What did critics say about the music of No, No, Nanette?

What did critics say about the music of No, No, Nanette?

• A. Some critics expressed weariness with the music, suggesting they had heard it too often.
• B. Critics praised its freshness and energetic originality.
• C. Critics noted the music was too experimental for audiences.
• D. Critics ignored the music and focused on the dance numbers.

Answer: (A)

When critics assess the music of a popular Broadway show, they often weigh how fresh and distinctive the tunes feel versus how familiar they have become from wide exposure. For No, No, Nanette, the catchy, upbeat songs quickly became nearly everywhere—performed on stage, sung by audiences, and heard in recordings. That level of ubiquity could lead to a sense of weariness among critics, as if they’d heard the melodies too often and too soon, which is exactly what this choice describes. The other possibilities run counter to the era’s pattern: praising the music as exceptionally fresh or original wasn’t the common takeaway for a score that had already achieved strong popularity; calling it too experimental wouldn’t fit the mainstream musical style of the time; and saying critics ignored the music would ignore a defining element of the show’s impact.

When critics assess the music of a popular Broadway show, they often weigh how fresh and distinctive the tunes feel versus how familiar they have become from wide exposure. For No, No, Nanette, the catchy, upbeat songs quickly became nearly everywhere—performed on stage, sung by audiences, and heard in recordings. That level of ubiquity could lead to a sense of weariness among critics, as if they’d heard the melodies too often and too soon, which is exactly what this choice describes. The other possibilities run counter to the era’s pattern: praising the music as exceptionally fresh or original wasn’t the common takeaway for a score that had already achieved strong popularity; calling it too experimental wouldn’t fit the mainstream musical style of the time; and saying critics ignored the music would ignore a defining element of the show’s impact.