Spiderman (Music)
Spiderman (Music)
#1Spiderman (Music)
Posted: 12/11/10 at 9:22pm
I have not seen the show, as it was cancelled when I came over to see it about a month ago, but I have read on here on the official thread how much a mess the music by U2 is.
Wondering if U2 replaced a couple of the new songs from their amazing back catalogue if this would help the show? Such as Beautiful Day, Desire, I still Haven't Found What I am Looking For, New York, Pride (In The Name of Love), Vertigo, or Where the Streets Have no Names.
Just a thought 
Muhlethaler
Featured Actor Joined: 10/13/06
Baileyboo
Stand-by Joined: 7/28/09
#2Spiderman (Music)
Posted: 12/11/10 at 11:04pm
I agree. The score is better than people are giving it credit for.
So is the show, for that matter. Still plenty of room for improvement, though.
#3Spiderman (Music)
Posted: 12/12/10 at 12:12amI like the score too. Some of the songs could use a little work lyrically, and probably won't get the attention they need, but the score is strong enough on its own. I don't think it really needs any previously written U2 songs to be incorporated. "Bouncing Off the Walls" is fun and catchy, "Rise Above" is GORGEOUS, "I'll Take Manhattan" is probably the most Broadway sounding song in the score and a comedic high point in the show. "The Boy Falls From the Sky" get repeated an awful lot before we ever hear the actual song, but when it does finally come into play it's worth the wait. Overall, whatever anyone says about the show itself, I'd still say the music is one thing the show has going for it.
#4Spiderman (Music)
Posted: 12/12/10 at 12:27am"Egypt, Egypt, E-g-y-p-t, Egypt."
With Irma you gotta do something!
#5Spiderman (Music)
Posted: 12/12/10 at 10:38am
Yeah, every show needs a reggae guy beating on a plastic bucket to make it work.
Sheeesh.
gayer than laughter, am I. And who wouldn't be, after seeing Cheyenne in those tight black shorts?
#6Spiderman (Music)
Posted: 12/12/10 at 12:08pm
Reading the main thread, mostly what I am hearing from people who have seen the show, is that the U2 music is poor.
Just to make my point clearer, I am not saying turn Spiderman into a juke box musical and make wholesale changes, what I am saying is replacing a couple of poor songs for a couple in the U2 back catalogue, bit like what they done with Promises, Promises.
Muhlethaler
Featured Actor Joined: 10/13/06
#8Spiderman (Music)
Posted: 12/12/10 at 7:41pm^ Agreed. There's a few awkward scenes between Peter and MJ that are basically just "Yeah... so... umm... okay... bye." I would imagine that those scenes could be completely scrapped and replaced with something a little more substantial without having to change too many technical cues.
Baileyboo
Stand-by Joined: 7/28/09
#9Spiderman (Music)
Posted: 12/12/10 at 10:47pm
The problems with the show can be summed up in three words-Book, book, book. Music is fine.Excellent in some places.
The book, particularly in the second act, needs work.
After Eight
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/5/09
#10Spiderman (Music)
Posted: 12/12/10 at 11:08pm
"The problems with the show can be summed up in three words-Book, book, book."
I'd use a different set of three: Book, music, and concept.
"Music is fine.Excellent in some places."
I didn't find any of it excellent, and found just a tiny bit of it even bearable. Overall, I would call it dour and dismal.
"The book, particularly in the second act, needs work."
We definitely agree on that.
Bardolph
Chorus Member Joined: 12/13/10
#11Spiderman (Music)
Posted: 12/13/10 at 1:47pm
I agree that the music, in places, is very good. Some of it is forgettable and sometimes even annoying, but I remember thinking that about a lot of musicals on first listen...actually most musicals. Given a chance to mature, there's some good stuff here that will resonate.
"No More" is a great, great song that suffers from being broken up by dialogue. "Boy Falls from the Sky" I like a lot. LOVE "Walk Away." And "Rise Above" is absolutely gorgeous. Award-winning gorgeous.
Baileyboo
Stand-by Joined: 7/28/09
#12Spiderman (Music)
Posted: 12/13/10 at 2:29pmI agree. I hope they eliminate some of the silliest dialogue and add some more songs.
#13Spiderman (Music)
Posted: 12/13/10 at 3:29pm
Dour, dismal and pretentious are what most people say about this show's music.
It seems that they're forgetting that the music is by Bono and The Edge, the two main songwriters for U2. "Dour, dismal and pretentious" is kind of their sound.
After Eight
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/5/09
#14Spiderman (Music)
Posted: 12/13/10 at 4:09pm
"Dour, dismal and pretentious are what most people say about this show's music.
It seems that they're forgetting that the music is by Bono and The Edge, the two main songwriters for U2. "Dour, dismal and pretentious" is kind of their sound."
I'll confess up front that I never heard anything by Bono, The Edge, or U2 prior to my seeing "Spiderman." So if "dour, dismal, and pretentious," is their sound, then I'm glad I managed to avoid it until now.
Bardolph
Chorus Member Joined: 12/13/10
#15Spiderman (Music)
Posted: 12/13/10 at 5:12pm
Bob and Dick Sherman, they're not. But I wouldn't call "Beautiful Day" dour and dismal.
Updated On: 12/13/10 at 05:12 PM
#16Spiderman (Music)
Posted: 12/14/10 at 4:43pm
I haven't seen the show, nor even "heard" it as some of you seem to have, but the bits of music I've heard from the 60 Minutes piece sounded good. I have listened to Boy Falls From the Sky several times, though mainly in a concert clip on youtube performed by U2 rather than the GMA clip with Reeve Carney. I would love to hear more if anyone can steer me in an appropriate direction. I hope we at least get a recording of some kind.
