Category Archives: Musicals

WEEK 07 – 8 AUGUST to 14 AUGUST 2014

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43 FRIDAY 8 AUGUST 2014

I Can’t Be Bothered Now – Kirby Ward – Top 10 Contender

043 Crazy for You (Original London Cast Recording)

I Can’t Be Bothered Now is another song, which I have no idea why I didn’t discover sooner. It was only in 2009 or 2010 that I came across it by accident. I was re-watching one of the Broadway Lost Treasures DVDs, and there it was, an abbreviated staging of the song at the 1992 Tony’s broadcast. It was the first time I paid attention to it. It is such a happy little tune; it accompanied me during some tough times between 2010 and 2012.

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COMING UP NEXT – WEEK 07 PREVIEW

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Week 07

These are the songs I picked between 8 August and 14 August 2014. I’ll talk about them next time.

I Can’t Be Bothered Now * – Kirby Ward

I Got Rhythm – Jodi Benson 

Overture – Damn Yankees – Orchestra – … Overtures serve a purpose, not only they introduce the audience to the songs they’re about to hear on the show, but they also have a logistical purpose.

Fate Happens/Death Of A Mad Son – Orchestra

Almost Martyrs – The Academy Studio Orchestra

Toledo Surprise – Garth Kravits, Jason Kravits, Lenny Wolpe, Jennifer Smith, Georgia Engel, and the company of The Drowsy Chaperone – … One weekend, four weeks after I introduced them both, (yes, I introduced them) he gave me the literal “it’s not you, it’s me,” talk.

Come Fly With Me – Frank Sinatra and Luis Miguel – … If I went back in time, I’m sure I could hear myself saying fabulous for the first time.

* Top 10 Contender

WEEK 06 – 1 AUGUST to 7 AUGUST 2014

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36 FRIDAY 1 AUGUST 2014

Sing Happy – Darryl Knock

036 Celebrating New York New York! Chicago! Cabaret!

Sing Happy is the first Kander and Ebb song to make it to the list. Now, I don’t like to play favourites, but if I did, this duo would be at the top of my list. I love everything about them; probably the coolest dudes to ever team up to write show tunes. From “Flora The Red Menace” to “The Scottsboro Boys”, I’m sure I’ll be packing many of their songs in my suitcase. Sing Happy is also the first song on the list that was published the year I was born, 1965.

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COMING UP – WEEK 06 PREVIEW

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Week 06

These are the songs I picked between 1 August and 7 August 2014. I’ll talk about them next time.

Sing Happy  – Darryl Knock – … The last song would be a segue to the start of the list again. If you’ve ever seen or read Thornton Wilder’s “The Skin of our Teeth”, you’ll get what I’m talking about. 

Nowadays – Gwen Verdon, Chita Rivera – … Here she was, one of the most accomplished and celebrated performers Broadway ever saw, and her husband was humiliating her in public.

Mister Cellophane  – Joel Grey

One (Reprise)/Finale ** – A Chorus Line Company – … I sat in the theatre and for the first time in my life I questioned any of the decisions I made when I was a young man.

Heaven Can Wait  – London Symphony Orchestra

Bolero – Zdenek Chabala & The Spanish Orchestra

Overture – The Color Purple  – Orchestra

** Top 10 Fast-tracked

WEEK 05 – 25 JULY to 31 JULY 2014

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29 FRIDAY 25 JULY 2014

El Padre Antonio y Su Monaguillo Andrés – Rubén Blades – Top 10 Contender

029 The Cali Sessions

Although I grew up in Latin America, you may have noticed that my music taste gravitates towards Broadway musicals primarily. There are only a handful of songs in Spanish in my iTunes library, so if you see one of them on the list, you’ll know that it must be a song close to my heart. Such is the case of this beautiful gem from Panamanian Rubén Blades.

El Padre Antonio y Su Monaguillo Andrés (Father Antonio And His Altar Boy Andrés) is a ballad/salsa inspired by the assassination of El Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar Romero in 1980. It tells the story of Father Antonio Tejeira, a Catholic priest from Spain and his altar boy Andrés Eloy Pérez.

Father Antonio is a pacifist; he condemns violence, and in every sermon, he talks about love and justice. Andrés is a ten-year-old who loves swimming in the river, playing soccer and day-dreaming. One Sunday mass, during communion, an assassin enters the Church and opens fire right in the middle of the Lord’s Prayer. Father Antonio falls to the ground not knowing what is happening; a host is still in his hand. Andrés passes away next to him. On the wall, the wooden Christ on the crucifix dies again.

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COMING UP – WEEK 05 PREVIEW

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Week 05

These are the songs I picked between 25 July and 31 July 2014. I’ll talk about them in my next instalment.

El Padre Antonio y Su Monaguillo Andrés * – Rubén Blades

It’s A Lovely Day Today – Galina Talva, Russell Nype and The Chorus

Adios Hermanos – Marc Anthony, Michelle Rios, Natascia Diaz, Nestor Sanchez, Renoly Santiago, Rubén Blades & Sophia Salguero – … We came out during intermission saying, “Now, this isn’t so bad. Why people hate it?” The girl who sold us the show window card agreed with us. But then we went in to see Act II; it wasn’t so good; actually it was very bad.

Almost Like Being In Love * – Frank Sinatra – … In a perfect manner, the song captures the state of elation and happiness that now and then we experience for no particular reason. 

Zing! Went The Strings Of My Heart – Judy Garland

Don’t Rain On My Parade – Judy Garland & Liza Minnelli – … Judy reportedly turned to her companion and said: “Fuck Liza, we’ll make money with this one,” or something along those lines.

Agnus Dei * – Dale Warland Singers

* Top 10 Contender

WEEK 04 – 18 JULY to 24 JULY 2014

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22 FRIDAY 18 JULY 2014

Act II: The Game – Richard Kind, Howard McGillin, Michele Pawk, Herndon Lackey

022 Bounce

First Sondheim appearance on the list and you may wonder why I’ve chosen a song from this 2003 unsuccessful musical. Let me remind you that I’ve arranged the records by alphabetical order, so that was the first Sondheim record in my iTunes Library. But rest assure there’ll be many Sondheim songs on the list.

Originally titled “Wise Men,” the musical tells the story of Addison and Wilson Mizner, a couple of brothers whose accomplishments include the urban development of Boca Raton in Florida. It was eventually revised and retitled Road Show, but more on that when we get to the letter “R.”

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COMING UP – WEEK 04 PREVIEW

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Week 04

These are the songs I picked between 18 July and 24 July 2014. I’ll talk about them on my next instalment.

Act II: The Game – Richard Kind, Howard McGillin, Michele Pawk, Herndon Lackey

Putting It Together – Barbra Streisand – … As much as I had finally fallen in love with Psychology, I knew I had to find a more creative and if you will, artistic profession.

Just In Time * – Sydney Chaplin, Judy Holiday – … So, hot summer of 1991 and a story about bunch of El Salvadoran immigrants trying to adapt to America, how do they both fit in with Just in Time? 

Treat Me Rough – Mickey Rooney

What Kind Of Fool Am I? – Anthony Newley

Dames – Brent Barrett, Judy Blazer, Debbie Shapiro Gravitte, Ann Morrison, Guy Stroman – … Many people are of the opinion; myself included, that hadn’t it been for Busby Berkeley the movie musical genre may not have even existed as we know it.

Lullaby of Broadway – Brent Barrett, Judy Blazer, Debbie Shapiro Gravitte, Ann Morrison, Guy Stroman

* Top 10 Contender

WEEK 03 – 11 JULY TO 17 JULY 2014

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15 FRIDAY 11 JULY 2014

Cuban Pete – Desi Arnaz

015 The Best Of Desi Arnaz The Mambo King

I know you must be wondering why this one moved to the list so soon after only being on the runners up list for a few days. Well, it’s not the same version. Desi Arnaz recorded this one in 1946. The one on the runners-up list is the version Desi recorded with Lucille Ball for their 1950s mega-hit “I Love Lucy.”

Introduced by Desi himself in 1946 in the movie of the same name, Cuban Pete, along with Babalu, is closely associated with of Desi Arnaz’s act.

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COMING UP NEXT – WEEK 03 PREVIEW

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WEEK 03

These are the songs I picked between 12 July and 19 JULY, 2014. I’ll talk about them on my next instalment.

Cuban Pete – Desi Arnaz

That Old Black Magic – Frank Sinatra – … I had a very hard time listening to Frank Sinatra today, so hard that for a moment, I wondered if Sinatra might have been a tad over-rated.

You Do Something To Me – Frank Sinatra – … Anyway, it was while hearing You Do Something To Me that I came up with my first story. You see, for years I’ve used music as an inspiration to write short stories, scripts, and novels. 

I Could Write A Book – Frank Sinatra

Bye Bye Blackbird * – Rod Stewart

(The) Japanese Sandman – Vince Giordano And The Nighthawks

Cut, Print… Moving On – Katharine McPhee – … The excitement of the unknown convinces us that the next best thing is just around the corner for sure. Just let go of the past and move on.

* Top 10 Contender