No. 358: Judy Garland

"Judy Garland" interpreted by Tom Wills, February 2017. Pencil.

Straight American male here who likes Judy Garland. Ever since childhood, and forever.

Capitol Records, "The Deluxe Set"

"Over The Rainbow" is such a beautiful song, but hearing it now just makes me sad. What happened to Judy Garland is a tragedy. And everything about this piece sums up the contrasts: Pretty frame, pretty but worn down pose. I did it on purpose.
There are a few nicks, some touch-ups.

Richard Avedon took the photo in 1963, and he was famous for capturing famous people in off-kilter poses, and in unguarded moments. Here, Judy looks uncertain, afraid, confused. Kansas, the rainbow and the wizard were a long time ago.

"Over The Rainbow" is always the last song.

I can't hear "Over The Rainbow" without getting a little misty. And in the end I'm sure she was sick of it, relegating it to instrumental overtures, intros, medleys and the like. But crowds went wild when they heard it, even if only in pieces.

The Wizard of Oz was released in 1939, in color. Here of course she is simply black and white but the frame is rather rosy. But again, it's stagecraft:  That young role had her seeing a psychiatrist at 18, film bosses said she was unattractive, she had fallbacks and comebacks, four failed marriages,  and she battled booze and pills, dying at 47 in 1969.

Sleeve art, Capitol Records

She said the young movie performers were prescribed amphetamines to keep the frantic pace, barbituates to sleep, leading to addiction and lifelong struggle. Her Wizard co-star Ray Bolger said at her funeral: "She just plain wore out."  

So when I listen to these Judy Garland records, the amazing and the not-so, I can't help but think of the effort she made. Most times she nails it. Carnegie Hall '61, Palace Theatre, '67. The orchestra does the full version of  "Over The Rainbow" at the palace, but she doesn't sing it. They still gave her 25 minutes of standing applause. These were her last appearances there.

I like The Trolley Song a lot, too.
"Clang clang clang" went the trolley.
"Ding ding ding" went the bell.
"Zing zing zing" went my heartstrings. 

To purchase a Tom Wills Production, or to order an original piece, contact willstom01@gmail.com