On New Years Eve, 1879, W. S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan presented their comic opera The Pirates of Penzance. Although a social satire of English sensibilities, the production’s launch was in New York to (ironically) deter pirating of their work. Those old enough may recall Linda Ronstadt, Rex Smith, and Kevin Kline in the 1983 movie or the rather dreadful campy adaptation, The Pirate Movie, from the year before with Kristy McNichol and Christopher Atkins.
Perhaps the best known piece of G&S music is the Major-General’s song from Pirates. It’s mockery of English priorities for military leadership – an extensive education in matters social but highly irrelevant – stands as a tower of Victorian wit.
It is in this spirit that Justin Lee of the Gay Christian Network reworked the song into the parody song The Very Model of an Ex-Gay Individual as part of a parady musical performed at the GCN conference. While Sullivan, the composer of Onward Christian Soldiers might be scandalized (and you might also), Gilbert would probably find the whole notion of an ex-gay movement to be bursting with comic opportunity.
For the entire song link here.
I am the very model of an ex-gay individual
I’ve no more gay attractions (okay, maybe a residual)
I go to ex-gay conferences, where folks hold me accountable
They say with Jesus, sga is never insurmountableI think of God, not Gaynor, when I hear someone say Gloria
[Chorus:
I always stay a block away from local gay emporia
I’ve read 8 books on how to please my wife while I’m caressing her
And probably a dozen more by Dr. Laura Schlessinger
And probably a dozen more by Dr. Laura Schlessinger,
And probably a dozen more by Dr. Laura Schlessinger,
And probably a dozen more by Dr. Laura Schlessing-Schlessinger!]
Justin totally rocks.
This is brilliant!
We need the Gay Men’s Chorus to record this.
I was fortunate to see it performed live at the conference. This was only the first of a series of musical parodies that Justin wrote the lyrics to. They were all witty and at turns drop dead funny and poignant.
Totally awesome, Justin! The Gay Men’s Chorus in Orlando (Exodus’ current home) needs first rights to this one.
Do any of these parodies have a home on YouTube yet?
Sweet Jeb Bush! This is wonderful.
Hey!!!! No dissing The Pirate Movie, Mr. Kincaid! It was not “rather dreadful” as you claim. Instead, it was just great!
So there!
It’s one of my favorite movies, and I have it on an antique VHS cassette tape. In fact, I had a dream of Christopher Atkins when I was a wee lad (oh ’bout 12 mebee) after I saw that movie that was probably the first clue about my ‘mosexual nature.
Okay…back to whatever you were doing…
Bravo! Encore!