The Heckler: Why I'm allergic to Stephen Sondheim- Page 7

[Kad]

Posted: 3/22/15 at 8:22pm

" Most people on this board are way older."

I think you're an insufferable pain in the ass and I'm only 6 years older than you.

Updated On: 3/22/15 at 08:22 PM

[Fantod]

Posted: 3/22/15 at 8:23pm

What a weird thread. Send in the Clowns would be what you call a standard. Many famous artists have covered the song very well. I asked my father and he knew it from Barbara Streisand's cover. It is a beautiful song, and belongs in the best of Sondheim's songs. It also belongs in the selection of Sondheim songs like Losing My Mind, Not a Day Goes By, Sunday, Being Alive, Happiness, and Johanna that prove that Sondheim is capable of writing pleasant (and often soaring) melody when he wants to, which for me makes it all the more frustrating that he insists on writing songs that to me sound unpleasant. They work in the theatre but they are hardly the kind of songs you want to take home with you.

Updated On: 3/22/15 at 08:23 PM

[Phillypinto]

Posted: 3/22/15 at 8:24pm

lol i definitely think its a fact that Memory is more popular than Send In the Clowns, despite your experiences.

[undercoveractor]

Posted: 3/22/15 at 8:25pm

'. Sitting through something like Sunday in the Park With George or Passion could make anyone give up on musicals,

And yet, you continue to see every Sondheim revival that comes along. Why? Is someone forcing you to attend? Could it be that you just enjoying bitching about it?

[PianoMann]

Posted: 3/22/15 at 8:25pm

I shouldn't have to explain what I mean when I refer to maturing of taste and opinion, but judging by the three question marks, perhaps you're stressing how confused you are!

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 3/22/15 at 8:25pm

For what it's worth, I just asked a 24-year-old friend--neither a theater person nor a musicals fan--and he knew "Send in the Clowns."

Your experience may differ.

[Phillypinto]

Posted: 3/22/15 at 8:26pm

PianoMann, i have so many things to say about "maturing of taste and opinion" i wouldn't even know where to start so I'm not even gonna waste my time.

[Kad]

Posted: 3/22/15 at 8:27pm

"lol i definitely think its a fact that Memory is more popular than Send In the Clowns, despite your experiences."

There is almost no way to prove one is more popular than the other.

[PianoMann]

Posted: 3/22/15 at 8:28pm

Please, Philly, illuminate us! We obviously need it...

[Fantod]

Posted: 3/22/15 at 8:28pm

They are both standards that you should avoid singing as your audition song.

[Phillypinto]

Posted: 3/22/15 at 8:29pm

Reginald Tresilian, well then he's the exception

I think the reason Memory is more popular is because its from Cats which most people know. A Little Night Music doesn't even come close to Cats in terms of popularity

Updated On: 3/22/15 at 08:29 PM

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 3/22/15 at 8:30pm

A great many young people might know Send In The Clowns, even if only from The Simpsons!
Krusty sings Sondheim

[PianoMann]

Posted: 3/22/15 at 8:30pm

Philly, how can you declare that Reginald's friend is the exception? Perhaps you're the exception. Kad is right that there is no way to test or prove which is the more "popular" or instantly recognizable song, and that's hardly the point.

[Lovinbroadway2]

Posted: 3/22/15 at 8:31pm

Losing My Mind is my jam.

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/22/15 at 8:32pm

It's frustrating how small minded he is. He has sooo much growing and learning to do.

[Phillypinto]

Posted: 3/22/15 at 8:32pm

I just know Send in the Clowns from being a theatre person

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 3/22/15 at 8:34pm

By the way, please define "theatre person".

[Phillypinto]

Posted: 3/22/15 at 8:34pm

someone who loves theatre/sees theatre/does theatre

Updated On: 3/22/15 at 08:34 PM

[PianoMann]

Posted: 3/22/15 at 8:35pm

That's perfectly acceptable to say, Philly! Are you able to at least acknowledge that there are many people other than you that a) are your age, but b) are not theater buffs who know the song? If you can admit that, I don't think we have a disagreement.

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 3/22/15 at 8:36pm

Philly's had enough air-time. I somehow fell into the trap of engaging with him when I really should have known better.

Updated On: 3/22/15 at 08:36 PM

[Phillypinto]

Posted: 3/22/15 at 8:38pm

the non theatre people who know the song are old people, but yea i agree with that PianoMann, but yea i know there are other people my age haha. And you guys think i am on this board so much, i just go through waves

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 3/22/15 at 8:39pm

"Reginald Tresilian, well then he's the exception"

So I know the one twenty-something in America who's heard that song? You're basing that assertion on what, exactly?

[Mr Smith]

Posted: 3/22/15 at 8:39pm

I find Sondheim to have good music sometimes, I also find him trying to be too clever.

I don't love all of his music. I find him to be like modern art some people love it some hate it

[Phillypinto]

Posted: 3/22/15 at 8:41pm

Jay Lerner Z, i give life to this board! You people can't handle it when someone has a different opinion then yours, and then everybody gangs up on them!!!!!!

that assertion is based on the fact that even kids i did theatre with in high school didn't know a lot of Sondheim stuff. They knew mostly Andrew Lloyd Webber and Rodgers and Hammerstein

Updated On: 3/22/15 at 08:41 PM

[PianoMann]

Posted: 3/22/15 at 8:41pm

Well, I was hoping you'd address parts a and b of my question together, but we're clearly at an impasse.