Wicked Performance

Literally and figuratively.

This medley of songs from "Wizard of Oz" and "Wicked" brought back so many feels.

"Home," originally sung by Diana Ross is one of my faves and most replayed songs.  "Unlimited" is one of the anchor songs of the musical, and was beautifully done here.

If they also sang "For Good," this would have been out-of-this-world!

Wicked Ways

I'm super stoked and psyched for the live action version of "Wicked."

This is one of my fave musicals. Mark and I even watched the musical in 2014. Whoa! It's been 10 years!

We'll make it a point to watch the film version as well.

FMM: Gun for it!

Today's Friday Magic Madness was inspired by the fact that I saw Claire Danes on a movie that was being showed on television.

But I'll save that post for later. 

For now, let me share this very fun and well-written ditty from the 1950s film, "Annie Get Your Gun."

"Anything you can do, I can do better" is one of the iconic songs from the film, which was based on a musical. The melody, lyrics and the performance of Betty Hutton and Howard Keel were just a joy to watch.

I better watch this again. And again. And again.

FMM: Suddenly Summer

And just like that, it's summer once again.

Usually, we'd be planning for our company outing around this time. Or, we'd be planning the creative outing. Or, we'd be planning an outing with D' Frendz or Melrose.

Better yet, Mark and I would probably be in Tokyo, or traveling somewhere.

But like last year, summer will mostly be spent indoors, staying safe. Despite the change in the way we do it, there are still a lot of reasons to love summer.

Which inspired today's Friday Magic Madness song from the musical "Grease" from the 70s.

We might be stuck at home, but that shouldn't stop us from enjoying summer nights. And days, too.

FMM: Blessed Spell

I'm still on a grade school and high school choir mood, so today's Friday Magic Madness song is another throwback to when I was still a kid, performing in the school choir of my 2 schools - Claret and Lourdes School.

It was in the choir that I first heard of the song "Bless the Lord" from the musical "Godspell." Since the song was unfamiliar to me, it was a challenge to learn - considering we only had days in between the learning of the song and the performing of it.

But after listening to our choir master sing it several times, and after reading the lyrics thoroughly and taking to heart the beautiful message it was conveying, I immediately got the hang of the song and enjoyed singing it to Him.

In the play, this song came with the line: "Tomorrow will take care of itself." It's a very hopeful message that's steeped in faith, and it's a message that we really need to take to heart these days.

FMM: Way back when...

This week, D' Frendz and I were chatting and Mona mentioned the line: "Noong unang panahon."

Of course, like the usual D' Frendz conversations, this suddenly went a totally different direction, and we were suddenly talking about that old song from "Tales of the Manuvu." Particularly this song:



"Noong Unang Panahon" is a memorable song for me. We performed this in our High School Glee Club, and we "toured" around different campuses and venues performing this song. Our teacher, Mr. Ortega, prepared a full number of songs from that musical, and our number was introduced as: "Overture from 'The Tales of the Manuvu.'"

It started as a song, transitioned into a dance, then culminated in a battle. And it was a hit everywhere we went.

Gosh, that was so long ago. Now, looking back at it, this really felt like it was "Noong Unang Panahon."

FMM: There's always Tomorrow

Times like these, we need optimism and hope more than ever.

One of my favorite songs from a musical is this 1977 hit from the musical - then 1982 movie -"Annie."



While things might be confusing, distressing, and for some - dire, there's always a new day to look forward to. A new day to hope for the best. A new day when things will be better for everyone, and a new day where we learn to love our lives more, and appreciate what we have.

Tomorrow. That's always something to look forward to.

FMM: The Divine Miss Devine

Friday Fun Fact!

Better yet, Friday Magic Madness Fun Fact!

One of my favorite actresses, Loretta Devine, isn't just an awesome actress. If you've seen her in Boston Public and Grey's Anatomy, you'll know what I mean.

She's not just a good comedienne. If you've seen her in Madea, you'll know what I mean.

She's also a good singer! And now you should see this, so you'll know what I mean.



Loretta Devine was on Dreamgirls! How awesome is that!

And yes, her performance is simply divine.

FMM: Togetherness

And just like that, it's confirmed!

Our Christmas will be spent together in GA!

This calls for a song from "Grease."



Yes, we'll all go together this Christmas and New Year. And I couldn't be happier.

FMM: Sensational!

I'm on a musical roll, so I decided on an old broadway musical song for Friday Magic Madness.



"One," from "A Chorus Line" is one of my favorite musical songs. The main reason being that it's the first broadway song that I sang when I was part of the LSQC high school choir.

Watching this brings back so many good sensations.

Onions, onions everywhere!

"For Good," is hands down my favorite song from the musical "Wicked." The lyrics are so heartfelt, and the original rendition of Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel really pulls the heartstrings hard!

Full disclosure, "For Good" is one of my ugly cry songs. Sometimes, I'd watch the original rendition of the song on youtube, and in rare instances, I'd end up with my face all crumpled and tears running down relentlessly.

So imagine my feeling when I saw this video from "A Very Wicked Halloween."

Not only does it feature the original Elphaba and Glinda, they've assembled different actresses who played the role in different times on different stages.

Gosh! At 2:44, when Idina and Kristin sing their solos and the rest of the cast sung chorus - bawl-o-rama!

It's like someone chopped open a gazillion onions in my vicinity. 

No, really. I'm not crying. It's just there are onions being chopped.

FMM: Where is it?

Today, I looked for 3 different people, and was given the same answer all 3 times.

"Somewhere."

That inspired me to look for the song of the same title. It's Friday anyway, and Friday Magic Madness is all about old songs. And this one goes all the way back to 1961, and it's from the musical "West Side Story."

Although the Barbra Streisand version from 1985 is more popular, I like the original one more. It has more grit and emotion, which is what the song just needed.

So, excuse me. I'll be somewhere listening to this song.

FMM: Ross' Wizardry

The old song "Home" has been sung by so many artists in so many ways.

But in my personal opinion, Diana Ross still sung it best.



Her rendition for "The Wiz" is so raw and heartfelt that your eyes can't help but moisten while listening to it.

Such is her wizardry.

FMM: Summer Loving

Apparently, there's a Donna Summer musical playing in NY these days.

This is super apt since her music really defined a generation. And it's music that I've written about several times already. Including today since it's Friday Magic Madness day.



"Bad Girls" is one of those songs that make you want to grow and afro and ride the Soul Train. And after listening to this song several times today, it's what I actually want to do.

FMM: Island life

The last time I was in Boracay, it was 2013 with Mark, Patrick and Madel. It was in September, and it was such a fun and relaxed trip to the island.

Now, 3 years after, I'm heading back to Boracay to attend the wedding of a dear, dear friend.

This inspired today's Friday Magic Madness song, an island tune from one of my favorite musicals, "Once on this Island."



Among the many wonderful songs from this musical,  "Mama will Provide" is still my best bet.

Now, it's off to the island!

A song to work by

With a 4-day shoot, a major presentation, and 2 pitches to work on, this can pretty much be the department's theme song for the next few weeks.



As I'd always tell Mark, I'd rather by busy working than not work at all.

Goodness!

No matter how many times I hear it, I'll never, ever, ever, ever tire of listening to the song "For Good" from the musical "Wicked."

Much more so if it's the original Glinda and Elphaba singing it.



True to its lyrics, this song has really changed me for good.

FMM: I need a Herod

When we were in High School, our Christian Living teacher asked us to watch "Jesus Christ Superstar" as part of a class activity. And, since then, I've enjoyed watching this again and again and again.

The one we watched was the 1973 version, and my favorite part of the film was the song "King Herod." In fact, I wrote about it on my blog three years ago.

What I didn't know is that there was a 2000 film version. I only found out today when I was once again searching for the musical on youtube. And it turns out, the newer version of "King Herod" is as nice. This one has more sass and pizzazz, but the emotion is still the same.



I must find a full version of this 2000s version.

FMM: Greasy

Talk about Flashback Fridays!

The bus I rode to work today was showing "Grease." And that inspired my song choice for today's Friday Magic Madness.



Happy weekend!

Something Wicked this way comes

It's the first weekend run of Wicked, and we're watching it later tonight! Woot!

So, excuse me while we defy gravity.