I hear people all the time criticizing musicals by saying “why can’t they just say what they mean instead of singing and dancing about it?” and for years the only answer I’ve had was a smile and a shrug, but I finally just figured it out.
It’s because the words by themselves aren’t enough.
Outside the song, there would be almost no moving passion in Javert’s words “This I swear by the stars.” How would He Had It Comin’ be anywhere near as dangerous and vengeful without the lighting and the dance routine? The reprise of Wouldn’t It Be Luvverly is essential to underlining just how much Henry Higgins has changed and damaged Eliza Doolittle. The Mary Poppins chimney sweeps would just be weird guys off the roof if they didn’t have their whole zany song and choreography to make them a funny and interesting group. And there aren’t any words in any language to describe the complete change in Leslie Odom Jr.’s voice as the music cuts off and he solos “I…wanna be in the room where it happens, the room where it happens.”
The reason we have musicals–and the reason we have music in general–is because words aren’t enough.
“Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.”
Those old “Oh Chuck Norris is so strong he could beat up anyone.” memes from like 2007 are so fucking dumb. Like, I could name off at least 20 or so people that could kick his ass, for example;
Gandalf the Gray
Gandalf the White
Monty Python and the Holy Grail’s Black Night
Benito Mussolini
Blue Meanie
Cowboy Curtis
Jambi the Genie
Robocop
The Terminator
Captain Kirk
Darth Vader
Lo-Pan
Superman
Every single Power Ranger
Bill S Preston
Theodore Logan
Spock
The Rock
Doc Oc
Hulk Hogan
I can’t think of anymore but please feel free to add on
A quick glance through the notes tells you who wasn’t there in 2007 just because they’re continuing the list
This is Mr Rogers erasure
They could totally kick Chuck Norris in his cowboy ass.
He deserves it for delivering a kick that could shatter blows into the crotch of Indiana jones
