Problems with Harry Connick Jr.'s "Thou Shalt Not"...problems musically.

[Fabrizio2]

Posted: 5/30/06 at 10:34pm

I am listening to "Thou Shalt Not" which is HC Jr's show, and the melodies are so uneven, and the lyrics' placement in the music seems so odd. I know that is poor wording, but what do you think was going on Harry Connick Jr.'s head when he wrote this?

Wait. He wrote it right? Did it ever get produced for the stage? The music just sounds so odd. Is it just me? Does anyone else agree with me?

[Mr. Tuttle]

Posted: 5/30/06 at 10:52pm

Umm..yes it was produced for "the stage" back in 2002. Hence why it was nominated for Tonys.

It flopped and received horrid reviews. So yes.. it would seem people agree with you.

[razzle-dazzle]

Posted: 5/30/06 at 10:54pm

The music is actually quite good, I recommend Harry's instrumental CD "Other Hours" which plays this show simply on the piano - LOADS better than the cast recording.

[Fabrizio2]

Posted: 5/30/06 at 10:54pm

Ohh i had no idea...thanks tuttle.

[KJisgroovy]

Posted: 5/31/06 at 12:49am

"and the melodies are so uneven, and the lyrics' placement in the music seems so odd..."

Are listening to the OBC or the Songs from Album that came with The Pajama Game... the Songs from Album is a lot different from the OBC... the songs are more jazzy and less like showtunes in the Songs from Cd.

kmc

[SirLiir]

Posted: 5/31/06 at 2:02am

I have the OBC and have seen Thou Shalt Not. The score is solid but lacking in many areas. Like the show, it's uneven. Norbert Leo Butz is really the only reason to get that soundtrack. Even though its Harry Connick Jr singing this time, I can't see the music working with his voice.

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 5/31/06 at 2:43am

I never saw the show but the score is lacking because the songs rarely develp plot or character. "The Other Hours" is sensuous ballad, and "Take her to the Mardi Gras" is a great lively production number. But on the whole the album is let down by weak lyrics.

That's not a slam against Connick: it's just that he needs to understand that theatre lyrics serve multiple functions while pop lyrics generally do not.

I was looking forward to hearing the score when the cast album was issued, but was quite disappointed in it.