Current Musical Obsession: SMASH

If I didn't make this clear, I love musical theater. In college, I had a few friends who were theater majors. Hanging out with them was a thrill. I was cool by association.

Well, as cool as a nerdy theater wannabe can be...I guess.

Anyway, I felt lucky to go to a school where I could see these amazing productions every semester. It inspired in me a deep appreciation for all things theater.

Tonight, I'm FINALLY going to see Lion King. The Broadway production is on tour in ATL. *jumps up and down* I'm so thrilled I might come out of my skin.

So to celebrate, I want to share with you another of my musical obsessions. I can’t seem to get this song out of my head. It’s from SMASH. Yeah, that TV show following a crew trying to make it on Broadway. Okay, I’ve heard a lot of arguments for why that show may not have been accurate. But I don’t care. I loved that show.

I loved Katherine McPhee. I absolutely loved her. I also pretty much adored the entire cast, except that stupid assistant guy from season 1.





Title: Broadway Here I Come
From: SMASH featuring Jeremy Jordan




Here are some lyrics (my favorite part):
The pressure it increases
The closer that I get
I could almost go to pieces
But I'm not quite there yet
See, I've been bravin' crazy weather
Drownin' out my cries
I pull myself together
I'm focused on the prize

I'm fallin', baby
Through the sky, through the sky
I'm fallin', baby through the sky
It's my callin', baby
Don't you cry, don't you cry
'Cause I'm fallin' down through the sky

And it's a tune you can hum
Oh, Broadway here I come
Mmmmmmmm

Will I remain the same
Or will I change a little bit?
Will I feel broken or totally complete?
Will I retain my name when I'm the biggest, hugest hit?
Or will I blend in with the rest of the street

The people all are pointing
I bet they'd never guess
That the saint that they're anointing
Is frightened of the mess
But even though I fear it
I'm playin' all my cards...
Baby, you are gonna hear it
When I give them my regards
...



Now Jeremy Jordan has a beautiful voice. It’s absolutely creamy and melancholy. I can’t get enough of it. And when he sings about ‘playing all his cards’ in the face of fear, I feel like it’s a battle cry for every wanna be writer/actor/musician/artist.

He might as well be Mel Gibson on a steed giving me a pep talk before leading us artist-types into battle.
I absolutely love this one.

*Yells 'Freeeeeedooom'*



What songs have inspired you or your work right now?


Want to hear more songs that inspire me? Check out these posts here, and here, as well as my guest post on The Writer Diaries blog

In Honor of National Poetry Month: William Wordsworh

I can’t honor poetry without giving mad props to my man Wordsworth, William Wordsworth. *said in manner of 007 with improvised British accent* See where I fan girl-ed over him last year in this post.

Wordsworth’s body of work is extensive. And by that I mean awe-inspiringly huge. Which I good, because there are so many poems to love.

I have a palm-sized collection of Wordsworth poems that I keep in my nightstand next to my palm-sized Keats and Declaration of Independence and Constitution of the United States. In other words, I’m a word nerd.

Here’s a great example, of one of my faves:

Among All Lovely Things My Love Had Been – William Wordsworth

AMONG all lovely things my Love had been;
Had noted well the stars, all flowers that grew
About her home; but she had never seen
A glow-worm, never one, and this I knew.

While riding near her home one stormy night
A single glow-worm did I chance to espy;
I gave a fervent welcome to the sight,
And from my horse I leapt; great joy had I.

Upon a leaf the glow-worm did I lay,
To bear it with me through the stormy night:
And, as before, it shone without dismay;
Albeit putting forth a fainter light.

When to the dwelling of my Love I came,
I went into the orchard quietly;
And left the glow-worm, blessing it by name,
Laid safely by itself, beneath a tree.

The whole next day, I hoped, and hoped with fear;
At night the glow-worm shone beneath the tree;
I led my Lucy to the spot, 'Look here,'
Oh! joy it was for her, and joy for me!

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Learn more about Wordsworth here. Check out his work here.



What poetry, or other art, do you love enough to keep in your nightstand?

In Honor of National Poetry Month: John Keats

My first literary crush might have been on John Keats. I talked about it a little in my post, here.

I can’t be sure because I did an awful lot of swooning over poets when I was younger: Keats, Poe, Wordsworth, Plath, Dickenson, etc.

Keats always held a warm spot in my heart because he had a sad, short life filled with illness and heartache. His story fascinates me almost as much as his work.

Here is one of my favorites:

Faery Songs– John Keats
I.
Shed no tear! oh, shed no tear!
The flower will bloom another year.
Weep no more! oh, weep no more!
Young buds sleep in the root's white core.
Dry your eyes! oh, dry your eyes!
For I was taught in Paradise
To ease my breast of melodies,--
Shed no tear.

Overhead! look overhead!
'Mong the blossoms white and red--
Look up, look up! I flutter now
On this fresh pomegranate bough.
See me! 'tis this silvery bill
Ever cures the good man's ill.
Shed no tear! oh, shed no tear!
The flower will bloom another year.
Adieu, adieu -- I fly -- adieu!
I vanish in the heaven’s blue,--
Adieu, adieu!

II.
Ah! woe is me! poor silver-wing!
That I must chant thy lady's dirge,
And death to this fair haunt of spring,
Of melody, and streams of flowery verge,--
Poor silver-wing! ah! woe is me!
That I must see
These blossoms snow upon thy lady's pall!
Go, pretty page! and in her ear
Whisper that the hour is near!
Softly tell her not to fear
Such calm favonian burial!
Go, pretty page! and soothly tell,--
The blossoms hang by a melting spell,
And fall they must, ere a star wink thrice
Upon her closed eyes,
That now in vain are weeping their last tears,
At sweet life leaving, and these arbours green,--
Rich dowry from the Spirit of the Spheres,
Alas! poor Queen!

Learn more about his life here. Check out his collections of his work here.



Who’s is your favorite poet?