It's always refreshing when a musical artist is actually working for art. In other words, instead of singing about the next boyfriend or girlfriend to be dumped or the fact that love just isn't working out, an artist puts his or her soul into a lasting work of genius. A work that makes you shiver in the spine or just simply start to cry. A work that leaves you with a lot to think about. A work that leaves you disturbed. But, most importantly, a work that is ultimately redemptive.
Amanda Palmer is (simply put) one of these artists. After embarking on an incredible solo project with the help of Ben Folds (Who Killed Amanda Palmer) as well as touring the record, Amanda returned to her former high school (Lexington High School) to work with the play/musical director there, Steve Bogart, on a musical adaptation of Neutral Milk Hotel's CD In an Aeroplane Over the Sea. An album I often ignored, In an Aeroplane deals heavily with Jeff Magnum's (the lead singer's) pondering on the Diary of Anne Frank. The musical (entitled With the Needle that Sings in Her Heart--a line from the song, Two Headed Boy) is basically the story of Anne Frank and deals with many of the harsh realities of the Holocaust, but ultimately holds out hope and redemptive themes. Although I have not seen it, I look forward to purchasing the DVD version as it is simply one of the most interesting, thought-provoking musicals I have ever heard of.
To read more:
a highlight of the story from npr
a sweet article on the musical/play
No comments:
Post a Comment