Broadway is no longer just waltzy jazz or big band, in fact some of the more popular shows of recent years have been rock inspired. Shows such as Spring Awakening, Next to Normal and the Green Day scored 'American Idiot' have been attracting a more youthful audience, but the stories that are the core of these shows are still strong.
But this article is not about those shows, they might come latter if time permits. This article is dedicated to a little show that I just happened to stumble upon, and although the videos of it out there do it very little justice, the soundtrack instantly caught my attention and has just as quickly made it into my usual play list, a show called- 'Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson'.
It uses the style of emo rock music to satirise not only Andrew Jackson the 7th President of the United States of America, but also modern American society and ideology, with catchy (if not the best written lyrics) and bouncy music with good hooks.
First some context;
For quite a few Australians we only learn about the more modern Presidents- not through school (wait History covers some 'Modern', 40-60 years is still modern right- we still listen to 'Over there' right?) Washington, Nixon, Forde, FDR, Lincon, Bush 1 and 2, Obama, Clinton, Reagan, and then Stephen Sondheim's Assassins taught me about McKinley and Garfield but no Jackson.
Jackson was the 7th President of the United States and is something of a divisional figure, whose followers are credited to the modern Democratic Party- so Obama, in a way.
Jackson was a politician and an Army General who defeated both the British and the Native American Indians- pushing the later further west thus solidifing the hold of the United States. He also destroyed the national bank- a left over from British rule. The musical plays upon this as a passionate man seeking to improve the lives of the people, and not those rich new England f39-s. The themes of populism, the Indian removal and his relationship with his wife Rachael (why because you can't go wrong with a love story- even if it is a sub-plot).
Jackson was an orphan at the age of 14, and through his capture by the British he developed an intense hatred of the British. Jackson is said to have had an aggressive personality, allowing him to take on the British, the Indians, the Bank, the world and last of all his wife and beloved people. It could be said that his link to populism was a way of using the power of the people against the power of hierarchy or the crown of the British, and the musical takes the rapid anger of the common man and filters it through the medium of Jackson- a angst that does have clear links to modern teenage angst and the emo culture.
For example here is a sample of lyrics from the song - 'I'm so that guy'.
Sometimes you have to take the initiative
Sometimes your whole family dies of cholera
Sometimes you have to make your own story
Sometimes you have to shoot the story-teller in the neck
Sometimes you have to take back the country
Sometimes you have to kill everyone,
everyone, everyone, everyone, everyone, everyone
----
Life sucks,
and your Life is going to suck universally,
-------
I will make them all bleed.
Now seriously who cannot see the kid with the fringe bouncing along to that in his weirdly energetic melancholic mood. I find that it is a good pathway to relieve stress to sing along and put all your anger through the lyrics.
Jackson's anger against the bank is also a timely topic considering the GFC and the subsequent bail outs, if only modern leaders were as tough on banks as Jackson then things might be different. For instance Jackson thought the following of banks
It concentrated the nation's financial strength in a single institution.
It exposed the government to control by foreign interests.
It served mainly to make the rich richer.
It exercised too much control over members of Congress.
It favored northeastern states over southern and western states.
Banks are controlled by a few select families.
Banks have a long history of instigating wars between nations, forcing them to borrow funding to pay for them.
After some struggle Jackson was able to destroy the Second Bank of the United States.
One of the most unique (lullaby like) and controversial songs for the show is called 'Ten Little Indians' and describes how Jackson and his self made militia engaged in the removal of Indians from what he deemed 'US' territory, through both force and negotitation.
It also explores through the previously mentioned love story how someone who loves their country and its people so much can also love one person above all. The public life of presidency and the effect this has on those they love. But he is 'so that guy', and if those rich new Englanders are not going to drive out the rest of the whole world then it is up to him to take a Stand with populism, the power to the people not the elite.
The musical explores some difficult areas, such as the problems with populism. How often have we all heard from work colleagues or the media that if they were in power they would do so much, and that they know what the people want. Well governing people is difficult, as Jackson found out both in life and in the musical. Jackson early on was popular because he engaged with the public to gain their opinion on matters of state-to the ire of congress and the senate. However it can only work so long, because as one solution is made, more and more complex problems arise and then you start bringing out the ire in the people who resent having to be involved in complex and tough decisions. Which leads into a good little solo song where Jackson takes stock of all the things he has lost- his wife, his family and now the Amercian people's loves, and he decides that he has to once again take a stand and make the tough decisions with or without the blessing of the people.
Some lyrics from this great song are;
When it stops being fun
and your patience is done
and you see being president is hard
when this country before you
that cannot be governed
you find yourself powerless bloody and scared
And what is it for
the love of the people
who is it for
this nation we made
the guy who did everything his way
where has he gone
--------------------
So we'll ruin the bank
and we'll cripple the courts
and we'll take on the world
for America's sake
and we'll take all the land
and we'll take back the country
we'll take,and we'll take
and we'll take, and we'll take
And this country I'm making
cannot be divided
the will of the people
won't stand in my way
How can I tell you
how deeply I'll make them all bleed
The story comes through clearly and the themes are clearly spread throwout the show with enough hooks and catchy beats to keep the songs in ones head for long after. At times it does seem a little random, for instance the 'he said, they said' structure beat of 'The Corrupt Bargain'- do do do do do (Listen and you will get the reference).
The musical ends with the parallel views of Andrew Jackson as both one of the great American Presidents, and as an American Hitler. It is this complexity which gives this satire some necessary dramatic grounding so that the audience is carried along with the characters and not just waiting for the next reference.
It is a shame that the musical which received early critical praise and Tony buzz closed on Broadway after only 120 performances.
After looking for it on youtube I would implore readers to listen to the soundtrack before watching the movies- because it is a lot more effective with the music blaring, and it appears that it at times took on a concert like structure on the stage- on of the odd staging that some critics have suggested for the early closure.
So in conclusion the soundtrack although short -13 songs (but they fly by) that both satirise America succinctly but it works just a well as a rock album that has a little bit of a theme thrown in- like a concept album. The songs I like the best are the tongue in cheek opening number- 'Populism, Yeah Yeah', the hauntingly simple but complex 'Ten little Indians', the silly 'Corrupt Bargain', the rapid build up of 'Rock Star' and the aggrieved number of the 'Saddest Song'.
I would encourage people to check it out and send me your feedback. We probably won't get a big tour of it down here, but you can at least enjoy this little under appreciated Broadway treasure.
Coming soon, a review of Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark, composed by Bono and The Edge of U2 Fame.
Find below some links to Further information on Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson;
Here you should be able to listen to the cast album on the show's official website.
A preview from the demigod of the internet youtube.
