My yearly Youtube playlist is mostly made up of media ephemera that's difficult to categorize, and the only thing they really have in common is a strong musical element. Still, I think that they're worth recommending and writing about. This batch includes old variety show segments, deleted scenes, tie-in music videos, award show performances, and oddball musical numbers worth revisiting.
Mean Green Mother From Outer Space - Levi Stubbs sings this nominated song from "Little Shop of Horrors" at the 1987 Academy Awards. Alan Menken wrote it specifically for the movie, so it was eligible, but it lost to "Take My Breath Away" from "Top Gun."
Chuck E. Cheese - I have a fascination with weird pop acts from the '80s, so this 2022 Saturday Night Live sketch was catnip for me. Bowen Yang and Benedict Cumberbatch appear as the synthpop duo Reflection Denied, filling in for the busted animatronics. The song is legitimately fabulous and Cumberbatch's falsetto chorus is joyously absurd. I have not been able to confirm who wrote this thing, but I will not give up the search.
The Reindeer - Jim Henson's Muppets guest on Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall in 1965. This was the first appearance of The Reindeer, a quintet of fuzzy Santa's helpers who were still a work in progress. Eventually they'd show up on other programs with ears and noses and more Christmas themed hijinks. However, I love this first appearance, especially for the little exchange with Jim at the end.
Bosom Buddies - Angela Lansbury and Bea Arthur perform this number from "Mame" at the 1987 Tony Awards. The lyrics are a little dated, but the leading ladies are immortal.
Christine (Official Music Video) - Did you know that John Carpenter composed the scores to many of his beloved horror movies? To celebrate the 2017 release of an anthology of his movie themes, Carpenter got to put together an official music video for the score of "Christine," which he cameos in as the driver. It's also worth checking out some of Carpenter's non-score music, and their respective music videos.
I Want To Be Evil - Eartha Kitt appears on the Swedish variety show "Kaskad" in 1962, singing as only Eartha Kitt can. For an alternate version, check out Chiwetel Ejiofor's drag performance of this number in "Kinky Boots."
When I Grow Up - Tim Minchin and three of the Matildas from the "Matilda" stage musical perform on Conan in 2015. I couldn't find a clip with just the performance, so you'll just have to sit through Conan's interview with Minchin first.
Bells and Whistles - Jane Krakowski plays the lawyer in the second season of "Schmigadoon!," which is patterned off of "Chicago." That makes this a light spoof of Billy Flynn's "Razzle Dazzle" number, but Billy didn't have to dance in the courtroom in heels!
Clair de Lune - This lovely sequence set to Debussy's "Clair de Lune" was planned to be part of the original 1940 "Fantasia," but cut for time. The animation was rescored and used in the "Blue Bayou" sequence from "Make Mine Music," but the original version was aired as part of a "Wonderful World of Color" episode in 1966. It's available as an extra on several of the "Fantasia" home media releases.
In Dreams - And finally, here's Harry Dean Stanton lip syncing to Roy Orbison's "In Dreams," providing a break from the violence in David Lynch's "Blue Velvet." We miss you, Harry.
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