Mr. Jack Ryan Is A Comedian
Written by Major Tom
Filed under: Entertainment News, Music
June 10, 2007
What’s with Mr. Alec Baldwin? I have been seeing him for a number of times now in the weekend show “Saturday Night Live” and I thought it was merely a passing thing for him for afterall he is (or was) a serious actor first and foremost—or even an action movie starrer as Jack Ryan in Tom Clancy’s superthriller “Hunt For Red October” (who could forget that).
Yet now he seems to be a regular already in the abovementioned show together with Steve Martin and Martin Short. Not that it is entirely unthinkable for Mr. Baldwin to be funny sometimes and be in a comedy show but it is just that I could not seem to well-absorb the idea of him being a television comedian in the likes of Jerry Seinfeld or Ray Romano. But there he was there making funny antics on that weekend comedy show and you know what, he seems to be so good at it that I wonder if I would ever be able to see him in any other light except for a very good and very funny comedian—like he is now. He used to be a drama actor, ain’t he? The guy in “Nuremberg” and “Beetle Juice” ?
So by the way, I got so cracked up laughing at tonight’s episode of “Saturday Night Live” where Mr. Baldwin did a very good imitation of the singing super idol Tony Bennett and my oh my, he was so good at it that he could even closely imitate Mr. Bennet’s inimitable and entirely original voice—that loud husky voice that is like no other.
I am a huge Frank Sinatra follower but whenever I hear the very unique singing prowess of Tony Bennett, I become of double-mind; who is better of the two? Who is better than whom? Although the man they call the Old Blue Eye is still best for me among male crooners.
I first got to hear about Tony Bennett about the time when I was still so fresh out of college from Ateneo de Zamboanga and got hired as a TV reporter for the ABC 5 channel affiliate here. One day, while loitering around the TV station’s premises, I got to meet a couple of very young lady DJ’s and the two had asked me (out of nowhere it had seem) where I was going or what was I up to at that time. In my mind I had thought then that they were overly friendly when I had not even been formally introduced to them previously and I was feeling so uncomfortable.
But being so gentlemanly that I was supposed to be, I smiled back at them and told them perfunctorily that I was planning to hie-off to a nearby record store and buy some music. What album (we don’t call it CD back then) am I planning to score they asked me. I told them that I have nothing particular in mind at that moment but I just see when I get there. Both ladies said that they could come with me and advise me on what to buy (being DJ’s that they were, they should know better ika nga). Not wanting to disappoint them and be misunderstood, I said why not. But in my mind I thought “geezzzz, I ain’t really comfortable with this, buying records with two people I barely know”. It used to be that buying records is some sort of a personal ritual for me, scouring around the stacks of records so slowly and being able to examine the music available in a time of my own, and not be hurried and be able to think for myself.
So to make the story short, they had egged me (more like trapped me) into buying a Tony Bennett album, an MTV unplugged record of the old crooner if I remember correctly. Back then, I was more into rock and roll or new wave kind of music that when I got home, I was feeling a little disgusted that I had to be so polite and had to buy some music of some old famous guy.
But after listening to Tony Bennett for some time, I felt that his voice was just magical and now as I remember that day when two virtual unknowns came to me and offered to become music advisers, I could perhaps thank those two young DJ’s for introducing me to the oh so wonderful sound and voice of Tony Bennet.
I know you’ll like him and his music—it is just wonderful and sublime.
See Mr. Tony Bennett sing the song he is so famous for, “They Can’t Take That Away From Me” here.
I practically grew up listening to these crooners tunes. It was pure and full of emotions. Their voices were like no other. It seems that singers now sound the same unlike those golden years when every singer had a distinct style and one can actually tell who owns the voice.
Comment by Schumey — June 10, 2007 @ 1:02 am
To schumey: Your right schumey; nothing like the old times and the old singers—very vintage ika nga and I think for some upcoming artists like Michael Buble and Diana Krall—there is really no one in the field that comes close enough…
Comment by Major Tom — June 10, 2007 @ 1:08 am
One of the greatest surprises on my TV watching saga was seeing Tony Bennett sing a duet with Diana Krall — “I’ve Got The World On A String” — in David Letterman show! It was marvelous!
Alec Baldwin is in a sitcom “30 Rock” with Tina Fey (of Saturday Night Live). Only saw bits and pieces, but it’s a funny show.
Comment by eric — June 10, 2007 @ 6:57 am
Between the two singers, Frank Sinatra and Tony Benett, I too was privileged to have these two great crooners during my time. Frank Sinatra had that distinctive style, and his Phrasing was his strength. Tony Bennett meanwhile had that distinctive voice and you can easily distinguish from the rest of them. And they both were also great Jazz singers.
And nothing can sing the piece better “I left my Heart in San Francisco” than the man who first recorded it and became his signature song. Although I just drove through the City March of 2006, me too left my heart in San Francisco.
Comment by victor — June 10, 2007 @ 9:40 am
Between the the two crooners, Bennett is the better singer IMHO. Frank is good but Bennett has more range.
As for Alec Baldwin being a regular guest on SNL, I noticed that too, But hey, if he can hack it with the rest of them, why not?
BTW, do check out 30 Rock on Starworld every Thursday. You can see how comfortable Baldwin is with comedy, as he is with his other forgettable roles .
Comment by snglguy — June 10, 2007 @ 11:18 am
To eric: Oh I should have seen that episode..tsk..tsk…I do love Ms. Krall as well and her oh so soothing voice.
I try to check out “30 Rock” and maybe I’d like it…Knowing now how good he is in SNL, I am sure I’d enjoy him there.
To Vic: How wonderful would it have been if Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett had made a famous duet number, but I haven’t heard of one. I believe these two greats are my most fave crooners of all time and I feel like they are as great as the Three Tenors in their own field of music…
I never really knew that it was Mr. Bennett who had sang “I left my heart in San Francisco’ originally but now it makes sense, no one could deliver that song with ultimate passion and joy than him—not even Mr. Sinatra I guess.
To sngl: Yeah, he (Alec Baldwin) is that good and I thought to myself he is in his own ocean, like he should have been a comedian first and then a dramatic actor secondly, he could have been more successful as that; while now he gets rarely casted in the kind of movies he makes…Bout the two singers, it wouldn’t be much of a surprise if Mr. Bennett can be better in some others than Sinatra—but maybe they can be toe to toe…both are superbly vintage and nothing like the two of them.
Comment by Major Tom — June 10, 2007 @ 4:41 pm
Re: Alec Baldwin, he is slowly but surely carving his own niche in comedy. Mukhang di na rin kasi bagay if he will continue doing serious or action movies. I liked his character in Will and Grace.
Re: Tony Bennett, I also love this song of his. I did not appreciate these kinds of music before, but my friend and ex-roommate used to listen to these kinds of songs and I started to like it. Nakaka-relax talaga. Puts me in a nostalgic mood too.
Comment by ladybug — June 11, 2007 @ 5:08 pm
Oh my, this blog piece I CAN identify with. Tony Bennett. Mr. Flatnote. He who sings with an awshucks catch in his voice. I was delighted to see him at American Idol recently. He’s ageless … or his voice is.
Honestly, when I saw the photo it reminded me of Tony Bennett although I doubt even the young Tony Bennett could look that good. LOL
Between Frankie and Tony, its really a toss up. But I’d lean a bit towards Tony.
My very fave song of his is The Way You Look Tonight.
Thanks. I feel so nostalgic.
Comment by annamanila — June 11, 2007 @ 9:51 pm
To ladybug: He is in Will and Grace too? I didn’t know that. Now I feel so outdated. Blame this perhaps on too much viewing of reruns of Seinfelds and Friends that i forgot about the newer sitcoms—which I used to dig a lot before, like Will & Grace.
You got a point—with his success now as a comedian, it would be very ideal for him to rethrench back top dramatic roles—but maybe he could show ultimate versality—this we have to see later on.
About the music—yep—they are as relaxing as morning dew and for me, they become healthy to the mind as well as the body: so soothing.
To annamaila: I feel blessed also that I haven’t miss that American Idol episode or I would have not forgiven myself. One thing about Mr. Bennett is that his voice is ageless. The ol blue eye somehow had became strained in his last years, but Mr. Bennett’s seems to get stronger and more exquisite as he grows so old like he is right now. It’s rare I think.
Comment by Major Tom — June 12, 2007 @ 12:33 am
Like the others, I prefer Tony Bennette. I grew up with my father’s music dominating the house.
Alec Baldwin in comedy? That’s news…for me that is. I haven’t seen him lately that’s why. Why not huh? If he’s a natural he should lean on that from time to time. It’s boring to be too serious at times. It’s hard to make people laugh huh. He must have blood along that line.
Comment by ipanema — June 12, 2007 @ 4:12 am
To ipanema: That’s news to me similarly although I’ve really been seeing him so frequently in SNL while I thought he was just experimenting and guessting on the show. But lo and behold, he becomes an ultimate comedian nowadays, talk about versatility—and he is good at it,no.
“Father’s music”—that’s what I think that should well describe the music of Bennett and Sinatra since I also heard about them first thru my father hummming some Matt Monroe song—it’s influence perhaps that got me now listening gleefully to these type of songs…
Comment by Major Tom — June 12, 2007 @ 9:07 am
If I’m not mistaken, I think Alec Baldwin won an Emmy for 30 Rock which is also a comedy created by Tina Fey, one of the people in SNL. Too bad we don’t have SNL here. I love Tony Bennett and Frank Sinatra both.
Comment by Toe — June 12, 2007 @ 8:31 pm
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Comment by Major Tom — June 12, 2007 @ 10:42 pm
To Toe: Oh, he did? That only shows how delayed I am on showbiz infos; didn’t even knew that there is such show as 30 Rock—It sounded so much like 3rd Rock from The Sun, which was a very good show and very hilarious….thanks for the info…
Comment by Major Tom — June 13, 2007 @ 1:03 pm
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Comment by Major Tom — June 16, 2007 @ 8:15 pm