Episode 129 - Patiencia Y Fe
So Much Stuff to Sing
Another grandmother joins us for this installment in our songs about aging, though Abuela Claudia isn't just anyone's grandmother, she is everyone's grandmother. Her solo "Patiencia Y Fe" is one of the standout moments in the standout score of Lin-Manuel Miranda's breakthrough show In the Heights, and Olga Merediz gives it everything she has. All clips are from 2008's In the Heights: Original Broadway Cast Recording featuring Olga Merediz and are protected by the Fair Use guidelines of Section 107 of the Copyright Act for criticism and commentary. All rights reserved to the...
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Episode 128 - No Time at All
So Much Stuff to Sing
We're back! We had an illness related delay, which was us being thematic, since illness is part of growing older...yeah, let's go with that. But we are back on track and here to talk about Stephen Schwartz's Pippin. In particular, we're looking at the 2012 revival and Andrea Martin's performance of "No Time at All." Definitely watch the performance for the full effect. You'll be glad you did. All clips are from 2013's Pippin: New Broadway Cast Recording featuring Andrea Martin and are protected by the Fair Use guidelines of Section 107 of the Copyright Act for criticism and...
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Episode 127 - Sunrise, Sunset
So Much Stuff to Sing
Out with the new and in with the old! Yes, we're moving from songs about growing up to songs about the act of having grown up, i.e., songs about aging and growing old. We're starting with a song from a show we have been slightly remiss in having only discussed once way back in the early days of our podcast, despite its tremendous popularity and cultural impact. Join us as we talk about "Sunrise, Sunset" from Bock & Harnick's classic Fiddler on the Roof. All clips are from 1971's Fiddler on the Roof: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Recording featuring Topol, Norma Crane,...
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Episode 126 - You Will Be Found
So Much Stuff to Sing
Fasten your seatbelts, it's going to be a bumpy podcast. After 5 years and 125 episodes, we're finally talking about one of the major smashes of the past decade: Pasek and Paul's Dear Evan Hansen. Winner of 6 Tonys -- including Best Actor for overnight sensation Ben Platt -- the show has had quite the interesting journey over the past couple of years. So join us as we talk about the DEH phenomenon, highlight the anthemic "You Will Be Found," and try to answer what, if anything, Evan learns as we close out this miniseries on bildungsromans. All clips are from 2017's Dear Evan Hansen: Original...
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Episode 125 - Ring of Keys
So Much Stuff to Sing
More bildungsroman! More childhood discovery! More tears! This time, it's Fun Home that's making us cry, based on Alison Bechdel's graphic novel of the same name. The musical is by Jeanine Tesori and Lisa Krohn and won the 2015 Tony for Best Musical and features the absolutely wondrous and devastating song "Ring of Keys." Buckle up! All clips are from 2014's Fun Home: Original Cast Album featuring Syndey Lucas and are protected by the Fair Use guidelines of Section 107 of the Copyright Act for criticism and commentary. All rights reserved to the copyright owners. Follow SMSTS on...
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Episode 124 - When I Grow Up
So Much Stuff to Sing
Who here wants to cry at the innocence and fragility of childhood?! Well, ready or not, here we go, because this episode features "When I Grow Up" from Matilda: The Musical written by Tim Minchin. And it definitely enters then canon of "SMSTS episodes where one or both hosts audibly stifles tears." Enjoy!(?) All clips are from 2011's Roald Dahl's Matilda: The Musical Original London Cast Recording and are protected by the Fair Use guidelines of Section 107 of the Copyright Act for criticism and commentary. All rights reserved to the copyright owners. Follow SMSTS on...
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Episode 123 - 13 (Becoming a Man)
So Much Stuff to Sing
Merriam-Webster defines a bildungsroman as "a novel about the moral and psychological growth of the main character." Well, we're not talking novels, but musicals --but otherwise, that definition fits nicely for our next mini-series, featuring songs about young people growing up. First up, "13 (Becoming a Man)" the title song and opening number to Jason Robert Brown's anti-triskaidekaphobic work 13. All clips are from 2008's 13: Original Broadway Cast Recording featuring Graham Phillips and are protected by the Fair Use guidelines of Section 107 of the Copyright Act for criticism...
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Episode 122 - You and Me (But Mostly Me)
So Much Stuff to Sing
Shannon and Erik (but mostly Shannon) are here to close out our miniseries on comic duets with "You and Me (But Mostly Me)" from The Book of Mormon, written by Matt Parker, Trey Stone, and Bobby Lopez. Erik, meanwhile, details his theory of comic characters and why, for him, a lot of this song falls flat. All clips are from 2011's The Book of Mormon: Original Broadway Cast Recording featuring Andrew Rannells amd Josh God and Queen Latifah and are protected by the Fair Use guidelines of Section 107 of the Copyright Act for criticism and commentary. All rights reserved to the copyright...
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Episode 121 - Class
So Much Stuff to Sing
What if a brilliant comic duet was also incredibly vulgar? Yes, we're talking "Class" from Kander & Ebb's Chicago, and we get into both why it was almost cut from the original production and why it was cut from the 2002 Oscar-winning film. All clips are from 2002's Chicago: Music from the Miramax Motion Picture featuring Katherine Zeta-Jones and Queen Latifah and are protected by the Fair Use guidelines of Section 107 of the Copyright Act for criticism and commentary. All rights reserved to the copyright owners. CONTENT WEARING: Lots of swears in this one. Blame Velma...
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Episode 120 - Bosom Buddies
So Much Stuff to Sing
We're back again, and just in time for Pride Month (Happy Pride!), we're talking about one of the queerest songs ever to appear in a totally "straight" musical: "Bosom Buddies" from 1966's Mame, with music and lyrics by Jerry Herman. Join us as we talk about Broadway, bitchiness, and Bea. All clips are from 1966's Mame: Original Broadway Cast Recording featuring Angela Lansbury and Bea Arthur and are protected by the Fair Use guidelines of Section 107 of the Copyright Act for criticism and commentary. All rights reserved to the copyright owners. N.B. -- This episode appears late due for...
info_outlineYes, there are now 100 episodes of Shannon in New York City and Erik in Prague discussing the American Musical. To celebrate, we decided to each compile a list of 5 songs that, for us, represent what makes the musical the wonderful art form it is. The musical can do things that nothing else -- no other art form -- can do, and we think these songs illustrate that. In this episode, we discuss the first 5 of these songs -- our next episde will cover the other 5. We sincerely hope you enjoy and that you'll email or message us with the 5 songs you would choose.
NB: There will be a playlist of just the songs discussed in these two episodes included in the notes of the next episode to avoid spoiling anyone who wants the second half of the list to be a surprise. Also, STOP READING to avoid getting spoiled for what's on this episode. We also hope to make a playlist of your selections, so we can all share.
All clips are from, in order, Merrily We Roll Along: New Broadway Cast Recording, Guys & Dolls: Original Broadway Cast Recording, The Music Man: Original Broadway Cast, The Rink: Original Broadway Cast, Rent: Original Cast Album, and Into the Woods: A New Musical and are protected by the Fair Use guidelines of Section 107 of the Copyright Act for criticism and commentary. All rights reserved to the copyright owners.
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