LMM working on THE WARRIORS musical? — Page 3

I'm surprised nobody else has posted their reactions yet. I thought it was brilliant. Certainly his best work since Hamilton. The whole opening sequence through Ms. Lauryn Hill's number was phenomenal. Some of my other favorites were Call Me Mercy, Somewhere in the City, Reunion Square, and Same Train Home. Listening with the lyric book was very helpfful. It helped me keep track of all the characters and there are some very helpful "stage directions." 

It would be incredibly ambitious to stage this. But, ti would be incredible. There are so many characters in it (over 30). But, most of them can double as ensemble members at some point during the show. There are some moments where it gives me chills just THINKING about how it would be to see them on stage with 1000 other people. 

jkcohen626 said: "Listening with the lyric book was very helpfful. It helped me keep track of all the characters and there are some very helpful "stage directions."

How did you get the lyric book? I entered my email on the website to “unlock the lyric booklet,” but the email I received just thanks me for signing up for the email list and gives me a link to preorder the album  

 

Updated On: 10/18/24 at 11:18 AM

Dan6 said: "jkcohen626 said: "Listening with the lyric book was very helpfful. It helped me keep track of all the characters and there are some very helpful "stage directions."

How did you get the lyric book? I entered my email on the website to “unlock thelyric booklet,” but the email I received just thanks me for signing up for the email list and gives me a link to preorder the album

"

When you enter your email, that pop-up should just disappear and the lyric book is what's behind it. 

 

Lin absolutely knows how to write an opening number/sequence. This thing roars out of the gate!

To say this sounds like nothing on stage before is quite the stretch lol. It sounds textbook Lin. 

Updated On: 10/18/24 at 02:26 PM

Just finished listening to the album - this is really special. I only watched the movie for the first time about a month ago, so I wasn't much familiar with it beyond the iconic lines and look. But this adaptation musicalizes it in the best way - it stays true to the core story and characters while using music to amplify the themes and social commentary that were mostly subtext in Walter Hill's telling (I'm curious what he'll have to say about the album). The sound is very much classic Lin-Manuel Miranda, but it fits the story and characters perfectly, with a lot of wit in the lyrics. Much like the movie it steadily builds suspense with occasional diversions for comic relief and character building, and it all fits.

Am I alone in wishing the source material was something else? Not to say the movie isn't worthy of an adaptation, but the plot is so similar to what we've seen musicalized time and time again. Is this supposed to be different just because Lin wrote it?

OhHiii said: "To say this sounds like nothing on stage before is quite the stretch lol. It sounds textbook Lin."

I agree that the songwriting is textbook Lin, I was talking more about the production on the album. They lean really hard into the studio sound with the music. There's a lot of looping and sampling in Hamilton, but it still sounds like something that a band could play live every night in a theatre. I have no idea how you could convert this album to a live orchestration, and that's what makes it so special.

Threw it on my home speakers when it dropped. Decided I needed to listen to it more closely with ear buds in. I have now listened to it 3 times through....

The production on this is outstanding. The performances are...outstanding. But at the end of it all I was not thrilled.

This recording is A LOT. Taking the songs separately, there are a number of good ones. Miranda went B**ls to the wall with this. And as a recording it is pretty flawless. There are nods to Sondheim and Larson (RENT). There were moments I got "RENT" flashbacks. But Lin's stamp is all over this. It is interesting to hear his brand of rap with the other styles of rap.  I felt that with this concept album he further cemented his style and is this time's Sondheim. Now I am not a fan of "Hamilton"(I could listen to "Bring it on" and "In The Heights" all day), but that show pulled it all together and cemented his style. for me. 

My problem with the concept album is the changes in the story. I just am not into the gender flipping of the Warriors. And it feels like it was all done for the "lesbian reveal" near the end.  (They gave their reasons for the changes but I honestly rolled my eyes.) I read an interview where they said they were looking at that time through a 2024 lens. (And the music reflects that). However, I feel it can be just set, without a "lens" in 1978-79 with the score the way it is and would be fine. Also, it just doesn't feel as tight lyrically as his other works. My immediate thought was because he was throwing the "RENT" vibe in with everything else.

Who knows if this will make it to the stage. One interview I read with him said he really didn't do this with a stage production in mind. I didn't think it was brilliant, but thought it was a very interesting listen and a few songs will go into my Showtunes playlist.  

Just my random thoughts and opinion.

It might sound like the same person who wrote 'in the heights' or 'hamilton' but it does seem like there has been an evolution/maturity in the rapping, and the quality and novelty of the harmonies/melodies make it sound much more than derivative of anything previously - with also a new range of different styles some of which I don't remember hearing often in musicals (e.g. that hard rock metal sound). I will have to sit for it for a while but I think we might have something genuinely new and special. 

Jonathan Cohen said: "uncageg said: "My problem with the concept album is the changes in the story. I just am not into the gender flipping of the Warriors. And it feels like it was all done for the "lesbian reveal" near the end. (They gave their reasons for the changes but I honestly rolled my eyes.) "

Miranda's GamerGate explanation for the gender swap might be howit came up in his head, but I'm sure that gender swap would have happened even ifGamerGate didn't. He loves re-contextualizing a story so that other groups of people can gain ownership of it; for example casting people of color as the founding fathers in Hamilton.

Plus,making the Warriors women really does make sense. Trying to take public transportation home while worried every man is trying to murder you, is a fear women are more likely to experience in their every day life."

I understand what he likes to do and the casting wasn't a thing for me with Hamilton. The gender flipping for "Warriors" just doesn't work for me personally. It is the story of a falsely accused gang trying to get safely back to their home turf and not being afraid to take the subway to get there. They are avoiding other gangs.