"), but Osmond was only able to do this because Rose died in 1988. This play is a favorite, and I have the words to all the songs memorized, including this one. And man-oh-man is it a difficult one to sing.

[@KlavierMenn]

It is a difficult song, alright. _Largo il Factotum_ (More known as Figaro) is less fast but sung in italian I can sing _Largo il Factotum_ , but I can't do this one lol

[@marielpare8290]

Not Getting Married Today from Company is another great patter song! The original 1970 cast and 1995 cast are the best

[@arthurm.tellez275]

Gilbert and Sullivan's 1879 comic opera The Pirates of Penzance.

[@dennisjohnson7943]

Have you seen the movie Topsy Turvy?

[@andyleclerc3600]

And you thought Lin-Manuel Miranda had skills😁. Fun fact, RIGHT HAND MAN from HAMILTON references this, when George Washington refers to himself as a modern major general😎

[@valentine0591]

Gilbert and Sullivan wrote very popular operettas in the late 19th century. This is from Pirates of Penzance.

[@bobwait3629]

If you like this one, I recommend listening to "The Elements" by Tom Lehrer next!

[@angievara7355]

It must have taken many hours to learn the song and to sing it so fast.

[@TheLemzia]

One of my Favorite movies is "The Pirate movie" which is based on "The Pirates of Penzance" and is also a Comedy!

[@dougs7367]

"Give mee a happy ending, every tiiiime. We'll kiss and make up that's a very peaceful siiiight" I watched that movie countless times on HBO in the 80's lol

[@dawnfire1]

@@dougs7367 i remember that movie. Some of the film sites are in my state. Werribee mansion and loch Ard gorge (the beach cove)

[@joshc7123]

First... The movie they made from this show is classic

[@user-wc7mm5xz5r]

The original rap god

[@WobblyBiped]

Good for you for getting into Pirates of Penzance! You would also like Linda Ronstadt, the damage lead in this version of Pirates. Linda was the first big pop music queen in the late 60s and through to about 2000. She's had hits on country, rock, pop, and lots of other genres. Your audience would enjoy a tour through her catalogue of music.

[@gertrudelaronge6864]

Yes!

[@HankD13]

This has to be the most surprising of all you reactions! Never in a million years would have expected to find you watching Gilbert & Sullivan. Great to see it. "A policeman's lot is not a happy one" from pirates or "Three little maids" from The Mikado are the other best known ones. You have to picture Victorian era Britons finding all this the height of risqué fashion!

[@royfugate]

my favorite version of the play is this one. The Pirate Movie is a 1982 Australian musical romantic comedy film directed by Ken Annakin and starring Christopher Atkins and Kristy McNichol. Loosely based on Gilbert and Sullivan's comic opera The Pirates of Penzance.

[@arkikali5632]

YES. I loved that movie!

[@rubytexas1563]

What a tongue twister

[@dans3.macabre]

Sadly the man singing the song was murdered by his adopted son in order to inherit his fortune :(

[@guypithecusthe1st453]

I loved your reaction to Gilbert and Sullivan! ... Guy

[@robertleeluben]

I think I've watched the movie version with this cast a hundred times now. This may well be the origin of the modern sitcom, poor Frederick the accidental pirate.

[@a787fxr]

Amazing. Great video. Learn everything you can and you are 100% on your way to your dreams. I love the feelings in your expressions. Your face is so expressive of what you feel. I really appreciate that.

[@robimusprime8]

Gilbert and Sullivan. Also did H.M.S. Pinafore. I love both. Brilliant operettas.👏

[@RyanAcidhedzMurphy]

If you want something really crazy try Danny Kaye doing Tchaikovsky. The names of 56 composers sung in under a minute. Good paired up with other short Danny Kaye songs Inch Worm, Anywhere I Wander, and I've Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts.

[@krs4395]

Dripping with 150 year old sarcasm right there. Gilbert and Sullivan really tore chunks out of the British Establishment.

[@marialeon4097]

This is like a musical comedy... Written in the late 19th century... It helps if you know the whole plot/story before you hear it the first time.

[@kellygnow1]

Cool elephant

[@mythdefied9070]

I own the movie version of this with Kevin Klein as the pirate king, and it's so worth it. one of the more energetic G&S performances out there (the Sergeant's dance number is not to be missed).

[@gertrudelaronge6864]

i LOVE this movie! It's so fun to sing along to. ❤

[@andrewtrimm3129]

Unfortunately, the underlying joke with this song has not translated well with age. The joke is that when it was written, all of the stuff he's bragging about was either already common knowledge, or just pathetic, but he was singing it so quickly to make it sound much more impressive and scare the pirates.

[@danhollifield]

Most operas all all about how well the lady actors can hit the high notes when they sing. Gilbert and Sullivan operas are about making people laugh when times are tough. Late 1800s England would not have been a fun place for people like you and me. You’re a single Mom, and I work in a factory. We would have been lower class citizens. These guys wrote funny stuff for people like us to laugh about, and take our minds off of our daily grind for a little while. And it pokes fun at the upper class rich people at the same time.

[@katiedevine]

1983 movie musical Pirates of Penzance. Starting Linda Ronstadt, Kevin Kline, Red Smith, Angela Lansbury. It's very funny. It is showing on Encore on 1/20 if anyone is interested.

[@chrisholland6052]

I do recommend watching the play if you ever get the chance. Something pleasantly silly and fun. Imagine the years of training it takes to get to that level of eloqution.

[@janedoe5229]

I'll bet 90% of the people in the theater know every word, and the other 10% know MOST of the words. Thank you for watching this! This operetta has been entertaining people for over 100 years.

[@rockubtzer]

The woman singing at the start was Linda Ronstadt, Check out Rex Smith & Linda Ronstadt number... Oh is there not one maiden, watch?v=Dv_Uqj1kPRM Linda is at the end. What a note from Rex Smith Heartthrob 1970's song... You take my breath away The Pirates of Penzance was made into a movie in the 1980's. Recomended as kids night stay up late make blanket tents camp out at home. It's got keystone cops a lot of catchy tunes,.If you liked The Princess Bride movie it is a lot like it. but it is a musical.

[@Dr3amtime]

Dang, you're really branching out! Good for you. You'd might get more out of a version with the lyrics written.

[@benjamincuevas199]

Your hair looks good India.

[@gertrudelaronge6864]

The movie form of this production, the entire Opera, and the music in it is pretty fun. Hope you'll check it out sometime.

[@samswords9993]

We performed this when I was in 7th grade (in 1984). My dad played piano and my sister turned pages for him. We can still sing our way through most of the musical.

[@patriciadowning4036]

But is he fit to be a commander? !!

[@andrewmcmaster6364]

Nice one 👍

[@anarosareyes6269]

I love that versión with the xilophone a top!

[@missjoshemmett]

This is the song everyone strives to sing. This version was written by very famous operetta writers Gilbert and Sullivan (Gill-bert). An opera has no spoken words. An operetta has the same type of music but is sung in English and has spoken words. The Pirates of Penzance is about a young boy named Frederick who was sold to the Pirate King to work until he is 21. He is now 21 and free. The hook is that he was born on Feb 29, so the Pirate King says that he isn't really 21 as he only has a birthday every 4 years and there hangs the tale. Rex Smith plays Frederick. Andy Gibb, the younger brother of the BeeGees, played the part as well. On Solid Gold, Rex and Andy sang the song a capella. One can work one's way through this play and often does. Frederick, The Pirate King and then the Major-General. Rex, so far, has played Frederick and The Pirate King. BTW, in this production, The Pirate King is played by Kevin Klein a famous actor that you have probably seen in some movies. This production was free in Central Park in NYC for the summer. It was Linda Ronstadt's opera debut. Her mother was an opera singer and she, herself, had trained in it, but went into folk music. Her biggest hit was with the Stone Ponies, A Different Drum. She went on as a solo artist and became famous. She came up with the idea of doing the operetta/play and hired former heavy rock, TV movie, Broadway actor Rex Smith because he was very handsome and she had to kiss Frederick every night. It was then made into a movie that Linda was not happy with and for a long time you could not get it on DVD as it was pretty much a bomb in the movie theaters. Now, it is cult classic. Yes........I am a big Rex Smith fan. I am caught! He just finished a second year doing Love Actually Live in Los Angeles over the Christmas season.

[@FoxyJane1348]

Love that you're branching out! Try "The Cell Block Tango" from the show "Chicago". The movie version is great too. Great song, I think you'll be entertained.

[@harrihaffi2713]

it's a cool song!

[@samuelgates5935]

3/9/24 Saturday. You are still the only person with a reaction channel to react to this tongue twisting song!!!! AH!!! BROVO!!!

[@kjemradio]

The ultimate tongue twister!

[@richardkirkland6805]

If you didn't know, "sat-a-gee" means "to have ridden a horse,"

[@frogtownx]

This channel gives me energy, please continue to discover new music, I am loving it. There's so much out there.

[@hystari200]

India’s expressions make it priceless

[@patrickborn7253]

this song is nearly impossible to sing. i was in a local theater performance of this wonderful work and major general remains my favorite song.

[@ktekc]

If you think that one is funny try Not Getting Married..I like the Carol Burnett or Madeline Kahn one, but there is a recent one with Darren Criss that was good too.

[@serendipity191]

ktekc Wolf Beth Howland is still my favorite, but I agree the others are great too.

[@DanaTheInsane]

There is a very good video called "Modern Major General explained" plays it and defines everything he is talking about. I love this song. Done it in Karaoke many times.

[@sixpakshaker88]

Of course he knows nothing about being an actual general.

[@VegetaLF7]

That's the joke of the whole song, it's about how for all the knowledge he has, he's completely out of touch with what is actually important in the military

[@josephcrackower4072]

a video masterpiece

[@arkikali5632]

It's awesome. It's from a musical, by the way. Others have commented below on that.

[@davidscott129]

The original rapper.

[@erict956]

Who did this to you, to funny

[@daveyhouston]

Never saw the play but know the song from the Muppet show in 1977

[@oscarantoniomoreno5247]

Is the geezer rappin?

[@thomasbaldwin7284]

I would love to see you react to napoleon 14 split level head

[@williamirwin239]

There is a better version an updated version of the modern major general in the movie The Pirate Movie starring Kristy McNichol just try to find the soundtrack but the whole movie is just hilarious

[@ShesWhiskeyinaTeacup]

You totally got it! He knows a lot of facts, but not always their practical applications. Like how he says he knows the difference between a Mauser rifle and a javelin... he knows about military history and historical weapons, but you’re really not gonna run into many javelins in any wars contemporary to him. Practical knowledge would be more useful. Gilbert and Sullivan did not have a whole lot of respect for authority figures or the political and social hierarchies of their time. Still some of the very best satire out there.🥰

[@2opler]

Now you`ve tried a little English light opera.you can try a little Electric Light Orchestra...everyone loves a bit of ELO

[@shanehenderson4809]

its a tough one for you babe!

[@nancyandrews398]

I know it was probably very different from your usual, but its a classic piece that everyone should at least know about, so good for you for exploring and branching out! My brother is a huge Gilbert and Sullivan fan, and is a member and former president of the University of Michigan Gilbert & Sullivan Society (UMGASS). I've seen him perform in or direct all of the "play list" of G&S productions that the college does twice yearly. I've seen him in this specific role twice, and even though he's my brother, I STILL don't know how he can sing and enunciate as quickly as the song calls for!

[@sherrymizzell4449]

The movie is more funnier.

[@steverogers2635]

Please don't do any more musicals India. I don't see how you sat through that.

[@zadiebarron7422]

Sorry.. .didn't like this version😰

[@bologna4feet]

When my dad was in high school they performed Pirates. My dad wanted nothing more than to play Major General Stanley. He had to settle for Frederick (the lead). Just goes to show you how fun and in demand it is to play the Major General. Probably the most famous patter song?