The Pop Singer

by Jesse Coffey

Rating: everyone
Tags: Drama, Dark
Length: 2778

This musical story will make you sing with joy!

Based on the 1925 play THE JAZZ SINGER by Samson Raphaelson, and the 1927 screenplay of that name by Al Cohn.

Reddo Velvet-Melodavitz is a young woman who is caught between her devotion to the family and a deep love she has for the music that is popular, which her father views as sacreligious; she is disowned by him and thrown out of the house, but continues to rehearse for the ultimate goal she has: a Bridleway show. Her opening night is Yom Kippur eve, but that night, her father falls ill, so Reddo comes back home to appear in his place.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2017-01-07 18:23:36 UTC

Part One

in every living soul, a spirit has cried for expression - - it can therefore be said that this plaintive, wailing popular song is, after all, an utterance of a prayer that has been lost in misunderstanding.

This brings us to the Ghetto of Manehattan, which throbs to that musical rhythm older than civilization itself.

It is here that we meet Cantor Velvet-Melodavitz, a pegasus pony who chants hymns in the synagogue, and who has stubbornly held tight to the ancient traditions of his Jewish faith. He tells his wife, "Tonight, Reddo must sing 'Kol Nidre'. She should be here!"

And his wife's name is Rachel Velvet-Melodavitz. God made her a mare. Love made her a mother. She says, "Maybe our girl doesn't want to live the life of a cantor, Papa - - "

"Oh well, if that's all - - then what should SHE say about it? For five generations now, a Velvet-Melodavitz was a cantor, - - she MUST be among them!"

Thunderbolt Sentinel, a pegasus who works as a popular recording artist and crooner, is at the beer garden, having almost completed a performance of the song "To Each Her Own". With the pride he has received from the ecstatic applause, he says "OK my friends. We have a special guest for you this evening. Her name is Reddo Velvet-Melodavitz, and she is a brilliantly talented fellow pegasus pony destined to become among the all time greatest performers Equestria has ever had."

Reddo walked into the center of the stage and then sung:

I'm sorry, so sorry

That I was such a fool

I didn't know

Love could be so cruel

Oh, oh, oh, oh

Oh, oh

Oh, yes

. . . Other than Reddo (who still sings the song), another patron of the garden that night was Moishe Ben-Yudelman, a Unicorn who is rigidly orthodox and a power in the affairs of his ghetto. He walks into the concert area (behind the bar-doors) and finds Reddo singing a popular song on the stage. This both startles and horrifies him and he puts his drink down and tries to run into the Velvet-Melodavitz' residence, where Cantor Velvet-Melodavitz is comforting his grieving wife, telling her: "I have taught her every hymn and every prayer, and she knows them as well as I do." She says: "Yes papa - she knows all the songs - they're all in her head, but not in her heart." Cantor replies: The fasting of Yom Kippur will begin for her, and without supper!" Suddenly, he hears (and responds to) a knock at the door. He opens it, and it turns out to be Moishe!

Moishe delivers the question, "In a saloon somewhere in Manehattan, I caught someone singing poppy songs. Who do you think it was?"

To the confused couple, he continues, ". . . YOUR DAUGHTER REDDO!"

The horrified father pushes Moishe out of the way, and then makes his way to the beer garden, where Reddo is now performing a tune called "Anytime". He prys Reddo out of the garden and back into the Velvet-Melodavitz household.

Mother is confused as to why Reddo has been grabbed by her dress by father, who replies, "I've taught her better than to debase the voice supplied to her by God. And I'll teach her again!" Mother replies, "Papa - - our girl, she does not think like we do." Father isn't convinced: "First she will get a whipping!" He then whips poor Reddo, who, whimpering out of horror, cries out "If you ever whip me again Papa, I'll run away from home . . . AND I'LL NEVER COME BACK!"

Reddo is then taken by her father outside the house, where she is whipped a whopping five times to the cries of her mother. Reddo is understandably shaken by this and cries onto his mother. Father comes back in to see the light shine on the nearby synagogue. He then tells Rachel, "Mama, let's prepare the services." Mama cries, "Our girl is gone and she is never coming back." Father then leaves the house to go to the synagogue.

The Yom Kippur services are being prepared. One man tells papa, "What's wrong?" Papa replies: "My daughter was to stand beside me and sing tonight - - but I now have no son."

After crying onto a tissue, he then picked up a prayer book and began reciting:

Ve'esarei, Ush'vuei, Vacharamei, Vekonamei, Vekinusei, Vechinuyei.

D'indarna, Ud'ishtabana, Ud'acharimna, Ud'assarna Al nafshatana

Miyom Kippurim zeh, ad Yom Kippurim haba aleinu letovah

Bechulhon Icharatna vehon, Kulhon yehon sharan

Sh'vikin sh'vitin, betelin umevutalin, lo sheririn v'lo kayamin

Nidrana lo nidrei, V'essarana lo essarei

Ush'vuatana lo shevuot.

Part Two

Years later, more than 3000 miles away from home, Reddo Velvet-Melodavich had become Red Velvet-Melody---the Cantor's daughter, a pop singer. Fame never caught on to her. At least not yet.

The name change came when Reddo was at a famous nightclub in Ponyville. It was there that she wound up sitting next to a white unicorn who had with her a movie camera and some presumed scripts at hand along with a cup of coffee on the table.

Reddo said, "I wonder what your name is. You seem like a nice lady."

The white unicorn introduced herself. "My name is Vanilla Mocha. I'm one of Equestria's prime young entrepreneurs. I make films, records, and television programs. I myself also am a performer and partly specialize as a comedienne. What would be your name?"

"Oh you don't know me?" Reddo replied. "Well, shucks. I'm Reddo Velvet-Melodavich and I'm performing in just a few minutes."

Vanilla knew that she was the daughter of a famous cantor in Manehattan but wasn't quite sure of her potential under her given name. "I know for an obvious fact that you're a Jewish lady, 'cause clearly Cantors are a thing in Jewish culture, but I read somewhere that most Jews change their names to achieve stardom." Vanilla thought over the latter and then stated, "Next time, and all the later ones, in which you go out in public, you should go as . . . Red Velvet-Melody."

Reddo then inherited the suggested name as her permanent stage name. She then signed a long-term management contract with Vanilla Mocha.

A few minutes later, the head honcho of the nightclub states clearly: "Red Velvet-Melody will perform 'The Glory of Love' to you all. They say she's good - - that remains to be seen."

Vanilla smiled at her and said "i wish you luck, pal. You will certainly need it."

You've got to give a little, take a little

And let your poor heart break a little

That's the story of, that's the glory of love

You've got to laugh a little, cry a little

Before the clouds roll by a little

That's the story of, that's the glory of love

As long as there's the two of you

You've got the world and all its charms

And when the world is through with you

You've got each other's arms

You've got to win a little, lose a little

And always have the blues a little

That's the story of, that's the glory of love

As long as there's the two of you

You've got the world and all its charms

And when the world is through with you

You've got each other's arms

You've got to win a little, lose a little

And always have the blues a little

That's the story of, that's the glory of love.

Everyone in the club that night wound up applauding.

Then, Red (as she was now known) remarked, "Hold on. Hold on. You ain't heard nothin' yet. I tell you to wait a minute. You ain't heard anything yet." Red then directed the orchestra as conducted by Mezzo Tone, "Now listen. Play 'Toot Toot Tootsie' for the audience. They really want to hear it. In the third chorus, I play ukulele. OK now one, two, thre . . . "

The band then proceeds to play the very tune she requested.

Toot, toot, Tootsie, goo'bye

Toot, toot, Tootsie, don't cry

The small choo choo train that takes me

away from you,

and you don't know just how sad it makes me

Kiss me, Tootsie, and then,

I'll do it over again

Watch for the mail, I'll never fail

If you don't get a letter then you'll know I'm in jail

Tut, tut, Tootsie, don't cry

Toot, toot, Tootsie, goo'bye!

[Red says, "Hand me the ukulele please!" She is handed the ukulele and then proceeds to play it during the third chorus. She plays it and simultaneously sings on a repeat]

Toot, toot, Tootsie, goo'bye

Ha, toot, toot, Tootsie, don't cry

The choo choo train that takes me

Away from you,

you don't know just how sad it makes me

Kiss me, Tootsie, and then

I'm gonna do it over again

Watch for the mail, I'll never fail

If you don't get a letter then you'll know I'm in jail

Tut, tut, Tootsie, don't cry

Toot, toot, Tootsie, goo'bye!

Red goes to tell the nightclub owner amidst a very enthusiastic applauding audience that she had a good show and she thanks him for welcoming into it.

Red sits down with Vanilla Mocha again as well as two of her friends Thunderbolt Sentinel and another blue pegasus sitting next to him. Red tells Vanilla: "I saw your act in Appaloosa. I think you're a great entertainer in your own respect."

Vanilla (whom Red has begun to affectionately call Vanny) blushes then notices Red has gotten emotional about it. "There is many a popular singer in the world", explains Vanilla, "but YOU seem to have a tear right in your voice."

"Well, I'm . . . um . . . kind of glad you think so . . . "

"Perhaps I can be of assistance to you."

"Oh that would be wonderful."

Thunderbolt then stated "Hey there Red. I'm friends with this mare. You already know me, Thunderbolt Sentinel. Well then, you're asking, 'Who's the blue guy next to you Mr. Sentinel?' It's Galaxy Nebula. Of course, you probably read by now that Mr. Nebula is a fantastic vocalist with a range that gives him distinct personalities with each song. Whoever wrote that is exactly right."

Galaxy then sang scales from low Do to high Do and then backwards onto low Do. Red thought that was beautiful and that he and Thunderbolt Sentinel had plenty of talent.

Part Four

From Seaddle to Whinnyapolis, a split week in Hoofington and now in Canterlot, which honed the realization of Vanilla Mocha's promise.

Red is watching, all smiles, upon seeing Ender Knight perform on stage; this Italian crooner is performing "Volare" against the backdrop of a great orchestra that was conducted by none other than Vanilla Mocha. After the performance, Red engages in quite enthusiastic response, and tells Mr. Knight to take a bow, which he does. Vanilla then introduced a Scythea to the stage and handed the baton to Octavia Melody.

Mr. Knight and Ms. Mocha. She tells the woman now known to her as Vanny, "This night has by far and by wide been the happiest I've ever had. We MUST always be together. We MUST always appear on the same bill. And you, Mr. Knight, you have a real gift as far as vocals go and that fits your occupation well. You're getting to be a big star. I hope you stay a big star once you become one."

On the farther left corner of the stage are two of Mr. Knight's back-up singers. One says, "Boy is she talking funny about him!" The other says "Oh shut up. She hasn't got a ghost of a chance with him."

It turns out that Vanilla Mocha has a telegram for Red, and so the two run backstage.

K233N KQ 16

MANEHATTAN 14 EQ AUG 8 1960

MRS. VANILLA MOCHA

CARE GRAND CASTLE, CANTERLOT

WOULD YOU CONSIDER A LEADING ROLE IN A MAJOR

THEATER PRODUCTION SOON TO ARRIVE IN

MANEHATTAN? RUN REHEARSALS HERE!

Red got happy at reading the telegram and told the white earth pony, "Vanny, what a wonderful opportunity for you!" Mrs. Mocha sort of blushed and Red said, "I . . . er . . . we will all be sorry to see you go." Mrs. Mocha got speechless and said, "I will also miss you." Red said, "I know for a fact that you'll succeed - - - if I ever amount to anything, all will be owed to you." Mrs. Mocha said, "Uh, will you write . . . when I get to Manehattan?" Red said, "I most certainly will." Mocha said, "Aw, thank you."

It was also in Canterlot where Red noticed a sign reading:

SPECIAL MATINEE

JAN PEERCE

LAST

CANTERLOT

CONCERT

SACRED SONGS

FANTASTIC ARIAS

POPULAR PRICES

Red heard Peerce's rendition of the tune "Eli, Eli" She got goosebumps from hearing the song as it flung her back into a particular day in the synagogue where her father was singing that very tune. Nevertheless, she was moved by the performance.

Part Three

For those whose faces are turned toward the past, the years have rolled by unheeded with their lives unchanged. The elder Mr. Velvet-Melodavich is instructing a young student in the traditional cantorial art. Meanwhile, his wife received a letter addressed to her by her daughter.

Mamma . . .

I have gotten along perfectly! I am making B250,000 per week. My big chance was given to me by one of the most wonderful folks I could've ever wanted to meet, Vanilla Mocha and two of her lovely friends, Thunderbolt Sentinel and Galaxy Nebula.

Write me at Grand Castle theater in Canterlot.

Last time you forgot and addressed me as Reddo Velvet-Melodavich. Red Velvet-Melody is my name now.

Signed, your loving daughter,

Red

Mama tells the house guest Moishe, "Read me again what she says about the boys." Moishe read "two of her lovely friends, Thunderbolt Sentinel and Galaxy Nebula." Moishe, perturbed looking, told Mrs. Velvet-Melodavich, "Maybe she's fallen in love with TWO shiksas. Maybe not - - you know Josephine Garrolsky on the theater bill is Josie Gray."

It was right after he said that that the cantor dismissed the student, who then told Mrs. Velvet-Melodavich, "You've got an angry Cantor today."

Mrs. Velvet-Melodavich said, "Now we got a letter today from our daughter Red, would you like to read it." Mr. Velvet-Melodavich, irate, looks up at the Mrs. and says, "I told you you should never open her letters. WE HAVE NO DAUGHTER!"

Part Five

Reddo is writing a letter to Mrs. Mocha about her rise to popularity as a singer. Unbeknownst to her, Vanilla Mocha is conversing with another performer and shows her an article in the Equestrian version of Variety. The other woman, a changeling named Rose, then turns to her, going "If they give that young diva my little place on the bill again, I swear, I'm gonna leave this show fair and square!"

Meanwhile three ponies converse politely, and, overhearing Rose, chuckle and laugh. One of them says "Let her rant all she wants to because Reddo's place on the bill of ANY theatre is well deserved."

As this happens, the Friendship Airplane arrives. Reddo is all set to ride on the plane, but suddenly a stallion comes up to her and tells her, "Hey, you can't ride on this plane! We cancelled your booking!"

Reddo is horrified. "What - - what do you mean I'm not leaving on this plane? I've been going over big in many towns lately!"

The stallion, who kindly likes to remain anonymous, replies "Honey, that's what Manehattan has told me."

Rose replies, over Reddo's sadness, "See? What did I tell you?"

The stallion tells her, "But hey, Reddo, I've got great news! Babs Seed, that lovely young chap, has arranged for you to be released so that you could appear in a revue on Bridleway!"

Reddo is like, "Don't fool me. I've already had a bad feeling."

The stallion's like, "I'm not fooling you at all! Let me tell you, the New York train's now due - and here's your ticket!"

Reddo cheerfully replies, "MANEHATTAN! BRIDLEWAY! HOME! MOTHER!"

Reddo then goes to the train and sees Vanilla Mocha waiting in it. Vanilla exclaims, "YES! I always knew you would make a hit!"