Broadway Favorites: Aida "Easy As Life"

Broadway Musical: Aida
Song: "Easy As Life"
Singer: Heather Headley



Now out of every Broadway show I have seen, AIDA is definitely my favorite. There is such a beautiful love story told in a time of war and turmoil. I have seen the show probably six times or so and still cry every time. The first time I went to see it Heather Headley returned to play the lead, as she was the original AIDA. After seeing her I was done, she was made to play that role. Since then I have seen both Deborah Cox and Michelle Williams in the part and neither quite measure up to Heather. Anyone who knows me, knows I love me a Deborah Cox but her voice was not powerful enough for the role.

The song from AIDA that has a great deal of meaning to me would be "Easy As Life" performed by Heather Headley herself. There is a point where Aida has to make a choice between the man she has fallen in love with or the people she has a responsibility to. She decides to forfeit love in order to save her people and to do that she has to convince herself that the love wasn't meant to be and that she is better off without him. The lyrics are absolutely amazing..I hope you enjoy!

"Aida, Amneris, and Radames are entangled in conflicted loyalties and emotions ("A Step Too Far"), that Aida might be a traitor to her people as she loves Radames, that his love for her could end his life as he knows it, and that he does not show the attention that Amneris deserves. Aida and Mereb bribe their way into Amonasro's prison cell, where she is reunited with her father. Mereb hatches a plan to escape with the king during the commotion of Amneris' wedding. To save her father and her nation, Aida must betray the man she loves ("Easy as Life")."

Broadway Favorites: Les Miserables "On My Own"

Broadway Musical: Les Miserables
Song: "On My Own"
Singer: Lea Salonga


This is by far one of my most favorite broadway numbers. I have to admit I have not seen the actual show myself, but have watched the live performance of it on DVD before. I absolutely love Lea Salonga a great deal. She has an amazing voice and did a fucking amazing job in Miss Saigon (whole other entry on that show to come) and the Disney movies. However, I personally think that Frances Ruffelle did this song the best. She was the original girl to play Eponine on Broadway in the 70's. I hope you enjoy this nearly as much as I do.

On My Own

On My Own is a solo for the part of Éponine. The chorus of the song is the same tune as that of "Come to Me", although it adds a bridge and the tune of the verses are different. Beginning in the key of D, modulating to Bb(even though the song does not actually change key), then ending in F, this is her most important song.

Other uses

"On My Own" has appeared in many famous events outside of Les Misérables, for example:

* Michelle Kwan skated to it during the 1997 Skate America competition as well as the 1998 Tokyo Golden Gala.

* The character of Joey Potter in Dawson's Creek, played by Katie Holmes, sings this song at a talent show phase of a beauty pageant in Episode #1-11 "Pretty Woman," also known as "Beauty Contest."

* The character of Rachel Berry in Glee, played by Lea Michele (who played Éponine at the Hollywood Bowl production of Les Mis), sang this song as an audition to join the Glee Club in the pilot episode.[9] Michele's version has been released as a digital download single.

Childhood Obsession

SAILOR MOON

Sailor Moon has been my favorite cartoon since the first time I saw it come on the Cartoon Network. It was part of an afternoon lineup called TOONAMI when I was in middle school. It would come on at 3:30pm and I wouldn't get out of school until 3:15pm so I had to pass on riding the bus home and run the two miles to my house in order to catch it. I remember that thirty minutes each weekday being the happiest I remember being as a child.

Now Cartoon Network only played the first two seasons on their station so I knew nothing of the other three seasons and three full length feature films that were out there. When I started making good money escorting and having a disposable income, the first order of business was to locate and buy every Sailor Moon media I could find. That began a two week search across the internet and most of southern California for what I needed. It took a lot of hard work and dedication but I was finally in possession of everything I wanted.

Sailor Mercury had always been my favorite of all the scouts. She was always the smart one in the group and her powers were water based, which as a Pisces I loved. When I started watching the rest of the series and learned of all the other scouts that were introduced later, I quickly fell in love with Sailor Pluto instead. She was the eldest of the group and by far the most powerful. Very mature and only came around in times of desperate need. I admired how hard she worked to keep the others together and make sure that things didn't get too out of control.