Let's start about 2/3 of the way through. No, not there. Let's start at the very beginning! A very good place to start. Host writer/composer David Rackoff looks at this very impressive song from Rodgers & Hammerstein. These would be some tough lyrics to write. And what is "do re mi" anyway? And what is a non-rhotic accent, and why does it make the lyrics even better? We look at all that, and more on this episode. Suggest a song to break down, or just let us know what's on your mind.
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21:49
(Not) Getting Married Today (from Company)
Pardon me, is everybody here, because if everybody's here I'd like to thank you all for clicking on this podcast. Today, host writer/composer David Rackoff looks at how "Getting Married Today" by Stephen Sondheim works. And boy, does it work (and "werk")! How do you go about writing a great patter song? We even get "David's tips for performing a patter song". And how does Jonathan Bailey fit into all of this? Listen to find out!Suggest a song to break down, or just let us know what's on your mind.
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28:54
Learn to Read Music in Five Minutes... Kind of (mini episode)
Actors and singers, today you will learn to read music in five minutes! (Okay, not five minutes, and not totally learn to read music). But writer/composer David Rackoff will give you a foothold in connecting the song you're going to sing to the sheet music with all the dots and lines that you're holding in your hands. It's a place to start. If you are already an ace sight-singer, this episode is not for you! But for everyone else, whether you have a high school audition coming up, or you're a professional actor who's already been cast in a musical, I think this will help you get a little more confident and little more musical.Suggest a song to break down, or just let us know what's on your mind.
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15:48
I'm Still Here (from Follies)
One of the best songs in any genre in the history of the world ever. Host writer/composer David Rackoff uncovers what makes this song so spectacular. You will have heebie-jeebies for Beebe's Bathysphere. (And you'll find out what all of the crazy references mean!) Stephen Sondheim outdoes himself on this powerful showstopper. Suggest a song to break down, or just let us know what's on your mind.
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34:26
Music or Lyrics: Which Comes First? (mini-episode)
Get into the nuts and bolts of songwriting with host writer/composer David Rackoff. We look at why songwriters would choose to write the music first. Or why they would choose to write the lyrics first. What are the pros and cons of each approach? And what happens then? How does the sausage get made?Suggest a song to break down, or just let us know what's on your mind.
We pick one musical theater song, and then we pick it apart to figure out how it works in the context of the show. How do the music, lyrics, character, and story all flow from one amazing song to become something more than the sum of its parts? Host writer/composer David Rackoff does his best to explain it all.
Österreich