The Categorical Imperative1
I sometimes amuse myself during spare moments by contributing to the methodology essential to the organization of human knowledge. Thus it came to pass that I first documented a new category of movie scenes at It’s Not Just Another Movie Singalong It’s A Quasi-Spontaneous Musical Jubilation En Masse, excerpts from which follow:
I have found few cinematic phenomena to be more gratifying than well-scripted spontaneity.
And, of the multitude of scenes exemplifying that trait, the most heartwarming and most reliably satisfying, it seems to me, are those sequences which feature a group of cast members breaking into an informal, joyous sing-along, dance-along, or sing-&-dance-along, suffusing the moment with warmth, affection, and good will.
Defining The Quasi-Spontaneous Musical Jubilation En Masse
Essential Criteria
The scene must
- Involve at least three cast members (and preferably more) who each participate whole-heartedly in singing, dancing, or both
- Depend on spontaneity. At the least, the singing/dancing is unscheduled. (E.g., in Sister Act, the choir’s performances would not be eligible; if the nuns had broken into a retro-disco sequence during vespers, however, that might be eligible)
- Consist of a discrete episode featuring a single song
- Bond the participants
- Induce joyfulness in the participants and the audience
Exclusionary Criteria
The scene cannot
- Occur in a musical (e.g., Moulin Rouge, Chicago, Rent), any other film that has music as its core (e.g., Woodstock), or a movie that is a vehicle for the stars to sing (e.g., several of the Elvis Presley movies and Everyone Says I Love You) unless the scene takes place outside that structure (see #2 of “Essential Criteria” above)
- Have as its motivation the enjoyment of or requirements by non-participants. The premise must be that the singing/dancing is done for the participants own enjoyment. (E.g., the “Camptown Ladies” scene in Blazing Saddles is performed at the demand of the foreman, not for the pleasure of the singers)
- Involve participants who are clearly fantasy creatures (e.g., Willie Wonka and animated cartoons)
The Addition To The Pantheon Of Quasi-Spontaneous Musical Jubilations En Masse
And, in that previous post, I listed four prime specimens found in these excellent movies:
- My Best Friend’s Wedding
- The Big Chill
- Wayne’s World
- Almost Famous
To this esteemed group, I now add an episode from the classic 1966 John Hughes film, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. One of the many experiences Ferris experiences in his day off from school is his participation in the Von Steuben Day Parade, during which the entire parade and many of the spectators combine efforts in a Quasi-Spontaneous Musical Jubilation En Masse anchored by Ferris singing “Twist and Shout:”
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off – Twist And Shout
_____________________- With all respect to Immanuel Kant, the fundamental Categorical Imperative is that it is imperative to create categories [↩]
O DrHGuy, you have done it again. This is my exact fantasy concerning Leonard Cohen–me, Leonard, and Sharon Robinson bursting into song, with a cast of thousands. And even better, two public works of art from my city, the Chagall four seasons mosaic at First National Plaza and the Picasso at Daley Plaza appear in the background of the Twist and Shout video. I hope you don’t add the HeckOfAJubulation fantasy to the Cohen Derangement Syndrome though, because I’m still one symptom short.
In all fairness, I have to admit my Leonard Cohen fantasy contains an additional element, hanging out with me and my Jordan roommate in Jerusalem. By coincidence she called me yesterday from Jerusalem and I happened to ask if she knew of Leonard Cohen, “the guy who wrote Suzanne”. “Suzanne? Oh, is that the guy who wrote Hallelujah?” He’s got her on his wavelength all right.
I am shocked- shocked!- that this has not made the list:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HM-E2H1ChJM
Perhaps it doesn’t qualify under Exclusionary Criteria #2, since Laszlo commands the band to play La Marseillaise. But the singing itself is a spontaneous response to the Germans’ (presumably also spontaneous) anthem-singing.