(no subject)

[skygiants]

I have never read the Death Note manga nor seen the anime. All I knew about the plot is that it involved a murder journal and homoerotic nemeses. That did not prevent me from getting a lot of entertainment out of the fact that my my favorite mediocre musical composer, beloved enemy Frank Wildhorn of Scarlet Pimpernel: The Musical and Jekyll and Hyde: The Musical fame, wrote a Death Note musical a few years ago!

I mention this because recently I discovered that someone had put a full subtitled video of the Japanese production on YouTube (with half of the songs dubbed out with the English concept album versions, for no apparent reason) and forced several friends to watch it with me. This was a WONDERFUL experience. I cannot recommend it enough if you like a.) musical melodrama b.) nemeses c.) the words 'dangerous game,' my friend Frank's absolute favorite phrase in the whole world. Given this it should be no surprise that the best three minutes of the show (beginning 1:45:30 or thereabouts) are "Playing His Game," the number in which the murder journaler and the obsessed detective who's trying to hunt him down play an intensely homoerotic match of singles tennis while singing about how the only way to defeat each other is to really know each other, like deep in their bones, like get inside, you know?

(It also really adds the experience, IMO, that the chorus sounds almost exactly like the Miraculous Ladybug theme song.)

Anyway, I mention all this because, when trying to find a version of this song on YouTube to throw at people, I then discovered that the Korean production had made a full on MUSIC VIDEO and it's brought me more joy than I can properly express. The Korean translator COMMITTED. If you, too, enjoy homoerotic nemeses, I urge you to give this video three minutes and twenty-two seconds of your time! You won't regret it!

Watch on YouTube

(Once again, I truly urge the U.S. theatrical scene to get on this level with regards to promotion. Come on, Broadway! Where's my "Confrontation" music video in which the hottest latest Valjean and Javert dance battle each other over a coffin through a series of jump cuts?)

Okay that's all! Please enjoy the rest of your day!

Comments

[shadaras]

The sheer idea of a homoerotic tennis match happening in a musical about murder is incredible, I have no idea how much it takes inspiration from canon and I honestly do not want to know because this ascends to such a weird-ass level of glory.

[larryhammer]

I ... had not even heard there was a Death Note musical. Wow.

(Read about 2/3 of the manga before losing interest.)

[sbrackett]

I don't even think they're actually hitting tennis balls lol, just swinging their rackets dramatically at each other.

[luzula]

I HAVE PENETRATED INTO THAT DEEP PLACE.

I know nothing about this canon, but thanks, I needed that today! : D

[whimsyful]

Oh, the original also had a homoerotic tennis match!

[shadaras]

amazing

not surprising, exactly, but also why does something that isn't about sports have a homoerotic tennis match of all things?

[castiron]

This really makes me wish South Korea was in the European Broadcasting Union so we could have a Korean entry in Eurovision.

[chestnut_pod]

"Frank Wildhorn" is a great name for a mediocre composer. That's Harry Potter-level nominative determinism right there.

The music video is quite an experience! Kate Beaton would be so proud.

If your enthusiasm for off-the-walls musical concepts extends beyond Mr. Wildhorn, might I recommend checking out the truly bonkers Ernest Shackleton Loves Me? The premise: in which a video game music composer in a broken marriage (who plays antidiagetic electric violin) conducts a passionate if time-disjointed affair with noted Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton via telephone, dating site, and Frigidaire refrigerator as he struggles to escape the icy clutches of the sea. With banjo.

[nineveh_uk]

I knew there was a Death Note musical, but not that it was by Wildhorn. Having never consumed a piece of DN media nor heard a Wildhorn musical in full, maybe this is the moment I should try both!

I do, in theory, have a soft spot for Wildhorn in that he is Not Good, but who is doing what he does better? I wish there were someone doing decent musicals that didn't have to be a Broadwya megahit to break even, but were better than Wildhorn. What he's trying to do is think something that's good - if he were better at it.

[sovay]

my favorite mediocre musical composer, beloved enemy Frank Wildhorn

I maintain that the music for The Scarlet Pimpernel is great and the book is a hot mess and I am past one hundred percent unsurprised that his version of Death Note includes an intensely homoerotic tennis match that sounds exactly like the '90's.

[whimsyful]

So they can psychoanalyze/intimidate each other while sweating and hitting a ball back and forth, of course!

The original anime scene, for reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0fDb99rWPI

[themis1]

Oh dear oh dear, that did make me snigger. Sorry. Also, good music. (Disclaimer: I know nothing about the source material ...)

[schneefink]

the number in which the murder journaler and the obsessed detective who's trying to hunt him down play an intensely homoerotic match of singles tennis while singing about how the only way to defeat each other is to really know each other, like deep in their bones, like get inside, you know?
xD
They are pretending to play tennis very dramatically and it's great.

[skygiants]

INCREDIBLE

...at least in the anime they had a real ball.....

[skygiants]

"Oh!" I said, after watching this, "so Death Note IS a sports anime!"*


*I have seen a sum total of 1.5 sports anime and that's only if you count Yuri on Ice

[skygiants]

I'd heard of it a few years back, but hadn't heard any of the music until I was casually searching to try to demo the Wildhorn Experience to my housemates recently and suddenly!

[skygiants]

The tennis ball shows up once! Then it vanishes again. I assume someone hit it off court and they just kept going because they were too wrapped up in each other to stop.

[skygiants]

ENTER DEEPER

TRY AND FIND THE WHOLE

you're so, so welcome >:D

[skygiants]

South Korea might have an unfair advantage ....

[skygiants]

oh, friend, I saw Ernest Shackleton Loves Me when it came to Boston a few years ago and I love it with my ENTIRE HEART. Are there, technically, 'better' musicals out there? Sure! Are there musicals that provide me with more pure serotonin when any song from the score comes on my music shuffle? I'm pretty sure there are NOT. When ~*~Ernest Shackleton~*~ urges me to believe in myself, I DO!

[skygiants]

Right? The man is pursuing his dreams and his passion in his particular niche, and I truly respect that! I really do desperately wish more of his shows would be launched on, like, the regional theater circuit here, because I would see every one ... and then promptly turn around and make fun of how they all use the same phrases and chords and signature triangle staging ... but I would have SO much fun doing it, it would be worth every penny.

[skygiants]

The Scarlet Pimpernel was my first Wildhorn Experience and I do really and truly love it to pieces ... "Falcon in the Dive" remains my favorite song to sing at karaoke, it's just so joyously frothing. (Though karaoke is not currently available to us, it's also my roommate Michael's favorite song to sing in the shower and Beth and I will usually join in when we hear it, so we can still capture a bit of the vibe!)

[skygiants]

I have no intention of ever watching the anime but I have come to terms with the fact that there will be a time when I've watched this music video for more consecutive hours than the anime ran, probably ....

[skygiants]

They really are! One truly has got to respect the commitment!

[sovay]

(Though karaoke is not currently available to us, it's also my roommate Michael's favorite song to sing in the shower and Beth and I will usually join in when we hear it, so we can still capture a bit of the vibe!)

I am unironically delighted to hear it.

[chestnut_pod]

That makes me feel ecstatic. Ecstatic, I tell you!

I would give one mildly stained eyetooth to be able to see it in person someday.

[whimsyful]

Wait, now I'm curious, did the musical keep the "chained together for months" and "one of the nemeses gives the other a foot massage" scenes?

[nineveh_uk]

Honestly, I'd be really happy if regional theatres here did some Wildhorn musicals, especially if they did them at Christmas. It would be a nice change from The Wind in the Willows, Narnia, and Alice in fucking Wonderland. Admittedly it would only be novel for a very short while, but I'd take that.

[shadaras]

xD Anything's a sports anime if you try hard enough?

[ranalore]

I remember this musical because the actor playing the detective is a former member of the K-pop group that was my main fandom for six years. I didn't realize it was a Wildhorn musical, though. If I had, I absolutely would have alerted you. I have to ask: did Wildhorn write a version of Hunchback of Notre Dame? A friend played me a soundtrack from such a musical once, and I remember listening in increasing disbelief and. Um. Amazement, let's call it.

This video was almost everything I hoped it would be. Could have used some backup dancers dressed as balls bouncing around on the court in the world's worst Fosse ripoff. Even without that, though, it's a one-of-a-kind experience.