Beauty School Dropout

Album: Grease soundtrack (1978)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This was originally written for the 1971 Broadway production of Grease and was covered the following year by the English rock and roll group The Wild Angels. Avalon, one of the first teen idols of the '50s, popularized the song in the film version of Grease. He appears as the Teen Angel in a daydream sequence and encourages failed beautician Frenchy (Didi Conn) to go back to high school. Avalon later said of the role: "Sure, I was making fun of my old image in that movie, but why not? You've got to laugh at yourself."
  • Boyz II Men performed this in the Fox network's 2016 revival Grease: Live!, with Carly Rae Jepsen as Frenchy. "It's definitely a classic, and you don't want to go too far away from the original," Boyz II Men's Nathan Morris told Rolling Stone. "We'll add our vocal Boyz II Men spin. It definitely won't be the same, but we'll try to hold up to the integrity of what it really was in the beginning because that's what everybody fell in love with."
  • Avalon reprised his role as the Teen Angel in a couple stage productions of Grease, including the 1996 US Tour and the 2003 US Tour. He also performed "Beauty School Dropout" on the NBC reality show Grease: You're the One That I Want! that cast the roles of Danny and Sandy for the 2007 Broadway revival.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Women Who Rock

Women Who RockSong Writing

Evelyn McDonnell, editor of the book Women Who Rock, on why the Supremes are just as important as Bob Dylan.

He Hit Me (And It Felt Like A Kiss): A History Of Abuse Pop

He Hit Me (And It Felt Like A Kiss): A History Of Abuse PopSong Writing

Songs that seem to glorify violence against women are often misinterpreted - but not always.

Krishna Das

Krishna DasSongwriter Interviews

The top chant artist in the Western world, Krishna Das talks about how these Hindu mantras compare to Christian worship songs.

Tom Bailey of Thompson Twins

Tom Bailey of Thompson TwinsSongwriter Interviews

Tom stopped performing Thompson Twins songs in 1987, in part because of their personal nature: "Hold Me Now" came after an argument with his bandmate/girlfriend Alannah Currie.

Jimmy Webb

Jimmy WebbSongwriter Interviews

Webb talks about his classic songs "By the Time I Get to Phoenix," "Wichita Lineman" and "MacArthur Park."

Jackie DeShannon - "Put a Little Love in Your Heart"

Jackie DeShannon - "Put a Little Love in Your Heart"They're Playing My Song

It wasn't her biggest hit as a songwriter (that would be "Bette Davis Eyes"), but "Put a Little Love in Your Heart" had a family connection for Jackie.