Singing in the Rain Comparison

Singing in the rain is a song performed by Gene Kelly in the musical Jazz Man. It was originally released in 1929, right after the Great Depression. When people make songs and movies, they usually reflect on what is happening in history during that time period. The original song is a joyous man singing in the rain, happily trotting through the puddles. This is a reflection of the time period. 1929 marked the year that the US finally was out of the Great Depression. This is a period called the "roaring twenties." It makes sense that this song would be recorded in happy spirits.

The movie Clockwork Orange was filmed in 1971. This is a period where everyone is experimenting with drugs and free spirited. The movie is based on a couple of teenagers experimenting with drugs that make them violent. This movie plays the song "signing in the rain" as the teenager is raping a woman. This is completely contradictory to the original song. Here I believe the director let them use this song because it is meant to be a happy song, and in the movie these teenagers are so happy on their drugs and causing trouble. To them they couldn't be happier raping this woman. I think it is meant to cause the viewers a little disgust when they watch this man singing such a happy song, while committing a horrible act.

Theses two differences in the same song, just goes to show the difference movies have during a specific time period.