Jesus Christ Superstar - Låt oss börja om nu
Yes, this is “Could We Start Again Please” from the 2008 Swedish cast recording. In Swedish. I’m obsessed with it. Don’t ask. Whatever language it’s in, it’s 100% safe to say that this is my favourite musical ever.
The Phantom Of The Opera - Notes / Prima Donna
I had a bit of a day of it, spinning both this and the Jesus Christ Superstar soundtrack. It’s good house cleaning and cooking music, definitely.
This is my favourite track from the entire musical for three reasons.
Firstly, it has a significant portion of the cast performing, all singing different vocal parts and different lyrics simultaneously, and the way they weave around each other, against each other and then suddenly come together is divine. Include one of these in your musical, and you’re halfway towards getting me there. Bonus points if some of the melodies refer to pieces already sung or yet to come. Phantom does this throughout actually - the character of the Phantom has a very specific tone and execution all of his own just beyond the fact that he is a unique character. Look at the dissonance and tension in the music of the songs his character sings up against the opera he “writes” - there’s a clear match. ‘Music Of The Night’ is the exception that proves the rule, his big ballad that cuts to the core of the character that wants to express himself in the way everyone does, but of course his twisted existence does not allow him to do so.
Secondly, it’s not just expounding upon the emotions of the characters - this is actual important exposition being sung here.
Thirdly, the make up of histrionics, drama, the diva, the pandering, superstition and the constant fear of anyone in the arts suddenly having to deal with an interfering patron and stalker of a performer all at once. I like to think that this is how people involved in real opera behave all the time.
