Threaded Order Chronological Order
| re: I don't think American Idiot is a jukebox musical | |
| Posted by: ryhog 02:36 pm EDT 08/29/18 | |
| In reply to: re: I don't think American Idiot is a jukebox musical - EvFoDr 02:26 pm EDT 08/29/18 | |
|
|
|
| I would argue that 21st Century Breakdown was in the nature of a sequel to American Idiot and that the Broadway show condensed the two, but jettisoning the change of location and characters of the latter which would have been unwieldy onstage. I'm not prepared to argue the point strenuously, but both albums were written theatrically (whether labelled a musical, an opera, or something else). This was not a case of fitting a square peg in a round hole, which to me is the definition of a jukebox musical. | |
| reply to this message |
| re: I don't think American Idiot is a jukebox musical | |
| Posted by: EvFoDr 03:06 pm EDT 08/29/18 | |
| In reply to: re: I don't think American Idiot is a jukebox musical - ryhog 02:36 pm EDT 08/29/18 | |
|
|
|
| Thanks for the insight. Prior to the arrival of American Idiot on Broadway I was not a follower of Green Day or their albums. I had no idea 21st Century Breakdown was a sequel to AI. I saw an early preview and absolutely fell in LOVE with this show. At that preview they had not yet begun to tack on the Good Riddance encore. I really wish they hadn’t done that. It feels like, oh we must let people hear a really popular Green Day song form the radio that has nothing to do with this show. The gorgeous gorgeous aching ending with the slow curtain falling and cello deserves to be left on its own as the last thing the audience hears/sees. | |
| reply to this message |
| re: I don't think American Idiot is a jukebox musical | |
| Posted by: ryhog 05:01 pm EDT 08/29/18 | |
| In reply to: re: I don't think American Idiot is a jukebox musical - EvFoDr 03:06 pm EDT 08/29/18 | |
|
|
|
| To be clear, I'm not sure sequel is the right term, and I've never seen anyone use it except me just now lol. But it is a thematic extension and styled with characters etc, which is certainly not typical. I understand the thought about the curtain call. That tonal break happens sometimes even without songs. You can thank Tom Kitt for that cello; Green Day liked his work enough they hired him to "orchestrate" the next 3 albums after that. Finally, Good Riddance is, I think, a great song, often misunderstood. It's among the best breakup songs ever written by a man, methinks. |
|
| reply to this message | reply to first message |
| re: I don't think American Idiot is a jukebox musical | |
| Posted by: SuzanneR 06:57 pm EDT 08/29/18 | |
| In reply to: re: I don't think American Idiot is a jukebox musical - ryhog 05:01 pm EDT 08/29/18 | |
|
|
|
| I’ve often thought of it as a sequel, and I’m sure I’ve heard it described that way by others. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message |
| re: I don't think American Idiot is a jukebox musical | |
| Posted by: EvFoDr 05:43 pm EDT 08/29/18 | |
| In reply to: re: I don't think American Idiot is a jukebox musical - ryhog 05:01 pm EDT 08/29/18 | |
|
|
|
| I did know about Tom Kitt’s contributions. I am sure you saw the documentary as well? I think that he helped make the songs more theatrical by adding not only the string section, but also the choral work. The arrangements are stunning and helped bring a lifelong musical theatre devotee (me) in sync with Green Day’s style of music. I was excited he would collaborate with Green Day on their next albums! I got Uno and Dos but petered out before Tres 😊. I think Good Riddance is a great song, I just don’t love it as the encore to American Idiot the musical. The still silence at the end of the show (before it was added) had a profound effect on me and my love for the show. I’m so grateful I chanced to see an early performance before it was added. |
|
| reply to this message | reply to first message |
| re: I don't think American Idiot is a jukebox musical | |
| Last Edit: Chromolume 10:20 pm EDT 08/29/18 | |
| Posted by: Chromolume 10:16 pm EDT 08/29/18 | |
| In reply to: re: I don't think American Idiot is a jukebox musical - EvFoDr 05:43 pm EDT 08/29/18 | |
|
|
|
| I think Good Riddance is a great song, I just don’t love it as the encore to American Idiot the musical. The still silence at the end of the show (before it was added) had a profound effect on me and my love for the show. I’m so grateful I chanced to see an early performance before it was added. In general, and with very few exceptions, I'm not a fan of the cast singing after the main show is over. I understand that it can be a huge audience pleaser; that doesn't mean I have to like it, lol. American Idiot is unique, I think, in that the extra song is not from the show. But to me, "megamixes" and post-show finale medleys (including, yes, the one in Hello, Dolly) are the spawn of satan to me. The one exception I can think of is the ending of She Loves Me, where the use of the "Thank you / please come again" song is very cleverly done, and cleverly appropriate - and most importantly - not over the top. The show's creators had the good sense NOT to follow that with a full company medley of Ice Cream and other big songs, lol. Ick. Seeing Moulin Rouge, another case of excess. Yes, I get why they felt the needed to add that big company ending sequence. Yes, it would have been a very courageous thing to not do that - and maybe the ending of the show proper would have seemed just way too dark to do that. But the post-show stuff went on way way too long, even as solidly performed as it was. It was the only time in the entire show where I wasn't engaged with the material. And yes, "Good Riddance" is a fine song - but in the context of the show, especially with the full cast playing guitars, etc, it comes off to me as merely a cute stunt. I'm not sure that was the intention. |
|
| reply to this message | reply to first message |
| re: I don't think American Idiot is a jukebox musical | |
| Posted by: ryhog 08:48 pm EDT 08/29/18 | |
| In reply to: re: I don't think American Idiot is a jukebox musical - EvFoDr 05:43 pm EDT 08/29/18 | |
|
|
|
| I have seen it. I think I actually bought it and I never do that. I agree about Kitt and I also wanted to let you know that Tres itself kinda petered out. They were put out during a rough patch for Armstrong. The most recent album Revolution Radio is is terrific. I like a great many songs on it but Troubled Times knocked me for a loop the first time I heard it and still does. Thanks also to Suzanne for letting me know I wasn't as off base as I thought I might be :-) |
|
| reply to this message | reply to first message |
| re: I don't think American Idiot is a jukebox musical | |
| Posted by: EvFoDr 10:11 am EDT 08/30/18 | |
| In reply to: re: I don't think American Idiot is a jukebox musical - ryhog 08:48 pm EDT 08/29/18 | |
|
|
|
| Thanks! I didn't know about Revolution Radio. I'll check it out. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message |
Time to render: 0.019658 seconds.