musical confusion....help!!?

According to Film Studies 205- Musicals are a way to rupture the conventions of Hollywood Classic Style with out much damage. This means with the exception of the Back Stage Musical-Ephistphillia does nnot have to be maintained. So basically-it doesn't matter and no.

ptee to thread!!

Depends on the musical. When they burst into song in "Singin' In The Rain", they defiitely know they're singing; ditto with some parts of "West Side Story" and "The Sound Of Music". "Mary Poppins", IIRC, uses the music as a conversation substitue.

Is now a good time to make an embarrassing confession? OK...

There's a Fred 'n' Ginge film that features a song that begins "Isn't it a lovely day to be caught in the rain?" I LOVED that film almost as much as a boy in my class whose name I will not give in case he googles himself one day. In my favourite daydream I would sing this song to the object of my affections DURING WET BREAK (see?) and he would instantly fall in love with me. Sigh. If only real life worked like that, what fun we would have! So, the answer is yes - they know they are singing and they do it because it will end up in a quick foxtrot around the bandstand in the park and no-tongues kissing.