Willkommen

Last updated
"Willkommen"
Song
Songwriter(s) John Kander;
Lyricist(s) Fred Ebb.

"Willkommen" is a song from the 1966 musical Cabaret . It is performed by The Emcee. The music was written by John Kander; the lyrics by Fred Ebb.

Contents

Production

John Kander explained "With Cabaret, we were trying to find the piece, to write our way into it. The first thing we wrote was 'Willkommen' and the very first thing that ever happened was that little vamp." [1]

The finale, "Auf Wiedersehen", mixes elements of "Willkommen" and "Cabaret". [2]

Synopsis

The song is "the Emcee’s sardonic introduction" to the Kit Kat Klub, [3] and is set within the cabaret itself.

Analysis

Filmsite notes this "cheery greeting in German, French and English" contains "three languages to suit the club's cosmopolitan clientele [and] anticipates future hostilities between the three nationalities during wartime". [4]

H2G2 writes The Emcee "Immediately evok[es] the decadent, cosmopolitan atmosphere of 1930s Berlin. 'In here, life is beautiful, the girls are beautiful, even the orchestra is beautiful... we have no troubles here.' These words of the Emcee will come back to haunt the characters later." [5]

New Line Theatre wrote the following analysis on the song and its reprise: [6]

The first song in Cabaret, "Willkommen", functions as both a comment song and a book song. It welcomes us both to the Kit Kat Klub where much of the action will take place, and also to Cabaret, the musical. The Emcee is addressing the audience in the Kit Kat Klub while he also addresses the real audience. Using the opening song this way prepares us for the two different uses to which songs will be put in the show.

At the very end, the Emcee briefly reprises "Willkommen", perhaps an ironic welcome to the new Germany Ernst and the Nazis are building, but the Emcee doesn't finish the final phrase; the song stops, unfinished, and he disappears. We know the story is not over. Herr Schultz will undoubtedly be put in a concentration camp and murdered.

And yet the Emcee is now happy to have helped us “forget” our troubles. Here at the end of the show, he says goodbye only in German (auf wiedersehen) and French (à bientôt). There is no English goodbye. The melody doesn’t end and neither does the lyric. The Emcee doesn’t finish his farewell.

Critical reception

USA Today described it as "deliciously bawdy". [7] The Providence Journal described it as an "opening chorus". [8] The Los Angeles Times said the song was "lascivious". [9]

Cover versions

The song was performed by Patrick Brewer (portrayed by Noah Reid) in the Season 5 finale of Schitt's Creek .[ citation needed ]

Joel Grey performed the song in his episode of The Muppet Show .[ citation needed ]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Kander</span> American musical theatre composer

John Harold Kander is an American composer, known largely for his work in the musical theater. As part of the songwriting team Kander and Ebb, Kander wrote the scores for 15 musicals, including Cabaret (1966) and Chicago (1975), both of which were later adapted into acclaimed films. He and Ebb also wrote the standard "New York, New York".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fred Ebb</span> American lyricist (1928–2004)

Fred Ebb was an American musical theatre lyricist who had many successful collaborations with composer John Kander. The Kander and Ebb team frequently wrote for such performers as Liza Minnelli and Chita Rivera.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alan Cumming</span> Scottish actor (born 1965)

Alan Cumming is a Scottish actor. Known for his roles on stage and screen, he has received numerous accolades including a BAFTA Award, a New York Emmy Award, two Tony Awards, and an Olivier Award. He received the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Comedy Performance for the West End production of Accidental Death of an Anarchist (1991). His other Olivier-nominated roles were in The Conquest of the South Pole (1988), La Bête (1992), and Cabaret (1994). Cumming won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for reprising his role as the Emcee on Broadway in Cabaret (1998). His other performances on Broadway include Design for Living (2001), and Macbeth (2013).

<i>Cabaret</i> (1972 film) 1972 American musical film by Bob Fosse

Cabaret is a 1972 American musical period drama film directed by Bob Fosse from a screenplay by Jay Allen, based on the stage musical of the same name by John Kander, Fred Ebb, and Joe Masteroff, which in turn was based on the 1951 play I Am a Camera by John Van Druten and the 1939 novel Goodbye to Berlin by Christopher Isherwood. It stars Liza Minnelli, Michael York, Helmut Griem, Marisa Berenson, and Joel Grey. Multiple numbers from the stage score were used for the film, which also featured three other songs by Kander and Ebb, including two written for the adaptation.

<i>Cabaret</i> (musical) Stage musical by John Kander, Fred Ebb, and Joe Masteroff

Cabaret is an American musical with music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, and a book by Joe Masteroff. It is based on the 1951 play I Am a Camera by John Van Druten, which in turn was based on the 1939 novel Goodbye to Berlin by Christopher Isherwood.

<i>Funny Lady</i> 1975 musical film directed by Herbert Ross

Funny Lady is a 1975 American biographical musical comedy-drama film and the sequel to the 1968 film Funny Girl. The film stars Barbra Streisand, James Caan, Omar Sharif, Roddy McDowall and Ben Vereen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adam Pascal</span> American actor, singer, and musician

Adam Pascal is an American actor, singer, and musician, known for his performance as Roger Davis in the original 1996 cast of Jonathan Larson's musical Rent on Broadway, the 2005 movie version of the musical, and the Broadway tour of Rent in 2009. He is also known for originating the role of Radames in Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida, for playing the Emcee in the 1998 revival of Cabaret, for playing Freddie Trumper in Chess at the New Amsterdam Theatre and Royal Albert Hall, and for playing Huey Calhoun in the Broadway company of Memphis. More recently, he played William Shakespeare in the Tony Award-winning musical Something Rotten!

Forbidden Broadway 2001: A Spoof Odyssey is the 21st century's first incarnation of the Off-Broadway revue Forbidden Broadway. It was conceived, created and written by Gerard Alessandrini and satirizes Broadway's latest shows and stars. Phillip George co-directed with Alessandrini, with Catherine Stornetta the musical director and piano accompanist. George contributed some of the ideas and dialogue for the sketches.

<i>Steel Pier</i> (musical) Musical

Steel Pier is a musical written by the songwriting team of Kander and Ebb from the original book by David Thompson.

<i>The Visit</i> (musical) Musical

The Visit is a musical with a book by Terrence McNally, lyrics by Fred Ebb, and music by John Kander.

Marcy Heisler is a musical theater lyricist and performer. As a performer, she has performed at Carnegie Hall, Birdland, and numerous other venues throughout the United States and Canada. Heisler was nominated for the 2009 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics for Dear Edwina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jason Danieley</span> American actor

Jason D. Danieley is an American actor, singer, concert performer and recording artist. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and was married to fellow performer Marin Mazzie.

<i>The Happy Time</i> (musical) Musical

The Happy Time is a musical with music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, and a book by N. Richard Nash loosely based on a 1950 hit Broadway play, The Happy Time by Samuel A. Taylor, which was in turn based on stories by Robert Fontaine. The story had also been made into a 1952 film version.

Karen Mason is an American musical theatre actress and singer. She has appeared on stage in Broadway theatre, notably as Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard, and is a multiple award-winning cabaret performer.

"Cabaret" is the title song of the 1966 musical of the same name, sung by the character Sally Bowles. It was composed by John Kander, with lyrics by Fred Ebb.

<i>The Scottsboro Boys</i> (musical) Musical

The Scottsboro Boys is a musical with a book by David Thompson, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb. Based on the Scottsboro Boys trial, the musical is one of the last collaborations between Kander and Ebb prior to the latter's death. The musical has the framework of a minstrel show, altered to "create a musical social critique" with a company that, except for one, consists "entirely of African-American performers".

<i>Live at the Olympia in Paris</i> 1972 live album by Liza Minnelli

Live at the Olympia in Paris is the second live album by American singer and actress Liza Minnelli, released in 1972. It marks her fourth and final release of original material for the A&M Records label and her second live album in her discography, following the release of Live at the London Palladium in 1965.

"Maybe This Time" is a song written by John Kander and Fred Ebb, popularized by Liza Minnelli in the 1972 film Cabaret.

"Tomorrow Belongs to Me" is a song from the 1966 Broadway musical Cabaret, and the 1972 film of the same name, sung primarily by a Nazi character. It was written and composed by two Jewish musicians – John Kander and Fred Ebb – as part of an avowedly anti-fascist work; the nationalist character of the song serves as a warning to the musical's characters of the rise of Nazism. Nonetheless, "Tomorrow Belongs to Me" has been adopted by right-wing, neo-Nazi, and alt-right groups as an anthem.

Rebecca Frecknall is a British theatre director best known for directing the 2021 West End revival of Cabaret starring Eddie Redmayne and Jessie Buckley. The show received the 2022 Olivier Award for Best Revival of a Musical, and Frecknall was named Best Director, taking home both the Olivier Award and Critics' Circle Award. She is also associate director at the Almeida Theatre where she directed Summer & Smoke, Three Sisters,The Duchess of Malfi, A Streetcar Named Desire and Romeo and Juliet. Her direction of Summer & Smoke first brought her critical acclaim and showcased her ability to re-invent old works in new ways. The production won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Revival of a Play in 2019, with Frecknall also nominated for the Sir Peter Hall Award for Best Director. In 2023 she was listed by The Stage as the 13th most influential person in the theatre.

References

  1. ↑ Steyn, Mark (30 November 1993). "Arts: Everybody loves a winner: Willkommen, bienvenue, welcome. The words are as familiar as the image of Lisa Minelli's Sally Bowles is unforgettable. As Jane Horrocks prepares to step into the fishnets and high heels for the latest production of Cabaret, Mark Steyn talks to its creators, Kander and Ebb, about the musical's original conception, controversial reception and enduring influence - Arts and Entertainment". The Independent. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  2. ↑ "'Cabaret' - the Musical - Edited Entry". h2g2. 2005-05-08. Retrieved 2014-07-04.
  3. ↑ Marilyn Stasio (2014-04-24). "'Cabaret' Review: Alan Cumming, Michelle Williams Star in Revival". Variety. Retrieved 2014-07-04.
  4. ↑ "Cabaret (1972)". Filmsite.org. Retrieved 2014-07-04.
  5. ↑ "'Cabaret' - the Musical - Edited Entry". h2g2. 2005-05-08. Retrieved 2014-07-04.
  6. ↑ "An Analysis Of". New Line Theatre. Retrieved 2014-07-04.
  7. ↑ "Come to this 'Cabaret,' see Williams and Cumming shine". Usatoday.com. 2014-04-25. Retrieved 2014-07-04.
  8. ↑ Gray, Channing (2014-05-19). "Theater Review: Wilbury's 'Cabaret' is a show with heart | Entertainment - Music, Theater, TV & more". Providence Journal. Retrieved 2014-07-04.
  9. ↑ RAY LOYND (1995-02-16). "THEATER REVIEW : A 'Cabaret' With Ominous Undertones : Bawdy music and tacky glitter fill the stage in a revival of 1966 Broadway hit". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2014-07-04.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.