Happy Easter from Daniel Boys

One of my favorite British singers, Daniel Boys, did a fantastic job with the incredibly difficult song from Jesus Christ Superstar, Gethsemane (I Only Want to Say). The song is an interesting inner dialog, perhaps even a prayer, as Jesus comes to grips with his imminent death. This is Daniel signing it live at the Faenol Festival in 2008.

For more about Daniel, check out his official website here. In the latest news, I read that Daniel has been cast in the lead role in a brand new production of Peter Pan in the UK! He also has a show booked in Australia later this year. Daniel, how about NY? You can also check out The Daniel Boys Fanzone here.

Movie Classic - The Greatest Story Ever Told

In 1965, United Artists released the movie The Greatest Story Ever Told, and I remember seeing it during the holiday season, sort of a tradition. Directed by George Stevens, it starred an all-star cast, including Max von Sydow, Charlton Heston, Dorothy McGuire, Jose Ferrer and Telly Savalas. Here is the trailer.

Easter Rocks

On Good Friday, I posted some clips of Broadway/Hollywood's depictions of Jesus being put to the cross, as he was on Good Friday. For tonight, I thought I would offer up some of the very beautiful music that went in two of those movies, music that was not quite as heavy as, well, watching God's son die. Godspell was released in March of 1973, based on a Broadway musical. The show and movie open with John The Baptist calling to the flock to be baptized in preparation of the arrival of a savior. He is played by David Haskell, who sings Prepare Ye.



The Broadway show cast singers/actors who were not well-known in the business, something also done for the movie. A young woman by the name of Robin Lamont sang the song everybody knows from this show, Day By Day.



Katie Hanley sand the beautiful By My Side, joined by the other disciples for some outrageous harmonies. This depicts when the disciples pledged their devotion to Jesus, and when Judas first turned away.



Now the story and music for Jesus Christ Superstar, released, oddly enough, in the fall of that same year, had a different feel altogether. Where Godspell was folkie and pop, Jesus Christ Superstar was a rock opera, complete with electric guitars and basses. Even the story told is more in-your-face, more earthy. But it also served up it's fair share of pop, especially with the wonderful Yvonne Elliman as Mary Magdalene. Mary, of course, was a woman of ill repute with the heart of gold, and a penchant to fall in love with saviors. But first she tries to use her womanly ways to ease his burden, and get Jesus to relax just a bit. She sings about it in Everything's Alright.



Jesus decides to go to Jerusalem, and is greeted at the city limits by large crowds to welcome him, the savior. They laid down palms on the road, giving Jesus a clean and safe path to walk. This later became celebrated as Psalm Sunday, the week prior to Easter. The crowds greet Jesus singing Hosanna.



Well, it never fails, does it? A musical mus come down to love, be it lost love, found love, or unrequited love. It is the latter for Mary Magdalene, as she sings about her 'unexpected' feelings for the savior of mankind in I Don't Know How To Love Him.



As Jesus is put before a court, Pontius Pilate, played by Barry Dennen, wants to know if there is proof he is the son of God, or does he just want to be treated like a savior? For the trial, he drops in like a rock God, with his fringe flying, and sings Superstar.



In the end, he finds Jesus guilty, and orders him to be crucified outside of the city. Something both of these stories have in common? Neither ends well for the son of God.

Easter with Fred & Judy

Easter Parade - just a classic. Starring Judy Garland, Fred Astaire, Ann Miller and Peter Lawford, and directed by Charlie Walters and released in 1948. Of course, it also had some by the incomparable Irving Berlin, including the title track, sung by Judy and Fred. Enjoy, and Happy Easter everyone!



A short movie was made about the making of the movie. I thought it might be nice to post that here. It was posted in three different clips, and I will post them all here, the first one first. Enjoy.



Part 2


Part 3


Have a great holiday weekend!

Doctor Who Returns Tonight

The new season of Doctor Who begins tonight on BBC America 9PM/8PM Central, running it 'simultaneously' with the premiere on the BBC in the UK! As exciting as that is for a Whovian geek like myself, it also means I won't be doing my recaps, as I won't get them in from the UK before hand. Bummer, I know. But I shall try to figure out something. Here is a trailer for the first episode.



Here is a trailer for the new season. Enjoy!



For more about the show, check them out on the official website here.

Happy Birthday Jónsi

Today is the birthday of Jón Þór Birgisson, better known to his fans as Jónsi, the amazing solo artist, lead singer for the band Sigur Rós, and half of Jónsi & Alex, creative collaborators, as well as collaborators in life. Jónsi was born in Iceland in 36 years ago. By the time he was 20, he was fronting bands in his native country, sometimes more than one at a time. In 1994, he started playing with Sigur Rós, a bond that still exists today. They gained fame playing a certain type of post-rock, modern techno ambient music that was different than much of the music that was out there, becoming the darlings of many of the music critics. Their music was original and beautiful. Viorar Vel Til Loftarasa is an example of the music they made, as well as the intense videos as well.



Jónsi played with the band as an out and proud gay man, and when he started seeing Alex Somers, an artist in his own right, they quickly started collaborating on a variety of projects, from visual arts to music projects.



The first of the music projects was Riceboy Sleeps. It was released by Jónsi and Alex 2009, and this would be a great example of their work, Stokkseyri.



In 2010, Jónsi released his first solo album, Go. It includes some amazing music, much of it played by Jónsi himself. The single off the album was Go Do, an super song that makes me smile still, whether I am playing it on my iPod, or hearing it as part of an automobile commercial. Here is a live version of the song, played at the Wiltern Theater.



You can rent or buy the video for his live show at the Wiltern on iTunes here. it is incredible, and something I had to purchase, and am so very happy I did. YOu can find out more about him at this official website here. You can wish him a "happy birthday" on Twitter here, or purchase his solo debut or Riceboy Sleeps. I bet Jónsi would appreciate any of those options for a birthday present!

Good Friday - Godspell Finale

Steven Schwartz and company updated the crucifixion of Jesus by placing it in a schoolyard, and by making the son of God and his disciples the children of hippies. The outdated mode of torture, the crucifix, was replaced by the chain-link fence. And fluffy hair ruled the day. But again, since it is Good Friday, another depiction of Jesus on this day a in the Middle-East, or maybe Brooklyn.