Thread: Music Genres and Burlesque

So, you hear the Big band swing and its clothes off! However, what are your opinions on different genres of music being used in burlesque performances, and personal experiences??

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I love all kinds of music (I'm also a music journalist!) so I'm really interested when I hear the musical choices of other performers.

Personally, I do love the Big Band thing (there's something to be said for those trombones - haha!) but I also love it when performers cross the boundaries a bit - eg, Peski Deville uses Velvet Revolver's 'Slither' for her Medusa routine and The Bay Belles (my troupe) use the French National Anthem and T Rex's Children Of The Revolution in one of ours.

It all depends on the mood and the pace the performer is setting... Like it would be "interesting" if someone were to use a Norweigan black metal track - now that I'd love to see!

I find it a pity that some performers feel confined to using such a narrow palette (40s, 50s, swing, big band) when it comes to music selection, although I suppose for performers trying to create a vintage/period aesthetic it might be necessary.
For everyone else though, I feel the only constraints to what music one uses should be ensuring that it fits the character, concept, mood and situation. Every style and genre is up for grabs as far as I'm concerned as long as it makes sense with the content of the act. It doesn't even have to be 'music' really - just look at Nasty Canasta's fan dance performed to car alarms.
I think that being experimental with music selection is part of the fun of creating your own acts!

I use a lot of modern soundtracks in my burlesques:

- Gogol Bordello
- Tori Amos
- Troublemakers

I've even got a Beyoncé Knowles mash-up in the 2010 'edit' of my Bellboy number!

I find it's often lyrics and/or titles of songs that make me want to use them, because there are words that fit with the act theme.

I love glam rock and find I'm drawn to using a lot of Bowie and T rex tracks, because they are the some of the best known artists of the genre (not to mention, personal favourites!)

There a`re lots of not too well known songs and artists I'd like to use, but often think that the audience will respond better to songs they recognise - do other people think that too?

I'm considering using a My Chemical Romance track for a new routine, but the music snob in me is having problems accepting this! lol

It's Lyrics and titles that fit the act that do it for me - Laureate O Hara's ugly duckling act is a good example where the song and the routine are really linked.

xxx

I've never felt any restraint in any music choices for my acts. I've used all sorts from Metallica, to Benny Goodman, to Captain Bogg and Salty (a pirate themed children's entertainment group from Texas)

I remember when I was planning my first ever act which was Christmas themed I was getting all hung up on having "vintage" sounding music and came on here for advice and someone told me I could perform to any music in the world including Bob The Builder's xmas number one if I so wished! Its so true!

I use anything that I think will fit my idea. My new routine is to a Bauhaus track (the goth in me was going to insist sooner or later, haha)!

Striptease, bump n grind and it's 'golden era' certainly sits with big band. Burlesque itself is not to be confused with this; yes burlesque also existed during this phase but it existed elsewhere and long before too.

Burlesque theatre has in it's past, always taken popular music and changed the lyrics to fit the send up of choice. Often in 19th Century burlesque, music from popular operas would be parodied as well as popular music off the 'street's'.

Typically today, music is chosen for it's ironic association (hence comedy value) or to illustrate a character or scenario. I use music from any genre. The character in any act of mine is the linchpin of the act and so everything else must serve to dress and furnish that character - because it is the character who carries off the send up.

I use everything from Poisons Sweet Cherry pie, through Goldfrapp to the Barnum Sountrack for my routines, it's definitely what inspires the performer. At first I got hung up on golden oldies but I do think using different genres makes the act more exciting.
Kisses x

I've never actually used big-band or swing music in any of my acts; not my taste at all! I choose the music based on the act, and most of them have been rock/pop-based.

The most unusual song choice for me was Songs: Ohia's "Coxcomb Red", a guitar rock slow song that you wouldn't necessarily associate with *dance* of any sort in the first place. But it suited the theme, and a beautiful bittersweet performance came out of it.