Musical Character Assassinations: Boris Johnson
Thursday, February 7th, 2008“I am the Captain of the Pinafore”, HMS Pinafore by Gilbert and Sullivan
How could one pick anything other than a song from a Gilbert and Sullivan operetta to reflect bumbling Boris? The wittiness, humour and, it may be added, apparent idiocy contained in the operetas sum up the Tories’ Mayoral candidate so absolutely I wonder whether the Carl Rosa company have thought of employing Mr Johnson?
On the face of it, Sullivan’s music is very simple - just like Boris Johnson. However, what has given his operettas such longevity is the wittiness of the writing and the extent to which he pastiches previous styles. In this way, he is very much like Mr Johnson as well (though I am not quite convinced as to whether the present-day politician is quite a intentional in this respect!)
Just before the Captain and crew sing this song, there is a little section of recitative. Traditionally, recit (as it is commonly known) is pretty tuneless and only serves to further the story (the songs are generally about emotions and only enhance our understanding of the characters). In this example, however, the only words sung are general ‘passing-the-time-of-day’ niceties such as “Good morning” and “I’m in reasonable health”.
This may not seem particularly humorous or witty today, but to an audience used to the recit of Mozart and Rossini, Gilbert and Sullivan were really being rather subversive.
Before Boris Johnson was selected to stand for London Mayor, I saw a hustings session between the four Conservative candidates. I couldn’t help but laugh the Tory MP as he spoke; he was desperately trying to produce grandiose oratory and be a great statesman, yet he could only produce a poor imitation of the politicians he was clearly trying to emulate. He stumbled over words, spoke loudly, but far too quickly, and still managed to receive a rousing cheer at the end. Like Gilbert and Sullivan’s operettas, we love Boris despite his failings and bumblings - perhaps even because of them.
The crew in this song are very much like that crowd at the husting. The Captain sings of his virtues and his greatness:
“I am never known to quail at the fury of a gale and I’m never, never sick at sea!”
The crew, knowing the shortcomings of the Captain reply:
“What, never?”
The Captain remains steadfast:
“No, never!”
The crew try again (with the music cleverly emphasising the word never)
“What, never?”
The Captain gives in (could this be a premonition of a Johnson vs. Paxman encounter of the future?):
“Well, hardly ever!”
Despite this, the crew are loyal and adoring and proceed to joyously sing:
“He’s hardly ever sick at sea! Then give three cheers, and one cheer more, For the hardy Captain of the Pinafore!”
Which they repeat for good measure.
But why should we be so much like this crew? After all, we are in an age of open disregard for many of our political leaders, yet we still adore Boris Johnson (which, as it happens can be the only possible reason the Conservatives have selected such a character to stand for London Mayor).
Surely it can only be because of Boris’ hilarious appearances on Have I Got News For You, and therefore his political status is a virtue of our celebrity-obsessed age.
Like the witticisms of Gilbert and Sullivan’s operettas, Boris Johnson’s popularity surmises our age. And in their words and music, it is all too easy to see this typically English, bumbling, witty Eton and Oxford boy playing at being a serious politician.