@@rancidprince3133 Exclude to of those bitches and your suddenly in another musical ( it's Jekyll and Hyde I'd recommend listening to the song it's beautiful too )
Agreed. I think his seizures have toned down now that he's an adult, but still pop up in overwhelming scenarios. It kinda explains the chanting of the word "dumb" right before he hits her if you ask me.
okay but can we talk about when he says “Marvin holds his breath, his face is underwater, but that’s not a seizure he talk about death, he imitates a slaughter, but that’s not a seizure”? because that probably implies suicidal tendencies and uhhhhhh yeah
It's probably pointjng to actual problems that Marvin is having. His seizures are kind of a way to get attention, which kind of work because the seizures are loud and big and inconvenient. He has actual problems, like suicidal tendencies, but that's not as loud as a seizure, so it doesn't get the attention that it needs.
y’know this may be a song that highlights marvin’s suicidal tendencies and is about how nobody cares about or even notices him unless he acts out but like this shit slaps so 🕺🕺🕺🕺🕺🕺
It's a front. The Marvin that he tries to show us the cocky, confident one who doesn't care what others think, but in reality, he is embarrassed of not having friends and of being kind of wierd
The part at 1:11 is very...disconcerting. It really stands out with just how dark it is. Then again, this entire song is actually really dark if you take a look at the lyrics... I think there's a lot more to Marvin's character than what we're explicitly shown.
Leah Crossan I think you may be confused, The Rape of Miss. Goldberg isn’t about actual rape, the rape is him taking her glasses since she never takes them off 😂. Miss. Goldberg however did make sexual advances toward Marvin at 14(not the other way around). Also this is him reminiscing so he can be “straight” and only think about women. He’s thinking about this before marrying pre-Trina.
Idk if you know, but Falsettos used to be divided in three parts: In Trousers, The Game Of Chess (I think it's that) and Falsettoland. All of them followed the story of Marvin and everyone around him. Later on, the two last parts were connected and they formed Falsettos. Idk why they didn't add the first part, maybe because it would be too long for theaters.
I am thinking of writing an IB English Literature extended essay on how Trina is developed as a female character throughout the Marvin trilogy. I'm freakin anxious, but also so happy at the same time.
@@balsamicjester3827 Shit, I forgot all about this comment hahaha. I ended up writing it on Spring Awakening, because my teacher thought this one would be kinda messy. Got a good grade on it though!
I never truly understood the whole “Marvin is my very best friend in school” until I started considering maybe he means he’s his own best friend because he is so egotistical and in love with himself. And the giddy seizures are a way of getting attention off of everyone around him because he truly is his only friend (due to his egotism) and the “and I’m embarrassed and ashamed” is how sometimes egotistical people literally hate themselves while also loving themselves at the same time
Also because he probably had trouble making friends in school!! I see it both ways. I would say he has trouble making friends at school BECAUSE OF his egotistical behavior but also his “giddy seizures” could be a cause of that!
I’ve always interpreted this song and the rest of marvins “giddy seizures” to be short intense manic episodes and hearing about them in this musical provides a new lense to look at the rest of the trilogy through, as well as a whole world of possibilities for theories regarding possible diagnosis’ for marvins mental state. we be doing mendels job for him
It's been fine for me because I don't talk about it at school or in public places. Also I live in New England so bullying is more under thumb with schools here.
so it's implied here that marvin having seizures is the only way he can get the help and love he wants; his suicidal behaviour and his other problems are dismissed because they're mental, not physical, "not a seizure". sort of reminds me of when i was struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts i would fake a stomachache/ headache on days where i didn't have the energy to go to school because i felt like a physical illness was a better, more tangible excuse than a mental one (before i opened up about it to my parents). idk i think marvin faking his seizures is interesting from a mental health perspective as well as just him manipulating people for the fun of it
when i was in 10th grade i wrote down all the lyrics to this from memory on a huge dry erase board, then the teacher erased it and asked "who's marvin?" AHAHAHAH
"Marvin is my very best friend in school! It's me...and Marvin" Ik this is just Marvin like low key having a crisis as usual but bc it's Chip I always think of Mendel and Marvin being high school bffs
I've been listening to this and Falsettos often for the past 3 years. I even bought the script for this show 2 years ago because I wanted so badly to dissect it. i don't know what about Bill Finn's music that makes it so addicting , but there's little escape.
@@TacoTheHuman it's so unbelievably addicting!! I'm jealous, I only found out abt In Trousers in February, but i still listen to at least half of the soundtrack a day. most days still the full show
lol i am still listening to it almost daily. it's the only music with words that doesn't distract me while i'm studying. probably bc the words are so familiar to me!!
The arms disappear legs disappear etc is kinda like in How the Body Falls Apart with the heart and groin falling apart, kinda like how the marriage/love fell apart? And also how in The Nausea Before the Game Marvin mentions the body you thought you had that lied-one that could feel attracted to women? It could represent discomfort with romance with women. In this song they’re all like Marvin needs love and Marvin is all like SEIZURE TIME BABY. And in Marvin Takes a Victory Shower, he mentions all the scrubby dubbying of his body, everyone can see Marvin and all that, like him finally accepting being gay, accepting the body he has? Alternatively, I am overthinking.
When he says “when he turns upside down like a ladle pouring soup” the only thing I imagine that meaning is that Marvin often likes to do handstands to make himself puke and get attention, like it wouldn’t make sense as a simile otherwise
[MARVIN, spoken] One, two One, two, three One, two, three, four (sung) Marvin is a boy who has giddy seizures He’s laughing all the time Marvin is a boy who has giddy seizures Sometimes they’re fatal When he turns upside down like a ladle Pouring soup, he’s a veritable fool Marvin is my very best friend in school It’s me... and Marvin Lately I’ve been thinking maybe Marvin needs attention Of a private sort Maybe this whole seizure thing something he invented Or is it medicinal? Should his mother be blamed? [ALL] Marvin has a something that most everybody needs: He cannot ever be embarrassed [MARVIN] Marvin is my very best friend in school And I’m embarrassed and ashamed Oh! [HIS HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEART] Marvin! [HIS WIFE] Marvin, what are you doing? [HIS TEACHER] Who do you think you are, Marvin [SWEETHEART] What's Marvin doing? [MARVIN] Pardon me boys and girls but I’m having a seizure [LADIES] Oh, Marvin Hey, Marvin [MARVIN] Yes, I’m having a seizure today, hey, hey, hey Watch me laugh (Marvin’s giddy seizures) Watch me cry (Marvin’s giddy seizures) I'm counting on your prayers to get me by [LADIES] Marvin’s giddy seizures [MARVIN] Well my Arms disappear (ah) And my legs disappear (ah) And my knees disappear (ah) And my shoulders disappear (ah) When Marvin throws the best fit of the year [ALL] Marvin’s giddy seizures Marvin needs love He needs love He needs love He needs love Oooooo [MARVIN] Marvin holds his breath His face is underwater But that’s not a seizure [LADIES] Oooooo… [MARVIN] Marvin talks of death He imitates a slaughter But that’s not a seizure [LADIES] Oooooo… [MARVIN] When he begins to shriek like a virgin and his eyes turn an ordinary fizz Nothing’s exactly like I say it is But hey! That’s a seizure! [WIFE] Marvin, what are you doing? [TEACHER] Who do you think you are, Marvin? [SWEETHEART] What's Marvin doing? [MARVIN] Pardon me boys and girls but I’m having a seizure [LADIES] Oh, Marvin Hey, Marvin [MARVIN] Yes I’m having a seizure today, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey! Watch me laugh! (Marvin’s giddy seizures) Watch me cry (Marvin’s giddy seizures) I'm counting on your prayers to get me by [LADIES] Marvin’s giddy seizures Arms (disappear) Legs (disappear) Groin (disappear) Knees (disappear) [MARVIN] When Marvin throws the best fit of the year [ALL] Marvin’s giddy seizures Marvin needs love He needs love He needs love He needs love Oooooo Marvin’s giddy seizures Marvin needs love He needs love He needs love He needs love Oooooo Marvin’s giddy seizures Marvin needs love He needs love He needs love He needs love Oooooo
ok idk if this has been said before but i feel like the seizures could represent marvin's homosexuality ? lines like "im counting on your prayers to get me by", "maybe this whole seizure thing is something he invented" and "should his mother be blamed?" make me think so. cause queer people are taught being queer is a choice that you can change (ie the 1st and 2nd line) or that it's their parents fault (the 3rd line). also the chorus "marvin needs love" makes me think if marvin gets love (a *womans* love) it can cure his seizures (ie homosexuality). maybe marvin started telling people he had seizures as a way to explain his disinterest in women or his anger issues/ behavior around guys (the line "pardon me boys and girls but i'm having a seizure" makes me think he used it as an excuse- but i doubt he actually has seizures since its literally never brought up again + using it as a metaphor for homosexuality, to me at least, makes a lot of sense since marvin is in denial about it himself and would never directly/clearly state he's gay). let me know ur thoughts or if i'm reaching.
it's setting the tone of Marvin's need for attention and love that's prominent throughout the whole play (it's thought that his "seizures" are just him garnering attention)
actually, i just read something about gelastic seizures, which is "a rare type of seizure that involves a sudden burst of energy, usually in the form of laughing or crying." so its actually quite possible its that!
so william finn wrote three musicals in the marvin trilogy: in chronological order they're in trousers (what this song is from), march of the falsettos, and falsettoland. the 2016 revival combined the latter two into one musical.
[MARVIN, spoken] One, two One, two, three One, two, three, four (sung) Marvin is a boy who has giddy seizures He’s laughing all the time Marvin is a boy who has giddy seizures Sometimes they’re fatal When he turns upside down like a ladle Pouring soup, he’s a veritable fool Marvin is my very best friend in school It’s me... and Marvin Lately I’ve been thinking maybe Marvin needs attention Of a private sort Maybe this whole seizure thing something he invented Or is it medicinal? Should his mother be blamed? [ALL] Marvin has a something that most everybody needs: He cannot ever be embarrassed [MARVIN] Marvin is my very best friend in school And I’m embarrassed and ashamed Oh! [HIS HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEART] Marvin! [HIS WIFE] Marvin, what are you doing? [HIS TEACHER] Who do you think you are, Marvin? [SWEETHEART] What's Marvin doing? [MARVIN] Pardon me boys and girls but I’m having a seizure [LADIES] Oh, Marvin Hey, Marvin [MARVIN] Yes, I’m having a seizure today, hey, hey, hey Watch me laugh [LADIES] Marvin’s giddy seizures Marvin’s giddy seizures Marvin’s giddy seizures Oh Oh Oh Oh [MARVIN] Watch me cry I'm counting on your prayers to get me by Well my Arms disappear And my legs disappear And my knees disappear And my shoulders disappear [MARVIN] When Marvin throws the best fit of the year [ALL] Marvin’s giddy seizures Marvin needs love He needs love He needs love He needs love Oooooo [MARVIN] Marvin holds his breath His face is underwater But that’s not a seizure [LADIES] Oooooo… [MARVIN] Marvin talks of death He imitates a slaughter But that’s not a seizure [LADIES] Oooooo… [MARVIN] When he begins to shriek like a virgin and his eyes turn an ordinary fizz Nothing’s exactly like I say it is But hey! That’s a seizure! [WIFE] Marvin, what are you doing? [TEACHER] Who do you think you are, Marvin? [SWEETHEART] What's Marvin doing? [MARVIN] Pardon me boys and girls but I’m having a seizure [LADIES] Oh, Marvin Hey, Marvin [MARVIN] Yes I’m having a seizure today, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey! Watch me laugh! [LADIES] Marvin’s giddy seizures Marvin’s giddy seizures Marvin’s giddy seizures Arms Legs Groin Knees [MARVIN] Watch me Cry I'm counting on your prayers to get me by Disappear Disappear Disappear Disappear [MARVIN] When Marvin throws the best fit of the year [ALL] Marvin’s giddy seizures Marvin needs love He needs love He needs love He needs love Oooooo Marvin’s giddy seizures Marvin needs love He needs love He needs love He needs love Oooooo Marvin’s giddy seizures Marvin needs love He needs love He needs love He needs love Oooooo
