The Lovely Couple - Michael

Is it working? Is it happening? Can it be?

Last week, Ben and I found our leading couple for LBM. Yes, the leading man and leading girl have both been found, and this Tuesday, June 8, we'll FINALLY be recording the musical's main duet. This is one of the songs to be included on the demo, and one of the staples of the musical in general, as it incorporates musical themes from the film, and it establishes themes that are incorporated throughout the album.

Moreover, these two singers bring vibrancy to the roles. And I've never used the word vibrancy before EVER.

For one, the characters are 18 and 17, respectively. We had originally auditioned singers who were older, between 25-40, thinking that their professionalism and experience would win out, that if Anthony Rapp could pull off sounding 20ish, it'd work. This wasn't the case. With the exception of a few instances, their voices were not believable as teenagers. Plus, there was an excitement missing.

The singers we've hired, Jones (guy) and Denny (girl) are 16. They both come from a magnet school for the arts and it shows. Professional, talented, and self-aware (not self-conscious). They are distinctly realized when it comes to feeling a song, and knowing their place in it.

Either that or they fake it really effing well.

Jones has got a classic sound, a bit like Roger of Rent when he wants to be, but more well-rounded. What's great about this kid is he's a music dork, and that makes him awesome. Ben played a diminished fourth chord on the guitar the other day and Jones got goosebumps. Seriously. Tubular. (Did he just write tubular?)  

Denny's voice has a signature quality that is crucial for her role: dynamics. Denny can give you a pop rock boldness, but adjust the tone controls (located on her left shin) and she backs off her voice to a sweet, willowy sound. She adds personality to the song instead of just hitting the notes. And she reads good books; it matters.

Each of these singers has a unique voice that doesn't sound like we slammed Kristen Chenowith's or Michael Crawford's vocal chords into a copy machine and cloned their love children. (Wait, I'm confused. The vocal chords have kids?) And that's a good thing. We don't want this to sound like everything you've ever heard. Sure, the formula is similar, but the ingredients are different, and I think that'll make the difference.

Behind on schedule, ahead on anticipation. Let's go.