Matchmaker, Matchmaker

"Matchmaker, Matchmaker" is a song from the musical Fiddler on the Roof.

Production

BlueGobo explains "The sisters (including Bette Midler) s[a]ng "Matchmaker, Matchmaker" on the 1968 Tonys as part of a tribute to past Best Musical winners that were still running at the time."^[1]

Synopsis

Tevye and Golde's daughters sing about a matchmaker choosing a partner for them. They are satirising the issue, and mock Yente.^[2]

Analysis

Sermons From Seattle explains "The story [of Fiddler] is that the matchmaker is to meet with the mother and father and match their three daughters to prospective husbands. But the girls want to choose their own partners and not use the matchmaker. Traditions are changing. Those old traditions are beginning to crumble".^[3] This song epitomises the more traditional views regarding this issue that the daughters question at the very beginning. As time passes, they begin to think for themselves and change the tradition.

Critical reception

Allmusic said the song was one of the "famous and now-standard songs" from the film.^[4] The Washington Times said it was the "big number" for "Tevye's forward-thinking daughters".^[5] The Washington Post describes the song as "eager".^[5] Broadwayworld wrote it is a " good comic scene ".^[6] ChronicleLive wrote "Matchmaker, Matchmaker, sung by the three rebellious older daughters, is just one of the fabulous musical numbers in this show".^[7] Star Tribune describes it as "wistful".^[8] MostMetro said the song was "fun, graceful [and] typifies their close-knit sisterhood".^[9]

References