well, That's Show Biz, 05-24-2026 5-8 Misunderstood Songs

Misunderstood Songs

“Well, That’s Show Biz!”

5-24-2026

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• Welcome to “well, That’s Show Biz!”. I am your host, Jeremy Freedman, and every week I bring you music from Broadway, Movies, and Entertainers along with some anecdotes, information, and commentary all based on a theme. Today’s theme is Misunderstood Songs.

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• <Play Song>

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• You just heard our first Misunderstood Song, “You Will Be Found” from Dear Evan Hansen. Why is this a Misunderstood Song? Isn’t it a song of hope and inspiration? Well, taken out of context, as is often done, including me, it IS a song of hope. But in the context of the show, it is a lie used to manipulate people which grows exponentially out of control.

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• Most of today’s songs when taken out of the context of the show, and if you do not know the show, become Misunderstood Songs.

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• The next song is a satirical look at Nazis which is supposed to be in bad taste in the context of the show but is mistakenly thought to trivialize the Holocaust for real. Here is Mel Brook’s “Springtime for Hitler/Heil Myself” from the Broadway production of The Producers.

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• We are listening to Misunderstood Songs today and you just heard “Springtime for Hitler/Heil Myself” from The Producers.

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• <PSA>

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• Our next Misunderstood Song is a rousing anthem about living life to its fullest when taken out of context. I remember singing it for a gathering of my pianist’s elderly family. But in context, it is an agonizing cry for help as the audience ignores the political environment around them. Here is the title song from Cabaret.

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• You just heard our third Misunderstood Song, “Cabaret”.

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• Our fourth Misunderstood Song is a beautiful love song often played at weddings. Here is “With You” from Pippin.

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• You just heard the beautiful love song “With You” from Pippin. What makes it Misunderstood? In the context of the show, Pippin sings it during an orgy as he goes from one woman to the next in a feeble search for fulfillment.

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• Next we have Bette Midler singing the optimistic song “Everything’s Coming Up Roses” from Gypsy.

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• You just heard “Everything’s Coming Up Roses” from Gypsy. Sung out of context, it is optimistic and triumphant. In context, we are horrified to see the character of Rose spiral into self-delusion and selfishness.

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• Stay with me as we listen to more Misunderstood Songs today on “well, That’s Show Biz!”

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• <Station Promo>

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• You are listening to “well, That’s Show Biz!” on [Station ID].

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• Our theme today is Misunderstood Songs. Most of these songs are misunderstood because they’re taken out of context. This next song was mainly my issue. The song is “People Will Say We’re In Love” from Oklahoma. I always described it as a “non-love” love song. Two people trying to avoid falling in love. It wasn’t until the 2019 revival that I realized that they were flirting with each other. So you can understand what I am saying, I am going to play for you the original 1943 version followed by the 2019 revival version. Here is “People Will Say We’re In Love” from Oklahoma.

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• You just heard “People Will Say We’re In Love” from Oklahoma, a song that I had misunderstood and hopefully you could understand why.

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• Our next Misunderstood song is “Not While I’m Around” from Sweeney Todd. Out of context, it is often sung as a sweet lullaby of protection. But in the show, the singer Toby is singing to Mrs. Lovett who now knows that Toby must be killed and his body disposed of. Here is “Not While I’m Around” from Sweeney Todd.

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• You just heard the Misunderstood Song “Not While I’m Around” from Sweeney Todd.

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• <Donation Copy>

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• <Other Show Promo>

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• Here is our next Misunderstood Song.

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• <Play “Edelweiss”>

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• You just heard “Edelweiss” from The Sound Of Music. Why is it misunderstood? This was Oscar Hammerstein’s last original song that he wrote but many people thought that it was an actual Austrian folk song.

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• “To Life” from Fiddler on the Roof is sung as a joyous party song. In context, it is sung amidst a climate of antisemitism and fear. Here is the Misunderstood Song “To Life” from Fiddler on the Roof.

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• You just heard the Misunderstood Song “To Life” from Fiddler on the Roof.

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• Our final song is often misunderstood as a passionate love song when taken out of context. In reality it is an anthem about a performer’s dedication to their art. Here is the Misunderstood Song “What I Did For Love” from A Chorus Line.

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• You just heard “What I Did For Love” from A Chorus Line which completes our study of Misunderstood Songs.

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• And that concludes this week’s edition of “well, That’s Show Biz!”. Don't forget to tell your friends to join us every Sunday at 1pm for more of “well, That’s Show Biz!” on WRUU-LP, Savannah, GA, 107.5FM and WRUU.org.  We are Savannah Soundings, Community Radio with Global Soul.

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• Please stay tuned for “Music At The Movies”, coming up next, hosted by Aiden Peck and I will see you next week. So long.