Best Known for the Fanservice: The famous nude scene lasts for merely twenty seconds and is so dimly lit that one critic quipped, "I couldn't even tell if any of them were Jewish". Yet it's the most talked-about scene in the show, leaving people who haven't seen it with the impression that the ENTIRE show takes place with the actors naked. (By contrast, other Broadway shows of the era which are known for their nudity, such as Oh! Calcutta! and Equus, live up to their reputations.)
Breakaway Pop Hit: The show produced five popular singles — the title song by The Cowsills, "Good Morning Starshine" by Oliver, "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In" by the 5th Dimension, "Ain't Got No/I Got Life" by Nina Simone, and "Easy To Be Hard" by Three Dog Night.
Genius Bonus: The opening vocal line of the song Sodomy is the titluar word sung on an upward arpeggio of the 5th scale degree, a root, and a 3rd. Or, in solfege, sol-do-mi...
Deliberately written into the show itself, which provides quite some subtext between Claude and Berger at times. In some productions, Claude and Berger actually make out throughout the show (but usually in the context of polyamorous moments with Sheila.)
Supporting character Woof: "I'm not a homosexual or anything, but I would make love to this man" (Mick Jagger). Bordering on Transparent Closet. Lampshaded by Jeanie, who points out that Woof is 'hung up on' Berger.
Jeanie: ...And furthermore; Woof is hung up on Berger! Woof: No, I'm not. What do you know? I'm hung up on Mick Jagger.
Also a Les Yay: In "White Boys," the last appealing trait of white boys listed is that they're "Beautiful like girls." (Note this is being sung by black girls.)
Retroactive Recognition: The original West End run of Hair marked the acting debut of one Tim Curry. It was during this run that he first collaborated with Richard O'Brien (who was also a member of the London cast), and the two would later work on, and star in, The Rocky Horror Show.
Tear Jerker: If "The Flesh Failures" can't make you tear up, nothing will.
Unintentional Period Piece: Was considered modern when it premiered in 1968, and now is one of the most iconic pieces of 60’s cultural history.
The film:
Adaptation Displacement: The film was made in 1979 after the hippie movement was considered to be over, disco-synth music was king, and Reagan was about to be elected. As such it was felt to be anachronistic at the time since it felt like a product of the early '70s, and didn't make too great an effort to "upgrade" the message of the movie, and only slightly "disco-ized" the original soundtrack. This is fortunate for the film's rewatchability today, however, since the musical's original message and milieu can still be considered relevant today, whereas disco hadn't reached its Popularity Polynomial yet. At the time of the release, however, it was viewed as hopelessly retro.
The brief solos by Renn Woods ("Aquarius"), Nell Carter ("Ain't Got No") and Betty Buckley ("Walking In Space").
The funky bass rhythm stylings of Wilbur Bascomb are considered definitive by bass aficionados.
Broken Base: Opinions on the film among fans are sharply divided.
Ho Yay: In addition to the stageplay's lingering Ho Yay, it's all over the place with the draft board, and the general seems to enjoy watching his men perform their routines.
, sol-do-mi...