Which are better -- Gens or Reps?

[Victoria]

Gens:

...better... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wiVkdVPGoY

Reps:

[Victoria]

  Nanuq said:

Which is the gen and which is the rep??

Clearly the first one is Maxene Andrews, and the last one is Eric Morecambe. You don't fool me!!

[Watchmeister]

:cc_confused:

[ryyannon]

I'm all for the charm of yesteryear, but somehow the reps strike me as better than the gens...in the sense of being less grotesque....

Or should I say authentically fake?

Which leads me to wonder if people looking a vids of today's singers will find them as geekily weird as I find the Andrews Sisters in the above video.

[Victoria]

  ryyannon said:

I'm all for the charm of yesteryear, but somehow the reps strike me as better than the gens...in the sense of being less grotesque....

I agree that the first video is stilted, but look at the co-ordinated play of the second Andrews' Sisters link (damn the person for not allowing embedding!).

It's amazing to me how all the gestures of today are there: their palm slaps, the shoulder work, the "coolness" jive factor which must've been revolutionary for women then, especially since it was inspired by black American culture. Did you see Maxene give some "skin" to the soldier? Give me Five, cat!

If you see an early Bing Crosby compared to the mid-40s Andrews' Sisters, they're TOTALLY modern, and therefore, recognisable and approachable, whereas he looks like he's got a pole up his rump.

You just have to get over the Du Barry pompadours.

  Quote

Or should I say authentically fake?

I love parodies, so speak it to me, baby!

French & Saunders are the best in modern parody work, in the English language today, though neither are a patch on Morecambe & Wise.

...roll on Caravaggio.

  Quote

Which leads me to wonder if people looking a vids of today's singers will find them as geekily weird as I find the Andrews Sisters in the above video.

Speaking of which:

[ryyannon]

As usual, you're right on the money with your analyses and comments

But I'll up you one in Saunders & French insanity:

And while we're at it, here's someone I believe is dear to your encyclopedic heart: our very own Miss Brooks!

[Victoria]

  ryyannon said:

As usual, you're right on the money with your analyses and comments

But I'll up you one in Saunders & French insanity:

I LOVE THIS ONE!

It was between the one I posted above, the Bj