i think “do you want to play” shows them as more the antagonist because we’re used to seeing them from toms perspective and in the song we see tom and becky in the view of a child (being CHASED by them might i add)
Also beforehand we learn that both of them are/were in children based relationships, for example, Tom was a teacher (and also is a father which adds), and Becky is a children’s nurse, meaning it seems even more out of character.
Hot take: Tom and Becky should’ve stayed evil for longer. I love them as twisted antagonists, and I feel like Lex was designed to be the main character, or at least equally important, but she gets mega-shafted by Tom. After CaliforMIA, she’s basically a background character until Black Friday, which is a shame.
Yeah, plus how they never show Lex’s reaction to Ethan’s death, (which I assume she must’ve known since she set the building on fire and Ethan wasn’t at the end of the show)
@@whateveryouhearditwasntme4109 im just imagining her worrying about hannah and ethan all alone and then when she only sees hannah she just knows that hes dead, or hannah and lex had a moment that we didnt see when they were reunited
@@whateveryouhearditwasntme4109 Maybe she wanted to stay strong to not freak Hannah out too much. A way to make sure Hannah doesn't get sensory over load, and so Hannah doesn't blame herself for leaving Ethan
Imagine a version of Black Friday where Ethan doesn't die until closer to the musical's end. This version also has Lex and Ethan as the focus couple instead of Tom and Becky.
There is something about What If Tomorrow that sticks with me. Every single time without fail when I listen to it I get chills. There certain parts that really stand out to me in it. The adding of the drums when Kendall sings adds such a weight to the music. The fact that Hannah doesnt sing throughout the show and also clearly doesn't like talking just makes this moment that much more impactful. When someone who never talks has something to say, you listen. Then the camera work. My favorite type of shot is the unbroken follow shot and the way it's used in this is perfect. The way the harmonies are layer back in forth in a not necessarily messy but rather organic matter works so well. It's like everyone is having their own thought and each and everyone is processing what is happening. In this show and TGWDLM, the way voices get layered back and forth while not forced is very clean and obviously arranged. It works because they arent thinking for themselves. In this song it's nothing but free thought and fear. Now on to quite possibly my favorite part. The counting. When you count down, you typically say all the numbers. If not, one usually does it by evens. Who counts down by odds. No one. It makes it just that much more tense and unnerving because it pushes forward this feeling that something is wrong. Now my favorite part. Kendall's last line. Her acting is amazing in this song but it stands out none more than this line. You can see the contempt and almost anger in her eyes as she sees what is about to happen. Her voice is nothing but pure emotion and it hits so heavy. Her final part is by far the most intense part of the show.
Shelby Brasfield You make an excellent point about Hannah not speaking/singing making it more so much more impactful. I expressed disappointment about not being able to hear Kendall’s voice but I wouldn’t change anything in the show to make that happen.
I honestly think this might be my favourite starkid song now (my old favourite was climate change just cause it’s so darn catchy) but yeah, this song is a masterpiece
Also how when you play only the songs in order in a loop the ending of this and the beginning of the first song flow so naturally together just makes everything better!
I did this on accident trying to read that text that popped up really fast, but if you change the speed to .25 when they're doing the acapella part in Made in America, Becky's high singing is literally the funniest thing in the world
I absolutely adore Take Me Back, it’s one of my favorite songs, but I can see why you don’t like it. I never really liked them together because it just seemed awkward and I don’t know why. It might be the fact that Tom’s wife died recently so it’s weird that he moved on so quickly, or that (If I remember correctly) the song comes right after Becky literally confesses how she left her husband to die in the woods. It was a weird song.
Bobsponge same I don’t really care about the relationship but the song is SO good to me like it’s one of the songs on this soundtrack that I will never skip
@@clararose5336 I feel the same way. I didn't really like the song when I watched the play but absolutely loved it when I downloaded the soundtrack and let my mind give it a different context. Their relationship was expected and cliche and really brought the song down. Once I was able to separate the visuals from the song; sooo much better. It's probably my favorite one to sing along to in the car.
I agree! I especially love the "(if) the universe is infinite, then/and it's definite, there's an alternate reality, where it's only you and me/ we're now a family" part building up to the chorus, I just think the part where they just sing "take me back" gets a little annoying
It’s honestly the song I’ve gone back to the most. I wish I could have put it higher but the other songs deserve their parts too much for me to move them.
Ranking Itself 9/10 Commentary 12/10 Totally agree on Take Me Back. I think a lot of people like it because two incredible vocalists are singing it (valid), but for me Do You Want To Play? gives similar vocals minus the romance and plus an awesome creepy atmosphere
Do you want to play is probably my favorite because it’s so catchy after watching bf it stuck with me and vocals so lovely and it set atmosphere so well
I'm so happy to find someone else who appreciates Monsters and Men. Most of the rankings I see put it low and I can't understand why. General McNamara's words have been echoing to me ever since this nightmare of quarantines began. He truly is a great character who makes the ultimate sacrifice and his song deserves love and attention!
i think its hard because its right after feast or famine which imo should have been the act 1 closer. Also imo i font care for the president sub plot, just not all that necessary. Idk just what im thinking
The problem for me was that their relationship was already established before the show begins so you just have to except it, whereas most other StarKid relationships are built to over the show
This comment is going to be controversial, but one of the problems I had with this musical was the way the relationships were built. Some were built extremely well, like Lex and Hannah’s, but others were out there to fill plot holes. I didn’t care about Tom and Becky’s relationship because it wasn’t developed. I also didn’t really care about Ethan and Lex’s relationship. Ethan died so early on in the musical that his death didn’t really have that emotional impact on me. Maybe it did for others, but I just wished they developed Ethan a bit more. What’s worse is Lex never had a reaction to Ethan’s death, so it made it seem like his death was very inconsequential. Once he was dead, he didn’t really matter to the story anymore. It would have been cool to see Ethan show up as a ghost more to Hannah and maybe go slowly insane. Personally, I believe all characters in a musical should serve a purpose and contribute to the story. If a character can be easily removed from the story and the story wouldn’t change, that character isn’t developed enough. In this musical, there were so many characters that were supposed to be important. However, I don’t feel like they were developed thoroughly enough because the show couldn’t develop all these characters well in the time frame they had. To me, Hannah, Lex, Tom, and Linda were the only characters I really cared about. They had a significance in the story and drove the plot forward.
carrie015 I wish they had killed just some random person and Ethan and Hannah just witnessed it and ran away from it. I feel we would have gotten a lot more from Ethan and would have given Hannah more stage time
@@carrie0153 Great insightful analysis! Thanks! Although BF is now my favorite Starkid show, I agree with all your points. I think the problems were because this is a new kind of show for Starkid, and Matt and Nick haven't worked all the kinks out yet. First it's Starkid's most ensemble show, it didn't really have a main character or couple. Second it's more character driven. To motivate why each character was attracted to Wiggly, the show had to tell the backstory of 4 or 5 characters, instead of just 1 or 2. The story was also just more complicated, darker, with more at stake. As you say there was just not enough time allowed to do all these things. But I think Matt and Nick will get better. And I reely LOVE the direction that they are taking, into more serious, deeper issues, more character development. Onboard with it!
Damn, I basically disagree with every point on this list, but I? Agree? With almost every piece of commentary??? My emotions are confused but basically your opinions are cool and valid and I'm extremely biased because my "do I like this song" ranking would basically be "all of the songs sang by people I like are the top ones" because I'm lame.
@@trucetruce335 I liked the video is what I'm trying to say. You make 10/10 very good points. I'd just rearrange most of the songs haha. Ex: I'd put Take Me Back higher just because HARMONIES, but I agree that I didn't,,, love,,, their relationship,,, it wasn't even that I thought they shouldn't be together, it was more of "dude she just opened up to you about how she killed her abusive husband why are you talking about getting back together THIS IS NOT THE TIME" and... yeah.
@@Ray-hk1zm Yeah, you're right, that was a cheap shot. I like Tom, and the song What Tim Wants has grown on me, and he kind of redeemed himself at the end.
You know what I just realised that makes me pretty sad? Tim probably died alone. Emma and Paul said they left him in the car and whilst everyone gathered together waiting for black Friday end then they died. I know Kendall's the one that plays Tim which is why he couldn't be in the scene but the fact he was alone when he died just makes me sad.
The thing about Wiggle is that I really like the song but think it’s poorly placed in the show. All the heroes just kinda watch Linda do her thing and afterwards it doesn’t even matter because Becky just shoots Linda so all that build-up was for nothing. What I think would’ve been better is if they combined Adore Me and Wiggle (leaned more towards Wiggle as it combines the cult a bit more) and then made that whole Frank execution scene and the song the Act 1 finale. I think Monsters and Men is great, but doesn’t work as an Act 1 Finale because we just met Howard and MacNamara, it’s not something the story was building to. Having Wiggle be the Act 1 finale would really showcase just how bad things have gotten, raiding the stakes for Act 2. This is all a personal opinion though, I still think both songs are fine on their own.
Jeremy Tewari I think the same thing. I was gonna say something about Adore Me not being needed but that sounded too harsh. Combining them is the perfect solution.
And it's good to see the wiggly jingle getting the love it DESERVES that song hasn't left my head since February and it always gets written off in song rankings, which is disappointing to me
something I think makes do you want to play a lot scarier (saw this from another video, I think it was a rating on how much of a lesbian the song made them?? can’t remember) is that Tom is a teacher and Becky is a child nurse, which are people that kids would feel safest with, but they’re trying to sedate Hannah for wiggly. and from the video again, they pointed out in feast or famine that Tom protected Becky and put her before wiggly, which we saw change at the end of do you want to play. just thought I’d add that in sjsjsjsj
i almost completely disagree with you, but that’s what makes this video so interesting. i love how you explained everything and your ranking system was really nice. (also thanks for showing the dylan solos some appreciation!)
There's something interesting with "What if tomorrow comes". This song is affecting me (and probably others) very hard during these crazy times of the COVID-19 isolation/quarantine, where people are uncertain. Sure, the virus might not be as dangerous as some other epidemics we see in different medias, but the reality of it is heavy enough so that many people get lost, not knowing what to do during such times. It is frightening to be subject to something which you have no control over and this song encapsulates a lot of that. No one in Hatchet Field could have done anything to stop the bomb after it was launched, most of them didn't even knew what happened until the last second and that is what hurts so much, the inevitability of it. Tomorrow always comes, through wars, through viruses, through hellspawns of a doll, there will always be a tomorrow, we can just hope to be part of it.
I love feast or famine! I love the ridiculous running they do, and I love how it sets a haunting, manic tone for the rest of the show. I also love Frank, Corey did amazing, and like Ted, showed that you don't have to be a villan to be a jerk
Feast or Famine always reminds me of Your Fault from Into the Woods because of whole “it’s mine, i’s mine, it’s certainly mine” and “so it’s your fault,’ ‘no’ ‘it’s your fault”
I love Do you want to play bc that creepy genre of music is so goddamn good, and Becky shines during that one imo, she's so unsettling and beautiful, like a siren
I appreciate how your ranking is more about what the songs contribute to the show. I find that a lot of rankings are based on the singing, which is a big factor, don't get me wrong, but shouldn't be all that's considered. When I rank songs, I try to separate them from their shows, and think to myself, "if I heard this song somewhere else, would I add it to my playlist?" I tend to base my opinions off of the melodies, and whether or not the songs are musically interesting. That said, I think that your method of judging songs is best. They are from musicals, after all, and the point of songs in musicals (for the most part) is to see more into the inner thoughts of characters, which would be out of place usually in dialogue. Your ranking accounts for that, and still manages to include factors such as choreography, cinematography, lyrics, singing and instrumentals. Tldr: you do a good rank. I like how you rank. Thank for your rank
Thank you. What a surprising and genuine compliment. I try to take in the fact that this is a musical, not just some music. So the plot was a big consideration when making the list, as well as the sound. I really appreciate someone noticing. 💜
11:32 I noticed that too and I think it further supports the theory that McNamera is Webby. Also time seems to be a big thing here which'll probably play into the next musical (I don't remember where but someone pointed out how nods towards time are almost jammed into most of the songs and they're absolutely right about that.)
Finally i found someone who isn't a big fan of take me back! I always see it high on ranking lists but compared to other songs in the musical it kinda isn't great
Great list and a really interesting commentary and why you've given the ratings you have. Thank you for giving some love to What Tim Wants and If I Fail You!! They are such beautiful songs and just make me feel too many emotions. Dylan is just phenomenal and I could gush about them all day! Also, I was beginning to think I was the only person who didn't care much about Tom and Becky's relationship and that Take Me Back was alright. I'll be honest I'm a sucker for anything Dylan sings (which might be obvious) so that's probably why I think it's alright rather than disliking it.
I’m convinced that Wiley and MacNamara’s previous superior are the same guy. Wiley is a shortened version of the superior’s name, Wiley “was a colonel once,” he went into the Black and White and came out batshit crazy and talking about a new god he has found and then he went missing, and he seems to know every move PIEP is going to make because he trained their current leader.
I’m convinced that all the characters Joey plays (except for the elf and homeless guy and background for other songs, I mean Wiley, Cross, and the delivery guy) are all actually Cross.
yess, finally someone appreciates Deck the Halls (of Northville High), usually it’s ranked way lower and i think it shouldn’t be ignored as much as it normally is. also, What If Tomorrow totally deserves to be ranked first. Kendall is incredible, and the song just gives me so many feels. i got chills during it. i agree with all of your commentary too
Of all the songs in the show, Take Me Back seemed the most out of place, even more that Deck the Halls (of Northville High) because this was not meant to be a romantic musical, and it seemed kind of shoehorned into the show. Just my opinion, I still like it, I just think if they had cut it out there wouldn’t be that much of a loss in the storyline.
I find it interesting that in feast or famine, Tom is the only one saying that he wants the doll for his son and not for himself. At least at the beginning. Like if he was less touched then the others.... But I don't know... maybe I'm wrong
This is the first rank video I’ve seen where what if tomorrow comes is the first and I want to thank you cause I feel the same also number two is a good choice as well
I'm amazed at people who can rank these songs, I've listened to them all that much that I always have them in my head and I don't understand how people can say what's good and what's not. What you say in this video however makes many valid points though and it's made me go back and listen to the songs more closely
I literally gasped and had to pause the video when I saw take me back the last one, bc I'm used to see it reaaaaally high. But honestly? This is one of the rankings I agree with the most
This is definitely a unique ranking, different from most of the ones I’ve seen. I disagree a lot with some choices but agree a lot with others. Overall very interesting
That last comment you made literally made me burst into tears because it just hit so hard for no reason like ahhhhhhhhhhhh but the implications of that song are just so real and it does make you think
we literally have the same ranking finally!!! this is the first ranking that has appreciated What if Tomorrow Come, it’s truly an incredible song and ending
Wiley is different than who Joey was playing in made in America. In that song, he is playing Wilber Cross, McNamara’s old mentor, while Wiley is something for advertisement such as ‘Aunt Jemima’.
I always thought/head cannoned Wilber was playing Wiley and they were one in the same, but I see how I used the wrong name in my commentary, you’re right.
Truce Truce I thought I’d just let you know. This show has so much of just your own interpretation though, and I think we’ll get answers in their next show
Man thank you. So many people don't like Monsters and Men and I love it so much.It just resonates with me on a personal level considering how he might be singing about aliens and eldritch monsters invading the world but also the basic thought of "a lot of things in this world are shit but you need to live your best possible life so you can fight back against it."
i love “do you want to play” SO MUCH- they’re voices go along so smoothly and it shows how hannah sees them... everyone gets to be the villain in this show
I absolutely LOVE Monster and Men and the reprise and it makes me sad whenever other people put it so low on their list. Thank you for ranking it so high!
Listening to Monsters and Men again has made me appreciate it a lot more. I think my issue with it initially was just that there was some absolutely amazing bluesi-ness going on at the start, and I love that, so I was disappointed that the rest of the song differed. My opinions are very different for a lot of the placings, but I love the reasonable way you explained your position, so I can fully get behind your ranking as well. Great video!
THANK YOU for showing some love to monsters and men. it's my favorite song in the musical, and i get confused why a lot of ppl are putting it so low in their rankings. for me it's a great act closer, the chords are powerful, and the harmonies are amazing! i also agree with your views on mcnamara in this song, he's one of my favorite sk characters and i really love an inspirational song like this one. it deserves that 9/10! great video :)
The very end, I was so into your commentary, it took me a full moment to realise what you meant about “thinking about the implications” and I wanna say I 100% love you for that 😂😂
finally I’ve found someone else who doesn’t care for Tom and becky’s storyline. It was just there and I felt like didn’t really need to happen in the show???
I love how you told us your earnest thoughts on each song. When I got to #8, I realized that neither "Monsters and Men" nor its reprise have been on the list yet, and did a silent cheer.
What you pointed out about Monsters and Men, and how it's the "real" General MacNamara song gave me the CHILLS. While I've always liked the song, that little extra layer you added just made it much better. Now I got to go listen to that song again!
There’s something about monsters and men that makes me feel nostalgic. I think it’s the way “into the black and white” is sung, it reminds me of all the old singers my parents would play to me when I was younger. I think that’s why I like it. Hmm
Finally! The appreciation Monsters and Men deserves. Even puts it last or close to it and I just don’t agree. I’m gonna save time and say my opinion is the same as you cause it basically is. Also I totally agree on Take Me Back and What if Tomorrow Comes.
About 11:32 Same, idk what I am reading, but I am reading into it and I really wanna know more Idc if its just a nod towards time playing a big role in this universe itself or if it's also (in)directly connecting McNamara even more to either the Black and White or Wil; more because that's already all interconnected bc duh I just want...anything really also Joey playing a villain is my jam soooooooo...please more of that ;;
It makes me so happy to finally see someone put Our Doors Are Open so high up on their list. It's honestly always been in my top three for this show and I feel like people never rank it high enough....in my opinion
I'm so glad that you put monsters and men so high up on this list, it's definately one of my favourite black friday songs (and not just because General MacNamera is my favourite starkid character ever) and I'm very happy you finally gave it the recognition it deserves
Made in America will always be my personal favorite (for the same reason of yours, pretty much) but What If Tomorrow is just. A beautiful song. I think you pitched it perfectly as “Optimistic Dread,” it’s so well designed and executed even better. What a reminder that the future is inevitable, and it’s up to us whether or not that’s a good or bad thing.
This is by far one of the best commentaries I have seen! This was fantastic. I thought I would pitch in my two cents as far as theories and whatever, since you are clearly the type of person who thinks about that stuff. Personally, I don't believe that Joey's character is Wiggly. I believe that after he left PEIP, he became like the right hand man. I also believe that we have to look at this as a companion piece to TGWDLM, rather than simply an alternate story. Clearly they are stuck in like a time loop or something. In both shows, Wiggly (Yes, I believe that Wiggly is the cause of both disasters) uses an object to take control of and destroy humanity. Oddly, Wiggly seems like a childish thing. He's an "all powerful" alien who can't even destroy the world himself. Literally all he does is give the world a dumb meteor or stuffed animal and causes the end of the world. He doesn't recognize death and doesn't have empathy. He's basically just playing with Hatchetfield at this point. By contrast, Webby warns Hannah and protects her, almost as if she has access to the Black and White. She also acts like a mother, something the Wiggly desperately seems to want (Linda). Speaking of Hannah, I don't know if I am sold on the idea she's on the spectrum. 100% fine if she is, but I think more of her awkwardness comes from the fact that if she can see the Black and White, she might have been able to see all of the other apocalypses, including the events of TGWDLM and possibly her own death over and over. The fact that Lex thinks she's just a creative kid means that this has been going on literally as long as Hannah has been alive. (They don't think this is out of the ordinary for her). Maybe the Black and White is a hub to get to all of the timelines or whatever. That also could explain why Hannah can see into the future. (If you don't think she can, look at her face during the conversation with Ethan right before his death). Hannah didn't want to come to the mall for Ethan's sake. Considering she knew it was a bad day from the start, she must know about Ethan's death and WWIII. I'll get to the latter in a minute, but by struggling she was trying to stop Ethan from walking into his death. That's heartbreaking. If he could have stayed alive until the end, he might have survived. I believe that the next story will follow Hannah. Either she could pull everyone into the Black and White, or she will just get so upset that she tries to take down Wiggly after time resets or whatever. I hope that she convinces Wiggly of his own mortality and stuff with Webby. I'm not sure he can be messed with in the Black and White. We still have no clue what his real power is. Maybe he really only can cause humans to destroy themselves with seemingly innocent things like singing or toys. Idk
I would like to believe Hannah is on the spectrum as it’s nice representation I don’t often get, black and white powers or no. Personally I’ve always just assumed it it’s both.
Michael WIllis At first I wasn’t going to rate anything under 5/10 on principle just based on how much I loved everything but after I relistened to the song and defined my rankings I realized I just didn’t like Take Me Back, even if I didn’t dislike it either.
At the twelve minute mark ( 12:00 to make it easier to find ) you mention a Renaissance painting that the song reminds you of, I can’t get the image out of my head now and would love to redraw the painting with what you described in the next bit of commentary ( Frank holding the wiggly doll and customers reaching up with wads of money ) I can’t really find the painting and don’t remember exactly what it looks like so I’m basically commenting this to see if anyone knows what it’s called and can help a girl out 🥺
I’m sorry but the reason I put “renaissance painting” instead of its name was because I don’t know either. ): I tried to find it while making the video but eventually gave up and just described it instead.
Huh, that is actually an unpopular opinion. Usually when people say they have an unpopular opinion it’s just an alternative one that lots and lots of people still enjoy but you’re the first person I’ve ever heard dislike her singing. Neat. (Her name is Kendall btw)
Thanks! I was worried it might be annoying because I have a habit of needing to make every detail of my everything decision known but I’m glad it was appreciated.
Ok but I agreed with this like 99%. I would probably swap the top two and put what do you say slightly lower but other than that I agree completely. And w/ like all the commentary as well
