Mar 11, 2012

Thanks and goodbye Robert B. Sherman

Robert Sherman, Richard Sherman
Richard and Robert Sherman (right). Photo by Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Before I heard the sad news this week, I didn't know who Robert B. Sherman was. That name meant anything to me, I didn't associate it with anything.

But I did know a part of his inner world, the way he and his brother Richard perceived life, the way they captured it.

Because I did know some special songs. These songs were different from others: even when they were meant for kids, they had an unusual component of nostalgia, of sadness and realness. I discovered some of these songs when I was a child and some of them when I was grown up. And it didn't really matter, the feeling was the same. These pieces celebrated being a child and at the same time I heard in them that eagerness to come back in time, which is tinted black because of its impossibility. 

Little Black Rain Cloudtender and sad, makes my mind wander and think of what's irremediably gone, not just for me, but for people in general, no matter the time they were born in, how they look back to their childhood, just like Christopher Robin did in Winnie the Pooh. The songs from Mary Poppins, especially Chim Chim Cher-ee and Walt Disney's favorite, Feed the birds captured this same mixed essence, what's good, kind, noble, sad and fun in the world. Even songs like The Aristocats' Scales and Arpeggios, The Sword in the stone's Higitus Figitus and The Jungle Book's That's What Friends Are For had something different, a darker atmosphere, or a sound that wasn't composed just to maintain kids entertained.

Of course, I also celebrate those incredibly happy songs, like Let's get together, Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious and I Wan'na Be Like You. I celebrate the legendary Sherman brothers, Disney, the magical movies that always put a smile on my face and make me think that It's A Great Big, Beautiful Tomorrow...


Thanks and goodbye Robert B. Sherman.

4 comments:

  1. Clara, your post about the late, great Robert B. Sherman made me happy and sad at the same time: sad because I'm sorry this wonderful tunesmith is no longer with us, and happy because at least we -- especially us "Baby Boomers" -- have so many wonderful songs and movies to remember them by! For the record, my favorite among their many songs happens to be "I Wanna Be Like You," from THE JUNGLE BOOK. R.I.P., Robert, and thanks for the happy memories!

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  2. Hi Clara! I wanted to let you know that I have mentioned you on my blog and am passing you an award! Awesome work here :-)

    http://perfectnumber6.blogspot.com/2012/03/i-am-so-honored-that-irene-from-and.html

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  3. What a lovely tribute, Clara! As a big Disney fan I have such appreciation for the Sherman Brothers and what their work added to my life. I really enjoyed your thoughts.

    Best wishes,
    Laura

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  4. Thank you girls, I'm glad you liked this post :) And thanks for the award, Perfect Number 6 :)

    ReplyDelete

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