newcritics - Latest Comments in Sexy Beast, I Mean Bing

Re: Sexy Beast, I Mean Bing

oakling — Wed, 14 May 2008 17:29:30 -0000

Forgotten and unloved?! Did other people not grow up on Technicolor and colorized musicals from thirty or forty years before?? And the Warner Brothers cartoons with Bing-like birds and things?

Re: Sexy Beast, I Mean Bing

M.A. Peel — Tue, 13 May 2008 01:17:08 -0000

Hey Weboy--you would like "Robin and the Seven Hoods" because it's the Rat Pack Meets their own Idol. I do think the worst thing that ever happened to Crosby was meeting John Scott Trotter, the guy who did all his arranging in the forties. That's why I love the Crosby of the thirties--much freer and more raw.

Tina, there is something about Crosby that unites people across generations. I first started listening because of my father.

Re: Sexy Beast, I Mean Bing

NYC Weboy — Mon, 12 May 2008 00:19:31 -0000

I tend to agree, sadly, with those who don't find a lot to love: I've tried to appreciate Der Bingle's singing style... but it's just not my taste - he's my emblem of crooner style, and I prefer the more ring-a-ding-ding of the Rat Pack and the harder edge Billy May brought to arranging. And Cole, who I think is rarely appreciated fully for the genius he is (the stuff he's best known for doesn't begin to tell the whole story), is by far the more natural singer.

But where I do tend to find more sympathy is in Bing as an actor - I am surprised, as I explore his contributions to the Golden Age (outside of his work with Hope) to see how versatile he was and how naturally at ease in front of the camera; acting, I think, is where he's underrated (I think it has a lot to do with the fact that his singing is best when he's a character telling a story, too). You wouldn't necessarily expect Bing to "get" the material in The Country Girl, for instance; yet it's a masterful performance. I'd love to see more films... the recordings... not so much.

Re: Sexy Beast, I Mean Bing

tina oiticica harris — Sun, 11 May 2008 22:50:02 -0000

My mother liked him; my uncle, whose memorable question was, "Jo, what if Sinatra dies?"
The videos just started. Indeed, his version of Stardust is desperate. I love older standards because of my uncle and my mother.

Re: Sexy Beast, I Mean Bing

Dan Leo — Sun, 11 May 2008 16:54:05 -0000

So, like, I'm the only one around here who watches "Robin and the Seven Hoods" once a week?

Re: Sexy Beast, I Mean Bing

M.A. Peel — Sat, 10 May 2008 17:44:54 -0000

BR, at least given how little he's seen or heard these days, you generally don't have to deal with him!

Re: Sexy Beast, I Mean Bing

Botch Rutner — Sat, 10 May 2008 12:32:00 -0000

With all due respect to your post, I have to admit that I can't stand the guy.