He and Gracie think he's a great singer, but everyone else runs away when he starts singing. I guess that's part of the "schtick" of the show. But he's not obviously terrible like Lucy Ricardo. And he's always singing. I can't tell if his singing is supposed to be bad or not.
shareIt's similar to Jack Benny's violin playing...
"You can't go wrong drowning politicians Henry." The Black Swan (1942)
I'm pretty sure that Jack Benny could actually play the violin pretty well, but in the context of the 'Jack Benny' character, I don't know if he's supposed to be good or not. So while I understand your analogy, I still don't have an answer to my original question about George Burns. But thanks for trying!
sharebut in the context of the 'Jack Benny' character, I don't know if he's supposed to be good or not.
Yes, Benny was actually a very accomplished violinist, but not when in character. Here's a clip of a violin duet with the legendary Isaac Stern. If you're patient, you'll see at about 3:00 that he's quite good; but he goofs around otherwise:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EofKXc-EOo
As for Burns, he actually made money singing as a child, so I think his voice was probably pretty good before all the cigar smoking. But, like Jimmy Durante and Louis Armstrong, nobody really cared that his singing, as an adult, wasn't great according to conventional standards. He probably could have done better, but it wouldn't have gotten any laughs--which was, after all, his real business. Sort of like Victor Borge and the piano.
Here's Burns at an advanced age, singing "I Wish I was 18 Again," and it isn't bad:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3c-WBn5cCg
A person's a person, no matter how small. -- Dr. Seuss
"I'm a singer. That's a talent I was born with... and the one I'm gonna die with." "I love to sing. It's a hobby that costs me nothing except all of my friends."
In the context of his comedy routines, everyone perceived his singing to sound just as bad as Lucy Ricardo's, and that gag continued for the rest of his life. In reality though, he wasn't a bad singer, and he even scored a hit with "I Wish I Was 18 Again."
Good question!! lol. ;-)
shareHe knows music and he knows how to sing he is just lacking a VOICE. Incidentally he and Groucho had thousands of obscure old old songs word perfect in their memories.
shareWhat makes Mr. Burns singing good is his enjoyment of singing the songs that chooses. He enjoys singing,You are meant to listen to the lyrics of the songs, The entire experience also allows you to reminisce about fond memories. The other thing that I find enjoyable about his singing is the fact that he was keeping alive many songs that have not been heard in many many years. Is there anything more sad than a song that is not sung? He was never a pitch perfect singer, nor did he claim to be: but he did love to sing and he loved to share that love with others. So in my view he was a good singer but he never was a great singer.
shareAs one person mentioned above, George could sing, enjoyed singing and could easily remember the words. What is not so well known is that he suffered a bout of dyphteria as child which damaged his vocal chords effectively ending any chance of a singing career. But thankfully it created the gravelly voice well all came to know and love.
shareIn his book about Gracie, he didn't know if he was a good singer.... he just loved to sing.
"Fasten your seatbelts. It's going to be a bumpy night"
he didn't know if he was a good singer.... he just loved to sing.