I saw an amateur production of this show at the Phoenix Little Theater about 40y ago - a friend had the lead role. And this was my favorite song of the show! Still is!
lyrics I called a producer I sent off the one-act I started the story He said to come see him I dropped out of college I met this musician I'm playing a nightclub They're doing my one-act! I'm working for Redbook I rewrote the ballad I finished the story We started rehearsals I threw out the story And then the musician I'm moving to Popular Science We're opening doors Singing, "Look who's here!" Beginning to sail on a dime That faraway shore's Getting very near! We haven't a thing to fear- We haven't got time! Bum-bum-bu-bum-bum bum-bum La-da-da-da-da da-dum How's it coming? Good You? Done! One minute Hamburg Heaven Hi Mary Say hello I got another job Where? "Chic" What's that? A brand-new concept: Pop-up pictures What about the book? What about the book? Did you give the publisher the book? Yes Good No Mary- Look, I never- Finished! Let me call you back Right This is just a draft Right Probably it stinks Right Haven't had the time to do a polish- Will you sing! Right! Who wants to live in New York? Who wants the worry, the noise, the dirt, the heat? Who wants the garbage cans clanging in the street? Suddenly I do They're always popping their cork- I'll fix that line- The cops, the cabbies, the salesgirls up at Saks You gotta have a real taste for maniacs- Suddenly I do!
Now, tell me, how do you two work together? Oh, may I answer that? Please How do we work together? Sure He goes And I go And soon we're humming along, hmm And that's called writing a song, hmm Then he goes And I go And the phone goes "Brring!" And he goes "Mutter, mutter, mutter, mutter, yes, Jerome Mutter, no, Jerome Mutter, mutter, mutter, mutter" That's his lawyer, Jerome "Mutter, mutter, mutter, mutter Do it, Jerome" Click "Sorry, Charley" So I go And he goes And I go And soon we're tappin' away, hmm Bzz! "Sorry, Charley" Bzz, secretary! Bzz, on the intercom! "Yes, Ms. Bizz?" "It's a messenger!" "Thanks, Ms. Bizz Will you tell him to wait? Will you order the car? Will you call up the bank? Will you wire the coast? Will you-" Brring! "Sorry, Charley Mutter, mutter, mutter, mutter Sell the stock, mutter, buy the rights Mutter, mutter, mutter, mutter" Bzz! "Let me put you on hold, " bzz! "Yes, Ms. Bizz?" "It's the interview!" "Thanks Ms. Bizz Will you tell him to wait? Will you wire the car? Will you order the coast? Will you send up the bank?" And the telephones blink And the stocks get sold And the rest of us he keeps on hold And he's into making movies And he's now a corporation, right? So, I play at home With my wife and kids And I wait to hear the movie bids And I've got a little sailboat And I'm into meditation, right! He flies off to California I discuss him with my shrink That's the story of the way we work Me and Franklin Shepard, Inc Now, when you do work together, I've always been curious Which generally comes first, the words or the music? Generally, the contract Ah, well sounds like you think making money is a bad thing for an artist Money? Did I say money? No, I like money a lot, hmm I mean, it's better than not, hmm But when it's Money Money When you're into Money And you should be Listen, Frank does the money thing very well But you know what? Other people do it better And Frank does the music thing very well And you know what? No one does it better Still, the telephones blink And the buzzers buzz And I really don't know what he does But, he makes a ton of money And a lot of it for me, right? So, I think "Okay" And I start a play And he somehow knows 'Cause right away it's brring! "Hiya buddy, wanna write a show? Got a great idea, we'll own all the rights With a two week out, and a turnaround On the guarantee plus a gross percent of the billing clause" And there I am in California Talking deals and turning pink Back in business and I mean just that Back with Franklin Shepard, Inc Very sneaky how it happens Much more sneaky than you think Start with nothing but a song to sing Next you're Franklin Shepard Wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute I'm getting in a little too deep here (Franklin, let me ask you) See, the thing is, Frank and I are not that kind of close anymore, not like we used to be (Now, Frank) And friendship is like a garden You have to water it, you have to tend it, you have to care about it, or you lose it And I miss it And I want it back Look, nothing permanent has happened Just a temporary kink Friendship's something you don't really lose Ladies and gentleman, don't let me lose the greatest composer any lyricist ever had Phone him, write him, stop him on the street, you'll recognize him He's the one going through his checkbook And tell that man to get back to his piano Very sneaky how it happens Every day you're on the brink First the prizes, then the interviews Oh my god, I think it's happened Stop me quick before I sink One more triumph that I can't refuse In case you didn't notice, this is my first time on TV And my last No, here's the point, whatever happens Then we'll all go have a drink That's the guy I love, the fella who's Inside "Mutter, mutter, mutter, mutter Quick, Jerome Get the President! There's a crazy man on my TV screen" Inside Bzz, bzz. brring! Inside Franklin Shepard Just write him care of any bank, U.S.A Inc!
Holy crap! Daniel, we’re not in Hogwarts anymore….this is amazing! That rhythmic timing in the spoken words and also that modern yet classic voice of his! It’s been a while since I heard Sondheim sounding like the good old days! Congrats for sure, Danny boy!!
Dan has only gotten better over time and it’s pretty impressive how multitalented he is. Triple threat, acting, singing, and dancing. lol I don’t think I at 11 years old he thought he’d get this far 😅
Each time I listen to this, I'm just amazed at how Dan does this without years and years of vocal training. The breath control needed for this, probably one of the toughest Sondheim patter songs, takes a LOT of skill. Not Getting Married is tougher, IMO - but not by much.
The synthesizer constantly appearing in the orchestration is an anachronism for 1973 (when this scene is set). Synths were around then, but they weren't used like that - particularly on Broadway. Most were bulky, unreliable, and wouldn't hold their pitch; sequencing - which this track appears to involve - was in its infancy. Stevie Wonder and some rock bands used them, but they weren't yet an important part of pop music. And on Broadway, where it HAS to work, every time.....
This is not a drill: The pro-shot is happening! I don't know whether or not Daniel, Jonathan and Lindsay will be the leads or their replacements, it depends on when it's filmed I suppose.
@@elisa_lily Yeah, it's gonna be Jonathan, Daniel and Linsay. I think it's supposed to film soon. Looking forward to it and soo happy the show won the best revival tony!
@@kasity Sometimes, if a show runs for awhile, the performers are replaced. Not sure what the standard number of performances are, but I would guess if the show has been running a little over a year they would replace the performers. However, in the case of this revival, the show has already closed (to my knowledge anyway) and so no replacements were casted during its duration.
Honestly, he's great, but it's not as good as LMM version... The hysterical pace is missing, it's much slower... It's missing the feel of "I'm loosing it, my mind, my friend..."
