Newsies
I don't know how many of you know this, but Disney's "Newsies" is one of my all time favorite movies (if not my favorite one). I know I've blogged about it before, but I thought I'd dedicate a whole post to my favorite movie.
The movie came out in 1993, and it was a total flop in the box office. If you ever get the chance to watch this movie, do it. It really will teach you something about life. I've heard that most of the actors in the movie don't like to think about it because the movie did so terrible. It's funny because Christian Bale, who played the main character Jack Kelly, is huge now. He went from living in a dusty old basement to saving Gotham City. Pretty impressive.
The musical showed for the first time in 2012, after they updated the storyline and the music. I don't know much about it because I haven't seen it, but I have listened to the music from the show. I like the music better because it was re-written, and I personally think it's more catchy. Plus, I bought the CD when I was in New York, so I've listened to it a bazillion times (along with watching the movie).
Back to the actual substance of the story. Newsies is about news boys, or newsies, in New York City in 1899. This is during the "immigration, urbanization, and industrialization" part of american history. The newsies are being taken advantage of by the big shot newspaper men, like Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst, of New York City. When Pulitzer raises the prices too high for the Newsies, Jack Kelly and David Jacobs leads the newsies in a strike -- the famous News Boys Strike in 1899.
They learn that striking isn't easy -- it's actually really hard. There are scabs, which is a street term for strike breaker (someone who works during the strike). They are also losing money buying food and lodging that they aren't earning back. It takes a long time to finally break Pulitzer down, but they do eventually make it.
There are lots of really interesting quotes in this movie and in the songs that really say something about what the newsies believe in and what the world believes. I don't want to go into every song, but I'll highlight a few. This is what the songs about and my opinions and interpretations. Keep in mind the links may not be the whole song, but it's enough so that you get the idea. Also, don't feel like you have to watch every video, I'm just posting them so if you haven't seen the movie or musical you know what I'm talking about (this also gives me a good excuse to watch videos of my favorite musical).
Carrying the Banner (movie and musical): In short, Carrying the Banner is just the song to introduce you to the normalcy that is the newsie life. "A mighty fine life, carrying the banner tough and tall." That's what they do every day, so this just shows you what's it's like. This is the first introductions to the show, and it kinda smacks me in the face every time I listen to it. This isn't just a "hey, we sell newspapers and it's fun" song. Being a newsies is actually hard work, which is what you see in Carrying the Banner. In this one song, I learn that some things in life are hard, and your job isn't going to be fun and enjoyable all the time. There are going to be (most) days when you just want to curl up in a ball and cry, but you can't do that. "We improve the circulation, walking 'till we fall." You have to keep pushing forward and doing something, even if you don't really want to.
The World Will Know (movie and musical): The World Will Know is the start to the strike. It's when Jack, with David's help, convinces the newsies that striking is a good idea. There are SO many good quotes in this song, I'll try to just chose a few. "And the World will know that's we've been here!" "When you gotta hundred voices singing, who can hear a lousy whistle blow?" "Now they gonna see what Stop the Presses really means." "Pulitzer may own the World, but he don't own us." "And the things we do today will be tomorrow's news!" The World Will Know is a really inspiring song about doing what you think is right. Just because someone has told you that this is way the way things are going to be, this song tells you to challenge that, especially if you think you're right.
Seize the Day (movie and musical): Seize the Day is their first encouragement song. "Minute by minute, that's how you win it... Courage cannot erase our fears, courage is when we face our fears." David is reminding the gang what they wanted to try and change. They are scared of going up against the most powerful men in New York. It's a scary thing. Jack and David in this song manage to cheer them up and tell them it's a good idea. This song teaches me that you have to be persistant, even if you're scared or you think things aren't going your way. This is also a huge dance number, which is just awesome. "One for All and All for One!"
Santa Fe (movie and musical): "Santa Fe, my old friend, I can't spend my whole life dreaming -- though I know that's all I seem inclined to do. I ain't getting any younger, and I wanna start brand new. I need space, and fresh air! Let 'em laugh in my face, I don't care! Save my place... I'll be there..." Santa Fe is one of my favorite songs in the musical for this reason: it seems that the hero is giving up. Jack is done, he's tired, he's overwhelmed, he's angry, and he just wants to leave and be somewhere he matters to someone. This is such a common emotion in people these days, and it's something that takes a long time to come to terms with. It's hard, like Jack shows, to want to leave your friends and everything you know. It's comfortable that way, even if you're doing something that you don't like.
King of New York (movie and musical): King of New York, where to even start? It's the second "encouragement" song of the musical, this one takes place right after the reporter (either Denton or Katherine) get the newsies strike in The New York Sun, a newspaper. This one is the newsies singing about how when you're in the paper, you get anything you want, you don't even need money (too bad that one is true...). This teaches me that sometimes, you just have to think about how you want things to be. It's okay if your ideas are a little crazy, but if you want something, you should think about getting it. "Who'da thunk, I'm the king of New York!" This is another big dance number, which again is awesome.
Once and For All (movie and musical): "There's change coming once and for all!" Once and For All, after much thought, is my favorite song in the musical. I, personally, like the musical version better, but the movie version is fantastic. This song is toward the end of the strike, when the newsies are pushing to see their newspaper printed and to get their ideas out to all the sweat shop kids. This song really teaches me that you have to push to get what you want, and that everything can be changed. "Once and for all we won't carry no banners that don't spell FREEDOM!" This really shows me that everything's possible, and that just because you're small doesn't mean you can't make a difference. Everyone has a voice, and this song tells me to find it and then sing out as loud as I can.
Final thoughts? You can make a difference, and that's what Newsies is really out to teach you. It's amazing that this actually happened, even if it wasn't exactly like how the movie or musical depicted it. It gives me a lot of respect for the working boys of New York, even if it was 2 decades ago. It's amazing that God can teach you so many things through one story.
Always remember to Seize the Day!
Carly
Back to the actual substance of the story. Newsies is about news boys, or newsies, in New York City in 1899. This is during the "immigration, urbanization, and industrialization" part of american history. The newsies are being taken advantage of by the big shot newspaper men, like Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst, of New York City. When Pulitzer raises the prices too high for the Newsies, Jack Kelly and David Jacobs leads the newsies in a strike -- the famous News Boys Strike in 1899.
They learn that striking isn't easy -- it's actually really hard. There are scabs, which is a street term for strike breaker (someone who works during the strike). They are also losing money buying food and lodging that they aren't earning back. It takes a long time to finally break Pulitzer down, but they do eventually make it.
There are lots of really interesting quotes in this movie and in the songs that really say something about what the newsies believe in and what the world believes. I don't want to go into every song, but I'll highlight a few. This is what the songs about and my opinions and interpretations. Keep in mind the links may not be the whole song, but it's enough so that you get the idea. Also, don't feel like you have to watch every video, I'm just posting them so if you haven't seen the movie or musical you know what I'm talking about (this also gives me a good excuse to watch videos of my favorite musical).
Carrying the Banner (movie and musical): In short, Carrying the Banner is just the song to introduce you to the normalcy that is the newsie life. "A mighty fine life, carrying the banner tough and tall." That's what they do every day, so this just shows you what's it's like. This is the first introductions to the show, and it kinda smacks me in the face every time I listen to it. This isn't just a "hey, we sell newspapers and it's fun" song. Being a newsies is actually hard work, which is what you see in Carrying the Banner. In this one song, I learn that some things in life are hard, and your job isn't going to be fun and enjoyable all the time. There are going to be (most) days when you just want to curl up in a ball and cry, but you can't do that. "We improve the circulation, walking 'till we fall." You have to keep pushing forward and doing something, even if you don't really want to.
The World Will Know (movie and musical): The World Will Know is the start to the strike. It's when Jack, with David's help, convinces the newsies that striking is a good idea. There are SO many good quotes in this song, I'll try to just chose a few. "And the World will know that's we've been here!" "When you gotta hundred voices singing, who can hear a lousy whistle blow?" "Now they gonna see what Stop the Presses really means." "Pulitzer may own the World, but he don't own us." "And the things we do today will be tomorrow's news!" The World Will Know is a really inspiring song about doing what you think is right. Just because someone has told you that this is way the way things are going to be, this song tells you to challenge that, especially if you think you're right.
Seize the Day (movie and musical): Seize the Day is their first encouragement song. "Minute by minute, that's how you win it... Courage cannot erase our fears, courage is when we face our fears." David is reminding the gang what they wanted to try and change. They are scared of going up against the most powerful men in New York. It's a scary thing. Jack and David in this song manage to cheer them up and tell them it's a good idea. This song teaches me that you have to be persistant, even if you're scared or you think things aren't going your way. This is also a huge dance number, which is just awesome. "One for All and All for One!"
Santa Fe (movie and musical): "Santa Fe, my old friend, I can't spend my whole life dreaming -- though I know that's all I seem inclined to do. I ain't getting any younger, and I wanna start brand new. I need space, and fresh air! Let 'em laugh in my face, I don't care! Save my place... I'll be there..." Santa Fe is one of my favorite songs in the musical for this reason: it seems that the hero is giving up. Jack is done, he's tired, he's overwhelmed, he's angry, and he just wants to leave and be somewhere he matters to someone. This is such a common emotion in people these days, and it's something that takes a long time to come to terms with. It's hard, like Jack shows, to want to leave your friends and everything you know. It's comfortable that way, even if you're doing something that you don't like.
King of New York (movie and musical): King of New York, where to even start? It's the second "encouragement" song of the musical, this one takes place right after the reporter (either Denton or Katherine) get the newsies strike in The New York Sun, a newspaper. This one is the newsies singing about how when you're in the paper, you get anything you want, you don't even need money (too bad that one is true...). This teaches me that sometimes, you just have to think about how you want things to be. It's okay if your ideas are a little crazy, but if you want something, you should think about getting it. "Who'da thunk, I'm the king of New York!" This is another big dance number, which again is awesome.
Once and For All (movie and musical): "There's change coming once and for all!" Once and For All, after much thought, is my favorite song in the musical. I, personally, like the musical version better, but the movie version is fantastic. This song is toward the end of the strike, when the newsies are pushing to see their newspaper printed and to get their ideas out to all the sweat shop kids. This song really teaches me that you have to push to get what you want, and that everything can be changed. "Once and for all we won't carry no banners that don't spell FREEDOM!" This really shows me that everything's possible, and that just because you're small doesn't mean you can't make a difference. Everyone has a voice, and this song tells me to find it and then sing out as loud as I can.
Final thoughts? You can make a difference, and that's what Newsies is really out to teach you. It's amazing that this actually happened, even if it wasn't exactly like how the movie or musical depicted it. It gives me a lot of respect for the working boys of New York, even if it was 2 decades ago. It's amazing that God can teach you so many things through one story.
Always remember to Seize the Day!
Carly
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