Arachnophonia: Waitress

Posted on April 18, 2024 by marmstr3

Editor’s note: Arachnophonia (“Arachno” = spider / “-phonia” = sound) is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about resources from the Parsons Music Library‘s collection.

All links included in these posts will take you to either the library catalog record for the item(s) in question or to additional relevant information from around the web.

Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by student assistant Nicole (class of 2024) and features the cast recording and vocal selections score for the musical Waitress. Thanks, Nicole!

Waitress

Have you checked out Waitress yet? It’s a musical that serves up a slice of life with a side of humor and soulful tunes.

Based on the 2007 film, Waitress became an award-winning Broadway musical with lyrics and music by Sara Bareilles.

The story follows Jenna, a small-town waitress and exceptional pie-maker trapped in a tough situation of domestic abuse. She finds solace in baking and pouring her hopes and dreams into her pies.

The score, by pop singer Sara Bareilles, is a work of art. “Opening Up” and “What Baking Can Do” set the stage, while “She Used to Be Mine” steals the show with its powerful and heart-wrenching arrangement. Over the past few years, the musical has earned multiple accolades, including Tony and Grammy nominations. Another song favorite of mine is “Everything Changes,” which captures pivotal moments in Jenna’s life that eventually lead to her resurfacing power to get through adversity. As the story unfolds, it teaches the audience a lesson about resilience to get through life’s obstacles.

The ensemble members add depth and texture to the story, filling the stage with vibrant personalities. Whether they’re delivering pies, chatting over coffee, or sharing in Jenna’s triumphs and struggles, each member of the ensemble contributes to the vibrancy of the musical’s narrative.

Overall, Waitress serves as a story of resilience and human connection. The musical’s cast recording includes heartfelt performances, humor, and unforgettable melodies.

You can check out the Waitress score and cast recording at the Parsons Music Library!

Parsons Playlists: Coming-of-Age Movie Soundtrack

Posted on February 16, 2024 by marmstr3

Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student assistant Nicole (class of 2024) and features

Coming-of-Age Movie Soundtrack

With Commencement coming up and only a couple of months until Summer, one can’t help but ponder on how far they’ve come and think about how uncertain the future is. Here is a playlist with songs to help you romanticize academic life and think of it as if you were the main character of a coming-of-age film!

BØRNS – “Electric Love”

Florence + The Machine – “Dogs Days Are Over”

GROUPLOVE – “Tongue Tied”

Harry Styles – “Keep Driving”

Harry Styles – “Matilda”

Indigo De Souza – “Younger & Dumber”

Keane – “Somewhere Only We Know”

MGMT – “Time to Pretend”

Of Monsters and Men – “Little Talks”

Royel Otis – “Oysters in My Pocket”

Tame Impala – “Yes I’m Changing”

Taylor Swift – “You’re On Your Own, Kid”

Tears for Fears – “Everybody Wants To Rule The World”

The 1975 – “Robbers”

The Script – “For the First Time”

The Strokes – “Hard to Explain”

Vacations – “No Place Like Home”

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU94rco57ZezPBKdTCZPVYTGk1TkN7DeZ&si=YIkZOpxp2ukj5kY9

Arachnophonia: Amelie

Posted on December 13, 2023 by marmstr3

All links included in these posts will take you to either the library catalog record for the item in question or to additional relevant information from around the web.

Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by student assistant Nicole (class of 2024) and features the soundtrack to the 2001 film Amélie. Thanks, Nicole!

Amélie

Are you looking for the perfect movie soundtrack for a productive study session?

My favorite movie soundtrack to listen to is Amélie, composed by Yann Tiersen. Amélie is a French film directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet, released in 2001. The story revolves around Amélie Poulain, a shy and imaginative young woman with a unique perspective on life. Throughout the story, Amélie searches for love and connection, as she navigates her feelings for a quirky and introverted young man named Nino. The film is known for its visually rich cinematography and imaginative storytelling. It is essentially a celebration of the small joys in life, emphasizing the transformative power of kindness and the magic that can be found in everyday moments.

Yann Tiersen’s enchanting and evocative soundtrack for the film Amélie stands as a testament to the power of music in capturing the whimsy and charm of this cinematic world. The delicate piano melodies, accordion harmonies, and playful orchestration transport listeners into the imaginative universe of the main character. Tiersen’s ability to convey the innocence, romance, and melancholy within the film is truly extraordinary. From the waltz of “Comptine d’un autre ete: L’apres-midi” to the introspective notes of “La Valse d’Amélie,” (my personal favorite) each piece is a musical masterpiece that mirrors the emotional depth and complexity of the narrative.

You can check out the Amélie soundtrack CD at the Parsons Music Library!

Parsons Playlists: Re-Watching Gilmore Girls

Posted on October 13, 2023 by marmstr3

Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student assistant Nicole (class of 2024) featuring some tunes from the TV series Gilmore Girls.

Re-watching Gilmore Girls

It’s finally the season to take out your cozy sweaters, order pumpkin spice latte, prep your Halloween costume and, most importantly, re-watch your favorite comfort show: Gilmore Girls!! Here is a playlist with some iconic tunes from the show, and other songs that remind me of Lorelai and Rory Gilmore.

The La’s – “There She Goes”

Carole King – “Where You Lead”

Sam Phillips – “Reflecting Light”

Sam Phillips – “If I Could Write”

The Cranberries – “Linger”

Cigarettes After Sex – “Don’t Let Me Go”

boygenius – “Cool About It”

boygenius – “Not Strong Enough”

Phoebe Bridgers – “Moon Song”

Phoebe Bridgers – “Savior Complex”

Taylor Swift ft. Phoebe Bridgers – “Nothing New”

Taylor Swift – “This Is Me Trying”

Taylor Swift – “Mirrorball”

Taylor Swift” – “You’re On Your Own, Kid”

The Script – “Breakeven”

The 1975 – “About You”

The 1975 – “Robbers”

Cocteau Twins & Harold Budd – “Sea, Swallow Me”

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU94rco57Zeyes–6Een-75dqodJMZWLj&si=-bx9lzSrIqMf9zXz

Parsons Playlists: I Can Buy Myself Flowers

Posted on April 14, 2023 by marmstr3

Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student assistant Nicole (class of 2024) and features music by and for independent women.

I Can Buy Myself Flowers

This year has welcomed us with remarkable women in music, stepping up to show how much they are worth and how they don’t need no man! For starters, Miley Cyrus has given a new anthem to all women around the world who have ever been mistreated or underappreciated by their significant other, with her new song “Flowers”. This is a playlist for all the single ladies who have felt the need to roll their eyes at relatives and friends asking if they received any flowers for Valentine’s Day. An independent woman can, in fact, buy herself flowers.

Ashe – “Angry Woman”

Beyoncé – “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)”

Cyndi Lauper – “Girls Just Want To Have Fun”

Kelly Clarkson – “Since U Been Gone”

MARINA – “How To Be A Heartbreaker”

Metric – “Black Sheep”

Naomi Scott – “She’s So Gone”

Sara Bareilles – “Love Song”

Sir Chloe – “Animal”

Sohodolls – “Bang Bang Bang Bang”

Taylor Swift – “Karma”

Taylor Swift – “Vigilante Shit”

SZA – “Kill Bill”

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU94rco57ZewT0z-VMddL01-ronFgaSDd

Arachnophonia: Hadestown

Posted on March 22, 2023 by marmstr3

All links included in these posts will take you to either the library catalog record for the item in question or to additional relevant information from around the web.

Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by student assistant Nicole (class of 2024) and features the musical Hadestown. Thanks, Nicole!

Hadestown
Music, lyrics and book by Anaïs Mitchell

Have you heard of the tale of Orpheus and Eurydice?

It is an ancient Greek legend about the story of two lovers that ends up with them being separated by the Underworld for eternity. Singer and songwriter Anaïs Mitchell released her fourth album inspired by this famous tale, with a twist, back in 2006. It has been advertised as a “folk opera” which eventually became a stage production in 2019.

Hadestown tells the story of two lovers, Orpheus and Eurydice, trying to get through times of economic hardship. Unlike the original tale which highlights the location of the Greek Underworld, the stage production depicts a hellish industrial version of it. Orpheus reassures Eurydice that by composing songs he will find a solution to all their problems (“Wedding Song”). Other characters in the story are Hades, the ruler of a town where citizens are exploited for their labor, and Persephone, the beautiful and kind wife of the tyrant that rules Hadestown.

When Eurydice, unsure about Orpheus’ ability to provide for them, gets convinced by Hades to seek a better life in Hadestown, Orpheus sets on a journey to find her, which becomes the premise of the musical.

This successful musical, written by Anaïs Mitchell and directed by Rachel Chavkin, was a winner of 8 Tony Awards including Best Musical, and a Grammy Award for Best Musical Theatre Album.

Hadestown was the first musical I ever saw live when it began being performed in 2019. Not only does the story provide an original twist on a great classical tale, but also, the composition of the songs make this a stellar performance. The cast featuring Eva Noblezada and André De Shields have provided high quality performances for the last couple of years which help make this musical even more worth giving it a listen.

You can check out the piano/vocal selections score of songs from Hadestown at the Music Library!

Arachnophonia: “La flor de la canela” by Chabuca Granda

Posted on March 30, 2022 by marmstr3

All links included in these posts will take you to either the library catalog record for the item in question or to additional relevant information from around the web.

Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by student assistant Nicole (class of 2024) and features popular song from Peru called “La flor de la canela”. Thanks, Nicole!

“La flor de la canela” – Chabuca Granda

“La flor de la Canela,” which translates to: “ The Cinnamon flower” in English, is a vals criollo song first recorded by the group Los Morochucos in 1950, and later popularized by the singer and composer Chabuca Granda in the same year. Chabuca is a symbol of música criolla in Peru, a genre that exhibits influences from European, African, and Andean music.

Chabuca Grande singing on a Peruvian TV show circa 1960

I have grown up hearing this popular song on the radio since it has become the unofficial anthem of the citizens of Lima, the capital of Peru. The song also conveys a beautiful meaning. The expression itself, “to be a cinnamon flower” means to be proud and far from reach.

Chabuca was inspired to write the song because of a friend who would always come to her performances, an African Peruvian woman named Victoria Angulo Castillo. During their meetings, Victoria would tell Chabuca about her journey home after the shows, crossing an old wooden bridge: “el Viejo Puente de Palo”. The lyrics tell the story of a young beautiful woman on her journey home. This woman is described as “the cinnamon flower.”

A CD with Chabuca’s greatest hits, including “La flor de la Canela,” is available to check out at the Parsons Music Library!

Parsons Playlists: Oh to be Seventeen!

Posted on March 18, 2022 by marmstr3

Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist features a playlist of nostalgic songs curated by Music Library student assistant Nicole (class of 2024).

We all still remember fondly our high school years. Seventeen is a special age in which we have probably had new experiences, learned more about ourselves. This is a playlist with songs about being young and having fun. Time to get nostalgic!

Tomberlin – “Seventeen”

Charli Adams feat. Novo Amor – “Seventeen Again”

ABBA – “Dancing Queen”

Heathers, the Musical – “Seventeen”

The Rare Occasions – “Notion”

Sam Fender – “Seventeen Going Under”

The Backseat Lovers – “Kilby Girl”

Dr. Dog – “Big Girl”

Charli Adams – “Backseat”

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU94rco57Zey2nXP1wjFdR-albRnM7hxR

Arachnophonia: The Last 5 Years

Posted on January 19, 2022 by marmstr3

All links included in these posts will take you to either the library catalog record for the item in question or to additional relevant information from around the web.

Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by student assistant Nicole (class of 2024) and features vocal selections from the musical The Last 5 Years. Thanks, Nicole!

The Last 5 Years

The musical The Last 5 Years, written by Jason Robert Brown, is not the typical musical theatre love story. The story is about the failed marriage of a young actress named Cathy (played by Anna Kendrick in the 2014 movie version) and a young writer named Jamie (played by Jeremy Jordan in the movie version) who, in trying to find a balance between a successful career and a healthy relationship, end up hurting each other. However, the story is being told by both parts of the relationship that are living the same story in different timelines: Cathy starts singing about the end of her marriage in “Still Hurting”, but the following song, “Shiksa Goddess” is sung by Jamie five years before when he had just met Cathy. The Last 5 Years conveys these two different timelines with distinct chord progressions and instrumentation for the songs of each character respective to their timeline, representing how a story should be looked at from different perspectives before taking a stance.

This score includes most of the songs in the musical, such as “Still Hurting,” “Shiksa Goddess,” “Moving Too Fast,” and more. The scores are useful for any beginner-intermediate piano player or musical theatre singer who loves this heartbreaking musical.

Parsons Playlists: Spooky Season is here!

Posted on October 27, 2021 by marmstr3

Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today we’re featuring a playlist to get you into the Halloween spirit curated by Music Library student assistant Nicole (class of 2024).

Spooky Season is here!

Are you excited for Halloween!? Enjoy this playlist as you think about the costume you’ll wear for the 31st!