While I was looking for this I came across a series of Sondheim teaching some of his songs to students at the Guildhall School. I've listened to several of them. Listening to his explanations of his own work is like a masterclass in writing songs, especially in the context of a dramatic piece. This one of him teaching "My Friends" from Sweeny Todd gives a good idea of why he's such a really great writer of musical theater.
I wish this one of him teaching "Send In The Clowns" didn't cut out because what he says is so interesting and the singer is quite good.
Almost as good as the explanations is his reaction to the students. I can't help but think he must be one of the best people in the business to work with if he's always like this. Generous in spirit as well as in his advice.
It also occurs to me that outside of the context of the characters it's probably just about impossible to give the full meaning of the song. Which accounts for why so many of the singers' versions of it fall a little flat. It's a rare pop song writer who can make something as full of meaning, making it sound so simple while it isn't. Sondheim is certainly far more of a composer than just a song writer.
Update: No, Simps, I'm bored with you.
They just knighted Ray Davies. Get back to me when Sondheim has written something as sublimely beautiful as "Waterloo Sunset."
ReplyDeleteAnd btw, yes, "Send in the Clowns" is a totally lame metaphor. If a rock songwriter had come up with it people would have laughed at its rank trite sentimentality.
Sondheim's lyrics for "West Side Story" and "Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" are brilliant, and the Tim Burton movie of "Sweeney Todd" actually improves on the material. The rest of his "serious" stuff is meh at best, and most of it is about as interesting as watching paint dry. Sorry,
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