Hairspray Live | NBC's 2016 Musical Review

"If my doctor told me I only had six months to live, I wouldn't brood. I'd type a little faster," -Isaac Asimov

No musical has such a special place in my heart like Hairspray does. I'm not sure why, but I just found the message relatable, the energy encapsulating, and the music iconic and catchy. I absolutely love it. 

So I was elated when I heard that they were going to do a live version, I knew I had to see it. Like the heathen I am, I skipped church to watch this fantastic musical. 

Henceforth, my extremely critical mind buzzed with comparisons to the 2007 movie and other stage adaptions I've seen. 

Bad things about Hairspray Live!

1. Maddie Baillio's low energy. 

Not to say that she wasn't a good singer or actress, Maddie Baillio just didn't carry that bubbly and earnest charisma that Nikki Blonsky or other Tracys. Maddie Baillio's stage presence wasn't as strong as it should have been - she didn't exude that blind confidence that Tracy needs to. While she wasn't poor, it just didn't always work for me. 

2. Harvey Fierstein as Edna Turnblad. 

What somehow worked with John Travolta as Edna Turnblad shocked everyone. But it wasn't until now until I saw Harvey Fierstein as Edna that I realized that it was John Travolta's androgyny. His androgyny kept your attention on his character, searching for ways to make sense of the ambiguity. It was just plain more entertaining that way. Travolta also played the character with more charisma and style than Fierstein. Travolta had this constant nervousness in his portrayal of Edna, and this made Welcome to the 60's an even more powerful breakout song. Fierstein displayed none of this complexity. 

Also, Fierstein's voice made me want to vomit. 

3. Garrett Clayton as Link Larkin.

 At first, I was shocked at how much of a dead ringer his voice was for Efron's, however, Zac Efron's acting added a much more complexity to Link's character. Link can all to easily become a shallow player, and he kind of is, but Efron and other Links have added the layer of genuineness and consciousness that Clayton didn't have. The whole idea behind Link staying in the spotlight and with Amber is so he can pursue his dancing dreams, but he sees the problems with society and it's Tracy who unlocks this in him. However, this fell flat in the live version. We never saw the struggle Link had leaving Tracy for his image, and then coming back to her to do what's right. 

4. Lack of Iconic charisma. 

This is due to several factors. Ariana Grande as Penny Pingleton being one of them. Sure, she's a top dollar name, but as the title character's best friend, she adds barely anything to the narrative. In other versions of Hairspray I've seen, each of Penny's few and far between lines hits like a hilarious punch to the gut. Ariana Grande had none of the sparky energy or the true silly, airheadedness that Amanda Bynes so perfectly portrayed in the 2007 movie. 

This adaptation just doesn't have the sparkle and energy that even community theaters have exuded. It was middle of the road, and that's all I can say. 


Good things about Hairspray Live!

1. Dove Cameron. 

I had heard about Dove Cameron from the Disney Channel, but I had never seen her sing or act, and she blew me away in Hairspray Live. She was the perfect little blonde brat, and she truly broke out of her Disney Channel labels and strutted her stuff. She's going places. 

2. Jennifer Hudson. 


She slayed. That is all.

3. The fact that it's Hairspray.

I mean, heck. I still enjoyed it. I still fangirled and sang and dance along, so I guess it did it's job. 

~The WordShaker

Adam Young Score Project Reviews and Wrap Up

"I am fallen, flawed, and imperfect. Yet drenched in the grace and mercy that is found in Jesus Christ, there is strength," -Adam Young

To wrap up these eleven amazing scores, not only am I going to be ranking this one alongside the others, I am also going to be giving a short description of the mood of the score. 

1. Omaha Beach, June - 20/10

     -Gripping, heartbreakingly beautiful, viscerally courageous and shockingly breathtaking. This score is my favorite because it portrays the emotions of the event absolutely perfectly. 

2. RMS Titanic, March - 15/10

     -Anxiety ridden, elegant, evocative, and absolutely haunting. This score is a perfect period piece and grabs the listener into the story. 

3. Corduroy Road, September - 11/10

    -Lively, solemnly beautiful, cultured and pensive. This score is so perfect in it's execution of the tone, because it takes a different route than Omaha Beach in that this score shows beauty in even an awful thing like war. 

4. Apollo 11, February - 10/10

     -Triumphant, captivating, emotional. The score to which all others are compared. 

5. Miracle in the Andes, July - 9.5/10

     -Emotional, triumphant, and utterly and basally beautiful. This score boasts with a beautiful survival tone and a strong sense of human persistence. 

6. The Spirit of St. Louis, April - 9/10

     -Exquisite, but also with a dark tone. This score shows the ups and downs of the first transatlantic flight with beauty and grace. 

7. The Endurance, December - 8.75/10

     -Transformative, gritty and captivating. This final score takes the cake with classic themes and ideas from the past scores to make a kicker out of the last score of the year. 

8. Voyager 1, October - 8.5/10

     -Modern, electronic infused, and perfectly themed. This score channels less of the emotions of the event but more of the aesthetic of the event in the beauty of the solar system. 

9. Mount Rushmore, November - 8.25/10

     -Imaginative, throbbing with a full orchestra, and indicative of the time. This score is short and sweet, but packs a punch of great human feats. 

10. The Ascent of Everest, May - 7/10

     -Shimmeringly cold, and channels triumphant emotions. This score, although lower on my list, builds gloriously with guitar and sounds of snow. 

11. Project Excelsior, August - 6.5/10

     -Cohesive, modern, and hard hitting with guitars. This score, although my least favorite, has it's footholds on being listenable. 

~

Granted, this is my opinion, and the way that I rate these on how 'good' they are in my mind is how well I can picture them in my head and how well I can feel them in my heart. 

So, thank you, Adam Young, for a groundbreaking year in your discography. Thank you for giving me amazing music to write to. Thank you for taking me on so many audio journeys this year. 

Thank you, Adam. 

~The WordShaker

The Endurance | Final Adam Young Score Review

 "It is both a blessing and a curse to feel everything so very deeply," - David Jones

Way to go out with a bang, Adam. 

This score is another gem. Like the best scores, this score has moments of spine-tingling musical glory and emotional release. 

Comparable to the RMS Titanic and borrows quips from The Ascent of Everest and Corduroy Road, this score boasts with a long and hearty tracklist full of flutes and deep strings. 

Listen to The Endurance here. 

artwork by James R. Eads

On with the track by track review. 

~

1. Shackleton

All-encompassing, this track establishes the might and bravery of Shackleton and his men with flutes, guitar, and sets up the seafaring landscape with the lively melodies. 

2. Hoist Sail

Cheerful and lively, this song builds with the orchestra as the men prepare to sail off on a great and treacherous adventure, ending with unique sounds of the creaking ship. 

3. The Weddell Sea

Complete with horns, this song displays the dangers of the Weddell sea in the magnificent orchestra. 

4. Pack Ice

Building with the glory of intense strings, this track shows the encroaching ice as it made it's way around the ship. 

5. Abandon Ship

Solemn with a crunching piano, this song perfectly makes the listener feel the despair of these men having to leave their dreams behind, and ending with unique water sounds. 

6. Ocean Camp

Desolate with sounds of wind and pulsing flutes, this track shows the perseverance of the men holding out for hope. 

7. She's Going, Boys

Implementing the same themes as Abandon Ship, as well as creakings of the dying ship, this track exquisitely shows the quiet sadness and tragedy as this great ship sunk. 

8. The March

Gritty and throbbing with a deep orchestra, this song shows the determination of these men to survive on the ice at all costs. 

9. Elephant Island

Mystical with flutes, this song captures the seafaring apprehension after the men's last encounter, and the weathered joy they felt at seeing the small island. 

10. 800 Miles

Pensive with sounds of deep guitar and crashing waves, this track explores the monotony and depression Shackleton and his men felt on the island.

11. South Georgia

Heartbreakingly triumphant, this song swells and breaks down with relief and glory at the rescue of these brave men. 

~

While this score might not be to the hights of Omaha Beach or the RMS Titanic, this score is still pretty amazing.

10/10, as always, because even if I don't love it, you might. 

~The WordShaker

Journaling as a Writer - and, More Importantly, as a Human Being

"Getting lost in something larger than myself always reminds me of the reasons why I write," -Anne Valente

I haven't been writing much, and as a writer at heart and by blood, this is like an mammal saying they haven't been breathing much. 

Usually, my writing - even though it's a fictional story - lets me release my thoughts, feelings, and emotions through characters and situations that are completely unrelated to my life. But since I've been ashamedly suffering from writer's block since like, August, journaling has become my forceful, if reluctant, outlet. 

In an attempt to relieve my creative and literary constipation, I've been journaling my days and my feelings away. 

And I've found that it's helped. 

It's helped me see how tainted my thoughts and emotions can be. With this, I always have the written perspective of time and my thoughts. 

Things I was freaking out about a week ago have become irrelevant or completely turned on their head. It helps me understand myself better, to pin down my thoughts somewhere tangible, where I can then wrestle with them and figure them out. 

And I can better understand myself, so I can better understand my writing - or lack thereof. 

Trust me, it helps in those in between chapter times or those emotional moments. 

Try it. It's like a drug. 

~The WordShaker 

International Men's Day: An Apology

"A writer never finds time to write. A writer makes it," -Nora Roberts

November nineteenth is International Men's Day, as well as No Shave November to raise awareness for prostate cancer. And truthfully, I have no room to talk, but I hope that

On behalf of everyone, I would like to apologize to all the men of the world for a few things.

I'm sorry that we find women hitting men as funny, but when a man hits a woman, it is a capital offence.

I'm sorry for all the women who have wrongly accused you of rape.

I'm sorry that the media portrays fathers as antagonists.

I'm sorry that society doesn't take you seriously when you come forward with domestic abuse situations.

I'm sorry for the unrealistic expectations that we force on you.  You don't have to look like Channing Tatum for us to like you. <3

I'm sorry that you don't have parental rights until the baby is born.

I'm sorry that you are constantly objectified in the media, but no one bats an eye.

I'm sorry that we won't let you be emotional because of unrealistic gender expectations.

I'm sorry that you can buy actual mugs that say 'male tears'.

I'm sorry that you have the highest rates of suicide, cancer deaths, and workplace deaths.

I'm sorry because no one should be labeled a rapist because of their gender.

Women have problems.  Men have problems.  People have problems.  Let's stop ignoring the facts of life that men have it bad too, that they are privileged and run the patriarchy. Let's take the focus off of gender and even deepening the animosity and widening the divide and place it on the problems that we both face.

I apologize in advance.  Men, please step in and speak up, for this isn't really my place.  I just think something needed to be said, because no one listens when men present their gender issues.

Just saying.

~The WordShaker

This Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp BOOK REVIEW: Olivia J, The WordShaker

"No one else will write it for you," -Unknown

Like with many books, it's a mixed bag. But that doesn't mean it's not worth it.

I read This is Where it Ends by Marieke Nijkamp for mostly research purposes. If you're not aware, I've got a school shooting story boiling on the backburner, and I wanted to read this so I could get an understanding of what other school shooting fiction is like.

~

Bad first, then the good.

1. Tyler (and Autumn) Browne 

The bad or negative things I have to say about this book are more nitpicky than anything else. Tyler, the shooter, I felt, was one of the problems. He grew into more of his character as the story progressed. However, his character and who he actually was was unclear in the slightly slow beginning. I wanted to see the kinder, more damaged side of Ty. Fortunately, he becomes more sympathetic through the eyes of Autumn.

A lot of my problems with this book focus on Tyler Browne and on his sister, Autumn, who serves as a narrator in the book. A problem I found with them is that while Tyler is a cold-blooded killer, Autumn is this shy, sweet butterfly. However, their father abuses them, and their mother died tragically, and they are ostracized from the rest of Opportunity, Alabama. However, Tyler kills 39 people, and Autumn is quietly discontent with her dancing and girlfriend. One could argue that this is because they are inherently different: Autumn is inherently good and Tyler is inherently bad. However, we are shown that Tyler has the capacity to be good and, many times, the author shows us that Tyler was good, he was just beaten down by the world.

Then, the latter supports the statement: then why isn't Autumn just as screwed up? She possesses almost no negative character traits that would be indicative of her awful backstory. Autumn is passionate and brave and kind almost to a fault, and while this makes her an admirable protagonist, it does not at all fit with the trauma she's been through.

While I will praise this book for being a disturbingly real and gripping psychological thriller, it seemed so out of place for Ty to be monologuing like a supervillian in the Batman cartoons. I get his anger and his hardness towards what's going on, but I feel like he should have been more emotional and brooding. At times, he seemed idealistic, and this kind of took me out of the story since the rest of it was so viscerally real.

2. Passive Characters

On to Autumn. And partially Sylvia. While I didn't hate their characters, I felt that they weren't active enough. Claire as well. While all of this hell is happening, they personally don't do much. At times, I just wanted Sylvia to break out and run to her brother and protect him. At times I wanted Autumn to stand up to her brother, and it's beautiful when she does. I desired for Claire to rush in and be with Matt. But many times the characters, while good and developed, were stagnant. While I understand why, this doesn't deny the simple fact that we WANT to see our beloved characters fight back against the villain.  Tomas comes the closest to being the most active character in the story next to Tyler, next to Claire, and next to Autumn, and then last would be Sylvia.

3. Tension/Pacing Changes

After Tomas opened the doors, and people started getting out, I just felt the tension drop like a brick, and the focus was turned off of Tyler, whose level of terrifying kind of just went down after that. The pacing after the auditorium doors opened, which was near the middle, just slowed way down. Whereas in the middle, the tension was consistent.

~

However, like many things, there's both sides to the cons of this book.

1. Thoughtful Storytelling and a Smart Author

You could tell that the author was writing smart. Now, this might be a new concept to some, but usually a reader can tell when the author is a plotter or a pantser, or if they had any idea where the story was going when they started. An example of a writer who wasn't very smart was Rick Yancey. You could tell that he didn't know where the story was going in Book 1, The Fifth Wave, and the voice and themes developed as the series went along. However, THIS IS WHERE IT ENDS had smart writing and storytelling. This gives a comforting feeling to the reader, because the author was definitely in control when the story and characters themselves were not.

2. Characters

Nijkamp does an amazing job of developing characters in a short amount of time, and even with characters we get barely any page-time with, for example, Matt and Jonah and Jennifer.

Some standout characters were Matt and Claire. I found Claire to be passionate and active, in contrast with Autumn and Sylvia. Tomas was probably one of my favorite characters; he had a great and lovable personality, and his conversation right before his death is beautiful and stunning and truly shows his character.   I loved Autumn's bravery and kindess; like I said before, it was all very admirable, but I still had my problems with her. I must admit that I was crushed when she got shot in the knee.

3. Great Usage of Flashbacks

The backstories and flashbacks - which is a favorite storytelling element of mine - were perfectly placed to not break up the flow and tension and to develop characters. The flashbacks just enriched the story so much more because the entirety of the story takes place over fifty five minutes. The flashbacks were amazing and intense and dark and twisty and added so much to the story.

4. The Intense Realness

What I must give to this book is how viscerally real it felt. I could totally imagine this nearly exact same thing happening at my high school. The reactions and the passage of time and all of the characters were all so relatable and real.  Sometimes it was so intense I had to put the book down, and I even had physical reactions to this book, like the boiling in my gut. It was terrifying and heartbreaking all at the same time.

I loved seeing Ty develop. As we were given more and more insight into his character, you just kind of loved to be afraid of him and hated to feel bad for him. This was masterfully done and wasn't as strong at the beginning but accumulated in the end to a stunning suicide. Amazing messages about school and social interactions and even mental health were weaved in and out through Ty's story.

~

Overall, this book wasn't flawless or outstanding or anything, but it had it's good notes and I'm glad I read it for research and context purposes. It was terrifying and real without being too gory.

7/10 would recommend

~The WordShaker

Mount Rushmore | Adam Young Score Review

"Good writing works from a simple premise: your experience is not yours alone, but in some sense a metaphor for everyone's," - Dorianne Laux

Since this month's score is short and sweet, I'll keep my review in the same fashion. 

This month's score contains the construction of Mount Rushmore in the form of a firecracker - impactful and beautiful. 

Listen to this month's score here.

artwork by james r. eads

1. Gutzon Borglum

Epic and orchestral to a T, this track portrays the creative and enduring mastermind behind this task with gusto. 

2. The Black Hills

Laced with danger, this track builds spectacularly with a blend of orchestral and electronic sounds, including a whistle, coming to a conclusion in awe of the mountains. 

3. Construction

Layered with beautiful strings, this piece builds up the grandeur and spectacle of hard work with unique percussion, simulating construction sounds. 

4. Four Faces

Solemn and magical, this piece brings in the tender piano and synths for a sweeping track of our great leaders taking shape. 

5. Dynamite

Rolling with timpani drums and a vast orchestra, this track portrays the fast paced anxiety and the massive rock tumbling down. 

6. Half a Million Tons of Granite

Ethereal with a deep piano line, this track builds the mystery and impending awe of the project.  

7. Shrine of Democracy

Soaring and accelerating with beautiful grace, this track perfectly shows the majesty of this iconic mountain with sweeping orchestral rifts. 

~

Here's how it compares with the Adam Young Scores Discography:

1. Omaha Beach, June - 20/10
2. RMS Titanic, March - 15/10
3. Apollo 11, February - 11/10
4. Corduroy Road, September - 10/10
5. Miracle in the Andes, July - 9.5/10
6. The Spirit of St. Louis, April - 9/10
7. Mount Rushmore, November - 8.5/10
8. Voyager 1, October - 8/10
9. The Ascent of Everest, May - 7/10
10. Project Excelsior, August - 6.5/10

While this score isn't mind-blowingly ground breaking, it still is another solid addition to Adam Young's ever enjoyable stream of writing fodder music. 

~The WordShaker