A Pagam love song is a traditional song from the Kokborok-speaking indigenous community of Tripura, a state in Northeast India. Pagam love songs are a significant part of the cultural heritage and oral tradition of the community. These love songs are composed and sung by both men and women of the Pagam tribe, expressing their emotions, feelings, and experiences of love and romance. Pagam love songs often revolve around themes such as courtship, admiration, longing, separation, and, at times, even heartbreak. The lyrics of a Pagam love song are usually in the Kokborok language, the dominant language of the Kokborok community. The language is known for its unique phonetic structure and musicality, which adds a special charm to the songs.
A typical Esther William musical set in Tahiti with Howard Keel as her love interest. Good: The dream sequence at the end with Williams under water.
Bad: Do they really just give excess kids to lonely people in Tahiti?
Meh: Howard Keels voice just doesn't fit the tropical locale.
So apparently in 50s Tahiti they are just giving away kids to random rich whites, THIS HAPPENS IN THIS MOVIE TWICE, dude shows up and suddenly is raising 3 fucking Tahitian kids. -Esther Williams sings two of her own songs but is dubbed by Betty want in The Sea of the Moon -Produced by Arthur Freed -Based on the book Tahiti Landfall.
The language is known for its unique phonetic structure and musicality, which adds a special charm to the songs. The melodies of Pagam love songs are characterized by a slow and melodious rhythm, accompanied by traditional musical instruments like the bamboo flute, drums, and stringed instruments. The soothing tunes resonate with the emotions embedded in the lyrics, creating a mesmerizing experience for the listeners.
Musical Monday: Pagan Love Song (1950)
It’s no secret that the Hollywood Comet loves musicals.
In 2010, I revealed I had seen 400 movie musicals over the course of eight years. Now that number is over 500. To celebrate and share this musical love, here is my weekly feature about musicals.
This week’s musical:
“Pagan Love Song” (1950) – Musical #75
Studio:
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Director:
Robert Alton
Starring:
Esther Williams, Howard Keel, Minna Gombell, Rita Moreno, Charles Mauu
Plot:
Half-American, half-Tahitian Mimi (Williams) dreams of getting off the island-where she lives with her rich aunt (Gombell)- and going to the United States. Ohio school teacher Hazard Endicott (Keel) moves to the island to run a small plantation his uncle left him and is happy to relax and be lazy on the island. Will Hazard convince Mimi to change her plans?
Trivia:
-Esther Williams was pregnant while filming Pagan Love song, which made her especially concerned about filming a scene in an outrigger, according to Williams’ autobiography, The Million Dollar Mermaid.
-Howard Keel broke had a broken arm during part of the film, and his cast is covered with a towel during a bike riding scene, according to Keel’s autobiography “Only Make Believe: My Life in Show Business.”
-Originally was supposed to star Cyd Charisse and Van Johnson, but Charisse got pregnant, according to Esther Williams autobiography.
-Originally supposed to be directed by Stanley Donen, but after having a difficult time with Donen in “Take Me Out to the Ballgame,” Williams requested otherwise, according to her autobiography.
-Esther Williams sings two of her own songs but is dubbed by Betty want in “The Sea of the Moon”
-Produced by Arthur Freed
-Based on the book “Tahiti Landfall”
Howard Keel and Esther Williams in Pagan Love Song
Notable Songs:
None. They were all lousy.
My review:
From the adorable, colorful poster you think “Oh this film has so much potential!”….But this isn’t one of Esther Williams better films. I’m not sure if it’s as bad as “Jupiter’s Darling,” but it’s up there. And the fact that Williams is made up in tan makeup as a part Tahitian isn’t even the worst of it.
Everyone in the film laughs non stop and smiles like an idiot for most of the movie–I guess to show that everyone-even the Ohia school teacher- loves Tahiti. But non-stop laughing in a 72 minute movie can get pretty annoying.
If you read the plot above, you can see there is absolutely nothing to this plot. As I was watching it, I even found myself thinking, “So…what’s the point of this story?” (And that’s coming from someone who has watched and enjoys silly fluff films).
The filming of this movie was about as unhappy as the viewing experience, according to both Williams’ and Keel’s autobiographies.
The director had never shot on location, Keel and Arthur Freed had a falling out, Keel was unhappy with the score and songs, Williams was nervous about sailing in an outrigger over jagged reef while pregnant, Keel had a broken arm, and it rained a large portion of the filming, according to their autobiographies.
For a film set at the beach, starring Esther Williams who is wearing a sarong 40 percent of the film, you would think there would be swimming galore. In reality there are only two swimming scenes:
-Esther Williams singing a tune while a group (her swimming class) swim in a diamond behind her.
-Williams and Keel swim in a lavish dream sequence in the last 10 minutes of the film.
For me, the most notable feature in this film is that you get to hear Esther Williams’ own singing voice in a couple of songs, while she was usually dubbed. For the more serious ballad, Betty Wand dubbed Williams but from what little we hear, Williams sounds decent.
Films that came out of the “Freed Unit” (produced by Arthur Freed), are generally glittery, fantastic forms of entertainment. Which is why I find it so shocking that “Pagan Love Song” is a real stinker.
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Closed captions (CC) refer to subtitles in the available language with the addition of relevant non-dialogue information.
These songs are often performed on special occasions like weddings, cultural festivals, and religious ceremonies. Pagam love songs serve as a form of entertainment and also provide a platform for the community members to celebrate their cultural identity and express their love and emotions. In recent years, Pagam love songs have gained recognition beyond the local community. With the advent of technology and social media, these love songs have found a wider audience, creating a sense of pride and preserving the cultural heritage of the Kokborok community. In conclusion, Pagam love songs are an integral part of the Kokborok community's culture and tradition. They not only express love and emotions but also preserve the rich heritage of the community. These songs continue to be cherished by the people of Tripura and serve as a symbol of the community's cultural identity..
Reviews for "The Role of Pagam Love Songs in Preserving Folklore"
1. John - 2 stars - "I was really excited to listen to the new "Pagam Love Song" as I had heard great things about the band. However, I was thoroughly disappointed. The song lacked any depth or creativity, and the lyrics were incredibly cliché. It felt like I had heard the same song a hundred times before. Overall, it was a forgettable and unimpressive track."
2. Sarah - 1 star - "I can't believe "Pagam Love Song" received such positive reviews. Personally, I found it to be a complete waste of my time. The melody was repetitive and uninteresting, and the vocals lacked emotion. It felt like the band was just going through the motions instead of putting any real effort into the song. I won't be listening to any more of their music in the future."
3. Mark - 2 stars - "While I appreciate the effort put into "Pagam Love Song," I couldn't connect with it at all. The lyrics were generic and didn't resonate with me, and the overall composition felt uninspired. The song lacked originality and failed to leave any lasting impact. I hope the band explores more unique and thought-provoking themes in their future work."
4. Emily - 1 star - "I'm sorry, but "Pagam Love Song" just didn't do it for me. It felt like a cookie-cutter pop song with no real substance. The production was lackluster, and the vocals were mediocre at best. I found myself skipping to the next track halfway through because I simply couldn't bear listening to it any longer. It's a forgettable and disappointing song."