I've been a Marie Osmond fan ever since she tottered onto stage on The Andy Williams Show at the age of three!
I love the above clip because:
A. I love quartets.
B. I love Andy Williams. (His recording of MacArthur Park is operatic.)
C. I love any song from The Music Man. In fact, in honor of the imminent Iowa Caucuses, I am listening to no other musical cast recordings for the next month.
As readers of this blog know, the original Osmond Brothers quartet - Alan, Wayne, Merrill and Jay - were discovered on a trip to Disneyland by Andy Williams' father. (This was a gentler time, long before people were dumping human remains at Disney theme parks.)
I'm not sure why Andy Williams' father was skulking around Disneyland alone in the middle of the day, but that's not my concern. (I don't work for Dateline.) Osmond Patriarch George had taken his boys to the park after the talent show they'd traveled from Provo to LA for had been canceled. The boys were sad and began singing their troubles away, while waiting in line for Small World. Old man Williams heard the boys and, breathless with excitement, called his son on a pay phone. Soon the boys' disappointment turned to triumph - and a dynasty was born!!
America fell in love with the family - and especially Donny and Marie. (Full disclosure: My favorite Osmond is Jimmy. He's the youngest singer to score a #1 on the UK singles chart, with Long-haired Lover From Liverpool. The Brits love the Osmonds.)
But it is Marie who has captured the country's imagination. From her teen country-pop sensation Paper Roses to her first divorce to her dynamite doll empire, we've sung, sulked and celebrated with Marie. Behind her wholesome image, of course, is a brilliant tactician: Turning down the role of Sandy in the film version of Grease seemed stupid to some. But red state America applauded Marie for citing moral differences with the film's message.
Now Marie has breathed life into Dancing with the Stars. DWTS was in danger of becoming kitsch. Its biggest problem is that it didn't have any message at all. (The secret of American Idol is that it's not about singing. It's about aspiration: unknowns becoming superstars. DWTS could never effectively ape AI since the competitors are already celebrities. Some claim the show is about redemption. But that's really the message of Celebrity Fit Club on VH1.)
During the course of this season, Marie's father died. Her son went to rehab. She collapsed on stage. She filed for divorce from her second husband. For Chrissakes, Marie has lived The Book of Job over the last three months. (Please note: Mormons acknowledge both Christ and Job.) And through it all Marie has described the show as a challenge that must be met, if only to keep her sane. Marie even quoted Ecclesiastes on Larry King Live: "a time to mourn and a time to dance." And so Marie has given the show a narrative. DWTS is now about perseverance. It's a hopeful message that resonates especially with women in their fifties - women who are viewed as virtually disposable by the culture.
And yet...
Marie's appeal has never been subjected to the ballot box like she will be after tonight's final dance-off. How much of a factor will her faith play? And what could this portend for Mormon Mitt Romney's White House run?
The Osmonds have never been shy about their Mormon faith. And a third of Americans are no less shy when they admit that they will not vote for a Mormon when they cast ballots for President.
Reader Comments ( Page 4 of 7)
46. What a cute clip, no?
I honestly would like to meet Marie in person some day. She seems like she has a wonderful character. And because of the hardships she has faced, we all know she is a strong woman.
In regards to the Mormon factor, I have asked myself, and will ask myself again: why does it matter? It's sad that in this country, supposedly the most accepting country on the planet, everything seemingly comes down to religion and sex. Religion and sex seem to be the factors that constitute whether a person is capable for the highest job in the land or not. Isn't that at all sad? The way ignorant people view Mormons irritates me, people automatically assuming they are weird. Since I am Catholic, am I weird. Are Jewish people weird? What about Islamic people? I get it, what people don't know scares them. Well, ignorance is scary. Very scary....
Anyways, sorry for the brief rant and that I couldn't contribute anything humorous.
Game Theory for Applied Economics Nerd at 10:19PM on Nov 26th 2007
47. Finnigan and again and again and again and again,
Thanks for something to choo on!
Jaqulator, thanks for giving me reason to overdose on the dayafter pill.
j get jiggy wit it g , thanks for the GizaStrippers perfoming live in my mind!
Did I forget anyone? Oh crap how mmmmmmmmmmm Mo-ronic of me to not MO-ve out of this MO-ment of Mo-tor Mo-outhing and not mention our Mo-st gracious host, Mo-ing On. Bye til toMOrrow!
Timo at 10:31PM on Nov 26th 2007
48. Mo - Forget Marie Osmond. When are you gonna blog on Al Gore and W hanging out in the White House together just like best buds? Just like peanut butter and jelly. Vanilla and chocolate. The Cowboy and the global warming guru. The Prez and the almost Prez. Beautiful.
Dave at 10:33PM on Nov 26th 2007
49. Aw for the love of Marie,
I spend a few hours cleaning my basement and I come back to this?
Look, for one thing, that wasn't Andrea in the video. It was Dr. Robi Ludwig. She doesn't require me to use her title during our sessions,
unlike some OTHER DR. who pops up on this blog.
JQ, I have much bigger biceps. Maybe you can squeeze them into your next JibJab.
Finn, thank god almighty. I thought I was actually going to have to tune into "Lost" to find you!
I know they must be hiring "scab" writers right about now. Hahaha, oh I get a kick out of myself.
I hope you had a chance to Ketchup on all the posts. It's been a wild ride. But good.
Hey, we're pushing for Mo to send out Personalized/Autographed 8X10 glossies to anyone who writes in to him with some evidence that they have done good for the world recently, i.e. a charitable donation, a part of their job, helping a little old Jacqueline cross the street, etc.
So, I would appreciate a little backing on this one. I know Mo's AOL address, but it can't be official until he utters it.
Hey, since Mo is on a Queen kick, can anyone find
"PRESSURE?"
Kimball/Rocca '08
"How many lives, how many wives must be lost before we make a difference?"--Donny Osmond.
John Giza at 10:38PM on Nov 26th 2007
50. Voting for Julianne and Marie hoping that Julianne will win big want a new two time winner..YES! If not Julianee then for sure Marie....What a shock to them....
babe at 8:56PM on Nov 27th 2007
51. Hey,
Let's have a straw poll on "Timo."
Anyone got her figured out yet. I'm lost.
Kimball/Rocca '08
"Avoiding another misreading by Giza."
John Giza at 10:42PM on Nov 26th 2007
52. For sure Marie or love it if Julianne could take it a second time....YES! that would really blow their minds..a 19 yr. old with that much talent...she has a wonderful career ahead of her. Thank God Marie has a wonderful career already and want her to continue to Bless us with her joy, smile, and encouragement...
babe at 8:56PM on Nov 27th 2007
53. When I read this I thought "gimme a break". It's not like she is running for president or something. Sounds like discrimination to me!!!
Besides, the Osmonds are a widely accepted singing and entertaining group and .. used to be quite popular ,,, from what I remember!
Lorinda at 11:06PM on Nov 26th 2007
54. Jimmy, Marie and Joseph,
If everyone is watching the Steelers game, I guess I'll have to post this myself.
This one goes out to:
Dr. Hank T. Kimball,
who is going to use his professional title from here on out.
Mo: WE NEED YOUR AOL MAILING ADDRESS FOR GLOSSIES!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdaHCLlBkWU&feature=related
Dr. Kimball/Dr. Rocca '08
John Giza at 11:04PM on Nov 26th 2007
55. Why hasn't the religion of every other DWTS contestant been disclosed? The same for the details of their personal lives? For example, would anyone dare ask if X should be win because they were Jewish or not living kosher? There would be ten tons of hell raised if someone raised that as an issue. Marie Osmond should win or lose based on merit and her religion shouldn't be a factor. Apparently her religion is providing her with a lot of strength to get through her adversities this month. The thing I see about her faith that would make it prone to attack by other religions, is that their clergy is volunteer and that is a very threatening concept to money grubbing preachers everywhere. I think this is the #1 reason why they try to make this faith out to be something that it is not.
R S at 3:58PM on Nov 26th 2007
I LIKE YOUR COMMENTS!!!!
Lorinda at 11:44PM on Nov 26th 2007
56. Your wish is my command!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdaHCLlBkWU
And now, speaking of the 80's Mo:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvmhYSRkoOc
Marie Osmond
"Giving new meaning to the term 'Under Pressure'"
FINN at 11:48PM on Nov 26th 2007
57.
wow what an Osmotic feast tonight!
It is soothing to see FINN back on.
Timo seems to me a sweet youngster who may or may not imbibe cold
medicine to a fair degree,and who favors the writings of John
Hartely.
ah,clem at 12:27AM on Nov 27th 2007
58. Oh, I think I must have screwed-up! Although I'm LDS, I've been rooting for Marie because I'm part of the demographic she represents (40-50 yo)! I must have misplaced my rule book.
Kristen at 4:07AM on Nov 27th 2007
59. I could care less about Dancing with the stars other than I would vote for marie simply for sentimental sake..she's been through a lot and has not missed a beat on the show..(well ok, except for the time she passed out and hit the floor!). I just want to comment that the video of the young Osmonds was so refreshing to watch....I am 45 yrs old and though I don't consider that old, I do think it's old enough to remember the better times this nation has had. I wouldn't pay a nickle to see most of todays performers...but Andy Williams?? I'd give a paycheck to hear that voice and experience that class and charm in a performer again.
JT at 6:21AM on Nov 27th 2007
60. I think Marie isnt a natural dancer at all, she is too wooden and just uses the Osmond name to further her already overexposure. She should be a mom to her 3 kids and the ones she adopted as they are having issues constantly.
Claire Simpson at 7:05AM on Nov 27th 2007