Nowadays/Hot Honey Rag (Chicago)

The song 'Nowadays/Hot Honey Rag' from the musical 'Chicago,' performed by Catherine Zeta-Jones, is a vibrant and satirical commentary on the fleeting nature of fame and the hedonistic lifestyle of the Jazz Age. The lyrics introduce Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly, two notorious characters who have become infamous for their scandalous actions. The Bandmaster's introduction sets the stage for a spectacle, highlighting the sensationalism that surrounds their lives and the public's fascination with their notoriety.

Roxie and Velma's duet reflects on the idea that one can enjoy the life they are living and live the life they like, but it comes with a caveat. The mention of marrying Harry but messing around with Ike suggests a life filled with choices and consequences, hinting at the moral ambiguity and the pursuit of personal desires. The repeated phrases 'Isn't it grand? Isn't it great?' emphasize the superficial allure of their lifestyle, while the acknowledgment that 'nothing stays' and that things will change in 50 years underscores the transient nature of their fame and the inevitable passage of time.

The Bandmaster's call to 'pick up the pace' and 'make the parties longer, make the skirts shorter' encapsulates the reckless abandon and the pursuit of pleasure that characterized the Jazz Age. The final line, 'Let's all go to hell in a fast car and keep it hot,' serves as a metaphor for the self-destructive tendencies and the relentless pursuit of excitement that defined the era. The song, with its lively tempo and catchy lyrics, captures the essence of the roaring twenties while also offering a critique of the superficiality and impermanence of fame and fortune.