Shows
So Much Stuff to SingEpisode 122 - You and Me (But Mostly Me) Shannon and Erik (but mostly Shannon) are here to close out our miniseries on comic duets with "You and Me (But Mostly Me)" from The Book of Mormon, written by Matt Parker, Trey Stone, and Bobby Lopez. Erik, meanwhile, details his theory of comic characters and why, for him, a lot of this song falls flat. All clips are from 2011's The Book of Mormon: Original Broadway Cast Recording featuring Andrew Rannells amd Josh God and Queen Latifah and are protected by the Fair Use guidelines of Section 107 of the Copyright Act for criticism and commentary. All r...
2025-07-1634 min
So Much Stuff to SingIt's Only a PlayWe're talking The Frogs, perhaps the ultimate curio in the Sondheim canon. Originally staged at Yale as a side project during Sondheim's golden 70s, the show was eventually brought to Broadway in 2004 -- still the most recent Broadway debut for Sondheim -- by Nathan Lane, who expanded the original version and got Steve to write some new songs. Now a more recognizable work -- though still an off-beat one -- another major production is set for the London stage. But where do Shannon and Erik come down on this most peculiar of Sondheim shows? We discuss "It's Only a P...
2025-05-0135 min
So Much Stuff to Sing100th Episode Spectacular...Part 1!Yes, there are now 100 episodes of Shannon in New York City and Erik in Prague discussing the American Musical. To celebrate, we decided to each compile a list of 5 songs that, for us, represent what makes the musical the wonderful art form it is. The musical can do things that nothing else -- no other art form -- can do, and we think these songs illustrate that. In this episode, we discuss the first 5 of these songs -- our next episde will cover the other 5. We sincerely hope you enjoy and that you'll email or message us with the 5...
2024-07-1547 min
So Much Stuff to SingEpisode 89 - Corner of the SkyWe're just getting started with I Want songs, and we're tackling another classic. This time, from 1972's Pippin, we're talking about "Corner of the Sky." We talk Stephen Schwartz, Bob Fosse, and where cats and children fit. Strap in. All clips are from the 1972 Original Broadway Cast Recording of Pippin featuring John Rubinstein as Pippin and are protected by the Fair Use guidelines of Section 107 of the Copyright Act for criticism and commentary. All rights reserved to the copyright owners. Buy/stream the album on Amazon! Listen to the SMSTS playlist on Spotify!
2024-02-0139 min
So Much Stuff to SingEpisode 88 - Wouldn't It Be LoverlyWe're back! We're starting our 5th year a little late, but as opinionated as ever! We're looking at "I want" songs here in 2024, and we're starting with one of the most famous and beloved examples: "Wouldn't It Be Loverly" from Lerner & Loewe's Golden Age classic My Fair Lady. But is it beloved by your intrepid hosts? Only one way to find out... All clips are from the 1956 Original Broadway Cast Recording of My Fair Lady featuring Julie Andrews as Eliza Doolittle and are protected by the Fair Use guidelines of Section 107 of the Copyright Act for criticism and...
2024-01-2742 min
So Much Stuff to SingMary PoppinsOh, it's a jolly holiday season here at So Much Stuff to Sing! This year, we're looking at one of the all-time great film musicals, Walt Disney's Mary Poppins. With songs written by Richard and Robert Sherman, and featuring seminal performances by Dick van Dyke, David Tomlinson, Glynnis Johns, and (in her film debut!) Julie Andrews, the film is both a landmark of cinema and a timeless masterpiece. But what about its deeply anti-capitalist message? We'll get into that -- and more -- on this bonus-sized end of year episode. Programming note: we'll be on h...
2023-12-181h 14
So Much Stuff to SingEpisode 86 - BeautifulTo round out our off-Broadway miniseries, Shannon and Erik take a look at "Beautiful" from the online hit Heathers: The Musical, and don't always like what they see. Are they just the wrong audience, or is this the wrong adaptation? All clips are from 2014's Heathers: The Musical (World Premiere Cast Recording) featuring Barrett Wilbert Weed are used in accordance with the Fair Use Exemption for criticism and commentary. PLEASE NOTE: In addition to discussions of sensitive topics such as gun violence, sexual assault, suicide, and eating disorders, this episode also includes clips from the...
2023-11-1743 min
Putting It TogetherI Know Things Now – Into the Woods (with Shannon Dohar)It is good to know things, right? Shannon Dohar returns to offer her insight into Little Red's realization that she's been forced to grow up quicker than she would have liked. You can listen to Shannon's podcast, So Much Stuff to Sing, here: https://somuchstufftosing.libsyn.comAnd you can follow Shannon on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sdohar/And you can also follow the podcast there: https://www.instagram.com/somuchstufftosing/We are using four productions to frame our discussion of Into the Woods.The Original Broadway Cast (1987) starring B...
2023-11-1552 min
So Much Stuff to SingThe Origin of LoveFrom one queer, cult, off-Broadway hit to the next, it's time for Stephen Trask and John Cameron Mitchell's Hedwig and the Angry Inch and what is arguably its thesis song: "The Origin of Love" Shannon is escited because of Eddie Izzard, and Erik is excited because of Plato. All clips are from 1999's Hedwig and the Angry Inch: Original Cast Album featuring John Cameron Mitchell are used in accordance with the Fair Use Exemption for criticism and commentary. Buy/stream the album on Amazon! Listen to the SMSTS playlist on Spotify! F...
2023-11-0141 min
So Much Stuff to SingScience Fiction Double FeatureHappy Halloween, everyone! By sheer coicidence, our Off-Broadway miniseries timed up with spooky seaon, creating a wonderful synchronicity whereby our episde about "Science Fiction Double Feature" from The Rocky Horror Show is coming out just before Halloween. Wait...did you not know that Rocky Horror was a smash London and L.A. musical before becoming a movie? Well, grab a seat in the back row and listen... All clips are from 1975's The Rocky Horror Picture Show: The Original Soundtrack featuring Richard O'Brien are used in accordance with the Fair Use Exemption for criticism and commentary.
2023-10-1531 min
So Much Stuff to SingEpisode 83 - Try to RememberWe're back -- a little late -- but we come bearing a new miniseries! This time, we're heading off-Broadway to explore the wide range of shows and songs that fall under that collective banner. We start with one of the either best -- or least -- well-known musicals of all time, depending on which co-host you ask. Yes, it's 1960's The Fantasticks which ran off-Broadway for over four decades, becoming the longest running musical in the world. What do we think it was able to accomplish that feat, and what do we think of the show's most f...
2023-10-0535 min
So Much Stuff to SingEpisode 82 - She Used to Be MineWe finish our miniseries on 11 o'clock numbers with one of the defining shows and numbers of Broadway's current era: "She Used to Be Mine" from Waitress. The discussion gievs us a chance to talk pop versus Broadway, how Sara Bareilles conquered Broadway, and proper theater etiquette. CW for discussions of domestic violence, abuse, and murder. All clips are from the 2019 video "Shoshana Bean Sings 'She Used to Be Mine' from WAITRESS" from Broadway.com's YouTube channel are used in accordance with the Fair Use Exemption for criticism and commentary. Watch the performance on Yo...
2023-09-1543 min
So Much Stuff to SingLot's WifeAnd now for something truly and genuinely completely different. Tony Kushner and Jeanine Tesori's Caroline, or Change first premiered on Broadway in 2004, and while the show wasn't a success either at the box office or the Tonys, it made an impact. Another recent Broadway production similarly failed to enflame the ticket-buying public, but it helped cement the show as something of a modern classic. Today, we discuss the musical's 11 o'clock number "Lot's Wife" to try to understand why. All clips are from 2021's Caroline, or Change The New Broadway Cast Recording featuring Sharon D. Clarke as Caroline a...
2023-09-0151 min
So Much Stuff to SingEpisode 80 - Sit Down, You're Rocking the BoatAnother 11 o'clock number, please! This time, we're talking 1950's Guys & Dolls, Frank Loesser, and Nicely-Nicely Johnson -- yes, it's time for everyone's favorite gangster revival number, "Sit Down, You're Rocking the Boat." All clips are from 1992's Guys and Dolls: The New Broadway Cast Recording featuring Walter Bobbie as Nicely-Nicely Johnson and are used in accordance with the Fair Use Exemption for criticism and commentary. Buy/stream the album on Amazon! Listen to the SMSTS playlist on Spotify! Follow SMSTS on Instagram: @somuchstufftosing Email the show: somuchstufftosing@gmail.com
2023-08-1632 min
So Much Stuff to SingEpisode 79 - Fifty PercentWe're back and starting a brand new miniseries. This time, we're looking at the so-called "eleven o'clock number" in a vairety of its permutations. First up, we have an archetypal example of the genre -- "Fifty Percent" from 1978's Ballroom. Trust us, you may now know the show, but you need to know the song. All clips are from 1999's My Favorite Broadway: The Leading Ladies featuring Dorothy Loudon and are used in accordance with the Fair Use Exemption for criticism and commentary. Watch the clip on YouTube! Buy the DVD on Amazon!
2023-08-0136 min
So Much Stuff to SingEpisode 78 - A Strange LoopOur final title song is also our most recent. We're back to Michael R. Jackson's A Strange Loop, which has opened -- and closed -- on Broadway since we last discussed it, but not without winning the Best Musical Tony. All clips are from 2022's A Strange Loop: Original Broadway Cast Recording featuring Jaquel Spivey as Usher and are used in accordance with the Fair Use Exemption for criticism and commentary. Buy/stream the album on Amazon! Listen to the SMSTS playlist on Spotify. Follow the show on Twitter: @somuchstuffpod Fo...
2023-07-1535 min
So Much Stuff to SingEpisode 77 - In the HeightsAnother title song, and this time it's a title song that opens the show and sets up the rest of the show. We're talking about In the Heights again, exploring how Lin-Manuel Miranda uses its opening number to set up both the main characters and most of the plotlines that we need to know. All clips are from 2021's In the Heights: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack featuring Anthony Ramos as Usnavi and are used in accordance with the Fair Use Exemption for criticism and commentary. Buy/stream the album on Amazon! Listen to the...
2023-07-0138 min
So Much Stuff to SingEpisode 76 - Kiss of the Spider WomanWe're continuing with our title songs miniseries, and we're back with Kander and Ebb for the first time in a while. This time, we're talking about "Kiss of the Spider Woman," and Shannon makes a shocking confession about this song. All clips are from 1993's Kiss of the Spider Woman: The Musical - Original Cast Recording featuring Chita Rivera as Aurora and are used in accordance with the Fair Use Exemption for criticism and commentary. Buy/stream the album on Amazon! Listen to the SMSTS playlist on Spotify. Follow the show on...
2023-06-1533 min
So Much Stuff to SingEpisode 75 - Oklahoma!We're back with a new miniseries! We're tackling title songs over the course of the next four episodes, and we're starting with the one that you're probably thinking of already. We're back to Rodgers & Hammerstein, but we're starting with their first show together. It's the beginning of the Golden Age of musicals, and the moment everything changed for the art form: it's time for 1943's Oklahoma!. All clips are from soundtrack to the 1955 film version of Oklahoma! featuring Gordon MacRae as Curly, Shirley Jones as Laurey, and the ensembles and are used in accordance with the Fair Us...
2023-06-0538 minPutting It TogetherFinishing the Hat – Sunday in the Park with George (with Shannon Dohar)Sometimes you get just a little obsessed with creating something that you lose yourself. You also lose those around you. Shannon Dohar returns to try and explain the mania George finds himself in and brings up her own personal experience as evidence. You can listen to Shannon's podcast, So Much Stuff to Sing, here: https://somuchstufftosing.libsyn.comAnd you can follow Shannon on Twitter: https://twitter.com/sdoharWe are using three productions to frame our discussion of Sunday in the Park with George.The Original Broadway Cast (1984) starring Mandy...
2023-05-2454 min
So Much Stuff to SingThe Ballad of GuiteauIt's the end of our annual Sondheim birthday celebration, and our last murder ballad. This episode, we're back with Assassins looking at "The Ballad of Guiteau." Charles Guiteau is a thorny historical figure, but Erik and Shannon do their best to try to make some sense of him, his song, and this entire show. All clips are from Assassins: The 2022 Off-Broadway Cast Recording featuring Ethan Slater as The Balladeer and Will Swenson as Charles Guiteau and are used in accordance with the Fair Use Exemption for criticism and commentary. Buy/listen to the musical on...
2023-05-1539 min
So Much Stuff to SingThe Ballad of BoothWe're continuing our Sondheim birthday miniseries, this time focusing on his murder ballads, and we're moving on to a show that is dominated by murder ballads -- 1991's Assassins. Join us as we look at "The Ballad of Booth"and try to pick apart both this extremely rich song and the show's message. Audio note: It was raining when we recorded this episode, and you will occasionally hear the rain striking Shannon's air conditioner. We hope it won't distract too much from your enjoyment of the episode. All clips are from the 1991 Original Off-Broadway Cast Re...
2023-05-0137 min
So Much Stuff to SingMy Friends from Sweeney ToddTo quote Shannon, "Murder! Murder! Murder!" Yes, we're carrying on with this year's Sondheim theme of murder ballads, and we're carrying on with Sweeney Todd. This episode, we discuss the sort of duet, but not really, "My Friends." All clips are from the 2002 production of Sweeney Todd in Concert featuring George Hearne as Sweeney Todd and Patti Lupone as Mrs. Lovett and are used in accordance with the Fair Use Exemption for criticism and commentary. Buy the DVD on Amazon! Listen to the SMSTS playlist on Spotify. Follow the show...
2023-04-1532 min
So Much Stuff to SingEpisode 71 - The Ballad of Sweeney ToddIt's Sondheim time again -- the most wonderful time of the year here at SMSTS. This year, Shannon got her pick of themes, and she chose Sondheim's murder ballads. So, y'know, buckle up. We're starting off with the opening of 1979's Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street appropriately named "Prelude/The Ballad of Sweeney Todd." Attend the tale. All clips are from the 1979 Original Broadway Cast Recording of Sweeney Todd featuring Len Cariou as Sweeney Todd and are used in accordance with the Fair Use Exemption for criticism and commentary.
2023-04-0137 min
So Much Stuff to SingEpisode 70 - I Know Where I've BeenWe conclude our look at inspirational songs with "I Know Where I've Been" from Hairspray, the 2002 Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman musical based on the John Waters film of the same name. It's been a few years since we talked about the show's propulsive and endlessly optimistic closing number, so how does this song -- coming just before the final sequence and featuring a darker, if still optimistic tone -- sit within the show? And what's Erik's Grand Unified Theory of songs of inspiration? All clips are from the 2002 Original Broadway Cast Recording of Hairspray featuring Mary Bon...
2023-03-1529 min
Deeper Cuts6.4: Sweet Honey in the Rock - Breaths (1988) Music runs deep and has the power to enlighten, educate, and empower. This doesn’t have to be a didactic thing and the best of it isn’t. Great songs can do all of those things as one listens and enjoys them. It does all that at the soul level. Music is weird – and sometimes very, very sneaky. Shannon connected with the world of acapella from her time in college, solidifying her well-earned status as theater and choir kid. All the while, the music of Sweet Honey in the Rock and their album Breaths was a stalwart influe...
2023-03-0959 min
So Much Stuff to SingEpisode 69 - TomorrowWe return to Annie, a show we last talked about a few years back with Miss Hanigan's delicious villain song. This time, however, we're taking a look at the show's signature tune --and one of the most recognizable musical theater songs of all time -- "Tomorrow." Is it inspirational or an example of what's wrong with America? Buckle up. All clips are from 1977's Annie - Original Braodway Cast Recording featuring Andrea McArdle and are used in accordance with the Fair Use Exemption for criticism and commentary. Buy/stream the album on Amazon!
2023-03-0125 min
So Much Stuff to SingEpisode 68 - The Impossible DreamSome great shows have a few mediocre songs, and some great songs come from otherwise mediocre shows. Such is the case with this episode's selection -- or is it? Join us as we continue our journey of inspiration with "The Impossible Dream (The Quest)" from Man of La Mancha. All clips are from 2002's Man of La Mancha: The New Broadway Cast Recording featuring Brian Stokes Mitchell and are used in accordance with the Fair Use Exemption for criticism and commentary. Buy/stream the album on Amazon! Listen to the SMSTS playlist on Sp...
2023-02-1632 min
Deeper Cuts6.2: Sarah McLachlan - Surfacing (1997) We often find an attachment to certain music during times of emotional upheaval and loss. And it can be a double-edged blade. We love it and find it painful at the same time... because, hey, music is weird – and mysterious. For Graeme, the ending of a relationship led him to this exact place. Around that time, Sarah McLachlan’s 1997 record Surfacing was his soundtrack – not just on his personal stereo, but with the music playing as a musical accompaniment in his head as he navigated his way through a painful period. Join Graeme, Shannon and Rob as they a...
2023-02-0755 min
So Much Stuff to SingEpisode 67 - Climb Ev'ry MountainWelcome to 2023! As we enter a new year, we could all do with some inspiration, so we're starting the year off with a miniseries of inspirational songs. First up, we look at The Sound of Music for the first time, with "Climb Ev'ry Mountain." The last Rodgers & Hammerstein collaboration, this 1959 musical is one of the best known and best loved of all Broadway -- and film -- musicals. All clips are from 2103's The Sound of Music: Music from the NBC Television Event and are used in accordance with the Fair Use Exemption for criticism and commentary....
2023-02-0132 min
Deeper Cuts6.1: Tom Waits - The Heart of Saturday Night (1974) As is often the case with music, love can grow in increments. The Deeper Cuts trio touched on that in our discussion on Tom Waits’ Mule Variations album all the way back in Season Two when Shannon first saw the artist’s incendiary performance of “Chocolate Jesus” on Letterman. But even as listeners grow into a sound over time, artists themselves reveal something of their art through various stages of their careers, too. It was this phenomenon that struck Shannon when she heard 1974’s The Heart of Saturday Night, which presents Tom Waits in an earlier incarnation. The album revealed n...
2023-01-1058 min
So Much Stuff to SingEpisode 66 - The Muppet Christmas CarolIt's the most wonderful time of the year! For our third annual holiday special, we're being the rules a bit and looking at a festive movie musical -- namely, 1992's The Muppet Christmas Carol starring Michael Caine and the Muppets. We talk about the meloncholy air surrounding the making of the movie, the performances, and, of course, all of the songs written for the film by the great Paul Williams. Happy Holidays! See you in 2023! All clips are from 1992's The Muppet Christmas Carol: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack are used in accordance with the Fair Use Exemption for c...
2022-12-1559 minPutting It TogetherEntr'acte / Gussie's Opening Number – Merrily We Roll Along (with Shannon Dohar)Maybe the moon is cheese? Shannon Dohar returns to try and make sense of how Act 2 of Merrily We Roll Along starts. You can listen to Shannon's podcast, So Much Stuff to Sing, here: https://somuchstufftosing.libsyn.comAnd you can follow Shannon on Twitter: https://twitter.com/sdoharWe are using three productions to frame our discussion of Merrily We Roll Along.The Original Broadway Cast (1981) starring Jim Walton, Ann Morrison, and Lonny Price.You can listen to it on Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/ca/album...
2022-12-1452 min
Deeper CutsHoliday Special 2022Twas two weeks before Christmas (a little bit less) and all through the podcast, Shannon, Graeme and Rob were receiving holiday presents... from our listeners! That's right, this year we've outsourced our traditional gift exchange. Listeners Martin Hajovsky, Drew Walco and Sarah Irvin have given Graeme, Shannon and Rob respectively albums that they like. Will the Deeper Cuts trio have a holly jolly Christmas with the listener gifts? Or will they be like the abominable snowman before Hermey the Elf's dentistry? As ever, we liven up the proceedings with questions about music and making the show from even more...
2022-12-131h 16
Deeper CutsThe Live Sessions 3: Paul Simon - Concert in the Park (1991) Welcome to Deeper Cuts: The Live Sessions – a three-episode miniseries which finds the Deeper Cuts trio looking at the live music albums that were meaningful to them, and pondering what makes a great live album. After exploring a theater and a concert hall as a setting for great live records, this time we consider the large-scale outdoor live show. To illustrate this context best, Shannon showcases a go-to live album for her – Paul Simon’s 1991 live offering, Concert in the Park. For Shannon, it was a high school record; a put-it-on-in-the-car-and-drive-anywhere record. It meant freedom, adventure, and was a...
2022-12-061h 00
So Much Stuff to SingMeadowlarkThe second and final part of our look at songs that escaped the shows they were written for brings us to arguably one of the greatest songs never to be performed on Broadway -- "Meadowlark" from the ill-fated Stephen Schwartz musical The Baker's Wife. The show may be forgettable, but the song certainly is not. All clips are from Lindsay Mendez's 2017 performance of "Meadowlark" at Feinstein's/54 Below and are used in accordance with the Fair Use Exemption for criticism and commentary. Watch Lindsay Mendez perform "Meadowlark" at 54 Below. Buy/stream the album on A...
2022-12-0338 min
Deeper CutsThe Live Sessions 2: Indigo Girls - Live With The University of Colorado Symphony Orchestra (2018) Welcome to Deeper Cuts: The Live Sessions – a three-episode miniseries which finds the Deeper Cuts trio looking at the live music albums that were meaningful to them, and pondering what makes a great live album. During a hellscape of a summer marked by a never-ending work crisis, Graeme learned about the Indigo Girls' new live album through a Deeper Cuts fan (and friend of the program) Sarah Irvin. This new album-- a collaboration with the University of Colorado Symphony Orchestra-- pushed the boundaries of a live performance for the folk duo, and proved to be a balm fo...
2022-11-291h 02
Deeper CutsThe Live Sessions 1: James Brown - Live at the Apollo (1963)Welcome to Deeper Cuts: The Live Sessions – a three-episode miniseries which finds the Deeper Cuts trio looking at the live music albums that were meaningful to them, and pondering what makes a great live album. There are wake-up calls and there are WAKE UP! calls. When Rob was growing up, his Dad’s copy of James Brown and the Famous Flames’ Live at the Apollo record was one of those... and in more than one respect. For Rob, one form was literal, while another form took hold over a much longer term, helping to shape his musical outloo...
2022-11-2258 min
So Much Stuff to SingYou've Got PossibilitiesAnd now for something completely different. We're embarking on a mini-mini-series: a 2-part look at songs that managed to have a life even if they shows they came from didn't. First up, it's "You've Got Possibilities" from the almost totally forgotten 1966 musical "It'sa Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman". A score by Charles Strouse and Lee Adams -- and production and direction by Hal Prince -- didn't save this show from being the biggest flop in Broadway history at the time, but somehow this song managed to find a place for itself. We discuss why. All clips ar...
2022-11-1531 min
So Much Stuff to SingOne Second and a Million MilesWe conclude our tour of musical theater blindspots with Jason Robert Brown's 2014 The Bridges of Madison County and the sweeping love duet "One Second and a Million Miles." Will Shannon persuade Erik that this score deserves to be known far and wide, or will his cold, stony heart be unmoved? All clips are from the 2014 Orignal Broadway Cast Recording of The Bridges of Madison County featuring Steven Pasquale and Kelli O'Hara and are used in accordance with the Fair Use Exemption for criticism and commentary. Buy/stream the album on Amazon! Listen to th...
2022-11-0144 min
So Much Stuff to SingEpisode 62 - I BelieveWe're trying to take care of musical theater blindspots, and this time it's Shannon's turn to introduce Erik to something new. So, how will he respond to "I Believe" from 2011's The Book of Mormon? Will he be converted, or will he slam the door in her face? All clips are from the 2011 Original Broadway Cast Recording of The Book of Mormon featuring Andrew Rannells and are used in accordance with the Fair Use Exemption for criticism and commentary. Buy/stream the album on Amazon! Listen to the SMSTS playlist on Spotify.
2022-10-1539 min
So Much Stuff to SingDon't Cry for Me ArgentinaWe just couldn't stay away from the Andrew Lloyd Webber/Time Rice songbook as we cover our musical theater blind spots. This time, it's Evita with Patti Lupone singing "Don't Cry for Me Argentina." What will Shannon make of this truly strange show that she'd never experienced before? All clips are from the 1978 Original Broadway Cast Recording of Evita featuring Patti Lupone and are used in accordance with the Fair Use Exemption for criticism and commentary. Buy/stream the album on Amazon! Listen to the SMSTS playlist on Spotify. Fol...
2022-10-0137 min
So Much Stuff to SingEpisode 60 - Everything's Coming up RosesWe're back after our brief end of summer hiatus, and we've got a new miniseries in store. We all have our blind spots -- shows that we feel as if we should know, but don't. In this miniseries, we're trying to clear up some of those blind spots -- 2 from each host -- and we're starting with a biggie. Join us as we talk about one of the greates roles in musical theater: yes, it's time for 1959's Gypsy and "Everything's Coming up Roses." All clips are from the 2015 London Cast Recording of Gypsy featuring I...
2022-09-1539 min
So Much Stuff to SingEpisode 59 - I Still BelieveTo close out our look at the Broadway megamusical, we turn our attention to one of the most popular -- and controversial -- entries in the subgenre: Miss Saigon. Join us as we dicuss "I Still Believe" and the enduring debate about this show's depiction of its Vietnamese characters. All clips are from the 1989 Original London Cast Recording of Miss Saigon featuring Lea Salonga and Claire Moore and are used in accordance with the Fair Use Exemption for criticism and commentary. Buy/stream the album on Amazon! Listen to the SMSTS pla...
2022-08-1535 min
So Much Stuff to SingEpisode 58 - Nobody's SideNot all megamusicals were big hits -- not on Broadway, at least. This episode, we look at one of the most infamous and enduring of the failed London to Broadway transfers: Chess. The score, by Time Rice, Benny Andersson, and Bjorn Ulvaeus, has endured, however, powered by such pop hits as "Nobody's Side." All clips are from the 1988 Original Broadway Cast Recording of Chess featuring Judy Kuhn and are used in accordance with the Fair Use Exemption for criticism and commentary. Buy the album on Amazon! Listen to the SMSTS playlist on Spotify....
2022-08-0132 min
So Much Stuff to SingEpisode 57 - The Phantom of the OperaThe undisputed king of the megamusical, Andrew Lloyd Webber, is back with his biggest hit, and one of the biggest hits in musical theater history: The Phantom of the Opera. This episode we discuss the title song, our history with the show in general, and the sequel that never really caught on. All clips are from the 1986 Original London Cast Recording of The Phantom of the Opera featuring Sarah Brightman and Michael Crawford and are used in accordance with the Fair Use Exemption for criticism and commentary. Listen to and buy the album on...
2022-07-1538 min
So Much Stuff to SingEpisode 56 - Jellicle Songs for Jellicle CatsMAKE IT BIGGER! That was the refrain in the 80s on the West End and Broadway, and we're looking at some of the highlights of the megamusical era in our new miniseries. We begin with the show that arguably started it all -- Andrew Lloyd's Webber's 1981 phenomenon, Cats. Join us, won't you, as we discuss "Prologue: Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats." All clips are from the 1981 Original London Cast Recording of Cats and are used in accordance with the Fair Use Exemption for criticism and commentary. Listen to and buy the album on Am...
2022-07-0136 min
So Much Stuff to SingEpisode 55 - Hey, Little SongbirdWe conclude our series on seduction songs with a trip down to 2019's Hadestown --written by Anaïs Mitchell and developed and directed by Rachel Chavkin -- to discuss "Hey, Little Songbird." All clips are from the 2019 Original Broadway Cast Recording of Hadestown featuring Patrick Page as Hades and Eva Noblezada as Eurydice are used in accordance with the Fair Use Exemption for criticism and commentary. Listen to and buy the album on Amazon! Listen to the SMSTS playlist on Spotify. Follow the show on Twitter: @somuchstuffpod Follow SMSTS on...
2022-06-1534 min
Doctor Who LiteratureEpisode 29 - The Seeds of Doom (Philip Hinchcliffe; Shannon Dohar)Doctor Who Literature is delighted and overjoyed to bring you Jason's interview with Philip Hinchcliffe, the man who produced "The Seeds of Doom" for television and who then wrote the novelization. This half-hour was one of the high points of Jason's decades as a fan and we couldn't be happier to share it with you.
Our guest conversation this week is with Shannon Dohar (@SDohar), a Doctor Who fan in New York City, whose voice you can also hear on the musical podcasts Deeper Cuts and So Much to Sing About. What was it like reading the...
2022-06-051h 32
So Much Stuff to SingCharming from Great CometOur seduction song cycle moves to Moscow as we revisit a perennial favorite, Dave Malloy's Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812 and one of that show's standout moments -- "Charming." All clips are from the 2017 original Broadway cast recording of Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812 featuring Amber Gray as Helene and are used in accordance with the Fair Use Exemption for criticism and commentary. Listen to and buy the album on Amazon! Listen to the SMSTS playlist on Spotify. Follow the show on Twitter: @somuchstuffpod Follow SMS...
2022-06-0132 min
So Much Stuff to SingRazzle Dazzle from ChicagoWe continue our run of seduction songs with a return to one of the first shows we ever covered: Chicago. This time, we're looking at Billy Flynn's "Razzle Dazzle," a song that's both darker and slower than you may remember. All clips are from the 1975 original Broadway cast recording of Chicago featuring Jerry Orbach as Billy Flynn and are used in accordance with the Fair Use Exemption for criticism and commentary. Listen to and buy the album on Amazon! Listen to the SMSTS playlist on Spotify. Follow the show on Twitter: @so...
2022-05-1533 min
So Much Stuff to SingBig Spender from Sweet CharityHey, big spender! Spend a little time with Erik & Shannon as they begin a new miniseries, featuring songs of seduction. We begin with one of the most blatant come-ons ever staged for Broadway, "Big Spender" from 1966's Sweet Charity. All clips are from the 1966 original Broadway cast recording of Sweet Charity and are used in accordance with the Fair Use Exemption for criticism and commentary. Listen to and buy the album on Amazon! Listen to the SMSTS playlist on Spotify. Follow the show on Twitter: @somuchstuffpod Follow SMSTS on In...
2022-05-0133 minPutting It TogetherEpiphany – Sweeney Todd (with Shannon Dohar)What sudden realization is Sweeney Todd coming to? And how does that affect the rest of the show. Shannon Dohar joins Kyle to figure that out and marvel at how different actors have interpreted this song. You can listen to Shannon's podcast, So Much Stuff to Sing, here: https://somuchstufftosing.libsyn.comAnd you can follow Shannon on Twitter: https://twitter.com/sdoharYou can purchase Stephen Sondheim's first book of lyrics, Finishing the Hat, by going here: https://amzn.to/2LB9ZJoWe are using three productions to frame our...
2022-04-2050 min
So Much Stuff to SingMoments in the Woods from Into the WoodsWe conclude our journey through Into the Woods with The Baker's Wife's moving and profound exploration of the meaning of life, "Moments in the Woods." All clips are from the 1987 original cast recording of Into the Woods featuring Joanna Gleason as the Baker's Wife and are used in accordance with the Fair Use Exemption for criticism and commentary. Listen to and buy the album on Amazon! Listen to the SMSTS playlist on Spotify. Follow the show on Twitter: @somuchstuffpod Follow SMSTS on Instagram: @somuchstufftosing Email the show...
2022-04-1540 min
So Much Stuff to SingOn the Steps of the Palace from Into the WoodsAfter a brief break, we are back with our annual Sondheim series featuring the "I know now" songs from Into the Woods. This time, we look at one of the most challenging and daunting songs from the show, Cinderella's big moment "On the Steps of the Palace." All clips are from the 1987 original cast recording of Into the Woods featuring Kim Crosby as Cinderalla and are used in accordance with the Fair Use Exemption for criticism and commentary. Listen to and buy the album on Amazon! Listen to the SMSTS playlist on S...
2022-04-0133 min
So Much Stuff to SingEpisode 49 - Giants in the SkyWe continue our annual Stephen Sondheim celebration with a discussion of "Giants in the Sky," as we go deeper Into the Woods and look at what our chracters are learning. All clips are from the 1987 original cast recording of Into the Woods featuring Ben Wright and are used in accordance with the Fair Use Exemption for criticism and commentary. Listen to and buy the album on Amazon! Listen to the SMSTS playlist on Spotify. Follow the show on Twitter: @somuchstuffpod Follow SMSTS on Instagram: @somuchstufftosing Email the show: somuchstufftosing@gmai...
2022-03-0132 min
So Much Stuff to SingEpisode 48 - I Know Things NowIn honor of the upcoming anniversary of his birthday, we are beginning our third annual Stephen Sondheim miniseries. This time, we are focusing on four of the songs from Into the Woods, perhaps his most accessible and most popular show. In our first episode, we discuss Little Red's song "I Know Things Now" and talk about how it connects with the many themes running through the show. All clips are from the 1987 original cast recording of Into the Woods featuring Danielle Ferland and are used in accordance with the Fair Use Exemption for criticism and commentary.
2022-02-1532 min
So Much Stuff to Sing"I'm Here" from The Color PurpleWe've come to the end of our quick tour through breakout performances, but we've saved one of the best for last. This episode, we're discussing Cynthia Erivo's truly breathtaking arrival on the scene, with "I'm Here" from the 2015 revival of The Color Purple. All clips are from the 2016's The Color Purple New Broadway Cast Recording featuring Cynthia Erivo and are used in accordance with the Fair Use Exemption for criticism and commentary. Listen to and buy the album on Amazon! Listen to the SMSTS playlist on Spotify. Follow the show o...
2022-02-0140 min
So Much Stuff to Sing"Gimme Gimme" from Thoroughly Modern MillieAfter a brief detour, we've returned to our miniseries on star-making performances. This time, we're talking about Sutton Foster's breakout role in 2002's Thoroughly Modern Millie, and her signature number "Gimme Gimme." All clips are from the 2002's Thoroughly Modern Millie Original Broadway Cast Recording featuring Sutton Foster and are used in accordance with the Fair Use Exemption for criticism and commentary. Listen to and buy the album on Amazon! Listen to the SMSTS playlist on Spotify. Follow the show on Twitter: @somuchstuffpod Follow SMSTS on Instagram: @somuchstufftosing E...
2022-01-1634 min
So Much Stuff to SingOriginal Cast Ablum: Co-opAnd now for something competely different! Join us as we discuss the Documentary Now episode "Original Cast Album: Co-op" and talk about the songs, the jokes, and how it compares to Original Cast Album: Company. We also talk about the recent loss of Stephen Sondheim. All clips are from the Original Cast Album Co-op TV Soundtrack and are used in accordance with the Fair Use Exemption for criticism and commentary. Listen to and buy the album on Amazon! Listen to the SMSTS playlist on Spotify. Follow the show on T...
2022-01-0157 min
Deeper CutsHoliday Special 2021 Ho! Ho! Ho! Our annual holiday special has returned and so has our traditional gift exchange! Join Shannon, Graeme and Rob as they exchange albums with each other (this year as a duo-- double the potential catastrophization!) and find out if their gift is a stocking hung by the chimney with care, or a Grinch-robbed home instead. Throughout, the Deeper Cuts trio will be answering listener questions about holiday music and about the show! It's the one holiday party you can be guaranteed a good time. Stay warm, metaphorically speaking, from the glow of our Spotify Playlist...
2021-12-201h 11
Deeper Cuts5.7: Hamilton Original Broadway Cast Recording (2015) (Part Two) In part two of our exploration of the 2015 soundtrack to the musical Hamilton, the Deeper Cuts trio continue their discussion of the resonant themes in the musical that helped Shannon become the person she wanted to be and how music can help us set our values. We also talk about what Hamilton has to say about American history and the musical's use of references to other works. For this finale episode to the fifth series of the Deeper Cuts, Shannon, Graeme and Rob throw in everything but the kitchen sink (and possibly even that). Will we find a way...
2021-12-171h 13
Deeper Cuts5.6: Hamilton Original Broadway Cast Recording (2015) (Part One) How can art shape our very identities? How can it give us a sense of direction from the people we are to the people we want to be – shaping our very values? Shannon adopted the city of New York as her home, and many of her album selections for this show across multiple seasons demonstrate her love for the city as she made memories there and became an independent and more confident person. But with the 2015 musical Hamilton, New York loved her right back, and the production transformed her. What was it about this grand and unique production that re...
2021-12-161h 00
So Much Stuff to Sing"Miss Marmelstein" from I Can Get It For You WholesaleIt's time...for Barbra. Before she was an icon and a legend, she was a featured performer in 1962's I Can Get It For You Wholesale, stealing the show singing "Miss Marmelstein." We talk about what makes Barbra such an icon, and she almost wasn't cast in the show. All clips are from the 1962 I Can Get It for You Wholesale: Original Broadway Cast Recording featuring Barbra Streisand and are used in accordance with the Fair Use Exemption for criticism and commentary. Listen to and buy the album on Amazon! Listen to the S...
2021-12-0134 min
So Much Stuff to Sing"I Got Rhythm" from Girl CrazyJoin us as we begin our next miniseries, this time talking about unknowns who were turned into megastars, practically overnight, and the songs that made it happen. Our first shooting star is one of the grandest of Broadway grand dames, the utterly unique Ethel Merman, and her first Broadway showstopper, "I Got Rhythm" by George and Ira Gershwin, from 1930's Girl Crazy. Since 1930 was before the age of the cast album, all clips are from the 1949 album Ehtel Merman: Songs She Has Made Famous featuring Ethel Merman are used in accordance with the Fair Use Exemption for...
2021-11-1532 min
Deeper Cuts5.2: Regina Spektor - Begin to Hope (2006) A clean slate. A new era. A dedication to a new focus. When Shannon moved to Boston’s Fenway neighborhood for graduate school, these were some of the things that characterized her life at that time. As we’ve learned by now, for every era in a music fan’s life, there is a soundtrack. Regina Spektor’s 2006 record Begin to Hope was just that, as Shannon immersed herself in the world of books, academia, and a new sense of independence as a person living in the city – a theme that would certainly recur in her life from there. So, what d...
2021-11-1258 min
Deeper Cuts5.1: A-ha - Hunting High & Low (1985) Some records become the soundtrack for pivotal periods of self-discovery in our lives, even if we’re not aware of the importance of those times to our personal development – maybe even especially so. In the summer of 1987, Rob took a trip to Barbados to stay with his cousin. Driving around the island, A-Ha’s 1985 album Hunting High and Low played in the car often; music from a northern and sometimes wintry country serving as a sonic backdrop to adventures in the sunny Caribbean. More importantly, its underlying tone and emotional content allowed 18-year-old Rob the space to consider his direct...
2021-11-0458 min
So Much Stuff to Sing"Carnaval del Barrio" from In the HeightsIt's time to alza la bandera as we conclude our dance number miniseries with "Carnaval del Barrio" from In the Heights written, of course, by Lin-Manuel Miranda. Full of of humor, love, and life, this song charms even Erik's cold, cold heart. Plus, we have another grand unifying theory! All clips are from the 2008 Original Broadway Cast album with Andréa Burns as Daniela and Lin-Manuel Miranda as Usnavi and are used in accordance with the Fair Use Exemption for criticism and commentary. Listen to and buy the album on Amazon! Listen to th...
2021-11-0139 min
So Much Stuff to Sing"One" from A Chorus LineWe're dancing for our jobs and our lives as we enter The Chorus Line and it's powerful finale "One." Another Pulitzer Prize winner, A Chorus Line is one of Broadway's most famous and greatest success stories, and "One" is arguably its most iconic song. All clips are from the 1975 Original Broadway Cast album and are used in accordance with the Fair Use Exemption for criticism and commentary. Listen to and buy the album on Amazon! Listen to the SMSTS playlist on Spotify. Follow the show on Twitter: @somuchstuffpod Follow SMS...
2021-10-1533 min
So Much Stuff to Sing"Brotherhood of Man" from How to Succeed in Business without Really TryingWe're dancing as if our jobs depended on it as we continue our jaunt through some iconic production numbers. This time we're talking about Frank Loesser's Pulitzer Prize winner How to Succeed in Business... and "Brotherhood of Man." But make way, boys -- Lillias White is coming to steal the show. All clips are from the 1995 Broadway Revival Cast album with Matthew Broderick as Finch and Lillias White as Miss Jones and are used in accordance with the Fair Use Exemption for criticism and commentary. Listen to and buy the album on Amazon! ...
2021-10-0131 min
Deeper CutsThe Soundtrack Sessions 3: Ennio Morricone - The Mission (1986)Welcome to Deeper Cuts: The Soundtrack Sessions - a three-episode miniseries which finds the Deeper Cuts trio looking at the the intersection between film and music while looking at albums that were meaningful to one of them. As a teenager, Graeme was drawn to the world of orchestral film scores. Thanks to a friend at church who gave him a (wait for it) mix tape of movie soundtracks, Graeme was well on his way. One of the big ones around this time was Ennio Morricone’s score for the 1986 film The Mission, a story about faith, politics, co...
2021-09-221h 01
So Much Stuff to Sing"Hello Dolly!" from "Hello Dolly!"Everybody on stage for the big dance number! Yes, for our next miniseries, we are looking at some of Broadway's most iconic production numbers, starting with 1964's "Hello Dolly!" from...yes, you guessed it, Hello Dolly! We talk about the alchemy that this show captured and how it's the quintessence of a certain kind of Broadway show. All clips are from the 1964 Original Broadway Cast album with Carol Channing as Dolly Levi and are used in accordance with the Fair Use Exemption for criticism and commentary. Listen to and buy the album on Amazon!
2021-09-1533 min
Deeper CutsThe Soundtrack Sessions 2: High Fidelity (2000)Welcome to Deeper Cuts: The Soundtrack Sessions - a three-episode miniseries which finds the Deeper Cuts trio looking at the the intersection between film and music while looking at albums that were meaningful to one of them. When favourite films and favourite soundtracks converge at exactly the right time in our lives, magic happens! In Shannon's case, this was also a time when she worked in a video store with her fellow movie and music tastemakers among the all-female staff, so she had the additional joy of reveling in pop culture banter at the retail level, experiencing...
2021-09-0750 min
So Much Stuff to Sing"Defying Gravity" from WickedWe conclude our series on vocal damage with the most iconic song of Broadway's past 20 years: "Defying Gravity" from Wicked. We talk about its reception, its influence, and whether it does more harm than good. All clips are from the 2003 Original Broadway Cast album with Idina Menzel as Elpheba and Kristin Chenoweth as Glinda and are used in accordance with the Fair Use Exemption for criticism and commentary. Listen to and buy the album on Amazon! Listen to the SMSTS playlist on Spotify. Follow the show on Twitter: @somuchstuffpod Em...
2021-09-0136 min
Deeper CutsThe Soundtrack Sessions 1: Prince - Batman (1989)Welcome to Deeper Cuts: The Soundtrack Sessions - a three-episode miniseries which finds the Deeper Cuts trio looking at the the intersection between film and music while looking at albums that were meaningful to one of them. Some years really stand out as landmarks in our lives. The summer of 1989 was one such year for Rob (and for Graeme): a "crossfade year" which was both the end to an era and the beginning of another all at the same time. This was Rob's gap year, working his first full time job at a bookstore and with the...
2021-08-3156 min
So Much Stuff to Sing"I Dreamed a Dream" from Les MiserablesWlecome to the 80s megamusical and its child, the power ballad! This episode, we discuss "I Dreamed a Dream" from one of the biggest hits of all time, Les Miserables by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg. In addition to talking about our feelings about the show generally (spoiler: it's complicated), this is also our first chance to talk about the legend herself, Patti Lupone. All clips are from the 1985 Original London Cast Recording with Patti Lupone as Fantine and are used in accordance with the Fair Use Exemption for criticism and commentary. Listen to and buy...
2021-08-1540 min
So Much Stuff to Sing"And I Am Telling You" from DreamgirlsEnter the Belters. As we continue look at vocal showpieces, we move into the 1980s to look at Dreamgirls and Jennifer Holliday's extraordinary performance of "And I Am Telling You (I'm Not Going." 40 years after it debuted on Broadway, this song is still synonymous both with Holliday and with singers who want to show they can be big and soulful. Even if they can't. All clips are from the 1982 Original Broadway Cast Album with Jennifer Holliday as Effie White and are used in accordance with the Fair Use Exemption for criticism and commentary. Listen to a...
2021-08-0138 min
So Much Stuff to Sing"Glitter and Be Gay" from CandideWe start off what we are affectionately calling our "Vocal Damage" miniseries with one of the greatest soprano showpieces every written for the Broadway stage: "Glitter and Be Gay" from Leonard Bernstein's 1956 comic operetta Candide. The piece is (in)famous for being hard in just about every way a song can be hard, and is most commonly performed today by opera singers. All clips are from the 1956 Original Broadway Cast Recording with Barbara Cook as Cunegonde and are used in accordance with the Fair Use Exemption for criticism and commentary. Listen to and...
2021-07-1539 min
So Much Stuff to Sing"How Can I Call This Home?" from ParadeWe conclude our miniseries on soliloquy songs with one of Shannon's favorites: "How Can I Call This Home?" from Jason Robert Brown's 1998 show Parade. Parade is about an especially dark event in 20th century history; listener discretion is advised. All clips are from the 1999 Original Broadway Cast Recording with Brent Carver as Leo Frank and are used in accordance with the Fair Use Exemption for criticism and commentary. Listen to and buy the album on Amazon! Listen to the SMSTS playlist on Spotify. Follow the show on Twitter: @somuchstuffpod Em...
2021-07-0140 min
Doctor Who: The Moment3.01 - You know, I really think you might.To kick off this season, I'm joined by Shannon Dohar, to discuss a moment from The Day of the Doctor, the 50th anniversary special from 2013, featuring Matt Smith as the Eleventh Doctor and Tom Baker as the Curator. We discuss the magic of Tom Baker's voice, the ways we respond to art, and what exactly makes a great curator.
You can follow Shannon on Twitter at @sdohar.Special Guest: Shannon Dohar.Support Doctor Who: The MomentLinks:The Day of the Doctor - Wikipedia — "The Day of the Doctor" is a...
2021-01-0630 min
Deeper CutsHoliday Special 2020Our annual holiday special has returned and so has our traditional gift exchange! Join Shannon, Graeme and Rob as they exchange albums with each other and find out if their gift a Christmas cracker or a lump of coal. But this time they're not alone: we did this episode live in front of an audience on Zoom! Join the Deeper Cuts trio for Q and A and find out what their pals are bringing as musical gifts for the rest of us. It's a holiday party you don't want to miss... and you have the best seat in the...
2020-12-071h 15
Deeper Cuts4.5: Rufus Wainwright - Out of the Game (2012)A year and a half in a new city. A raffle for concert tickets. The tail-end of a slowly declining and not very healthy relationship. It was a time when Shannon realized that things were coming to a head in that phase of her life. This was Shannon's emotional context when she went to a concert as a part of the PBS series The Artist’s Den and saw Rufus Wainwright for the first time. Rufus was singing songs from his then new album, 2012’s Out of the Game and the music, and the artist, attached themselves to Shannon’s spiri...
2020-10-2052 min
Deeper Cuts4.3: The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Are You Experienced (1967)Parents are good for one or two things. Sometimes, one of them is how they serve as vectors for great music; how to spot it, what to listen for, and how to form your own lifelong love for musical artistry. At a young age, Shannon’s dad helped her hone an appreciation for music by listening to records with her, and particularly ones centered around the guitar. One of the big ones at the time was 1967’s Are You Experienced? by the Jimi Hendrix Experience; a formative album for many generations of music fans. The album was representative of a se...
2020-10-0657 min
Deeper Cuts4.1: Sting - ...Nothing Like The Sun (1987)Sometimes, you find yourself growing up. You realize that some of the things you believed and thought were solid in your life really aren’t – and in fact are even harmful to you. You find you have to question those things to create a new path for yourself. You’ve got to start again. This was Graeme’s experience at the end of his high school years and the beginning of his college years. Sting’s 1987 record …Nothing Like the Sun was Graeme's "first grown-up record" and was an important part of his personal soundtrack at the time when he was calli...
2020-09-2259 min
Deeper CutsThe COVID Sessions 3: John Mulaney and the Sack Lunch Bunch (original soundtrack) (2019) Welcome to Deeper Cuts: the COVID Sessions -- a three episode miniseries which finds the Deeper Cuts trio taking deep dives into music with deep meaning for us right now as we shelter in place during the COVID-19 pandemic. Living in modern times can be exciting, and also terrifying. Sometimes, it feels like we’re just children in a big imposing world, sparking our anxieties, and making us feel overwhelmed. While sheltering in place during this strange and scary COVID-19 era, Shannon turned to fellow New Yorker John Mulaney’s Sack Lunch Bunch soundtrack, an accompaniment to his...
2020-05-1446 min
Deeper CutsThe COVID Sessions 1: Fountains Of Wayne - Traffic and Weather (2007)Welcome to Deeper Cuts: the COVID Sessions -- a three episode miniseries which finds the Deeper Cuts trio taking deep dives into music with deep meaning for us right now as we shelter in place during the COVID-19 pandemic. During his time sheltering in place, Rob turned to Fountains of Wayne’s 2007 album Traffic and Weather, a record that’s all about everyday things, of sometimes mundane travels, vignettes of middle-class suburban life, and of the quiet drama and raw humanity that lies at the heart of all that. What he found while listening is that there is b...
2020-04-3043 min
Deeper Cuts3.4: Green Day - American Idiot (2004) Rebellion. Anger. Even disillusionment. These are only some of what makes up the human experience. This may be even more pertinent during our youth, and when times of great turmoil are reflected in the headlines, and in the lives of the people we know. It could also be just about the drudgery of our existences, and the feeling that we need to get the hell out and find something new! It all makes us want to cry out in protest and demand a better life for ourselves and for everyone in the world...
2019-03-1253 min
Deeper Cuts3.2: Backstreet Boys - Backstreet Boys (1997) Some music in our lives gets us at a young age. It bonds itself to our DNA for the rest of our lives, connecting us with memories of unfiltered teenaged joy, posters plastered onto bedroom walls, and the reckless abandon of dance moves and hairbrush microphones in front of the mirror. Our first pop album is all about the heart and about the enthusiasm that came so naturally to us when we were kids. Immortal boyband Backstreet Boys and their 1998 self-titled debut was an impactful force along these lines for our...
2019-02-2653 min
Deeper Cuts3.0: The Band - The Band (1969) (Happy 50th Birthday Rob!) Surprise! Before the new season of Deeper Cuts debuts next week, we did a bonus episode as a surprise party of a podcast for our beloved Deeper Cuts co-host Rob Jones, who turns 50 today (February 15, 2019)! Join Graeme and Shannon as they talk about a favourite band and a favourite album of Rob's, The Band's 1969 self-titled album (which was made the year Rob was born!) Two-thirds of the Deeper Cuts trio also discuss the joy of making, and sharing, music and have a few things to say about the birthday boy himself. So join i...
2019-02-1539 min
Deeper CutsHoliday Special 2018Happy holidays, Deeper Cuts fans! In anticipation for our upcoming third season, we have the 2018 edition of our holiday episode. This time, the Deeper Cuts trio gather around the yuletide tree to exchange gifts to celebrate the season. What gifts are we exchanging? Music, of course. Each of us gave another of our group a musical gift; an album each chosen specifically for Graeme, Shannon, and Rob based on their tastes, and wrapped up in a bow. What albums are we talking about here? Do our gifts to each other light up the Christmas tree? Or do they pour...
2018-12-2033 min
Deeper Cuts2.7: Nanci Griffith - Flyer (1994)Moving on. We all find ourselves at the end of one era of our lives and with a new one ahead of us. It can be exciting. It can be sad. It can be both at the same time. Sometimes, it happens when you’re a kid, and there’s a feeling of helplessness attached to leaving a place and a time behind you. That’s what Shannon experienced at one point as a child. It was Nanci Griffith’s 1994 record Flyer that provided the soundtrack during a time when life in one place was ending, and one in a new pl...
2018-07-1745 min
Deeper Cuts2.4: Tom Waits - Mule Variations (1999)Sometimes an album can offer you a point of departure: that moment when suddenly – WHAM! – everything clicks and new musical vistas are in front of you. We return to a theme we discussed back in episode 7 of our first season as we talk about Shannon’s journey with Tom Waits, specifically with his 1999 album Mule Variations. In this episode, we talk about how we perceive music and its affectations. We talk about how we are confronted and challenged by music that comes out of left field in a way we don’t expect. We talk about how we’re charmed by i...
2018-06-2648 min
Deeper Cuts2.1: Lauryn Hill - The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1999)Break-ups! Autobiography! Pop crossovers! Season 2 of Deeper Cuts kicks off with a HUGE record from the late nineties, and a formative one for Shannon to boot while she was a musically curious 14-year old. Lauryn Hill’s The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill consolidated the nu-soul movement as it connected with hip-hop, reggae, and other genres by the end of the twentieth century. It also provides some clarity on some of the ways that young people learn, correctly and incorrectly, about how love works and how it doesn’t. Dipping our toes back in for season 2, Graeme, Shannon and Rob talk abo...
2018-06-0542 min
Deeper CutsHoliday Special: John Denver and the Muppets - A Christmas Together (1979)What is it about Christmas and holiday music? One thing’s for sure, it definitely takes us back to our childhoods. That’s precisely where the Graeme, Shannon, and Rob went on this special holiday episode of Deeper Cuts; specifically, to the 1979 album John Denver and The Muppets - A Christmas Together. They discuss favourite tracks, common themes, and what makes for a great Christmas record (and even throw in a few Muppet impressions for good measure!) Together, the Deeper Cuts trio explore why this album still checks all of the boxes, and why our favourite holiday music stays with...
2017-12-1947 min
Deeper Cuts8: Beethoven - Mass in C majorClassical music. It’s old. It’s complex. It can be intimidating. But somehow, the best of it goes beyond mere academic appreciation and makes you feel things. This is especially true if, like our Shannon Dohar, you get to participate in it. Shannon performed Beethoven’s Mass in C as a member of a choir and this piece became a signpost for her to what the possibilities are, helping her to form an appreciation for music as a whole. In episode 8 of Deeper Cuts, we talk about classical music and its relationship to the feels. We talk about how sa...
2017-11-3039 min
Deeper Cuts6: Indigo Girls - Rites of Passage (1992)Road trip! It’s a common and very welcome battle cry, even if we’re just taking a journey by ourselves. The best and most memorable road trips are very often, if not always, accompanied by a great soundtrack. For Graeme, that soundtrack was Indigo Girls’ 1992 offering Rites of Passage, an album that he took with him on his first solo trip abroad. In our sixth episode, the Deeper Cuts Trio – Graeme, Shannon, and Rob – talk about that record, and also about the common denominators of what makes for a great road trip soundtrack. So, put on your travelling shoes, goo...
2017-11-1636 min
Deeper Cuts5: XTC - Apple Venus Volume 1 (1999) Location, location, location. Sometimes, a record is vivid enough to make you feel as though you’re in one as you listen. Maybe it can even help you make sense of your physical location, too. For Rob Jones, XTC’s eminently pastoral and Anglocentric 1999 album Apple Venus Volume 1 provided both of those things to him as a Canadian living in England trying to decode his surroundings and his life at the same time. As usual, Rob is joined by co-hosts Graeme Burk and Shannon Dohar who talk about cultural context, ecstatic lyrical imagery, all things British, and lite...
2017-11-0940 min
Deeper Cuts4: The Weakerthans – Left and Leaving (2000)Very often, we outgrow the place where we’re from. That can be one of the signs that we’ve come of age. But leaving an old familiar place and finding a home in a new one is rarely simple, especially when you’re young. That’s the subject of our discussion around The Weakerthans’ 2000 album Left and Leaving, a go-to album for our own Shannon Dohar. In the episode, we talk about the minutiae of life as expressed in “found lyrics”, densely packed metaphors, emotional awkwardness and missed connections, and the nature of coming-of-age tales in general. So, don’t sit on the...
2017-11-0230 min
Deeper Cuts2: Ani DiFranco - Not a Pretty Girl (1995)Everyone needs a role model. This is true even those who become role models themselves later on including Shannon Dohar. At one time, Ani DiFranco’s 1995 album Not A Pretty Girl served as her template, including the cover art that informed her ideal wardrobe! Shannon, Graeme, and Rob discuss the album that explores the complexity of adult relationships, control over one’s own work, and coming-of-age in an often cruel and morally questionable world. We talk about open tunings, earnest lyrics, various genres found in the music itself, and (of course) how this record connects with Shannon and with her tw...
2017-10-1938 min
Deeper Cuts1: Tears For Fears - The Hurting (1983)Being a teenager is tough. We all have those albums that we went to for solace when we were slogging through our teen years that helped us to realize that we’re not alone in our awkward gloominess. Rob submits this one as his go-to teenage angst record; Tears For Fears’ 1983 debut album The Hurting. With Graeme and Shannon, our questing Deeper Cuts trio explore the themes of emotional states of mind reflected in the music, how lyrics connect with an audience, and how a once treasured album holds up (or doesn’t) all these years later.
2017-10-1833 min