Why the Songs in Marriage Story are so Important 

“It’s vulnerable and clumsy, but the most alive version I’ve ever heard.” Well said brother.

i remember the first time i saw adam driver's musical number i couldn't stop crying all the way through. at the time i didn't now about 'company' or sondheim (never been a huge fan of musicals) so i didn't really understand the context that surrounded it; all i knew was that the intensity and the vulnerabilty with which driver sings it speaked for itself. a few months later, having learnt about sondheim (i have patti lupone to thank for that), i came across driver's performance again, and at last it had full meaning. just wanted to share this because i am still so marveled at the idea that i could understand the emotion within the song without knowing its full meaning; it really speaks to driver's artistry and to sondheim's skill. thank you for this lovely video xx

I do not understand how this channel has not exploded

Not even watched the film and this was still a breath-taking video. I honestly don't know how every video you do can be of this quality. You must be a magician!

I saw Paul Esparza sing this in previews for Company in 2006 and still, Adam Driver’s rendition in this movie brings me to my knees. He’s truly a force.

Thanks so much for this! I think Marriage Story owes a lot to Sondheim and Company

I love Company so much I need to watch Marriage Story now.

I was so moved by Adam Driver's performance of "Being Alive" that I went on line to see what was being written about it, and found your piece. Thank you so much for this. Deep thanks for your analysis of all the elements of this film--especially the music. I am very familiar with Sondheim and these songs reinforced what I thought all along about what was to happen in the narrative.

ive listened to adam sing being alive every day for months

adam driver's performance of being alive actually made me aware of the musical it was from. Loved it so much!

Was not expecting to cry. Thank you for bringing my attention to this movie in such a moving way.

I am mesmerized by the narrator's voice. 🥰

I literally held off watching Marriage Story until I had throughly watched and understood Company and its various changes over the decades.

Thank you for this wonderful video and your take on the song’s significance. I agree, Adam Driver’s rendition of this song is one of the best out there.

I feel like I'm repeating myself from other videos, but again... amazing job! Fantastic editing and very articulate commentary. "Music with its abstract nature picks up where words fail. Music, and in particular song, has a way of giving form to emotion, of transforming reality into something beautiful." I will be keeping this phrase with me.

as a huge theater nerd whose favorite show of all time is company, watching this movie for the first time was crazy enough without the songs. I LOVE that they were used, you can really tell what effect the show has had on culture as a whole and I love that so much. Great video!

This channel needs a million followers

I remember reading a review, at the time this film came out, where the critic accused Baumbach of using someone else's words (Sondheim's) because he wasn't talented enough to find a way of writing it himself. At the time I thought that criticism was bizarre and absurd - how could the critic not see that this was the prism through which Adam Driver's character saw himself, and saw the world? I know very little about the history of musical theater, but even I could understand the significance of this scene. But I'm also hugely grateful to have discovered your essay on the scene - I may end up watching it as often as I have the original scene itself. It's so beautifully written, edited and narrated, and adds so much richness and depth to my understanding of the context of the song, above and beyond its already outstanding and devastating beauty in isolation. From what I can see, you haven't posted anything in a year or more, but I hope that you've gone on to do great things with your talent.

Great video! The talkative/plain quality of vocals in theater songs, which is especially strong in Driver's performance, has always struck me in a certain way. Not quite sure how to phrase it, but it gives it a different quality. I suppose it makes the lyrics easier to understand. Excited to see you hit 10k soon!

I sometimes fall asleep to this video; the opening music and the narrator’s soothing voice, coupled with my love of Marriage Story and the performances; especially Driver’s and the “11 o’clock number”.... your narration is simply mesmerizing and absolutely on point in this breakdown. Bravo! 👏

Love this synopsis and shared it. I knew there was more to this song ... the 70s play and the transition at the end of the song I missed. Great movie 🍿

I saw this movie and really enjoyed every minute of it (and, somehow, relate to it), but your explaining to its music made me go deeper into its meenings. So, please, do not stop makeing this wonderful pieces of art. This way not only you improve our knowledge, educate us, but fulfill our souls!

This video in particular deserves so many views. I loved the movie and love this video in really every aspect. Editing, sound, visuals. It's great.

As wonderful as always! Keep them coming! I always connect more deeply and intimately and powerfully with the music as I take in your analyses.

i watched the movie yesterday and i felt it really great it's about a love in a way I've never seen before.. the other side of love... falling apart....i loved the song of charlie and i cried for the first time in a while i just felt something strong in me.. i felt in love or in other words i felt alive

Was looking all over RU-vid for a video like this!

What an absolutely wonderful video. I'm not so familiar with theater and the background of the musicals that these songs came from. This really helped contextualize some the emotions I felt from Driver's singing.

I cannot find the right words to say how much I appreciated this video. Thank you so much. You are so talented.

Sent here from David Bennett Piano and quite happy I came. Nice work on this!

Don't know why you don't have tons of subscribers yet. I don't use RU-vid much so I typically don't subscribe to channels, but I subscribed to this one because I want to see it succeed. Keep it up!

I liked the editing in this video.

Wow. This video was so well edited and produced, a real joy to watch. Bravo!

Thanks for making this! I always liked the Bobby song, but did not know it had that deeper connection to characters and culture aspects of the movie.

Well done. That was excellent analysis. I'm reading the last pages of the screenplay as i watch this.

so informative and very profound analysis! well done!

I truly cherish your work. So much to take in and to enjoy - thanks for helping us see with new eyes (and hear with new ears)

Thank for introducing me to this movie! Excellent work, as always

Brought me to tears! You're amzaing! We want more!

I would argue that "Ladies Who Lunch" is the 11 o'clock number in COMPANY!

The song "How Do You Keep The Music Playing" is a perfect fit for this movie.

You deserve a lot more subscribers

Love the video.

Great video!

Great video and musical analysis

I think while there are good reasons to include Being Alive in the screenplay and have the character sing it and have him sing in this way, Raul Esparza's onstage performance of this song eats Adam Driver's for breakfast.

Incredible details!

Love your analysis of this brilliant movie!

It’s a crime that this only has ~5500 views

Beautiful work you've done.

More Sondheim content please!

I need to confess I'm not a great fan of this movie (I personally think the plot does not bring the balanced perspective of the story as well as it claims to have done, but this is just my take on it) but this sequence is incredible, considering I love Company and specially Being Alive, a brilliant song that Adam Driver understood with so much care and sensibility to make a really simple yet emotional and completely effective scene and you presented the nuances of the song and the scene (and its context) in such a brilliant way. Your production quality is off the roof, the fact that you're close to 10k is great and it's insulting because you deserve sooooo much more!

Once upon a time in the west would be really interesting to analyse I think. I think the two soundtracks that have the most nostalgic meaning to me are the ones to the Burton Batman movies and Indiana Jones, especially the third one. Funny thing, I'm sure it went this way because the Lego Nintendo DS games featured those original soundtracks. Today I'm wondering if I would appreciate them the same way if I had just seen the movies.

Brillant essay

The first time I watched this movie I cried like a baby so many times. Didn’t know it was from another musical until I researched it later but with added context it’s even more heart wrenching

how does this only have 9,000 veiws...

What a great video. In before 1M subscribers.

These videos are top quality, WOW!

I love a good Sondheim analysis 👍

Doesn’t Charlie sing his song before Nicole?

Excellent!!!

"Music to accompany their actions" I see what you did there

Sondheim is best

Just helping out the algorithm

The most alive version you’ve ever heard?!?! You have heard the Raul Esparza version right

"Nicole realizes what she has sacrificed to gain her freedom and Charlie starts to recognize how his actions have led to their divorce." A completely and ridiculously unfair way to frame things right there. The blame lies on both shoulders. You make it sound like she's escaped a horrible situation and it's all his fault.

“Game of thrones the series” literally shows she’s only aware of the books because of the tv show😂

Blade runner next?