David Letterman - "MacArthur Park"

[MrScorpio]

[Tom_Foolery]

1. Tough song to sing...

And Will Lee did a great job!

[Coventina]

2. I prefer "Jurassic Park"

[hlthe2b]

3. That song always truly baffled me...

Lyrics so damned bizarre, the middle secton that seems to come truly out of nowhere-- and selecting Richard Harris to sing it.... Simply suggested those who thought Jimmy Webb did in on a bet (or on drugs) might well have credence I recall an interview with Bobby Hart where a bet was mentioned...?)

That said, there was always something about it that I really liked (I do like emotional triggering music)... and frankly Harris was the perfect choice to sing it. I admit getting weepy hearing it especially after all these years.

This was a great performance on Letterman. Thanks for posting, as all those late night shows are past my bedtime, nowadays

[Art_from_Ark]

6. I've always liked that song, as performed by Richard Harris

The instrumental part especially seems to sum up the (late) '60s for me. Maybe because one of the local TV stations used it to plug their news program?

[orleans]

7. there's no mention of a bet in the wiki piece

but it's rather interesting
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacArthur_Park_(song)

including the part where webb was unable to correct harris from using the possessive.
" Throughout the recording, Harris can be heard using an incorrect possessive form, "MacArthur's Park". Webb has said he tried correcting Harris during retakes, but gave up when Harris simply could not (or would not) sing the correct words"

and this:

""MacArthur Park's" unusual metaphors and sentimentality have made it a frequent target of parody and ridicule over the years. Speaking about the controversy in a 2007 interview, songwriter Jimmy Webb said, "Those lyrics were all very real to me: there was nothing psychedelic about it to me. The cake, it was an available object. It was what I saw in the park at the birthday parties. But people have very strong reactions to the song. There's been a lot of intellectual venom." "

i always loved that song. i i never really heard it until several years after it was released. i was going through a very difficult time over the death of my grandmother and the sorrowful feel to the song mirrored my own.

[Corgigal]

4. My favorite is Donna Summer's version

What say you Mr. Scorpio ?

[CBGLuthier]

5. Saw this a week or so ago. The singer and the guitarist were both incredible

written of course by Oklahoma's own Jimmy Webb.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

9. That was Jimmy playing keyboards with Paul. great version.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

8. fabulous. thanks for sharing it.

[hibbing]

10. Will Lee

MrScorpio, thanks for posting this, pretty awesome. I think Will Lee is one of the players in some kind of Beatles tribute show.

Peace