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it is irrational. i cannot explain with words, only noises https://twitter.com/jaxamoto/status/1152349331342495744
ok no i'm triggered. i will attempt to make sense out of my obsessive hatred (love?) for what is undoubtedly one of the dumbest songs ever in the history of the greater musical theatre canon:
'jellicle songs for jellicle cats'
'jellicle songs for jellicle cats'
'cats' is a beloved(?) stage musical based on a collection of ts eliot poems called 'old possum's book of practical cats'
it describes a group of whimsically named cats. full of musings about feline behavior, one might think of it as the 1939 literary equivalent of cat memes
it describes a group of whimsically named cats. full of musings about feline behavior, one might think of it as the 1939 literary equivalent of cat memes
in the late 1970s, composer andrew lloyd webber started putting music to eliot’s words. at the time, he wasn't even trying to write a whole show; he wanted to see if he could adapt pre-existing lyrics into songs as an experiment
also, he was a massive cat poetry otaku
also, he was a massive cat poetry otaku
(come to think of it, these creative exercises weren't too far off from what i do as a song/script adapter for anime stuff
which is probably part of the reason why this song cuts right through my very soul)
which is probably part of the reason why this song cuts right through my very soul)
the musical opens with the titular song, 'jellicle songs for jellicle cats'
what, you may ask, tf is a jellicle cat
what, you may ask, tf is a jellicle cat
the name itself comes from an unpublished eliot poem called 'pollicle dogs and jellicle cats,' a wordplay on 'poor little dogs' and 'dear little cats'
still confused? try saying 'dear little cats' in your best worst british accent. do it again but faster. get the idea?
still confused? try saying 'dear little cats' in your best worst british accent. do it again but faster. get the idea?
(i wouldn't be surprised if they ended up writing a sequel musical about pollicle dogs, i'm giving myself heartburn just thinking about it)
the lyrics are inspired by an eliot poem called 'the song of the jellicles.' the source material helpfully informs the reader who the jellicles are, down to visual description and personal characteristics
by comparison, its musical counterpart tells you fucc-all
by comparison, its musical counterpart tells you fucc-all
let's talk music
right from the get-go, the twee opening notes from the clarinet and flute blaring off into trumpets PISS me off to NO END
listen for yourself. it sounds like the orchestral version of an annoying mosquito prancing gleefully around your ear
right from the get-go, the twee opening notes from the clarinet and flute blaring off into trumpets PISS me off to NO END
listen for yourself. it sounds like the orchestral version of an annoying mosquito prancing gleefully around your ear
as we've seen, the lyrics don't do a great job at heavy lifting. yet they’ll come out of left field with a curveball
like in this verse i get the first three questions, sure, those are things that cats are known for, whatever
but then the fourth one happens and i’m like WHAT
like in this verse i get the first three questions, sure, those are things that cats are known for, whatever
but then the fourth one happens and i’m like WHAT
(the kennelly-heaviside is a layer of the earth's atmosphere and thus in the musical is presumably a metaphor for cat heaven/rebirth and stuff
it is also, like, SUCH a pretentious reference to put in a song about cats)
it is also, like, SUCH a pretentious reference to put in a song about cats)
lyrical verses that are made up of lists are a staple in musical theater, but *THIS* list takes it to a level of ARGH that i can’t even BEGIN to
by this point in the song i’m visibly shaking
by this point in the song i’m visibly shaking
if you can't tell, i'm not a fan of andrew lloyd webber. he takes a simple melodic phrase and repeats it over and over again, changing keys higher and higher til your anxiety spikes
it is the broadway equivalent of 'gucci gang’ by lil pump. or, even more appropriately, garfield
it is the broadway equivalent of 'gucci gang’ by lil pump. or, even more appropriately, garfield
my personal theory as to why cats has stood the test of time: the whole thing is people frolicking around in leotards on a static set and costs nothing to run, in comparison to spectacles like 'wicked'
thus, it’s a profitable option for touring and international productions
thus, it’s a profitable option for touring and international productions
as to why it has continued to draw crowds from all around the world since its west end debut in 1981
i imagine it must have something to do with the title
i imagine it must have something to do with the title
i mean, if you're a tourist in new york and english isn't your first language (or even if it is, actually) and someone asks you what show you're going to see and you're sweating and panicking as you try to think of an answer
what the fuck else are you going to blurt out
what the fuck else are you going to blurt out
in conclusion, the fear highlighted in this tweet also applies to this particular song
and yes, i will probably see the movie, and yes, i will probably be stoned https://twitter.com/andrew_durso/status/1151984422989774854?s=21
and yes, i will probably see the movie, and yes, i will probably be stoned https://twitter.com/andrew_durso/status/1151984422989774854?s=21
