This is the 40th anniversary of A CHORUS LINE opening so I thought I'd post a comment. I got such an incredible email from Kelly Bishop thanking me for this deconstruction and calling it a "tutorial worthy of a college course". I just call it an obsessed fan obsessing! That was followed by a hilarious and wonderful email from Ronald Dennis, the original Richie. The fact that the originals watched this is so moving to me. And especially the 8-year-old boy still inside me who listened to it NON-STOP! I love this show so much and it meant and will always mean so much to me!
0:38 Seth says he's still angry that they put "one blurry picture" on the fold-out of the record cover, puts the cover down and smoke immediately starts rising from that area. I seriously thought he set it on fire at that point. I was like "dude, bit of a strong reaction!!"
I am literally crying with laughter at that comment! I also saw the smoke but didn't notice it coincided with the moment he put the album down out of sight!
This song is about artistry that rises from pain. This montage is one of the saddest songs and yet -- hope springs eternal. The orchestration honors the battles, internal and external, that most true artists endure. ~love
I wept buckets the first time I heard this song. Only took a handful of ballet classes in my life and definitely could not identity with being a dancer. But I was a fatherless girl who knew she would never be pretty, and escaped into music and musicals because of it. Listening to this analysis I'm crying right now. Thank you for reminding me of all the reasons this song is mine.
One more thing about "I was pretty / I was happy / I would love to..." The crescendo of emotional progression is clearly meant to be "I was pretty / I was happy / I was loved" You could even mis-hear it as:. I was pretty / I was happy / I was loved too..." So it is very cool but not a completely off beat group of three. The third one still has the right meaning but "I was loved" doesn't have enough syllables. "I would love to" is really about the only thing a lyricist could put there.
Your deconstruction inspired me to use the song in my grade 3 & 6 classes today. I had the students listen to it once through with their eyes closed, then a second time and asked them to either draw or write the imagery and/or feelings the piece evoked for them. I got a fascinating array of responses back, and they ALL loved the song. Thanks Seth!
Lara Morton this is amazing, I know if one of my teachers ever did this it would be the so awesome, I love this idea also. Plus introducing Kids to these iconic musicals is so important ❤️❤️❤️ thank you
My god, Seth, how could I have spent so many years on this earth without ever having known you were out there. I am someone who falls in love with certain pieces of music but knows virtually nothing about musical "construction," for want of a better word. Among musicals, A Chorus Line has long been my unchallenged favorite, with Godspell running a distant second. I found you 'by accident' when I was looking for Kelly Bishop's work in the show since I had been told, as it turns out, on very good authority, that she was the definitive "Sheila." In any event, once a foolish supporter of the notion that, "...one only had to know what one liked..." in order to really enjoy a piece of music, I realize now that while that contention has some credibility, it's the sort of credibility that only has meaning on a fundamental level - and is, in fact, is indicative of a lazy approach to music appreciation (analogous, say, to enjoying a performance by Yuja Wang, only because of her openly provocative performance fashion sense which often results in a somewhat indulgent exhibition of her remarkably beautiful legs). Thank you so much for your work here. Kelly Bishop is dead on in her assessment; I feel as though I just beat a top university out of tuition money for one of its premier course selections in the arts.
I've heard Seth on SiriusXM a few times. He is at an entire different level here. Amazing. Fascinating. Now I'm obsessed by his deconstructions... What a talent.
A smokin' deconstruction -- literally! As the smoke rose, I thought, well, the album packaging is just spontaneously combusting from Seth's bitter critique of the blurry inside photo. Listening to this song over so years, I still find parts of this song *devastating.* It's the Indian chief that always gets me: something magical and faraway, and out of reach of a child's grasp. Thanks for the master class!
To me, the ending sounds as if the song is taking an extra moment to decide whether to end with a major or minor chord. Could have gone either way, I think; it's a very close call whether the story is tragic or triumphant. The ringing triangle (?) at the end sounds to me as if it is blessing the song and its characters. The other thing I wanted to say is that I use this video to practice speaking faster. "Phenomenal vibrato on 'metronome'...phenomenal vibrato on 'metronome'..." One of my favorite videos on RU-vid! Thanks, Seth!
Ok, first, I don't know how I missed this one, because this song is the greatest song in the best musical ever. @ me if you dare. Second, I know this show inside out and At The Ballet? Ha. There's no way Seth is gonna tell me anything I don't know. "So," I'm on the floor. As much of a treasure as A Chorus Line is, Seth and his deconstructions are just as valuable to the history and future of the Broadway musical. Thank you Seth!
I know this is an old post, and I realize Seth last posted some years ago. I just want to say thank you for this, and how much this particular act from Chorus Line STILL brings tears to my eyes. First time I saw Chorus Line was way back in 1975 at the Schubert Theater in W. Los Angeles when my mother took me dragging and screaming as a 15 year old “stoner teen” to see the show. To put it mildly, I was stunned. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing and hearing and for the first time in years, held hands with my Mom and cried. I believe I’ve seen A Chorus Line some 30-40 times since then, and have finally introduced my teen daughters to it now in 2022 here in Spain. It’s been a great ride this life of mine…Chorus Line left it’s mark on me permanently and indescribably. Thank you SO MUCH!!
This is truly my favorite thing I've ever seen, and I've seen a lot of great things including summer, a baby taking its first steps and SEVERAL tiny kittens.
I am a self-acclaimed lazy Broadway fan - I don't explore too much, and never keep up with new shows and musicals. But finding Seth on the RU-vid has helped me learn so so much and appreciate a whole new world of Broadway. A Chorus Line is in my top 5 musicals of all time - that I know - and this song moves me every time!
How wonderful is it that I found this! I cry every time I hear this song. Memories flood my brain. I cry.. I reminisce. I remember seeing this at the Schubert on Broadway when I was 25 in 1981 and I was never the same agsin. Thank you Seth, just BRILLIANT..
I've been listening to this song since I was a teenager. It's one of my favorite B'way songs. You made me discover diffrent parts of the song that I had never heard before. The song feels brand new to me now. I fell in love with the show when I had the chance to play Paul in a school production. Thank You so much.
What makes this video great, is his passion for what he is talking about. I love this show and this song too, and now hearing someone who loves music and has a passion for music, makes this video all the more entertaining to watch.
I saw the original cast in Los Angeles at the Schubert and noticed something Kelly Bishop did in this song that I thought was clever. AfterRU-vid came on-line I saw the B/W off-BW preview of Ballet, it was present. Then the Donahue 25 anniversary show. 25 years later and she still did it. On the first singing of "metronome" she straight arm bumps her right fist on her right thigh 4 times to the beat, visually illustrating a metronome. Very clever. I've only seen one other person do it. If I ever met KB the one question I would ask her would be was this her idea, choreographed ahead, a direction after feedback, what? Whatever it was was strong enough to last for 25 years. Inquiring minds want to know. I question choreographed because it's not in almost every production I've seen, just the original and one other. Did they just miss it?
Thank you for these videos Seth. I have always loved Broadway musical theater but you give it freshness with your explanations. It makes me feel like I am hearing it again for the first time - - and that is a wonderful thing! Thank you and many hugs from Niagara Falls Ontario!
One of the most beautiful songs from one of the greatest scores ever written. And it makes me cry every damn time!! And thanks to Seth I get more out of it than I ever did when I saw it at Drury Lane in London back in the day. One of the great theatre nights of my life.
When I was 16, the only thing I wanted was a metronome. I was so excited when I got one. I was such a piano nerd!!! Who needs a car, when they can have a metronome???
LOVED this. It also reminded me of the bit from "Every Little Step" in which SO many singers struggled with the E on the last "at the ballet." When Mara Davi finally steps up and nails it, you can see the whole creative team just sort of slump in relief. Good grief, I may need to watch all of these deconstructions!
Seth, I so thoroughly enjoyed that! Imagine if we would have had the luxury of someone walking through these tunes with us when we were coming up? You are being of amazing service.
This was amazingly fun and I can hardly wait to watch the others. I recently saw the documentary EVERY LITTLE STEP and it was great to revisit all the wonderful things about A CHORUS LINE. Tonight, after 3 vodkas and sobbing hysterically to Bernadette in SUNDAY IN THE PARK - long day, don't ask - it's nice to see another OBCQ doing his thing. Of course Mr. Rudetsky has an actual career in the arts and I don't, but such is life. Ooooo, Another Hundred People!!!!
Brilliant deconstruction of a brilliant song. Seth Rudetsky is a national treasure. Every time I hear this song, I react the same way to one line. Maggie's, "I used to dance around the living room with my arms up like this." The emphasis seems wrong. I think it should be, ..."with my arms up, LIKE THIS." But that's just me--it's all brilliant, as is all of A Chorus Line.
I had no idea this amazing song existed until I just happened to stumble upon this youtube video. Like many people I know Kelly Bishop from Dirty Dancing and Gilmore Girls. I don't think I realized she was on Broadway in the 1970's.
No doubt Marvin Hamlisch & Ed Kleban wrote the fantastic music and lyrics, but the beautiful orchestra arrangments and Don Pippin as the music and vocal director also helped to make this soundtrack a timeless gem.
I watched the video you recently posted and that moment where the line reappears nearly took my breath away. You are so correct...absolutely spellbinding.
Vis a vis my previous comment (vide infra 😌😏😦) "... Zach points to the machine-like dancing of the rest of the cast-the other dancers who have all **blended together, and who will probably never be recognized individually**-and mockingly asks if this is what she wants. Cassie defiantly defends the dancers: "I’d be ..."(Wiki - ** Emphasis added)
such an amazing show! i had the honor of playing Bobby in a show directed by danny herman who was an understudy for mike and performed as mike and mark for several years. it was a wonderful experience and this song is one of the most amazing works of music i have ever hard. the way it was written is just beautifl.
Chorus Line is such a personal show for me especially this number as it diretly reflects several aspects of my own life even though I'm not 1.) a woman and 2.) ever took ballet. Yet I am fragments of these characters. So emotional. Saw the revival on tour here in Detroit several years ago. Was hard to explain to my daughter and son why I cried during this number. Your deconstruction Seth was perfect!! Musically, emotionally..the REAL DEAL!! thank you
Hi Seth and thanks. "Yes" is right! Could you sometime share your insights on Maggies song to her mother and the touching abrasive comments of the cast about their own memories woven in as she sings it? It's sheer musicality, let alone the sentiment, gets me every time.
This is definitely my favorite number from the show. And in my opinion, one of the best from it as well. I mean, in just under 6 minutes, this song takes you on a ride through every one of your emotions. I know that may sound crazy. But, that’s just because it & I are crazy! And, I will cut you if you dare criticize Sheila’s dried up dusty old self for just trying to get one last show before calling it quits! TRUST!
Seth, I enjoy your analyses - thank you! I'm sure you are a pleasure to work with in the pit. I've noticed something in the song, but cannot find any reference to it on the net. It seems unlikely that no one else noticed this, but they apparently never mentioned or discussed it. "The steep and very narrow stairway" is a metaphor referring to the dancer's path to success. It is "steep" in terms of the demands of training, preparation, and competition from the throng of other dancers. It is "very narrow" in the sense that there is not enough opportunity for those who aspire to succeed. "The voice like a metronome" could refer to all the dance teachers, everywhere, who call out instructions in class in the tempo of the indispensible metronome. I apologize if this seems so obvious as to never be mentioned, but it seems pertinent to me - and helps illuminate the meaning of the show.
AmmaLeslie Yes! And I forgot to mention, "...it wasn't paradise...but it was home" refers to dance class, recitals, rehearsals, shows, etc. - not their house & family...
Seth...this is brilliant! I have always felt the song on a very personal level, as I did with ACL overall. This deconstruction has opened my eyes to levels of this song that I never knew existed. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Thanks! This is such an amazing work! Unfortunately English is not my first language and you speak so fast auto-subtitles couldn't read you! Hahsjs so Ia have a question. What is this thing you called "scoopy" or sth (yoy did the example with "Somtimes i wondef" and thing you are comparing it to? Thanks a lot!
I never tire of every detail of A Chorus Line - this was so good - and hearing you demonstrate with the piano...and pointing out there were no strings.... just great
Thanks for this deconstruction. You're not the only one who played this song over & over & over in their youth. A RU-vid video shows Hamilton's cast welcoming ACL's original cast onstage to celebrate the show's 40th anniversary. I've watched it repeatedly. It's truly like welcoming dear friends back home.
Love this video and Seth. A chorus line is such an iconic musical (with such an iconic cast) thank you for this video Also, am I the only one who listens to the broadway xm channel so much that I get excited when I hear Seth start talking I find Seth’s level of passion for theater very similar to mine 😂 and I am so happy I’ve gotten to grow up with the broadway channel and him. I can’t remember a time in my life where it hasn’t been around 😂❤️
Seth, thank you so much. I just saw this.... and it brougt tears to my eyes, remember everything I experienced when I was touring with the B&T and International Co. back in the day. Oh, the memories. "At the Ballet" put a lump in my throat every night, especially when we'd break into the ballet after Maggie's high note! xoxoxox
Seth deserves to be one of those MacArthur genius grant recipients so he could do these kind of analyses on the 100 greatest Broadway songs ever. Now there's a DVD I woul gladly pay big bucks for. As for "At The Ballet", it would not only make the top 100, it is probably in the top 5.
This is wonderful. Thank you so much for your insight and wisdom on this beautiful number, one of my favorites from the actually I always liked the Bossa Nova beat at the begining
Thank you so much for your passion, intellect, and talent, Seth. From another person who grew up so fortunately experiencing such greatness. Loved this, love you on Sirius "On Broadway". They couldn't find better individuals to do these precious performances justice. Brava!
Very interesting to hear you talk about 'Scooping'. Perhaps you've just converted me to it. I've always looked at it as a weakness: either portamento (tiring to listen to) or just a way of getting round not having a good ear and therefore pitching lazily. I see now how some people use it cleverly as a stylist choice. Elaine Paige on the first stage Evita recording scoops up and down like mad where David Essex as Che hits every note spot on. Musical Theatre v.s rock singer. Patti Lupone did it for years and then suddenly stopped and started pitching properly ... transforming her work. Did a kind friend point it out to her and she slapped her forehead and wondered why no-one had ever had the nerve to tell her?
+Chris Channing Funnily enough according to Patti Lupone that "kind friend" who got her to stop scooping up to notes was none other than Stephen Sondheim. She said "When I was playing Desiree in A Little Night Music at the Ravinia Festival, Steve gave me notes after a performance that improved my singing technique. He told me not to swoop up to the note. I had no idea that was what I was doing. It was simply lazy singing. It’s much harder to hit the note dead-on and on pitch."
Brilliant show! I took all of my new drama/dance students to see it every semester because it was perfection! (That makes over 50 times for me) but back then Joseph Papp offered $10.00 student tickets. Great deconstruction Seth!
Thank you for informing me of the facts related to this song. A CHORUS LINE is my favorite musical. Your knowledge and passion for music is quite evident in your deconstruction. BRAVA!
I love this! I also love how you say..."as a kid." My mom made me watch this being the musical nutcase I am, I thought I would hate it because it was right after my Grease obsession. However this play, movie, and album proves to be my fave! This song was always my fave too!
