I've only seen the show once, unlike many of the people here. But it's stuck in my head, and I hope to see it again someday, maybe in Vegas or even Broadway. I was born in 1978. I think I was born between what's called Generation X and Gen Y. How does JB fit in with what your age background is? As I say, I've only heard some of the music on oldies radio, but for some people here, it must be something they can remember. Or do you just like the show for the show and the story?
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JB and Different Age Groups
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Posted 5 years ago #
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I'm just a little older than you. I never grew up hearing the Four Seasons and had only heard maybe 4 or 5 of the songs used in JB before I saw the show. As you can tell by my frequency of posting, that didn't keep me away... ;)
I first saw the show in SF with my parents, and they LOVED it. As I said, I didn't grow up with the Four Seasons. My parents were not big fans of theirs and never owned a Four Seasons album. (They were more fans of solo artists like Johnny Mathis and Sam Cooke.) They still wanted to go back again when the new cast came in, and really enjoyed it then, too.
I'm still not really a Four Seasons fan. I'm just here for the show. :)
Posted 5 years ago # -
I was born near the start of Generation Y but grew up listening to alot of the music from that era because this was the music my parents listened too while they were growing up. They'd always play it on the car radio whenever we'd all go for a drive. But as I got older I developed my own taste in music, some of which my parents hated, and stopped listening to it. But after seeing Jersey Boys I started rediscovering the music from that era and some of it, especially the Four Seasons, are up on my most played songlist in my Ipod along with some of today's music.
Posted 5 years ago # -
I did grow up listening to Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. I was in the 6th grade at Annunciation School in Crestwood New York. I alway listened to WABC/Cousin Brucie, and I remember his saying (as a joke!) that the song "I've Got You Under My Skin" by FV/Four Seasons was the theme song for a movie called "Fantastic Voyage" (where scientists are miniaturized, placed in a minaturized submarine and injected into a human being)...1966!
I grew up with the music and was always a fan, so seeing Jersey Boys helped me reconnect to a wonderful time in my life :)
Posted 5 years ago # -
Helen,
I was in college during the late sixties and early seventies, and I was a groupie back then - saw the real 4 Seasons four times. So for me the show is also a way to reconnect to that time.Posted 5 years ago # -
Wonderful memories, I'm sure!
The music just takes me back to my youth and the great memories of living in New York. We moved to Mexico City when I was in the 6th grade, so I missed alot of what was going on in the US music scene. But...I have wonderful memories of listening to them on my transistor radio and the "clock radio" in my room! How about that for oldies but goodies :)
Posted 5 years ago # -
I grew up with FV and the Four Seasons but never really knew their story until JB. Just loved their music and love it even more now! IE
Posted 5 years ago # -
I too grew up with Four Seasons music and saw them in concert. So, for me it's a wonderful trip back to my school days. That was the first draw for me to see the show. But the story behind it all is so wonderful that I too love it even more and more every time I see it. Getting to know the whole cast makes it even more of a treat and an experience that nothing can compare too! There are always young people at the show and they are so enthusiastic and love it so much, it's definitely a show for all ages!
Posted 5 years ago # -
I agree - nothing can compare to the Jersey Boys phenomenon. My little Samantha can't wait to come to the show on September 29. It will be her fourth time. Of course, what type of grandmother would I be if I didn't accompany her. IE
Posted 5 years ago # -
Irene - Yes, you MUST be a good grandma and accompany Samantha. It just wouldn't be right any other way!!!
Posted 5 years ago # -
I'm basically a "tweener" because I was born in 1966, but did not truly listen to Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons until 1971 because my older sister had all of their albums and we'd have the music playing day in and day out. Also, the car clubs in SF had the Four Seasons blasting through their 8-track and cassette car players through the neighborhood. They were very partial to "Sherry" and "Big Girls Don't Cry"..... My sister won tickets to watch the Four Seasons perform in the SF Bay Area in the late 70's and brought me to watch my first live concert featuring Frankie Valli. This October, Frankie Valli will be performing in SF once again and will purchase tix for that concert. I've watched the post "Joe Long"/"Charles Caliello" Four Seasons live, and the "younger" Four Seasons on TV, so I'm sure they will be accompanying Frankie this time around too.
Now to the Jersey Boys..... I've had a feeling that the play was connected to Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons because when my son started singing along with the OBC recording in the shower, I knew that this was something I had to see due to remembering the songs and who performed them. After several shows, friendships made with cast members/Jersey Boy Bloggers/JBB Fantastic Fans and numerous cast public appearances, I'm just ready for the next step and that would be to watch one of the casts in combination with a vacation trip.
As I observe the crowds at the stage door and at the public appearances, the generation gap is truly evident. All fans, young and old, sing or hum the songs while waiting, they share experiences of having met Frankie Valli or any of the Four Seasons in person or watching them live in concert, and then share those experiences with the Jersey Boys cast and how their portrayal of the group brings back so many memories.
I've had the good fortune to have met Irene Eizen and her Granddaughter Samantha during the August 16th show and even though Samantha is nine, she knows who Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons are, as well as principals from the Broadway and 2nd National Tour casts of Jersey Boys. I was very impressed with her knowledge!
Posted 5 years ago # -
Thank you Mike. I will let Sammy know. She will be very excited by your comments. She is coming to NYC with my daughter in late September and the three of us are going again but this time we will be in ROW A - to the side so part of the view is blocked but the thrill of being that close is exhilarating! Can't wait. Hope everyone in your family is well! IE
Posted 5 years ago # -
I'm a teenager, but I did kind of grow up with this music in a way. I remember my dad playing their songs for me and hearing them in dinners and on oldies radio. I always liked the songs, even if I didn't put it together that they were all by the same group for a long time. Everytime I would hear about the show or see one of their performances on TV, I would think "Oh, I love that song. I should see that musical!"
I'm also a huge theatre geek so I figured I should see a show that won the Tony. Needless to say, I feel in love with the show :)Posted 5 years ago # -
I was born in 1954 and grew up listening to my older brother's Four Seasons albums and played them continuously while trying to write down the lyrics. I never could get the line in "My Eyes Adored You" about walking home every day over something something Bay?? It drove me crazy!! Fast forward about 17 yers ago and my younger sister and I are at the Hilton in Reno. I see a poster of Frankie Valli and dragged my sister (she had no idea who he was) to see if there were tickets still available. There were ($20 LOL) and so I told her we had to go early so I could get a good seat. We went an hour early and the maitre d' sat us at the front center table and I got to hear the most wonderful performance. Frankie mentioned that he and his producer had a partnership for 30 years based on a handshake. I thought that was amazing and Frankie was pretty proud of it. He came over before leaving the stage and shook my hand. I couldn't believe it!! My sister thought I was nuts!! Needless to say, seeing this play and realizing the history of this wonderful group has just been phenomenal. I asked my daughter what my 15 year old granddaughter would like for her birthday. I was surprised when she said she wanted to go see Jersey Boys and so did my daughter. We all went in February and they loved it!! Jersey Boys really entertains all generations. Their music is timeless and the back story is really interesting.
Posted 5 years ago # -
Linda, since I got a few years on ya, I think ya need some, ya know, guidance. It's Barnegat Bridge and Bay.
Barnegat Bay is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean, about 30 miles long, along the coast of Ocean County, NJ. There are two bridges spanning the Bay, but Frankie is not specific as to which one they walked over as Frankie carried Mary Ann's books! (I understand he later dedicated the song to his second wife, Mary Ann.)
Kenny Nolan ("I Like Dreamin') was a writer of MEAY, and if I recall correctly, he mentioned to me that the song started out as "Blue Eyes in Georgia." If you listen to "I Like Dreamin', the similarities to MEAY are evident. When MEAY hit #1 in March, 1975, Kenny also had the #2 song, Labelle's Lady Marmalade. (and when Maramalade with Christina Aguilera hit #1 again in 2002, it made Kenny the only songwriter in history to hit #1 in two different centuries).
Hope this clarifies it, Linda. In fact, Barnegat Bridge and Bay was a question on one of the TV game shows years ago.
Posted 5 years ago # -
God bless you Howard. That was too much for my 12 year old brain back in the day!!
Posted 5 years ago # -
New member here.
I'm 36 years young and I just bought my first Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons CD three years ago.
When I saw that Jersey Boys was coming to L.A. I bought four tickets. One for me, my boyfriend and my parents (who are both just a few years younger than Frankie).
Needless to say we all loved the play, however my boyfriend and myself REALLY loved the play and are planning on seeing in in NYC next month (if it doesn't sell out of course).
Frankie is going to be doing two concerts in SoCal here at the end of the month and I really want to try and make it to one of them.
I'm glad I found this forum. Everyone seems to be nice and respectful to each other here.
Take care.
Posted 5 years ago # -
Welcome LAFan. My husband and I are just a few years older than you and we love JB too. If you know your travel dates to NYC try to book your tickets now. They do sell out quickly. Most of the original cast should still be there next month. You are in for a treat!
Posted 5 years ago # -
Welcome, LAFan. My fellow Jersey Boys fan Melissa is right. Try to book asap for NYC. You will love the show there as well. IE
Posted 5 years ago # -
Glad you joined our little community! And yes, everyone is respectful here - this is why I love reading about Jersey Boys on this particular bulletin board. Go to NYC to see the OBC while you can - they are quite an amazing cast...enjoy!
Posted 5 years ago # -
Welcome LAFan, hope you get to see OBC. They are amazing...You will love it here in JERSEY BOYS WORLD....
Posted 5 years ago # -
LAFan!! Welcome! I saw them in LA too.
I'm 16, so I didn't really listen to the Four Seasons. I knew some of the Four Seasons songs, Like "Walk Like A Man" and "Big Girls Don't Cry." I also knew other songs, but had no idea who sang them, like "My Eyes Adored You," "Bye, Bye Baby," and "Working My Way Back to You" amongst others. I actually really wanted to see JB because I am in love with musical theatre. When I saw JB for the first time I was kind of like, "Wow, I really didn't know they did that song. Crazy!" Now, whenever I hear a Four Seasons/Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons song, I'm like "Oh, I know that song. Yay!"
Huzzah Jersey Boys, bringing great music to another generation!
Posted 5 years ago # -
Jojen (two posts up) - you forgot to mention your age. Hahahahahaha (kidding)
Posted 5 years ago # -
I, too,remember growing up in Queens, NY and listening to WABC radio and Cousin Brucie. I also remember running home from junior high school in time to watch American Bandstand and all the groups performing on there, including the Four Seasons. I was 13 the year they made their debut on the show. Loved their music then and still love it now, only now I love to listen to the JB sing the songs! bg
Posted 5 years ago # -
I was born in the 70's and remember listening to the Four Season's music because that's all my parents, aunts and uncles listened to. Now that I have my own children and my 8 year old daughter is totally into Jersey Boys and also the 4 Seasons, it's like I'm back to my childhood. All we play in the car now are 4 Season songs. Frankly, I'd rather have my children listen to these songs than what's out there nowadays.
Posted 5 years ago #
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