Musicals

Cpt Matt Sparrow · Post by **Cpt Matt Sparrow** » Sat Jul 11, 2009 8:43 am

I have been rehearsing a lot lately for the school musical "The Wedding Singer"...

I thought I was going to hate it; the 80's isn't exactly my favourite decade, and a lot of the direction for electric guitar is Van Halen type ad libs (very un me)

It has been surprisingly great fun!
It has made me make my peace with the art form of musicals and also I have developed a style on the electric guitar I didn't know I had in me.

The only confusing thing is I have difficulty telling when people are acting or not LOL. Yesterday three sixth form girls were talking and using hand gestures while the lead character was talking. I though "jeez! that is so rude to talk while he is tying to remember his lines" and then saw the drama teacher direct them and realised my mistake!

Oh well just keep my head down!

Matt

Post by **Trigger** » Sat Jul 11, 2009 12:53 pm

I can't stand musicals! I find them a lazy way to view a story. I don't meant to sound rude and perhaps I am stuck in mind set that is focused on old song and dance numbers, but they just don't do it for me.
I noticed in recent years that on the West End stage they had started to convert old 80's comedies into stage musicals. I think anything that that gets people into accepting the arts is great but I do wonder if its pandering to low level understanding of art?

I am glad you are enjoying it Matt, what tunes are you playing?

Ian

Cpt Matt Sparrow · Post by **Cpt Matt Sparrow** » Sat Jul 11, 2009 12:58 pm

Trigger wrote:I can't stand musicals! I find them a lazy way to view a story. I don't meant to sound rude and perhaps I am stuck in mind set that is focused on old song and dance numbers, but they just don't do it for me.
I noticed in recent years that on the West End stage they had started to convert old 80's comedies into stage musicals. I think anything that that gets people into accepting the arts is great but I do wonder if its pandering to low level understanding of art?

I am glad you are enjoying it Matt, what tunes are you playing?

Ian

Well, l I have said some very strong stuff myself against musicals before!

I think I despised the way they seemed like a dumbed down opera LOL and also I hated the 'lovey-ness' of it all.
Watching a musical on tv is still hell for me. I really get into the story, and then the cast are all cavorting around and I am rudely awoken from the concentration I was in watching the story as a normal film!!

Anyway that was the old Matt. The new Matt can cope with them a bit now!

The songs are all 'in the style of 80's music'...Van Halen's Jump is parodied, and every other 80's pop music cliche is shamlessley exploited but to fun effect

Matt

NicDots · Post by **NicDots** » Sat Jul 11, 2009 4:09 pm

Some musicals are ok. I liked Chicago!

Paul Wolfe · Post by **Paul Wolfe** » Sat Jul 11, 2009 4:45 pm

Matt, is this based on the movie? No VH on the soundtrack:

1. Video Killed the Radio Star - The Presidents of the United States of America

2. Do You Really Want to Hurt Me - Culture Club

3. Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic - The Police

4. How Soon Is Now? - The Smiths

5. Love My Way - The Psychedelic Furs

6. Hold Me Now - Thompson Twins

7. Everyday I Write the Book - Elvis Costello

8. White Wedding - Billy Idol

9. China Girl - David Bowie

10. Blue Monday - New Order

11. Pass the Dutchie - Musical Youth

12. Have You Written Anything Lately?

13. Somebody Kill Me - Adam Sandler

14. Rapper's Delight [Medley] - Ellen Albertini Dow, The Sugarhill Gang

Cpt Matt Sparrow · Post by **Cpt Matt Sparrow** » Sat Jul 11, 2009 5:26 pm

Hi Paul

Yes it must be the one you showed, because Somebody Killed me is in it. The other songs are all mentioned via 'puns' and quotes are used in it like "do you really want to hurt me?" and "have you written anything lately" the proceeded by "somebody kill me"

The songs are all based on versions of famous songs though, I suppose the film musical must have a different soundtrack...

Matt

Queen Mama · Post by **Queen Mama** » Sat Jul 11, 2009 11:24 pm

I love musicals,old favorite is Calamity Jane,new Favorite La Mis(carnt spell that but you know What i mean.)And ive seen Forbidden Planet And The Rocky Horror show,at least 5 times each.

RR-ElectricAngel · Post by **RR-ElectricAngel** » Sun Jul 12, 2009 12:52 am

Musicals are a tricky thing. Some connect with me others don't. Sound of Music is a masterpiece. My background is Czech so seeing Austria is like going home for me. Grease is also a cool one. I got Olivia Newton John's autograph many years ago. Olivia in hot pants-come on dude... Grease Lightnin' is a fun song to Kareoke along with. High School Musical I don't seem to have any connection to. My sister knows all the tunes but I cannot seem to relate to any of the characters. Chicago (movie version) was both fun and hard to watch. I just couldn't see Richard Gere as the singing type. The same with Mama Mia. I cringed seeing Pierce Brosnan sing in that movie. For me he will always be James Bond. I think it comes down to how you perceive the genre. As children we are more open to these concepts, as adults we see them more as fodder than real dimensional characters with real problems.

Oh yeah, I can see why they did a parody of Jump in your musical Matt. There is a line in that movie that makes reference to them in the movie. Adam Shandler says, "Hey you better take that Van Halen T-shirt off or you're going to jinx the band." That movie was funny as hell by the way. A grandmother singing rap music is damn funny to me...

Queen Mama · Post by **Queen Mama** » Sun Jul 12, 2009 1:02 am

Mama mia has such a place in my heart,last summer i worked with the most wonderful boy with cerebral palsy,and i took him to see Mama Mia,he loved it,sang all the way throw,just before Christmas he died,his mum had Abba at the funeral as it meant so much to him,he was only ten,but each time i here Abba i shred a tear.

NicDots · Post by **NicDots** » Sun Jul 12, 2009 3:06 am

Sound of Music is also one of my favorites.

I used to have all the songs to that movie memorized.

GUITARIDOL5682 · Post by **GUITARIDOL5682** » Sun Jul 12, 2009 11:05 am

One film that just didn't work as a musical for me was 'Sweeney Todd'. I love period drama. The setting was great, it had the feel of old London the costumes looked great. But when they burst into song it just killed it for me. All the girls still loved it because of the leading man Johnny Depp. Classic musicals like West Side Story and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Mary Poppins and Oliver. They just fit together well and you just want to SING...

JustTakeAPebble · Post by **JustTakeAPebble** » Sun Jul 12, 2009 11:36 am

Hi Shaun

Theres a hole in the world
Like a great black pit
And its filled with people
who are filled with shit
and the people of the world inhabit it... but not for long.

Love Sweeny Todd since my girlfriend introduced me to it and Ive been asked to help backstage at the show near to where I live. I may choose to help, or see the show front stage too, depends on uni.

I also love Moulin Rouge!

Simon

Post by **Trigger** » Sun Jul 12, 2009 12:02 pm

JustTakeAPebble wrote:Hi Shaun

Theres a hole in the world
Like a great black pit
And its filled with people
who are filled with shit
and the people of the world inhabit it... but not for long.

Love Sweeny Todd since my girlfriend introduced me to it and Ive been asked to help backstage at the show near to where I live. I may choose to help, or see the show front stage too, depends on uni.

I also love Moulin Rouge!

Simon

I hated Moulin Rouge! and like Shaun was disspointed that Sweeny Todd was a musical, with Johnny Depp in the lead it was bound to be a dramatic and artistic portrayal. I watched the trailer with growing excitment until they bursted into song!!!!!!!!!!!
I can't bring myself to see it now

JustTakeAPebble · Post by **JustTakeAPebble** » Sun Jul 12, 2009 12:38 pm

lol its really good though

Simon

Alex · Post by **Alex** » Wed Jul 15, 2009 3:40 pm

xx123456

Ultimate Rhoads

Musicals

Musicals

Depends On Your Perspective