If you knew me when I was younger, you'd never think of me as someone who liked musicals. And yes, honestly, I can't stand most of them. But when you mature a little, you become more tolerant and open to new types of music. Les Miserables was the first musical I listened to on CD in it's entirety. I couldn't help but fall in love with it. Soon after I began listening to Phantom, then Miss Saigon, then a slew of other "popular" musicals. I then saw my first musical live and was hooked. Who would have thought I'd be someone who'd obsess over a particular musical enough to see it over 20 times (ahem, Rent).
The Les Miserables 10th anniversary concert was shown on PBS back in 1995. They called it the "dream cast" and IMO it blew away London and New York studio recordings. I immediately bought the VHS (no DVDs back then :P) and CD when it was released and wore them out. Not sure how I lost them, probably in my various moves, breakups, and life itself, but a few months ago someone posted a clip from Les Mis and I realized I hadn't listened to it in years! So I YouTubed the performances and totally regretted not holding on to my original copies. I acquired the CD recording a few weeks ago and now have the 2008 DVD re-release on my Amazon wishlist.
On My Own is one of the more well known songs from Les Mis so I thought I'd share this clip. I have been lucky enough to see Lea Salonga live more than once doing reprise roles as Kim in Miss Saigon and in Flower Drum Song on Broadway. But the first time I saw her was as Eponine in Les Mis in a touring cast that came to Hawai`i. She played the role perfectly.
Do you watch The Guild? No? Well, you should. I think you'll appreciate it regardless of whether you play WoW or not. It's really short epis (each less than 5 mins long) so it won't take much of your time. So go watch it. Also, isn't Felicia Day extra hot in this video? Yeah, I have a crush on her. Got a problem with that?
Okay, maybe I was the only one that thought this video was hilarious. :P
It's a Sigur Ros kind of day and while I was looking for YouTube clips to share I realized that this song I've always referred to as "Track 4" actually has a title and that it was featured in Vanilla Sky. How do I not remember that it was in that movie? I've watched it more than a few time because I liked it so much!
In any event, here's a live version of Njosnavelin aka Track 4, because it's only an awesome song if it's awesome live too.
I wonder if loving the entire 10 minutes of this Eric Johnson performance makes me uncool? Yes? I can live with that. Me and my guitar player crushes. He definitely needs a haircut tho.
I really used to like Metallica. Actually, I used to love them. I still think And Justice for All is probably one of the best thrash metal albums of all time. But they've become a prime of example of selling out. They also fucked over Jason Newsted (who I really liked) simply because he wanted to try other things and think outside the box instead of staying 733T and exclusive with Metallica. The Black album was horrendously produced, canned and obviously put out there for the mainstream. And although there are a few gems here and there after that album, these guys are now just old, big headed, rich, selfish musicians who I dislike almost as much as Bono. Okay, I still really like Kirk Hammett. He's awesome. James Hetfield tho, is a jerk.
Fade to Black still is one of my favourite Metallica songs and I hadn't listened to it for awhile until I recently acquired Guitar Hero Metallica. I used to blast and loop this song in my bedroom as an emo pre-teen thinking they were the greatest things since sliced bread. In this live version, James Hetfield actually misses the first verse and screws it up. Oh well, he screwed a lot of things up.
"Aint a woman alive that can take my mama's place..."
Happy Mother's Day from me and 2Pac!
A few weeks ago, I finally got to watch Wicked on Broadway a near six years after it opened. I have to say, I doubted I would, but I really REALLY enjoyed it! I obviously missed the Idina Menzel and Kristen Chenoweth duo, but the current cast (with Nicole Parker and Alli Mauzey) is absolutely wonderful! I had nearly given up on great "new" productions on Broadway and I guess there's a bit of hope with this show and a cast like this. Popular is nearly everyone's favourite tune for those who have seen it, and it's now also one of mine.
We went to see Bloc Party a few weeks ago (part of the 2009 Canadian Music Festival week) and these guys, We Are Wolves opened up for them. They're a three piece band from Montreal and when they came onto the stage in a really strange get up (big cardboard signs with their insignia above their heads) I was pretty sure they were going to suck. Suck they DIDN'T. They blew me away, and I don't remember an opening band doing that since I saw The Futureheads open up for Franz Ferdinand five years ago. Seriously tho. Loved. Them. Unfortunately, none of their videos on YouTube capture just how impressive they are. I guess it will have to do until I get to see them live again.
These Norwegian dudes, Kings of Convenience, make uber folky music, but whenever I listen to them I don't get that pop folk cheese feeling. Rather, their muse pulls at bittersweet emotional strings (kinda like when I listen to Sigur Rós) and this song is a huge culprit of doing that. Something about the chorus when they sing "wave goodbye...wave goodbye...wave goodbye...I'll never see your face again." *sniff*
Also, how cool are their names?! Erlend Øye and Eirik Glambek Bøe. I want my name spelled with a Ø!
I was never a fan of Veruca Salt in high school. That Seether song got on my nerves, so I never bothered listening to any of their other stuff. Pete on the other hand, loves this group (well, the stuff before Nina Gordon left anyway) and probably due to some brainwashing on his part (again), I've learned to tolerate them. In fact, I love this song. The B-Side studio recording version of this tune sounds much better, but I couldn't find it on YouTube or Blip to share. This "live" version is pretty good too tho.
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newyork808 said:
OMG NOT! Is this gonna be your first time seeing it on stage? I hope you love it as much... read more
on On My Own
Yep, this is will be my first time seeing it on stage! I'm pretty stoked because I know all the... read more
on On My Own