INSPIRATION FOR THE MUSICAL
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I started recording this series of videos while I was staying on a houseboat in Amsterdam in September 2014. The videos demonstrate the style of musical theatre songs that I love so much, and which inspire me when thinking about writing a musical of my own.
The videos give some insight into my performing and singing capacities, and hopefully demonstrate some change over time. The quality of the sound and video does varies, gradually improving as better microphones are utilized, and more attention is given to lighting. You'll see a wide array of hats, wigs, glasses, facial hair, and outfits in evidence as the months pass. You can also coincidently witness the birth of Angel, who came into form initially to sing the songs written for female characters, but expanded to be my performing persona, both male and female. |
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1) "LET IT GO," FROZEN
This song is so amazing, and has become legendary so quickly after its release; brilliant song-writing guys. I particularly like the boat loads of people passing by the window of the houseboat in this video. Sorry about the lighting though, it's a bit dark; still getting used to the GoPro.
Amsterdam,
September 2014.
Amsterdam,
September 2014.
2) "STARS," LES MISERABLES
Les Miserables would have to be my gold standard musical: epic, dramatic, emotional. I love it!! I was reasonably happy with this performance, with only a couple of glitches including a bit of a lousy entry at the beginning. Javert is such a great character, though. So sombre and earnest.
Amsterdam,
September 2014.
Amsterdam,
September 2014.
3) "SEND IN THE CLOWNS," A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC
This song (not my performance of it) is just fab-u-lous. Stephen Sondheim, you are a genius. A Little Night Music is not his most memorable musical, but "Send In the Clowns" is one of his more enduring songs.
Amsterdam,
September 2014.
Amsterdam,
September 2014.
4) "I DREAMED A DREAM," LES MISERABLES
I thought I would put on a blonde wig to sing Fantine, it's just too sad otherwise. Unfortunately I recorded this one with the piano open and it overpowers the vocals a bit; bring on that new microphone.
Amsterdam,
September 2014.
Amsterdam,
September 2014.
5) "THIS IS THE MOMENT," JEKYLL & HYDE
This video has two classic moments. About half way through (1:48) is the line: "All of the dreaming, scheming, and screaming becomes one," which I manage to sing as: "All of the screaming, screaming, and screaming becomes one!" Just before the final note (3:28), a small King Laugh (see Music).
Amsterdam,
September 2014.
Amsterdam,
September 2014.
6) "ANTHEM," CHESS
This performance of this stirring song doesn't contain any major mistakes or slip-ups, but it's just not that inspiring. Sorry. The end is funny as I don't realize the camera is still recording for a few seconds.
Amsterdam,
September 2014.
Amsterdam,
September 2014.
7) "CORNER OF THE SKY," PIPPIN
Classic Stephen Schwartz melody and lyrics, and a beautiful sentiment; he's very talented!!
Amsterdam,
September 2014.
Amsterdam,
September 2014.
8) "FOR GOOD," WICKED
Hmmm. Always a bit tricky to sing duets, particularly two female roles. Perhaps it might have been more successful if I had painted one half of my face green?
Amsterdam,
September 2014.
Amsterdam,
September 2014.
9) "THOSE CANAAN DAYS," JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT
I have such a soft spot for Joseph as it was the first musical I ever performed in. Please excuse the terrible French accent; most unfortunate.
Amsterdam,
September 2014.
Amsterdam,
September 2014.
10) "ON MY OWN," LES MISERABLES
"On My Own" is such a great song, so much intensity and emotion. No wonder performers playing Eponine keep winning awards. Hooray, I finally purchased a the new microphone, an Edutige, for the Go Pro.
Amsterdam,
December 2014.
Amsterdam,
December 2014.
11) "DEFYING GRAVITY," WICKED
Not a great start, but the second half is pretty good. Do you have any idea how hard this song is to play? I must say I look very relaxed; thanks Amsterdam!!
Amsterdam,
December 2014.
Amsterdam,
December 2014.
12) "NO DAY BUT TODAY," RENT
Sorry about the little cry near the beginning, I find this to be an incredibly emotional song. Jonathan Larson's groundbreaking rock-opera, Rent, is truly amazing.
Amsterdam,
December 2014.
Amsterdam,
December 2014.
13) "BRING HIM HOME," LES MISERABLES
I wasn't going to post this one because the vocal of the first verse is a bit off pitch, but the rest is pretty good (except for my facial expressions on the final note). The God song from Les Miserables is just so incredible, however, it truly is one of my Songs of Inspiration.
Amsterdam,
December 2014.
Amsterdam,
December 2014.
14) "NO ONE IS ALONE," INTO THE WOODS
This is one of the first songs I recorded with the new Edutige microphone for GoPro, and I hadn't quite worked out the balance between the vocals and the piano in this one. A few mistakes in the accompaniment, and that gorgeous high note near the end. Oops. Great song though.
Amsterdam,
December 2014.
Amsterdam,
December 2014.
16) "EMPTY CHAIRS AT EMPTY TABLES," LES MISERABLES
Another emotionally charged song from Les Miserables, this one sung by Marius. I'm surprised that I made it through the entire song without breaking down, most unusual. A terrible high note in the middle; throat not yet fully open, but getting there.
Sydney,
February 2015.
Sydney,
February 2015.
17) "HEAVEN HELP MY HEART," CHESS
Here I am impersonating Idina Menzel playing Florence from Chess. Quite a good likeness, don't you think? I'm not sure what happened with the vocals towards the end, a lapse of concentration perhaps. The rest was reasonably good so I thought it was still worth posting.
Sydney,
February 2015.
Sydney,
February 2015.
18) "THE POINT OF NO RETURN," THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
I decided that I wanted to sing one of Andrew Lloyd Webber's more challenging songs . . . and this one is challenging, both to sing and play. He really is an incredibly talented song-writer.
Sydney,
March 2015.
Sydney,
March 2015.
21) "YOU GOTTA DIE SOMETIME," FALSETTOLAND
Falsettoland is an intimate and powerful musical that deals with the emerging AIDS epidemic in the 1980's. It's not often anyone talks about death and dying, ever, let alone sings about it on stage in a musical. I just love this song.
Sydney,
March 2015.
Sydney,
March 2015.
29) "WHAT I DID FOR LOVE," A CHOURS LINE
This is most definitely an Angel song, I just love it. A Chorus Line is one of my favourite musicals of all time. Also one of my favourite pairs of earrings of all time; so sad they died.
Sydney,
March 2016.
Sydney,
March 2016.
35) "DON'T CRY FOR ME ARGENTINA," EVITA
One of Angel's first full public performances—at my friend Cameron's 50th birthday—and also one of my first performances without the security of a piano to hide behind. It's a pity the lighting is so dazzling and it's impossible to see my face for most of it.
Sydney,
December 2016.
Sydney,
December 2016.
In late 2016, I essentially stopped updating this website, and it is now mostly a historical document created and displaying the period of my creative life from 2011-2016. To see further videos of Angel Stevie's Songs of Inspiration, go to my Vimeo page: www.vimeo.com/angelstevie