Monday Morning Smile: SpongeBob SquarePants, The Musical

SpongeBob SquarePants Musical cast album

There are optimists, and then there is the Eternal Optimist, SpongeBob SquarePants.  Indefatigable in nature, filled with energy, if there's anyone who doesn't need "Monday Morning Smiles" because they're already smiling each and every Monday, it's SpongeBob.  The Nick cartoon, which has been airing for more than 18 years, has been turned into a feature-length movie, and now it's been turned into a feature-length musical.

The musical opens on Broadway later this year, but the original cast album is released this Friday. Unlike a lot of musicals, the producers went to a variety of artists to write songs for the musical (with a single person, Kyle Jarrow, writing the "book").  NPR premiered the album late last week, and Linda Holmes wrote the review so I don't have to.  Of note is "I'm Not a Loser" by They Might Be Giants (no strangers to kids music).   But the highlight for me is absolutely killer "I Wish"-type song from Jonathan Coulton -- the song that introduces characters and their wishes which will be filled (or not) in the two hours to come -- it's called "Bikini Bottom Day," and it'll put a smile on your face as wide as SpongeBob's I'm sure.

Go here to listen, if only for 6 minutes.

Monday Morning Smile: "When I Grow Up" from Matilda the Musical

I finally had a chance to see Matilda the Musical recently and I'd recommend seeing it if musicals are at all your family's thing.  (The show recently closed on Broadway, but a touring production continues to make its way across the country.)  Based on the Roald Dahl novel, it's obviously kid-friendly enough for the youngsters and.... based on the Roald Dahl novel, it's obviously subversive enough for the no-longer-youngsters who tag along.  The music and lyrics from Australian comedian Tim Minchin (who's also done the music and lyrics for the new musical of Groundhog Day) do a good job of matching Dahl's tone.

One of the musical's high points is "When I Grow Up," which features wistful lyrics that will sound quite different to kids' ears than to adult ears.  Matched with some gorgeous choreography on swings, it's a moving moment in the show.

London Cast of Matilda the Musical - "When I Grow Up" [YouTube]

Monday Morning Smile: "The Lion" - Benjamin Scheuer (Escapist Papers)

This is a beautiful song, the title track, as it were, from a new autobiographical stage show from Benjamin Scheuer.  Scheuer's show The Lion will get its American premiere in June, but the video for this song performed by Scheuer and his band Escapist Papers has already won awards.

I would note that the song lyrics feature murder and death and sickness amongst animals.  But so does Babar.  In spite of that, it's probably the most uplifting song you'll hear all week, and the animation from Radish Pictures is gorgeous.

Benjamin Scheuer (The Escapist Papers) - "The Lion" [Vimeo]