Musical Theatre

I have a college friend who was probably only second to my parents in forming my long-term musical tastes (sorry, buddy - James Taylor still beats everyone out in my book). Taking me under his wing in my freshman year, he started making me tapes. He remedied the deplorable lack of R&B in my musical lexicon. He noted that I had a musical funny bone and struck it often and with great aptitude.

He occasionally left messages on my answering machine that consisted of The 1812 Overture played on the telephone touchpad, followed by an Animal-like "bwa-ha-ha." (No need to leave his name - there was only one person I knew who could or would spend the time to figure out how to use the telephone as a musical instrument - it was the same person who would merrily tap out his ATM password as "shave-and-a-haircut," knocking "two-bits" on the side of the machine). He probably inspired a pair of chemically-enhanced mutual friends to make a late-night call to me, leaving a message based on Was/Not Was' "Hello Dad, I'm in Jail."

It had been years since he had introduced me to new music. A few months ago, he remedied my lack by producing a three-disc set of musical tomfoolery. I have been listening to it in the car almost nonstop, now that my commute is short enough to make recorded books irrelevant. I have developed some new musical obsessions:

- Bleu (You Know, I Know, You Know) - the only song I have ever heard that uses the phrase, "That don't mean dick."
- Great Big Sea (Consequence Free) - a great "Na na" chorus and bouncy hook: a get happy tune like no other.
- John Cameron Mitchell (Wicked Little Town) - from the soundtrack of "Hedwig and the Angry Inch." Melancholy and lovely.

I also learned lately that I introduced him to a musician once. Neat.

Posted: Friday - November 04, 2005 at 07:06 PM | |