Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark was on The Late Show with David Letterman this past Tuesday night to perform “Rise Above.” Since I haven’t seen the show yet or heard any of the songs, I recorded it so I could check it out. Immeidatley afterwards I was left wondering if that was the best song in the show.
You’d think it would be since this was a moment on national television for the cast (leads Reeve Carney, Jennifer Damiano and T.V. Carpio performed the song) to put their best foot forward and show some good stuff that’s happening at the Foxwoods Theatre. Now, less than 12 hours later, I don’t even remember what the song sounds like.
Here’s the clip so you can see what this song does for you.
This pales to many other first time song experiences I’ve had from Broadway shows looking to strut their stuff on TV.
One of the first times Rent showed up on TV, at the 1996 Tonys, it was like an electric shock to the system hearing and seeing this amazing show’s score performed live.
Going further back, there’s The Phantom of the Opera at the 1986 Tonys. I’d heard the score already, but talk about goosebumps seeing the song and spectacle come together for the first time.
Today, of course, the Internet is often the place I see/hear new works. The first song I witnessed from [title of show] was “A Way Back to Then.” To me, this is a masterpiece of a song and every time I hear it all kinds of emotions are stirred up.
Next to Normal is another show that I had my first experience with on the Net. This video for “Superboy and the Invisible Girl,” even though it’s not a performance from the show itself, sold me on the fact that I had to see this show. (That’s Jennifer Damiano singing the lead on this song.)
It’s too bad the multi-million dollar Spider-Man, with its talented song writers from U2, couldn’t create something that produced some sort of visceral reaction for me. Instead of making me want to see the show more, I’m now wondering if I’m in for 2 1/2 hours of rather mundane music. As of today, we’re 30 days away from seeing the show so I guess we’ll find out soon enough.