Reacting to the cast of the Broadway Revival of COMPANY performing on NPR's Tiny Desk Concerts, specifically Bobby Conte performing "Another Hundred People." Join my mailing list: www.mateochavezlewis.com/email-list
I actually read the "some go away" gesture as someone leaving on a plane. Though it could also refer to death. The beauty is that the character could really have any back story!
I was completely blown away when I watched this tiny desk performance! I've always loved Angel Desai's version of Another Hundred People with how she's able to keep up with the tempo while still communicating how carefree and almost unhinged her Martha was. Most other versions I've seen felt like the singer was struggling just to keep up (which would definitely be me, so no judgement here!), but the way Bobby found ways to convey meanings and inflections that never would've occurred to me like the "some go away" you mentioned floored me!
Fantastic analysis! "Some go away "will never feel the same to me. It stuns me how you can replicate amazing technique, seemingly spontaneously. Great catch about the song not resolving (and who knows what Conte was thinking, and if Mr. Sondheim hated his ending!)
He is ACTING the song rather than just singing it at a RECITAL. I would love to see him in the rest of the show to know his character and how he deliveres his spoken lines. I suspect this is his chance as an actor to more fully develop the character he has develoved for the part. Wonderful presentation. I enjoyed your analysis and explanation of what he is doing technically. Thanks for creating this video. Is there a RU-vid version available of the entire show? Or even segments?
This was great! Would you be able to do Raul Esparza's Take Me To The World? I know it was a video recorded during the pandemic for sondheims birthday but I think its so good
I'd really really love to see you react to Shoshana Bean's "Dressing Room Sessions" cover of Finishing the Hat from Sunday in the Park with George. She's absolutely glorious and that performance is really unique, especially since it's a male role :)
Wonderful, spot on, generous criticism & insights. A pleasure to listen to you. One song that hasn't been explored enough is the Judge's Johanna from Sweeney Todd - sublime music and chord changes under repulsive, twisted thoughts. Also Bernadette Peters' version of Anthony's Johanna from Sweeney - not the more common one she did that usually comes up first on youtube but the way she does it on the Sondheim Etc. album at Carnegie Hall. The way she sings "mistaken" just kills me every time.
His take on “some go away” may have to do with the fact that they were coming back right after Covid had ravaged New York. Gives it a special significance to the audience who may have lost people.
I wish I could have had to chance to see this revival live. I have mixed feelings about how he performs this song, and I feel like I'm missing a big part of the context since I haven't seen how he otherwise portrayed the character. What I do like is how conversational he makes it feel, like the words are just coming naturally to him. But I'm not sure how I feel about some of the other decisions. Thank you so much for sharing your analysis! I love hearing your perspective.
There was recently a PBS special about the revival of Company and features a very short clip of Bobby singing the song in the production. I'm not sure if anyone has posted any clips on youtube or not. I happened to come across the special as I was channel surfing but missed the first 10 minutes.
Naturally "my service will explain" is outdated, but I wonder why they changed "I'll text you in the morning" to "I'll message you tomorrow" between the London and Broadway runs of this production. I don't see a difference in meaning between the two, so it seems kind of arbitrary, unless I'm overlooking something.
Would you be willing to analyze Andrew Lloyd Weber’s Aspects of Love? I love this show, but it seems to be one of his least successful shows. Why? Is there any inherent problem with the music?
I didn't like his version when I saw the show on Broadway and I don't like it any more after this analysis. It is totally self indulgent and he is trying too hard.
That feels very in character to me. Idk about this revival, but my understanding of Marta is that she's high on life and carefree almost to the point of being unhinged; wanting to squeeze every drop out of every experience.
