The first time I heard this song it was the Liza Minelli version, it had a big Broadway and cheerful sound. When I saw this musical my view on this song changed completely. The actress (who did a superb job) sang the song as she was going through hell, not celebrating. And the musical Cabaret is kinda like that. It's in Berlin just on the brink of WW2 and everyone is having a great time, singing and dancing. But you learn through the show that nothing is as good as it seems. That for every toast that is made, something horrid like death is around the corner. And the character of Sally Bowles (who sings this song) wants to live the glamourous life she's always known. She forgets that she's in a time of politcal and social chaos and destruction. So she goes back for one more reminisce into the past. The song sings about celebration, but Sally learns all to well that there really isn't anything to celebrate any more.
The first time I heard this song it was the Liza Minelli version, it had a big Broadway and cheerful sound. When I saw this musical my view on this song changed completely. The actress (who did a superb job) sang the song as she was going through hell, not celebrating. And the musical Cabaret is kinda like that. It's in Berlin just on the brink of WW2 and everyone is having a great time, singing and dancing. But you learn through the show that nothing is as good as it seems. That for every toast that is made, something horrid like death is around the corner. And the character of Sally Bowles (who sings this song) wants to live the glamourous life she's always known. She forgets that she's in a time of politcal and social chaos and destruction. So she goes back for one more reminisce into the past. The song sings about celebration, but Sally learns all to well that there really isn't anything to celebrate any more.