In The Middle Of Summer (or, How Panic Wrote a Musical and (Maybe?) Didn’t Know It)
Hey, who wants some album meta!!
In The Middle Of Summer (or, How Panic Wrote a Musical and (Maybe?) Didn’t Know It)
Disclaimer: The following post is all speculative (and possibly inane) rambling on my part, and I make no claim that any of this was intended by the members of Panic at the Disco. The album Pretty. Odd. is a property of PatD/DecayDance/Fueled By Ramen/whoever else owns it, and I make no claim of involvement or entitlement. If you got here by Googling yourself, someone you care about, or your album… well, come on in, give it a read, and let me know what you think! ;)
Spoilers: The following involves spoilers for the new album. If you’re not listening to it yet, then come back when you are.
Okay, so if you’re like me, you’ve probably listened to the tracks from Pretty. Odd. about a million times since Tuesday. (I know I’ve picked up a lot of the words already, even though they don’t always make a lot of sense!) The excitement breeds multiple listenings!! (Plus it's, you know, awesome...)
So I wrote a review a couple days ago, and in the course of taking notes I hit upon this crazy idea. I scribbled some stuff down, and then threw the tracks on a new playlist and shuffled them around a little bit. And, surprisingly, it kind of worked even better than I expected.
My theory is this: Panic at the Disco, consciously or not, has written us a musical.
Sounds crazy? I know. I get that a lot. Just… just go with me on this one for a minute? (If nothing else, it’s a slightly different listening order, and after four days of constant repetition (if you’re like me) change is good!)
Below, I’ve got the tracks in a slightly different order from the album, with a couple extra versions thrown in. (If you want to play along at home, you’re going to need the alternate versions of “Behind the Sea” and “Do You Know What I’m Seeing?” that have been floating around the last few weeks. I’m guessing that you’ve already got them, or you know where to find them.)
So, let’s get right into it!
In The Middle Of Summer
We're So Starving
This is the intro track, where we bring our players back to the stage. Same actors as last time, when we saw their production It’s Better If You Do, but tonight’s story will be a little different. Though don’t worry, you’ll still see the same quality acting and high production values. (We’ve even got a real live pit orchestra this time!)
Behind the Sea (acoustic)
This is Our Hero’s theme. He’s an odd little fellow, very proper, and maybe a little introverted and withdrawn, but we identify with him. He’s got a good heart. I think we meet him in the park, sitting under a tree.
She's a Handsome Woman
This is the theme for The Lover. She’s a little wild, a little disorganized, and she’s in love with the world. And as the title says, she’s maybe not “beautiful,” but she’s quite handsome. Our Hero pretty much doesn’t stand a chance.
When the Day Met the Night
Their love song. “He was just hanging around, then he fell in love. Her eyes saved his life, in the middle of summer.” The Lover stumbles into Our Hero’s life and turns it on its ear with her beauty and vitality. They fall in love under the summer sunshine. An ageless story, really.
Do You Know What I’m Seeing? (alternate version)
It’s been a rough life for Our Hero, when you get down to it. He’s been hurt before, and he doesn’t care much for the world, mostly because it’s never much cared for him either. But now, Our Hero has found the lover, and he’s starting to hope that maybe, just maybe, The Lover will stick by him, just the two of them against the world.
Northern Downpour
This is the entr’acte, the languid comfort of Our Hero and The Lover. “Hey moon, just forget to fall down,” and leave us in these moments forever.
She Had the World
But like all good things, it all goes to hell, sometimes more cheerfully than you’d expect. The Lover is clearly happy, but Our Hero just can’t seem to feel the same. Perhaps it’s what he’s been through? “Who could love me, I am out of my mind?” He can’t connect with The Lover, can’t return the love she so clearly gives him. And that’s when everything goes to shit.
From a Mountain in the Middle of the Cabins
This is where Our Hero drives The Lover away. Words are said, maybe meant, maybe not. Our Hero is cold, impassive. “If you’re going, then go.” The spark of summer is suddenly gone, leaving just the emptiness of fall.
Folkin' Around
I think this is the story of how Our Hero was hurt before, the tragedy of his lost love. “You’ve never been so divine in accepting your defeat, and I’ve never been more scared to be alone.” He had to give up on her, to put out the lantern, and it’s something that’s hard to forget. Even the memory now is exaggerated, disguised in a folk song to hide the pain.
The Piano Knows Something I Don't Know
Our Hero misses his love. He tries to force a little cheer, to fool himself that he’s better off without her, but even he knows it’s a lie. Crazy melancholy’s in the air, and Our Hero has it in spades.
I Have Friends in Holy Spaces
Sitting in his room, alone, listening to old records, Our Hero realizes that he misses the way he used to feel, misses the person he was when he was with The Lover. Maybe she wasn’t the same? Maybe he made a mistake? Maybe he needs to get her back.
Mad As Rabbits
Wacky girl-getting-back hijinks. We all know this scene in the show; there’s scheming, there’s misunderstandings, there’s crazy plans, there’s possibly some shenanigans with a well-intentioned best friend/small child/innocent bystander/farm animal. He’s gone a little mad, maybe, but there’s a purpose in his madness, and he will win the day.
Pas de Cheval
Our Hero finds his love, and apologizes, explains that he made a mistake, and that he still loves her. How could The Lover not take him back? He’s “already a part of her.” They embrace, they kiss, and Our Hero is beside himself with joy.
Nine in the Afternoon
After all they’ve been through, they’re back to where they started, back out on the street and in the world, together, in love, and happy. This number happens while they’re walking through the park, just like they did when they fell in love in When The Day Met The Night.
Do You Know What I'm Seeing (album version)
The reprise of our earlier theme. Now it’s Our Hero who’s going to stick by The Lover, no matter what.
That Green Gentleman
After everything he’s been through, Our Hero is surprised to find how much he’s changed, even though it maybe didn’t feel like changing at all. Before, he was never a big fan of change but now… well, it’s ok.
Behind the Sea (album version)
The reprise of Our Hero’s main theme. What before was melancholy, almost regretful, has now been transformed into a sort of subdued, and frankly slightly bizarre, happiness. (Even Our Hero isn’t really sure what “waves of wooden legs” are, but they make him smile, and they make The Lover laugh, clear and happy, and in the end that’s all that really matters.)
I'm anxious to hear your thoughts!!!
In The Middle Of Summer (or, How Panic Wrote a Musical and (Maybe?) Didn’t Know It)
Disclaimer: The following post is all speculative (and possibly inane) rambling on my part, and I make no claim that any of this was intended by the members of Panic at the Disco. The album Pretty. Odd. is a property of PatD/DecayDance/Fueled By Ramen/whoever else owns it, and I make no claim of involvement or entitlement. If you got here by Googling yourself, someone you care about, or your album… well, come on in, give it a read, and let me know what you think! ;)
Spoilers: The following involves spoilers for the new album. If you’re not listening to it yet, then come back when you are.
Okay, so if you’re like me, you’ve probably listened to the tracks from Pretty. Odd. about a million times since Tuesday. (I know I’ve picked up a lot of the words already, even though they don’t always make a lot of sense!) The excitement breeds multiple listenings!! (Plus it's, you know, awesome...)
So I wrote a review a couple days ago, and in the course of taking notes I hit upon this crazy idea. I scribbled some stuff down, and then threw the tracks on a new playlist and shuffled them around a little bit. And, surprisingly, it kind of worked even better than I expected.
My theory is this: Panic at the Disco, consciously or not, has written us a musical.
Sounds crazy? I know. I get that a lot. Just… just go with me on this one for a minute? (If nothing else, it’s a slightly different listening order, and after four days of constant repetition (if you’re like me) change is good!)
Below, I’ve got the tracks in a slightly different order from the album, with a couple extra versions thrown in. (If you want to play along at home, you’re going to need the alternate versions of “Behind the Sea” and “Do You Know What I’m Seeing?” that have been floating around the last few weeks. I’m guessing that you’ve already got them, or you know where to find them.)
So, let’s get right into it!
In The Middle Of Summer
We're So Starving
This is the intro track, where we bring our players back to the stage. Same actors as last time, when we saw their production It’s Better If You Do, but tonight’s story will be a little different. Though don’t worry, you’ll still see the same quality acting and high production values. (We’ve even got a real live pit orchestra this time!)
Behind the Sea (acoustic)
This is Our Hero’s theme. He’s an odd little fellow, very proper, and maybe a little introverted and withdrawn, but we identify with him. He’s got a good heart. I think we meet him in the park, sitting under a tree.
She's a Handsome Woman
This is the theme for The Lover. She’s a little wild, a little disorganized, and she’s in love with the world. And as the title says, she’s maybe not “beautiful,” but she’s quite handsome. Our Hero pretty much doesn’t stand a chance.
When the Day Met the Night
Their love song. “He was just hanging around, then he fell in love. Her eyes saved his life, in the middle of summer.” The Lover stumbles into Our Hero’s life and turns it on its ear with her beauty and vitality. They fall in love under the summer sunshine. An ageless story, really.
Do You Know What I’m Seeing? (alternate version)
It’s been a rough life for Our Hero, when you get down to it. He’s been hurt before, and he doesn’t care much for the world, mostly because it’s never much cared for him either. But now, Our Hero has found the lover, and he’s starting to hope that maybe, just maybe, The Lover will stick by him, just the two of them against the world.
Northern Downpour
This is the entr’acte, the languid comfort of Our Hero and The Lover. “Hey moon, just forget to fall down,” and leave us in these moments forever.
She Had the World
But like all good things, it all goes to hell, sometimes more cheerfully than you’d expect. The Lover is clearly happy, but Our Hero just can’t seem to feel the same. Perhaps it’s what he’s been through? “Who could love me, I am out of my mind?” He can’t connect with The Lover, can’t return the love she so clearly gives him. And that’s when everything goes to shit.
From a Mountain in the Middle of the Cabins
This is where Our Hero drives The Lover away. Words are said, maybe meant, maybe not. Our Hero is cold, impassive. “If you’re going, then go.” The spark of summer is suddenly gone, leaving just the emptiness of fall.
Folkin' Around
I think this is the story of how Our Hero was hurt before, the tragedy of his lost love. “You’ve never been so divine in accepting your defeat, and I’ve never been more scared to be alone.” He had to give up on her, to put out the lantern, and it’s something that’s hard to forget. Even the memory now is exaggerated, disguised in a folk song to hide the pain.
The Piano Knows Something I Don't Know
Our Hero misses his love. He tries to force a little cheer, to fool himself that he’s better off without her, but even he knows it’s a lie. Crazy melancholy’s in the air, and Our Hero has it in spades.
I Have Friends in Holy Spaces
Sitting in his room, alone, listening to old records, Our Hero realizes that he misses the way he used to feel, misses the person he was when he was with The Lover. Maybe she wasn’t the same? Maybe he made a mistake? Maybe he needs to get her back.
Mad As Rabbits
Wacky girl-getting-back hijinks. We all know this scene in the show; there’s scheming, there’s misunderstandings, there’s crazy plans, there’s possibly some shenanigans with a well-intentioned best friend/small child/innocent bystander/farm animal. He’s gone a little mad, maybe, but there’s a purpose in his madness, and he will win the day.
Pas de Cheval
Our Hero finds his love, and apologizes, explains that he made a mistake, and that he still loves her. How could The Lover not take him back? He’s “already a part of her.” They embrace, they kiss, and Our Hero is beside himself with joy.
Nine in the Afternoon
After all they’ve been through, they’re back to where they started, back out on the street and in the world, together, in love, and happy. This number happens while they’re walking through the park, just like they did when they fell in love in When The Day Met The Night.
Do You Know What I'm Seeing (album version)
The reprise of our earlier theme. Now it’s Our Hero who’s going to stick by The Lover, no matter what.
That Green Gentleman
After everything he’s been through, Our Hero is surprised to find how much he’s changed, even though it maybe didn’t feel like changing at all. Before, he was never a big fan of change but now… well, it’s ok.
Behind the Sea (album version)
The reprise of Our Hero’s main theme. What before was melancholy, almost regretful, has now been transformed into a sort of subdued, and frankly slightly bizarre, happiness. (Even Our Hero isn’t really sure what “waves of wooden legs” are, but they make him smile, and they make The Lover laugh, clear and happy, and in the end that’s all that really matters.)
I'm anxious to hear your thoughts!!!