“Celluloid Heroes” for 2016

Amid many other (and bigger) reasons why 2016 was a rough year in the news, David Bowie, Alan Rickman, and Gene Wilder all died. According to his nephew, Wilder had kept his Alzheimer's secret so that children wouldn't hear adults saying that Willy Wonka was sick. Processing some of that, I rewrote some of the verses of The Kinks' "Celluloid Heroes," which as a movie guy I'd long loved, to fit film stars who had died in the last several years. I had thoughts of working with a sound editor friend to do up a proper video for YouTube, but never did. This challenge gave me reason to go back and rework a couple lines and share it with somebody.

I've put all the Kinks' lines in italics for easy separation; my lines are the verses, plus one I had to rewrite in the chorus (as several of those named don't actually have stars on Hollywood Boulevard).

Link to original song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTJVclgwS5g

Everybody's a dreamer and everybody's a star,

And everybody's in movies, it doesn't matter who you are.

There are stars in every city,

In every house and on every street,

And if you walk down Hollywood Boulevard

Their names are written in concrete

The Goblin King is still glittering

In a labyrinth far beyond

Hans Gruber would still be falling

But Rickman’s got a magic wand

Pay your respects to Mr. Ledger

Whose star is absent but not yet gone

He showed us so much of his fear and love

And he was still only just warming up

You can see all the stars as you walk down Hollywood Boulevard,

So many names are written there, some written only in the churchyard

People who worked and suffered and struggled for fame,

Some who succeeded and some who suffered in vain.

O’Toole crossing deserts

With all his thirst and pride

Robin Williams’ manic impressions

That masked all that hurt inside

Swayze asking you out on the dance floor

So you won’t ever be outshone

P.S. Hoffman gave outsiders humanity

And then he passed in his bathroom alone

Give Mr. Nimoy a greeting

With your fingers spread in a V

Return a nod to the dignified Dracula,

Lord Summerisle Christopher Lee

And flash a smile toward Gene Wilder

As thanks for the joy he brought

You can never forget the laughter in his eyes

He showed no matter what or who he lost

You can see all the stars as you walk down Hollywood Boulevard,

So many names are written there, some written only in the churchyard

People who worked and suffered and struggled for fame,

Some who succeeded and some who suffered in vain.

Everybody's a dreamer and everybody's a star

And everybody's in show biz, it doesn't matter who you are.

And those who are successful,

Be always on your guard,

Success walks hand in hand with failure

Along Hollywood Boulevard.

I wish my life was a non-stop Hollywood movie show,

A fantasy world of celluloid villains and heroes,

Because celluloid heroes never feel any pain

And celluloid heroes never really die.

You can see all the stars as you walk down Hollywood Boulevard,

So many names are written there, some written only in the churchyard

People who worked and suffered and struggled for fame,

Some who succeeded and some who suffered in vain.

Oh celluloid heroes never feel any pain

Oh celluloid heroes never really die.

I wish my life was a non-stop Hollywood movie show,

A fantasy world of celluloid villains and heroes,

Because celluloid heroes never feel any pain

And celluloid heroes never really die.