Msuical Monday!
DAVID BOWIE in LABYRINTH's MAGIC DANCE
Continuing with our theme of Labyrinth, I've attached links to the Inside the Labyrinth and Magic Dance videos on youtube. Enjoy.
The Labyrinth is really special. How so? Well, for starters it is a musical that centers around a single artist or band, and it doesn't suck. Besides Across the Universe, which doesn't have any of the Beatles in it as far as I can remember, this is the only film of that genre that I not only enjoy but can watch again and again. I think part of the reason it works is that, rather than taking already existing Bowie songs and cramming them into an overstuffed movie or trying to build some Bowie mythos it does none of these things. It is a completely unique creature and that is why it has gained cult movie status. Perhaps the hammiest but most cult classic song of the bunch is Magic Dance.
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| These guys are party animals. Seriously. |
I'd like to begin by talking about what is so hammy and lame about the song. First, Magic Dance, which may be the lamest and most uninspired song ever. Furthermore, this scene really doesn't play into the plot or establish any new information besides the following, Jareth is a bit of a silly tit and his servants really do love him. He is mean, insulting, and even cruel but it is all done with style and panache. With all his powers, it really would've made you wonder why he'd be King of the Goblins if it wasn't for his sillyness.
Yet, what is the real strength of this scene? Bowie's energy bringing an instant jolt of fun and the opening lyrics,
You remind me of the babe.
What babe?
The babe with the power.
What power?
The power of voodoo.
Who do?
You do.
Do what?
Remind me of the babe.
This neat little Dr. Seussian poem sets us up for fun and is extremely easy to remember. I really love to find other fans of this movie by just saying, "You remind me of the babe," and seeing who chimes in. This is what we call a hook, song/movie fans, and it really is all you need. The rest of the song is kind of silly but that's the fun of it. Pure fun. Goblin puppets singing, chickens doding footfalls and a baby being thrown through the air, giggling.
Fun fact, the baby giggles in the song are actually David Bowie. In the documentary, Inside the Labyrinth, Bowie remarks about the difficulties of working with a baby and how at one point where the couldn't get the baby to cry he just wanted to kick it. Add the chickens, puppets and other miscellanea and its easy to see why this was a challenging music video to pull off.
Is Magic Dance the best song in the movie? Nope. The best song is probably at the very end with As the World Falls down. The final battle song is really an impressive feat. But for every Yang you must have a Ying and thats what Magic Dance is in the end. The positive note in a dark fantasy for children-young and old.
