wild harry wild harry song written lyrics noble music broadway shuffle wild harry popular number production financially successful broadway play african american writers african american cast song broke taboo musical stage depictions romantic love african americans originally written blake rewrote number singer request result simple direct infectious tune enhanced onstage dancing selected wild harry campaign song united_states presidential election success politics led popular revival background wild harry shuffle broke racial early 20th century african americans excluded mainstream theater united_states white refused book african american act bill decade broadway african american performers blake met time fundraising benefit practices limited bills african american act night result leading african american acting teams knew reputation performers agreed feasible way african americans return broadway dignity musical comedy miller proposed collaborate resulting adapted plot characters miller comic sketches music blake music shuffle new public compositions actually written production wild harry days love find way songs material blake tried unsuccessfully sell wild harry love find way particular politically risky era approaching love duet introduced musical comedy broadly recalled black poet lyricist reason lay belief love scene strike white audience ridiculous title chorus musical famous number challenge taboo wild harry wild clear statement mutual romantic interest blake public rejection racial stereotypes norm theatrical performances creation wild harry underwent complete rewrite rehearsals nearly cut blake original version song according authors america songs performer encouraged number tempo step blake disliked suggestion feared ruin agreed audiences respond revised version early performances blake verge dropping number dancer took ill replaced singer know steps unable follow routine ignored improvised america songs quotes performance saved song dropped line smile high stepping routine stopped cold structure wild harry strong direct simple song principal device strong fourth beat tied beat song moves short melodic bursts characteristic era rhythmic genre fine cut time theater rhythm songs uses lot step wise writing note major scale sharp theater song octave tightly lyrics comprise straightforward set comparisons border comic heavenly kisses fill sweet like chocolate candy like honey bee describe song overall impact infectious delight context play number occurs early second act leading lady declares love leading man father wealthiest man town poses obstacles match overall plot concerns mayoral race black grocery store owners political office corrupt wins race shortly afterward chief police harry leads community protest returns store wins girl reception shuffle significant theatrical success ended decade systematic exclusion blacks broadway stage opened new_york_city 63rd street music hall ran performances venue actually converted lecture hall lacked proper stage orchestra pit overcame financial straits poor location black musical enjoy long run treated new_york opening night audience loved influential critics like highly enthusiastic gradually shuffle built cult status big crowds police trouble controlling traffic eventually way street black broadway 63rd street long way barely broadway words wasn broadway broadway wild harry popular number blake conducted orchestra recorded song victor label noble recording victory label altered original tone considerably order showcase talents early recordings include returned broadway revival shuffle use media sang piece songs musical arms sang band film signature tune gang popular comedy early years starring american actors husband settled london british comedian duck sang chorus wild harry underwent revival selected campaign song presidency united_states republicans democrats year joked mild harry year performed film sings song jazz standard return popularity briefly reunited blake time song appeared cartoon short evening songs sung dance routine writing american popular songs wild harry popular song shuffle performed song mad bomber character accompanies singing consisted partly line blasting machines wired set numerous explosive charges time lyrics versions released version song album certain boy
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