Broadway songs given new meaning

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 11/27/06 at 12:29am

Now, I am an advocate of a certain level of seperation of art and artist, but every now and then information about a certain composer or performer pervades my sense of their work, and I can't seem to seperate myself form it. Any examples for you? Mine are:

Endless Night: I was just listening to it now, and hearing the late Jason Raize sing this song and convey such hope in dark times makes my heart break when i think of his suicide.

Last 5 Years: Every now and then I start to wonder just how close to Jason Robert Brown's life this is and certain lyrics gain a certain poignancy...most of Nobody Needs to Know especially...that song is by far my favourite to both listen to and perform.

Akiva
Updated On: 11/27/06 at 12:29 AM

[gumbo2]

Posted: 11/27/06 at 1:15am

Definitely One Song Glory and a couple of other moments in Rent, you can't help thinking of Jonathon Larson.

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 11/27/06 at 2:00am

I think all of tick...tick...BOOM! can actually apply to that as well. When he has a monologue about how if he doesn't have a hit soon he feels like his "heart will burst" I got one of the most sudden shots of goosbumps I've ever had.

Akiva

[gumbo2]

Posted: 11/27/06 at 2:08am

Yeah that's true. I didn't say tick tick BOOM because I mean, it IS autobiographical, but given the circumstances, yeah.

In that same vein, A New Brain and the song "Hitchhiking Across America", and actually a lot of William Finn songs seem to be about him in some way or another.

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 11/27/06 at 2:09am

Any performer-based new meanings out there?

Akiva

[gumbo2]

Posted: 11/27/06 at 2:13am

Well, after Raul Esparza's interview, it might be hard to watch his portrayal of Bobby without thinking about what's going on in his life.

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 11/27/06 at 9:37am

Very true.

Akiva