#MusicVideo Invisible Thread from “Witness Uganda”

While scouring through Andrew Keenan Bolger’s YouTube page, I was blown away by this music video Invisible Thread  by Matt Gould and Griffin Matthews.  Hearfelt.  Moving.  Not only that the narrative suggests the unrelenting connection that binds the couple, but the music itself is a poignant hymn for us who long for love and affection.

from YouTube description:

Matt Gould and Griffin Matthews, the award winning team behind the Broadway bound musical WITNESS UGANDA, blur the boundaries of real life and theater with the release of the single, “Invisible Thread.” The song was written for their show, which tells the true story of their experiences as aid workers in Africa. But here, the song takes on a more personal twist as the couple struggles to balance their careers and their life together. At the core, Griffin and Gould’s work grapples with questions central to a generation straddling their responsibilities as citizens of the world and citizens of our own communities.

Griffin and Gould dedicate this song to people across the world who are fighting for their right to love who they choose. Despite our distances and political and cultural differences, we are all bound together by our struggle to love and be loved.

Here is the lyrics of the song:

There is a long invisible thread
That wraps around my heart
And wraps around your head
It tightens its grip
When things go unsaid
And I can’t break free
Let go, let me
Little boy, break free
Leave him out on his own
Let him find his way home
Can’t take all this pain on his shoulders
Only weighs you all down when you’re older
Let him run, let him fly
If you love him, then don’t cry tonight
Let him learn all he can
So when he comes home to you
He’ll be a better man
There is a long invisible thread
That wraps around my heart
And wraps around your head
It tightens its grip
When things go unsaid
And I can’t break free Lord above, can you hear my prayers
If you know the answer, then make me aware How to still love him and how to still care
And how to stay strong when I want to be over there
Do I run, do I fly?
How can I love him and keep my eyes dry
Do I learn all I can
So when he comes to home
I’ll be a better man
There is a long invisible thread
That wraps around my heart
And wraps around your head
It tightens its grip
When things go unsaid
And I can’t break free

[instrumental break]

There is a long invisible thread
That wraps around my heart
And wraps around your head
It tightens its grip
When things go unsaid
And I can’t break free
There is a long invisible thread
That wraps around my heart
And wraps around your head
It tightens its grip
When things go unsaid
And I can’t break free
And I can’t break free
And I can’t break free

#LYRICSOFTHEDAY Blood Bloody Andrew Jackson

#LYRICSOFTHEDAY Finding Neverland The Musical

#Watch: 2015 Tony Nominees perform their best at 54 Below

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/05/21/theater/theaterspecial/2015-tony-nominees-in-performance.html#Kristin-Chenoweth-On-the-Twentieth-Century

The New York Times invited the 2015 Tony Nominees for the second time to perform in front of a live audience at 54 Below.

The Tony Awards will be held live over CBS on Sunday, June 7.

For the complete 2015 Tony nominess, click here.

#AlbumFind Our First Mistake: The Songs of Kerrigan and Lowdermilk

photo credit: http://www.sh-k-boom.com

Run Away With Me was the first  Kerrigan-Lowdermilk song  I listened to.  Being a Scott Alan and Pasek and Paul fan, I definitely have a thing about schmaltzy tunes. But when I heard Run Away With Me during the Broadway Open Mic, I instantly fell in love with the lyrics and melody. Hence, the addition of these duo to my list of favorite theater composers.

Their first album, Our First Mistake, was released in 2011 which charted at #1 on the iTunes Singer/Songwriter.  Gathering artists from both pop and musical theater, the album encompasses different sorts of genres that reflect the duo’s meat and potatoes: a good song is good in any genre.

Guests include Michael Arden (The Times They Are A Changin’), Matt Doyle (Bye Bye Birdie), Meghann Fahy (Next To Normal), Jay Armstrong Johnson (Hair), Morgan Karr (Spring Awakening), Kelli O’Hara (The Light In The Piazza), Laura Osnes (South Pacific) and Natalie Weiss (Everyday Rapture). The album also feature performances by recording artists Katie Thompson, Vienna Teng, and The Spring Standards, and drum programming by Daniel Imana of The Tryptics.

Aside from Run Away With Me (from the musical Unauthorized Biography of Samantha Brown), I also love Not A Love Story (from the musical Tales from the Bad Years) sung by Kelli O’Hara. It’s a poignant narrative that expresses a person’s regret about loving someone (watch the video above).

Listen to Kerrigan-Lowdermilk’s music and be smitten with the tunes and lyrics.

Broadway on Spotify: My top picks

photo credit: http://www.mashable .com

Thank God for Spotify, Broadway musical enthusiasts don’t need to go too far looking for songs to download or listen to. And yes, this is so like God’s gift to us, who want to be lulled and serenaded by our favorite Broadway singers.  I never let time pass by without listening to Scott Alan’s collection or star those haunting tunes from Jekyll and Hyde.  So here’s my top picks of Broadway collection.  Go listen to them and know why Broadway songs still rock.

1. Scott Alan Live Special Edition

The “Special Edition” boasts remastered tracks as well as three bonus tracks featuring Samantha Barks (Eponine in the forthcoming “Les Miserables” movie), Oliver Tompsett (We Will Rock You in the West End), Nathan James (currently touring with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra) and David Hunter (Seussical in the West End).

You’ve got to listen to: 

1. Surrender- sung by Melissa van der Schyff featuring Paul Vazquez

2. Now- sung by Laura Osnes (though I love Jon Groff’s version from Dreaming Wide Awake album)

3. Look (A Rainbow)- sung by Lea Salonga

2. Broadway The Musicals

This is a cornucopia of all your favorite Broadway tunes!  From Wicked to your favorite Disney on Braodway musicals, this playlist is sure to elate your spirit.  Complete songs from one Broadway production. What more is you lookin for?

You’ve got to listen to:

1. Book of Mormon

2. Beauty and the Beast (including songs that you haven’t heard from the animated version)

3. Les Miserables

3. Broadway’s Greatest Leading Men

Broadway crooners unite in this special catalogue.  Listen to familiar tunes like “The Impossible Dream” or the classic “Too Close For Comfort.”

You’ve got to listen to:  

1. Luck Be A Lady

2. The Impossible Dream

3. They’re Playing Our Song

4. Newsies (Original Broadway Cast)

Since I’m a Jeremy Jordan fan, I have to include this one. And yes, this musical has a lot of uplifting songs, only when you are in the mood for fighting what is truly right.  I first saw the movie where Christian Bale danced awkwardly in it.  But nobody can beat Broadway actors and singers.

You’ve got to listen to:

1. Seize the Day

2. Something To Believe In

3. Carrying the Banner

5. Jekyll and Hyde

It’s been ages since I haven’t listened to this collection.  And I was overjoyed when Spotify has the complete Jekyll and Hyde album.  Be ready to shed tears with poignant songs and heart-wrenching confrontations. Yes, it’s like really watching the play, but in audio form.

You’ve got to listen to:

1. This Is The Moment

2. Take Me As I Am

3. Once Upon A Dream

Well, basically the whole album.

Love Broadway music?  What songs do you listen to on Spotify?

Now: My fave break-up song

Aside from being Melchior Gabor on Broadway’s Spring Awakening, Jon Groff belts out a moving break-up song through this video.  It is entitled “Now”, composed by Scott Alan.

For some strange reasons, I didn’t like The Last Five Years film version

photo source: http://d3rm69wky8vagu.cloudfront.net/article-photos/large/1.171988.jpg

I must admit, The Last Five Years is one “hugot” (drawing out) movie I’ve been dying to watch but got a little disappointed when I did.  I went to the cinema alone (although I quite expected someone would accompany me but soon found out he’s a total embodiment of Jaime Wellerstein.)

I love the songs.  No questions asked, since I could almost memorize the lyrics.  I love the story.  Almost relatable.  I love Jeremy Jordan and Anna Kendrick.  They can sing, of course.  But why, as I tried to dig down deep within, couldn’t I figure out why I resented watching the film version?

photo source: http://www.filmimovies.com/Hollywood-Movies/The-Last-Five-Years/Jeremy-Jordan.html

Needless to say, the musical theater version is way better than the movie version.  I hated how  it kind of gave away the story through a “disclaimer” appearing before the opening scene.  Sure, the reason why I watched the movie version was to find out how it pulled through given the non-linear plot (where the love story is told in reverse chronological order).  Later I found out, as I left the cinema, when some actually asked what the story was all about. That “dislcaimer” had its purpose after all. And I reckon I was the only one (probably) who’s familiar with the play.

So here’s the story: The Last Five Years is an adaptation of the Broadway musical which narrates the encounter, marriage, and breakup of an aspiring stage actress Cathy Hiatt (played by Anna Kendrick) and a talented writer Jaime Wellerstein (played by Jeremy Jordan).  Told through witty and melancholic songs, the romance of the two protagonists begin at the end of their marriage and ended through the beginning of their love story (through Cathy’s point of view) and vice versa (as told through Jaime’s point of view).

photo source: http://www.moviefanatic.com/gallery/movies/the-last-five-years/tags/stills/by-rating/

What makes the film version different from the play is that, each event is sung individually by the characters except the proposal scene where they both sing “The Next Ten Minutes.”  I think why the movie fell short of my expectations was it somehow snatched away the torture of isolation that I should supposedly feel as they belt out the tunes.  But I love the part where Jaime visited Cathy in Ohio while she’s having her summer tour (“See I’m Smiling”) where Cathy hopes that despite the distance between her and Jaime and the sundry issues they have to face, everything will turn out fine.

The film made me sad and angry.  Because it’s cliche.  I hated Jaime because he never remained true to his promise.  That fame gnawed him fully until he became tormented, gathering his resolve to leave Cathy in the end.  Cathy, on the other hand, with her bouts of insecurities and attachment, remained un-rescuable.  But the only thing she did is to love Jaime, to be by his side, “to stick it out and follow through.”  But whose fault is it anyway?

I left the cinema questioning.  Not the story, but the circumstance.  And I didn’t like the movie.  At all.

Brooklynite

Oh, and it’s Matt Doyle!

Some choruses, some lines: My top ten favorite Broadway lyrics

Lately I’ve been posting Lyrics of the Day, featuring some of my favorite songs from Broadway musicals.  It sucks how our office kind of banned YouTube so I cannot embed the videos that go along with the lyrics.

I love Broadway musicals.  Hence, this blog.  And as a proof, here are the top ten songs that always get me through the day. And some just speak the story of my life.  

1. I’m Alive- Next to Normal

Originally sung by Aaron Tveit

Favorite lines from the song: I’m alive/I’m right behind you. /You say forget, /But I remind you. /You can try to hide, /You know that I will find you. /’Cause if you won’t grieve me /You won’t leave me behind…

2. Love Heals- Rent

Sung by the whole cast

Favorite lines from the song: Love heals when pain’s too much to bear/When you reach out your hand/And only wind is there/When life’s unfair when things like us are not to be

3. I Honestly Love You-The Boy from Oz

Sung by Hugh Jackman and Jarrod Emick

Favorite lines from the song: You don’t have to answer I see it in your eyes/Maybe it was better left unsaid/But this is pure and simple and you must realize/That it’s coming from my heart and not my head

4. No Matter What- Whistle Down the Wind

Favorite lines from the song: No matter what they tell us, no matter what they do/No matter what they teach us, what we believe is true/I can’t deny what I believe, I can’t be what I’m not/I know this loves forever, I know no matter what/I can’t deny what I believe, I can’t be what I’m not/I know this loves forever, that’s all that matters now no matter what

5. Second Chances- Allegiance

Sung by Lea Salonga

Favorite lines from the song: What’s past is past but it’s not the last/We’re not alive to just remember./When life has said to you,/Not a chance, but two…/Life has granted you a second chance.

6. With You- Ghost the Musical

Sung by Caissie Levy

Favorite lines from the song: I keep thinking that you’ll be calling/Everyone says that it’s all in my head/And I can’t accept it yet/I’m not ready to just give in/I know that I can’t live in this pain/With these feelings of regret

7. Someone Like You-Jekyll and Hyde

Sung by Linda Eder

Favorite Lines from the song: And now I see a world/I’ve never seen before -/Your love to open every door,/You set me free,/Now I can soar!

8. Suddenly Seymour- Little Shop of Horrors

Favorite lines from the song: Tell me this feeling last ’til forever/Tell me the bad times are clean washed away/Please understand that it’s still strange and frightening/For losers like I’ve been it’s so hard to say

9. Brotherhood of Men- How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

Sung by Daniel Radcliffe

Favorite lines from the song: One man may seem incompetent, /Another not make sense, /While others look like quite a waste /Of company expense.

 

10. I Believe- Book of Mormon

Sung by Andrew Rannells

Favorite lines from the song: The Scriptures say that if you ask in faith/If you ask God Himself, you will know /But you must ask Him without any doubt /And let your spirit grow…

So there you go.  How about you? What are your favorite lines from Broadway musicals?