I previously expressed a penchant to to explore new ways of expressing stuff. This is mostly driven out of both a short-attention span and also being very anxious when I follow rules too closely. I am the person who just has to be different. I admit that this can sometimes be annoying, but I can also sometimes stumble across some cool things.
My hope is that by posting a song from the “soon to be released” cancer-themed rock opera that I might figure out some interesting areas to explore with my brand of “creative advocacy”.
Anyway, this song is called “Oh Brantaire!” and it’s essentially a critique of how media portrays cancer versus the reality. Well, it’s more than that, but that’s the bulk of it. It’s also one of my favorite songs in the whole ridiculously long thing. It may be closest to my own musical tastes of all the songs as I intentionally tried writing in a wide range of genres to maximize accessibility.
It’s “sung” by me and a woman from the UK named Liz Salt-Short who has had quite the cancer jOuRneY from her teen years until today. She plays the role of a new reporter that is a bit of a “bad guy that’s not so bad” at various points throughout the story. But she is sooo good at being unlikable lol. I think this song really sets the stage early that this show is going to be a little different in tone.
For those just catching up now, the rock opera is the story of a teen pop star named Brantaire that is diagnosed with brain cancer and follows the journey across six years and is mostly a way to explain many of the issues someone living with cancer faces. It uses entertainment to “trick” people into learning about cancer. Infotainment, if you will.
It’s told in the form of a tv music documentary which explains all the voices and I just thought made it easier to explain what’s going than trying to decipher lyrics alone. Also, my voice isn’t that great and most of the 40+ participants aren’t used to making music, so the “talk-sing” approach makes things easier for everyone. That stated, there are some utterly amazing musical and vocal performances along the way.
I love how disorienting the song gets by the end and the fact that there’s an exclamation point in the tile. Those two things may seem unrelated to you, but not to me. Again, I don’t like doing things the normal way.
I feel like this song would be so much fun to play live should this thing ever get staged. It just feels like a group of seasoned musicians could really embrace the weird tempo shifting and simple-yet-angular instrumentation and just get into it. Plus so much room for creative staging of the characters on stage.
If I’m understanding correctly, there should be an option above to get a transcript, but I’d prefer it’d be automatic (and correct- so many words left out) so I’m going to put the proper transcript here:
News Anchor: We're starting this hour with an exclusive interview with teen music sensation. Brantaire DeMarco. He's hot off the charts and into the cancer ward with a devastating diagnosis. He sat down with our own Bronwyn Taylor-Jones to discuss his impending death.
Reporter: Oh Brantaire! Would you care to share?
Oh oh Brantaire! Please tell us… if you dare.
What’s it like to be alive and soon be dead? Do you aspire to inspire? Or just to make us cry?
Brilliant.
Give us some time when the viewers will think that they care.
Right then. Let's launch crocodile missiles spreading fake tears around the globe.
Brantaire: Oh! Oh no! What the hell have I gotten myself into this time?
What is this lady up to?
Reporter: Oh! Brantaire!
Won’t you tell us? Will you try?
Oh! Oh Brantaire!
Give us a smile and tell us how long it’ll be until you die?
In’t a shame but what’s to blame for the tumor in your head?
Give it to us straight… which team or skin cream should we support when you're dead?
Oh, is it daft to ask where is your hair?
And oh, do tell us, tell us who’ll be there at your funeral. Which celebs will make us nod our chins and pretend to care?
Brantaire: Oh no! Oh no! Oh no! Oh no!
Why don’t you tell the world the real truth?
Cancer is more than life or death and we all lose.
Will that get you enough views?
Or won’t that sell any shoes?
Reporter: Bugger.
Don’t. Brantaire. Don’t you lie. You look quite alive.
Brantaire: I think it’s time for you to leave.
Reporter: Oh Braintaire! Don’t be so dodgy. Brantaire. But we’ll play along if you get us some eyes. Oh no Brantaire. Oh no Brantaire. We can build you up or we can tear you down, Brantaire. Don’t be a twat, Brantaire. Oh Brantaire! You can die a legend or die a clown.
Do I feel badly about the interview? Look, I learned a long time ago to leave emotion and kindness out of my reporting. If it bleeds, it leads. And Brantaire was as bloody as Carrie at the spring ball in that moment. So piss off if you don't like the questions I ask.
So that’s the end of my first experiment. I learned a few things and hopefully so did you.
Want to contribute to a song? There’s still a couple songs (of 32) left! Just respond in the comments or message me.
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