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1) Finished watching the Stephen Sondhiem documentary Six by Sondheim on HBO. Sondheim is considered the creator of the modern musical - musicals that may have been heavily influenced by Sondheim include - Rent, Joss Whedon's Once More with Feeling, Title of Show, First Date, Next to Normal and Spring Awakening.
The documentary was rather fascinating in some respects. Yes, there's a lot of pandering, but there's also quite a bit of interesting information interspersed within it. For example the history behind the creation of the songs "Something's Coming" from West Side Story and "Send in the Clowns".
Sondheim relates at one point how West Side Story was criticized at the time as not having any hummable numbers - and therefore couldn't be successful. The musical wasn't successful on Broadway, and only two cast album were recorded. Two songs were taken from it at the time - Maria and Tonight. That was it. But once the movie came out and the marketing people started pushing the songs, getting DJ's to play them in order to market the movie - it was a hit, and suddenly the songs were considered hummable. They weren't until then. Which is why Sondheim gets annoyed when people complain about a song not being hummable.
Send in the Clowns was amongst the only songs he wrote that was an instant hit - and her wrote it on the fly - as a song for Glynnis Johns to sing at the opening of an act. He wrote it specifically for that actress - who wasn't a singer and had a small bell-like voice which couldn't sustain notes...so short phrases and breaths in between each few notes.
Sondheim was influenced heavily by Oscar Hammerstein who was his teacher, mentor, and stand-in parent. As well as Leonard Bernstein - his first writing partner. But his mother and father had little to do with him and basically gave him to the Hammerstein's to raise.
Later his mother told him - that her dearest wish was that he'd never been born. He was an inconvenience to her and she'd have been happier if he didn't exist. Which he related in a 1980s interview with Diane Sawyer.
Stand-outs are two numbers sung by Audra MacDonald and another one by Darren Criss, America Ferrara, and Jeremy Jordan (who sing Opening Doors - which is about a three writers (lyrcist, book writer, and musician) attempting to make it in NYC and failing miserably.)
Sondheim was interested in writing about the neurotic, the troubled, those who who didn't quite fit in or were struggling. He also loves teaching. It's the one profession that he consider sacred and loves more than anything.
Recommended for musical theater buffs, fans of Sondheim, or anyone interested in songwriting or the creation of a musical.
2) Revolution - I've given up after two episodes. ( Read more... )
3. Have also given up on Reign - it's just not holding my interest. ( Read more... )
4. Best Shows of the Year? Hmmm...too many tv shows and more coming. Apparently the 21st Century is the Century of Television? People keep saying that the computer will bring an end to tv soon, but I doubt it. We still have 10-15 years. Or so I hope.
Here's an impromptu list off the top of my head, but I reserve the right to change my mind or be convinced otherwise. Keep in mind I do not have Showtime, so have not watched any of the shows on Showtime and can't comment on them. Also have not seen every tv show on, god, who has? No one has that much time. They did a rather good joke with Neil Patrick Harris during the Emmy's regarding that.
Memorable Television Series that I Watched this Year - which Stand Out from the Pack. (And yes if they are currently on or more recently seen they had a definite advantage.)
( Read more... )
Biggest Disappointments:
( Read more... )
The documentary was rather fascinating in some respects. Yes, there's a lot of pandering, but there's also quite a bit of interesting information interspersed within it. For example the history behind the creation of the songs "Something's Coming" from West Side Story and "Send in the Clowns".
Sondheim relates at one point how West Side Story was criticized at the time as not having any hummable numbers - and therefore couldn't be successful. The musical wasn't successful on Broadway, and only two cast album were recorded. Two songs were taken from it at the time - Maria and Tonight. That was it. But once the movie came out and the marketing people started pushing the songs, getting DJ's to play them in order to market the movie - it was a hit, and suddenly the songs were considered hummable. They weren't until then. Which is why Sondheim gets annoyed when people complain about a song not being hummable.
Send in the Clowns was amongst the only songs he wrote that was an instant hit - and her wrote it on the fly - as a song for Glynnis Johns to sing at the opening of an act. He wrote it specifically for that actress - who wasn't a singer and had a small bell-like voice which couldn't sustain notes...so short phrases and breaths in between each few notes.
Sondheim was influenced heavily by Oscar Hammerstein who was his teacher, mentor, and stand-in parent. As well as Leonard Bernstein - his first writing partner. But his mother and father had little to do with him and basically gave him to the Hammerstein's to raise.
Later his mother told him - that her dearest wish was that he'd never been born. He was an inconvenience to her and she'd have been happier if he didn't exist. Which he related in a 1980s interview with Diane Sawyer.
Stand-outs are two numbers sung by Audra MacDonald and another one by Darren Criss, America Ferrara, and Jeremy Jordan (who sing Opening Doors - which is about a three writers (lyrcist, book writer, and musician) attempting to make it in NYC and failing miserably.)
Sondheim was interested in writing about the neurotic, the troubled, those who who didn't quite fit in or were struggling. He also loves teaching. It's the one profession that he consider sacred and loves more than anything.
Recommended for musical theater buffs, fans of Sondheim, or anyone interested in songwriting or the creation of a musical.
2) Revolution - I've given up after two episodes. ( Read more... )
3. Have also given up on Reign - it's just not holding my interest. ( Read more... )
4. Best Shows of the Year? Hmmm...too many tv shows and more coming. Apparently the 21st Century is the Century of Television? People keep saying that the computer will bring an end to tv soon, but I doubt it. We still have 10-15 years. Or so I hope.
Here's an impromptu list off the top of my head, but I reserve the right to change my mind or be convinced otherwise. Keep in mind I do not have Showtime, so have not watched any of the shows on Showtime and can't comment on them. Also have not seen every tv show on, god, who has? No one has that much time. They did a rather good joke with Neil Patrick Harris during the Emmy's regarding that.
Memorable Television Series that I Watched this Year - which Stand Out from the Pack. (And yes if they are currently on or more recently seen they had a definite advantage.)
( Read more... )
Biggest Disappointments:
( Read more... )