ANALYSIS of "If I Didn't Believe in You" (Last Five Years)
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- Опубліковано 29 гру 2017
- A piece-by-piece deconstruction of one of my favorite songs, from one of the most nuanced, intricate and brilliant pieces of musical theatre ever written -- The Last Five Years by Jason Robert Brown!
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This was such an interesting take on the song and I really enjoyed it:) for me when the first few times I listened to/watched the show/movie I hated Jamie and felt that he was the only reason the marriage ended but after really looking at it I began to see that Kathy played a role in the demise of their relationship as well when this song comes Jamie has already sang an encouraging uplifting inspirational song to Kathy (the smuel song) so I feel like his condescending tone here is stemming more from a place of he’s always tried to uplift and encourage her and here’s four years into their relationship and he’s kinda tired of always forcing her to see what she could be I feel like this song is his last attempt at putting so much effort into their relationship before he just gives into the temptation of the other women granted that’s no excuse to cheat but it just makes me think that while most of the fall of the relationship was due to his cheating Kathy’s behavior and lack of confidence contributed to it (sorry for such a long comment lol thanks for the analysis)
Yes!, and also she has been in this situation before when she sings "I can do better than that" she says
"He needed to take some time off
Focus on his "career"
He blew me off with a heartfelt letter
I thought, "I can do better than that""
So there must be something wrong with her in a relationship. I also love to think that they are the same character, that you can relate to both of them in some point in your life.
This is how I viewed this song and I’m really glad that someone else sees it this way
This is how I’ve always viewed the song, and I’m glad someone else sees that Kathy is also a flawed character, I can see both of their perspectives and I don’t think either of them are in the right, but they are very realistic characters in that way.
I always read this song as Jaime as being sick of Cathy's shit. It's impossible to continually support someone who's self esteem is so shit that they cannot even stand a little bit.
1. I love this video, so insightful!
2. The line, "If I didn't believe in you, here's where the travelog ends," is the first time Jamie shifts into the past tense. From there he references how he felt going into the marriage. Then he says, "That's what I thought we agreed on, Kathy. If I hadn't believed in you, I wouldn't have loved you at all." All in the past tense. I believe the aim of this moment was for Jamie to issue an ultimatum to Kathy of either going to the party or losing his belief in her as a wife. When she, of course, doesn't go, we can assume this is where he began his first act of infidelity and the complete downfall of the marriage. This at least is my interpretation of the song.
I think you have the right of it
Isn't the song "see I'm smiling" her at taht party?
@@HOMERUUN I believe that song takes place (in chronological order) after his infidelity ("Nobody Needs to Know") because in that song, there's the line about how he has to go to Ohio to see Cathy. In "See I'm Smiling," she just finished one of her performances and he shows up after the fact. "You could have stayed with your wife on her f***ing birthday and God-forbid even seen my show..."
@@HOMERUUN see im smiling is actually them in Ohio when she convinces him to come see her!
Yes, that’s how I take that line too. In fact, I think it’s one of the worst things he says to her, it’s almost like blackmail…”if you don’t come to this party then we’ve reached the end of the road”. I remember being in a similar situation myself once, being told that I needed to behave in a certain way, or else I won’t be considered the love object anymore. It’s pretty abusive to be honest. Taking control of the relationship and being the one to decide. The other person (Kathy) is left feeling powerless and desperate, which translates very easily to clingy and resentful. Obviously Jamie feels that the “party” is important, he feels he has to go, and he really wants to go, but , honestly, does Kathy really need to be there too? Can’t he go on his own? He says that he wants to talk about it, but we never hear Kathy’s contribution to the argument. Is he listening to her at all?
When I’m listening to this show, and we get to Kathy at the end singing “goodbye until tomorrow “ I just feel so sick for her, knowing the journey that she is embarking on, and the damage the relationship will do to her. Am I too hard on Jamie? I wonder if JRB really intended Jamie to be the arsehole of the piece, and is he talking about himself? Are Jamie and Kathy just incompatible? Were they too young?
Why isn’t there a second act lol😂 I need to know what happened to them.
"The character can lie, but the music can't." I love that!
First of all, I LOVE this musical. And I agree with your interpretation of this song for the most part, but I think when JRB goes down to E flat at the end it isn't so much that Jamie is trying a new tactic; I'd say it's more that he's worn out by his own trying to bring her up to his level, which is really what Jamie's character's struggle with the entire relationship is...just my thoughts!
In my opinion, the problem with Jamie's encouragement in the song is that his love for Cathy is contingent on her success as an actress. The last sung line is probably the best example, where he flat out admits that he wouldn't love her. This goes back to Jamie's obsession with success. The climax of the song, "I will not lose because you can't win", indicates that Jamie doesn't really believe in her in the present despite what he's said and as a result doesn't love her anymore. Taken out of context, the line pits Jamie and Cathy against each other, where it's not so much their careers but the growing battle between them. Specifically, the "can't win" part suggests that Jamie truly thinks her incapable as opposed to "haven't won". This part of the musical is interesting depending on adaptation: the film shows Cathy's hurt from that line, whereas it's only Jamie and his silence in the stage version.
From Jamie's perspective, LaGravenese when talking about "Nobody Needs to Know" said that, "he must have done that ("The Schmuel Song") a million times, but it just doesn't work and he's tired." So I guess you can view "If I Didn't Believe in You" as one of those failed attempts.
Regarding the "then here's where the travelogue ends" lyric, the "then" is changed to "and" in the film. Here, it makes more sense that he's tired and ending the song. Not sure if it's a written change from JRB or Jeremy Jordan improvising in his live singing. On the topic of song changes and high notes, Jeremy Jordan opts up in singing the second part of "A Miracle Would Happen", effectively changing where the high note of the song lands, so that might be something to look out for if you're comparing cast recordings.
I think the song suggests the polar opposite of your reading. Kathy has trouble with her lack of success and cannot offset her feelings of inferiority; so she withdraws and pushes him away. Jamie literally states in the song that he doesn't care whether she is successful: "I am convinced you will make it, but can't we be happy/relax before that happens?"
If your first paragraph is right then I think it would kinda make sense with the line "some people can't find success with their art, some people never feel love in their heart. Some people can't tell the two things apart..." which Jamie sings in Moving Too Fast. I never really understood that line no matter how many times I watched the film and now maybe I do?
@@coleen9278 omg.. they can't tell the two things apart because they're trying to feel love in their art and trying to find success in their heart!
I don't know if it's just from personal experience but this song has always felt really paternal to me, like Jamie assumes that he is superior in their relationship possibly because of all the success he's achieved, that's he knows what's best for her, also maybe a bit of misogyny (This could be supported by Cathy's last verse in Climbing Uphill).
"I will not be the girl stuck at home in the 'burbs
With the baby, the dog, and the garden of herbs
I will not be the girl in the sensible shoes
Pushing burgers and beer nuts and missing the clues
I will not be the girl who gets asked how it feels
To be trotting along at the genius's heels
I will not be the girl who requires a man to get by"
The condescending tone has always unnerved me, because despite the loving lyrics their is a clear power imbalance between them. I really love what you said about how it's really telling that Jamie only comforts her so that he can get what he wants and how twisted that is, as shown by the discordance between the piano and the vocal part. That saying you have about the music being unable to lie is downright genius. His tone, particularly at the end, in a lower octave seems to hint at a sinister underside to him trying to calm her hysteria (again perhaps a bit of misogyny. the need for dominance and control in their relationship etc.).The high notes that sound like semitones in "I think you'll be *fine!*/Just hang on and you'll *see-*" sound kinda reminiscent of the opening Still Hurting chords give the sentiment a doomed, haunted kind of feeling, because even tho these notes are higher up on the keyboard they're still going down and so have a dark undertone, despite the ostensibly uplifting lyrics.
Also it's really interesting that you interpret the Still Hurting motif as playing through Cathy's head while she is being yelled at. It really compliments how in the film the camera stays on her face, even tho it's supposed to be Jamie's solo. Combined with the show starting with her heartbroken lament, it really sways the viewer to side with her through it all, compared to how you grow to understand Jamie's perspective throughout the show, you understand where Cathy is coming from at the very beginning. I honestly don't understand people who say that it's Cathy's fault.
The shift from from the present tense "If I *Didn't* Believe in You" to the past tense "If I *hadn't believed* in you/I wouldn't *have loved* you at all" really kills me every time. Maybe he never actually loved her because he only liked her for the potential he saw in her, but he never really believed in her? Ahhhhh... The repetition of "I" shows how self-centred his approach is, the focus isn't on Cathy who's upset, but instead Jamie is focusing on how great it is that he has belief in her, and that she should be thankful and grateful to him. He only ever says "we" when he's complaining about how he isn't happy. I love the hard cut to the mutual happiness she dreams about in *"We Can* Do Better Than That" at the end, because it reflects how messy and lingering their relationship was when it ended so abruptly and the juxtaposition between their pain and Cathy's innocent hope for a future full of possibilities.... It just hurts so fucking much man.
Also I can't stop rewatching the singing bits of this, because your voice is so good and I really needed a guide as to which words fall on which notes from the accompaniment. I'd really love a Falsettos analysis, Chess Game could be really interesting, what-with the games metaphor in the show, I'd love to hear your thoughts on it.
Steph Piano this is a brilliant take away and I very much agree.
I totally agree that if you go backwards through Cathy's songs you see her arc. That she finally states how she's feeling she's not deflecting and bottling up sexism and the power imbalance and his indifference toward the end and actually saying how she feels that she's hurting its so well written and powerful in the context of the show the opener is Cathys big moment that shes finally opening up to the barren walls of their apartment. And she's taking the first baby steps to finding a real relationship while Jamie it's harder to find growth but he moved on he learned he has serious commitment issues and tried to make it work despite that and it never worked but The relationship from Jamies perspective ends in this song. And then he goes on to cheat he's like all I've ever done is try and lift you up you are so toxic why can't you just come to the party with me on my arm. And Cathy's side is of course that's literally all I am is your fucking trophy ill pass.
that line “if i didn’t believe in you, we wouldn’t be having this fight” is so gaslight-y and says so much about jamie as a character ugh it’s so genius
I'm not to sure, Jamie is unhealthy, true but the idea of having fights and working through them becuase that's what couples do because they do believe and love eachother, this musical isn't the shiny standard but I don't see how this is truly gaslighty I mean both Cathy and Jamie gaslight eachother especially Cathy to get a reaction therefore attention out of Jamie I love it in See I'm smiling where she cuts herself off at the end bottling her emotions with the "and I-" and says "I swear to God I'll never understand how you can see I'm crying and not do anything at all" is her literally deflecting her pain onto him I mean he might be indifferent but she's also pushing him away and then saying this. It'd be different if she wasnt the one being confrontational in that instance but she is. This moment where he says she wouldn't be fighting for her if he didn't care is honest. There's definitely cases of Jamie actually gaslighting tho don't get me wrong like in their I dos he says "I will never change the world until I do" like...
also your passion for musical theatre makes me so incredibly happy ahhh i love it
"Grammar person" here--college English teacher. Jamie's shift to present tense for "here's where the travelogue ends" is to make sure that his implied threat lands. If Kathy doesn't go back to acting like Jamie is the center of her universe, he's going to leave her for the vapid praises of his adoring (for this season, anyway) followers. I think you're absolutely right about the music signaling Jamie's "sincerity" when he accuses Kathy of being jealous of his success because he's convinced himself (it wasn't hard) that Kathy's unhappiness stems from unjustified jealousy instead of entirely justified anger at the way that he treats her. Instead of treater her like a supportive partner whose support helped him to succeed, he trots her out like "shiksa goddess" eye-candy at endless parties she has no interest in attending and then leaves her in some corner while he basks in the limelight (and edges ever further toward infidelity, flirting with other women WHILE SHE'S THERE TO WATCH IT ALL HAPPEN). Even when he's not rubbing her nose in the perks of his celebrity, he's still disrespecting her by ignoring what's important to her--e.g., spending almost no time with her on her birthday in favor of yet another party in an endless series of them. To publicize his writing? HAS he written anything since his book was published? Or is he planning on spending the rest of his life feeding just on the admiration of others?
At no point does Jamie take any responsibility for his part in the demise of his marriage except to claim that he couldn't make her happy--with the clear implication that her expectations of him and their marriage were unreasonable.
I don't absolve Kathy of blame for the demise of the marriage. If she'd told him early on that she had no intention of wasting her life as his adoring, trodden-on acolyte and gotten back to working on her own career as an actress (or whatever else she wants out of life) instead of trying to make a life out of being Mrs. Jamie Wallerstein, maybe they could have worked out an arrangement that gave them both what they needed. Or maybe they'd just realize that neither one is mature enough for a healthy marriage at this point.
I love the song for its emotional complexity. And you're right. Jeremy Jordan does an amazing job of performing how achingly self-involved and sincere his character is about seeing himself as Kathy's victim while he's the hero trying to save his marriage. It's a visceral blow to my gut every time I watch it.
It's so much fun to hear people passionately talk about music
The way I've interpreted the "and here's where the travelogue ends" is very similar to how Jeremy Jordan acts it out in the movie. I think since he's on his last attempt with Cathy, after the key change, he's frustrated and irritated and realizes he's not getting through to her the way he'd like to. Recognizing this, the fact that he's mentioning '-and here's the end of my story' is like he's promising her he's almost done talking so maybe she'll come around for even a second. This is common narcissistic behavior, often what someone does almost as a guilt trip, even though in their mind it's like they're being generous and sparing you the time and effort. It's a last ditch attempt to pry for sympathy and understanding, but without the empathy. (My father was a narcissist so this was a common occurrence, often happening at the tail-end of an hour long lecture.) I appreciate that Jamie's character is consistently shown through small bits of dialogue like this ('I will never change the world until I do", "but I keep rolling on", "it's what I wanted", "if I have to be in love with someone", etc.) that prove to the audience that while he's human and he has moments of being kind and nice, he's very obviously an asshole.
The analysis of this song brought a few more things to light that I hadn't realized! Every time I listen through the musical I find something new. Could you do more videos about the last five years please??
This is really late, but I really enjoyed your analysis. I didn't totally agree, though. I think in this song, Jamie starts out trying to make her feel better, so that she'll go to the party. He takes the approach of encouragement to get what he wants. But as the song goes on, Cathy doesn't give any response or reaction, so he becomes more and more frustrated. (Side note: I think his tactics aren't working because he's being very patronizing. He's encouraging her in this "take it from someone successful" way, but she is already resentful of his success, so him saying he believes in her is just irritating to her, if that makes sense. I find the line "I think you'll be fine. Just hang on and you'll see" would have really annoyed me if I were Cathy.) He wants anything from her, so when he doesn't get it, he starts pushing her, becoming angry and frustrated. I watched a video of JRB saying that Jamie was not planning to say "I will not fail so you can be comfortable." He was thinking it, but he was never going to say it-- he lost his cool. And I think the reason the chords and his vocals clash right there is because he knows he shouldn't have said it, he knows that what he said is hurtful and he regrets letting it out. I also think that's why the key gets lower at the end, is because he knows he hurt her with what he said, and he's trying to soften up, because he still wants her to go to the party, which she definitely won't do if she's upset with him. I don't think either one of them is solely at fault in the deterioration of their relationship. I think Jamie is incapable of truly understanding what Cathy is going through, because he found success so much more easily. But, on the other hand, Cathy is so resentful of him for getting what he wanted, she's very uncommunicative with him, and he keeps trying to support her, but she makes it more and more difficult for him to be in her corner. But, in "See I'm Smiling", he comes off as a huge jerk, so I think it just depends on who is singing, and whose perspective we're watching their relationship from, because they blame each other. And that just shows how brilliant JRB is, because he makes me side with different people based on who has the floor. And maybe if they has seen things this way-- from both points of view-- they could've worked it out. (Wow, really long comment, sorry.)
Don't know if I'm reading too much into this, but the bookends around their marriage song "The next ten minutes" is a description of the places they're seeing... It's literally a travelogue. If this is where the travelogue ends, then it's an allusion literally to their wedding journey.
So true!
Yay! Another video! Please do another!! I also think the way the phrase "if I didn't believe in you" is sung shows how self centered he is when the word "I" is the highest and longest note of the phrase and the words "believe in you" descends quickly like he can't be bothered putting effort into that part of the phrase. Also before the main melody kicks in he says "you" constantly like all the reasons why she wouldn't want to go to the party are her own fault and nobody elses and then after the melody comes in he says "I" and "Me" more than he says "you" and way more often than he says "we" or "us".
Love your videos! Keep 'em coming!
I think."the travel log ends" Is a false start he says "if I didn't.believe in you-.... and here's where the travel log ends, ( pause to start again - btw I also feel like that same chord progression coming back near the end of the song is also him trying to start the conversation over again) If I didn't believe in you I couldn't" it's all one sentence and that part is in brackets and as an added comment. I think it's a reference to another song maybe but I can't remember which. Another song mentions traveling or a travel log.
Ooh I remember now it's a reference to I'm a Part of That. She says "circling the apartment logging miles" so I'm assuming Jamie is Always going off on rants and tangents and so he's like "chill I'll almost done rambling I promise". I especially get the vibe from Jeremy in the movie and I loved how in that it was like the peak of this long drawn out fight that you could tell had been going for hours. He asks her in the movie to just let him speak without interruption so in the movie at least he's sign positing that she can speak her side of argument soon. Actually the movie is really good at showing the arrogance too in him not liking being contradicted.
I know Jamie is arrogant and unfeeling at times but I've always seen this song as genuine as someone who's been in draining relationships with down and out insecure people this song has always hit home for me and it's weird to see people take it as wheeling and dealing or him being proud when I think it's a cry of desperation. Especially comparing it to Schmuel I think he has been supportive but he's at his wits end.
Also I thought See I'm Smiling is after Nobody Needs to Know because he mentions going to Ohio?
Also I noticed in Cathys song (I always forget the name) about "I will not be the girl" she says "and missing the clues/signs" could she tell he was slipping away and since he's ultimately the one who leaves her and he says he doesn't want anymore compromises and counselling then did she take him back multiple times after multiple affairs? What do people think?
Someone just told me that in the show he originally only had the one affair and he loved her so that's something
beautyinsteadofashes Yes! I think "here's where the travel log ends" is like "OK, I'm going to sum up what I've been trying to say and stop nagging you." I tend to be on his side as much as hers because when he married her, he though he was getting the kind of drive he has, and when she sabatouges herself with doubt, the gap between them grows.
Wonderful breakdown!!! And I love your voice and your talent at the piano.
I know I'm 3 years late to this, but to answer your question: I think he says , "Here's where the travelogue ends" as a way to say, "this is the last thing I have to say on the matter". I love his use of "travelogue" because it shows Jamie recognizes that he is prone to going on and on and on about any given thing. :)
And for me, the couplet "I will not fail so you can be comfortable, Cathy/ I won't lose because you can't win", is one of the meanest, most devastating things Jamie says to Cathy. I think that even if he had been able to soften her into giving in to him with the rest of his words, those two phrases alone would have slammed the door for her on any reconciliation. I mean, he's implying that she actually wants him to fail - which is so far from the truth, if you look at it. Sure, she may be a little jealous of his quick rise to success, and she may feel left behind and like a discarded accessory when she goes to these parties, and she may feel frustrated at her own lack of progress in her own career... but I mean, it's implied that up until recently, she had been to every party (except when she was in Ohio), she is very proud of what he has accomplished, and she has supported him through his meteoric rise. For him to accuse her of wanting him to fail so that she can feel better about herself is so completely unfair. All she wants is for him to be there for her emotionally, which he hasn't been lately, and I imagine she's sick of watching him ogling the Pretty Young Things (TM) that swarm him at these parties like she doesn't even exist. I also wonder how many of her plays he's actually been to see, even once.
That's where their relationship fell apart, I think. Jamie felt that his function was to pull her up to be a success, to make her feel good about herself ("I could never rescue you"), but really she just wanted him to be there for her when she needed a shoulder. And yes, she was kind of needy, but he likely couldn't be there for her even a fraction of as much as she needed, especially when his head was in the book he was writing at the time - I know how some creators can work: when you're in a project, it consumes your every waking moment and conscious brain function. And when he wasn't writing, he was out at those parties, with those friends, leaving her alone. It's sad, but it's likely their relationship was doomed from the start because they needed such different things from each other, that neither was really equipped to give.
Thank you for your analysis. Your passion for music and storytelling is thrilling. I share the same love as well as a love for this particular piece. I always interpreted "Here's where the travelog ends" as a veiled threat or ultimatum. Jamie is saying, "If you are blind to everything that i've invested in you, in all the ways i support you and root for you, then there is no reason for me to stick around. Let this be the end of our 'travels' together."
It kind of establishes his control over their relationship, because he's the one who decides everything.
5:40 HOLY SHIT i legit got chills i can't believe i didn't notice that it's SO COOL
My understanding of the travel log line is that he's responding to accusations of lost faith, so he's saying "If I didn't believe in you, I'd break up with you now (because I wouldn't be trying to make this work)"
Love Love The Last Five Years! Thanks for this dude.
Definitely thought you said "What Bacon Can Do". I've never seen Waitress, so I thought that would be an amazing song. Alas, I was wrong about the title.
For those of you who already know the plot, and would like to skip the plot summary to the song, it's at 3:06
I was freaking out this entire time about your knowledge of music and singing. I absolutely love, love, love how you dissect these pieces. This is my favorite musical
Lemme just say that this is your second analysis video that I’ve watched and I LOVE YOU ALREADY.
Yes! I caught the "Jamie is over" chords in "if I didn't believe in you"!
This is genuinely fascinating. I love how you discuss the message the musical accompaniment is sending.
I absolutely love this and the interpretation that you have on this beautiful and tragic story! Can you do more from this show maybe on Cathy's side? Also, I'm so happy I found this because I love analyzing shows and songs like this but nobody is ever interested so this makes me very happy. I love to see what other people feel and interpret on different characters. Please do more!
WHY DOES THIS NOT HAVE MORE LIKES!!!???? Not only is your voice amazing but I LOVE the musical theory behind everything! It's so in depth aah! I swaer to god when yu did the mind blown handmotion, I was already doing the exact thing myself XD
I know this is a few years old, but I'd love to hear your analysis of Nobody Needs to Know.
I think in the line If I didn't believe in you,here where the travel log ends,means that if he never believed in her to begin with there would be no future for them which is using the power of contradictions. Also the definition of Travel Log is entries about travel&or A Lecture on travel. Which you could say this whole song was Jamie lecturing Kathy on their journey together.
Ajsa Mehmedovic I absolutely agree on your analysis, I would even say that this is some kind of indirect threat towards her and in general towards their relationship..."Oh well see how far you go...but without me...this is where my path ends..." and it somehow does in fact end there in him leaving...
Xyndos M. Thanks! I always thought Jamie might've been abusing Kathy in someway possibly but emotional abuse is probally a given.
these analysis videos have quickly become one of my favourite videos on youtube! please make more, i love them!!
Oh my goodness this is such an amazing analysis of this song!! This song always made me so mad and I would often skip over it but you make so many interesting points that I really really appreciate it (especially musically) now!! Thank you for this!!
Ugh, this remains to be my favorite show.
This is one of my all time favorite shows! I fell in love with the Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan movie version and I can’t go more than two weeks without listening to the soundtrack or watching it. I’m so glad you appreciate this show so much
You have a beautiful voice and your analysis was on-point! Great video + please keep making these! 🙂
I came here with hesitance but you did a phenomenal job. Thank you.
You play the piano SO beautifully! I love how you broke this song down, very interesting and basically highlighted the points that I myself have picked up on too :) Another thing I picked up on is how many times Jamie says "I" and "me" this just shows how selfish and self centred Jamie could be, like when Cathy says "you and you and nothing but you, miles and piles of you!" and even though he tried supporting her, he was still more bothered about his own well being than Cathy's.
I LOVE when you make these videos!!
A thought I have with “the travel log ends” line: it could be a subtle reference to “The Next Ten Minutes” when Jamie is describing all of the things he wants to do and see all of the things with Cathy during his proposal “There are so many dreams I need to see with you.”
Love you man! Thank you for making this video. Love your interpretation of Jamie in this song. I enjoyed every minutes of this.
At first I came with touch in the dvd and I love the way of storytelling and how their paths crosses throughout the complex climax:) Great video idea:)
Thanks for the video. I'm singing this song in class at theater school. Your video helped me a lot to understand the character of Jamie and the conversation with Gabby White. Thanks for doing this. It's really great to see your passion for this song in the video. Keep on going!
I love these analysis videos please make more!
I just stumbled across this channel and I have to say I love this video. AND you are right on the money. JRB himself did a video saying the SAME THING you did; that Jamie can’t believe he’s saying what he’s saying and that he never thought he would do that. Well done!!!!
Jesus, I'm seeing whole new layers upon layers to showtunes right now. Gawd I love Broadway! Please keep making these!
I loved the explanation. Keep up the great work
More of this!! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
I love this analysis thank you!
Awesome! Loved it and totally agree!
And here's where the travelogue ends it's like a side note he's saying, like "bear with me for a minute"
Watched this video trying to find meaning in “here’s where the travel log ends”! Weirdly happy I’m not the only one who doesn’t necessarily follow that line!
thank you for making this video!!!
The part that gets me most is when they sing the last goodbye and you get a close-up of Jeremy's face and see his eyes welling, and then he walks away and I start ugly crying and saying "No Jaime! You love her, go back and hold her and fix things!"
WOW THIS VIDEO! I would love nothing more than talking about TL5Y with someone who love the musical as mush as i do. I live in Sweeden, and the last 5 is not a thing here really, I cant analys and talk abaut this masterpeace with anyone, and it suckssssss! annyway, you are amazing pleace do another video about The last 5!!
Same here! I could talk all day about how layered this story and the characters are, but sadly none of my friends like musicals. I'm glad we have videos like this so we can geek out a bit with someone else!
AMAZING!!!
you did this so wellll ahh i love it
you should do moreee of this musical this video was so interestingggg i loved your take on it and the actual instrumental parts of it
This is absolutely wonderful. Tsuris is Yiddish and one that's very well-used in day to day convo by us Jews.
This dude is definitely #TeamCathy
"Here's where the travelogue ends": A travelogue is an account of places the author has been, in the form of a movie, book ... or lecture. I translate it as, "I've spelled out the obvious as well as I'm able, Cathy. I'm done walking you through this." If there's any doubt that Jamie is not the best husband, at this point that doubt is gone, and anyone can see that this marriage is deeply damaged.
Great video. Do more Last Five Years songs!
This is brilliant, thank you!
Wow! How did I never hear the link to Still Hurting?!? That just madr this musical even more potent. Wow...thank you!!!
I’m super late to the party but “If I didn’t believe in you- and here’s where the travel log ends” I always interpreted it as Jamie saying “I know I’ve been talking for a long time don’t worry I’m almost done.” Like the travel log line is more of an interjection rather than part of the statement.
Great communicator man ! And pretty good singer too. ❤️
I love you for this
I think when he says "and here where the travel-log ends" it is like him saying, "and here is my final point, I'm done after this"
I know this is so late but can I just say that aside from this amazing analysis (which I happen to relate to on a personal level as a Kathy..ouch), your voice is amazing!!
can you please do every song from this musical. this was incredible!!!
can you make a video about their whole relationship and analyze it more? I love your videos!
I love this interpretation of this song! I personally view this song as Jamie being so done. He's tried different times throughout the show to support Cathy but she's been super cold towards him because she is so upset that she can't succeed. This is such a good interpretation though so it gives me so much more to think about for the show. I think he shouldn't have to ask for his wife to support him on his book. Ahh I love this musical. Great job 😊
Please do Michael in the Bathroom from Be More Chill please
Alexa C. Don't get me wrong, it's a good song but, it's a very surface level song. Michal said everything he was thinking out loud, which doesn't leave much for interpretation/The imagination
Please do The Next Ten Minutes!! It has so many symbolic links to other songs throughout the show and I really want to see your interpretation of it!
Im doing a character study on this song for my performance and man oh man I kind of regret coming across this video because you've added SO many layers and point of views that I hadn't thought of before. You've made my job way harder (but in a really good way LOL!) as I've always taken Jamie's side in the story. I knew that he was a dick but I just thought that they broke up due to timing and not the incompatibility (or just the fact that Jamie is an asshole.) Jamie Wellerstein is a really complicated character and this song really showcases him and his relationship with Cathy so well.
What book are you using for the analysis? I've been trying to get my hands on a good piano book for this musical for a while. LOVE THIS!!
i love this musical.
the first time i listened to it, it left a bad taste in my mouth but i didn't know what it is.
the second time i realized that this song is very condescending.
at the end, when he brought up their wedding, "this is the life i chose" you could feel that he felt trap in his life and cathy owes him for it. like, "i chose this life. the least you can do is attend this event with me."
I always thought that you were supposed to know that she said "no" bc that one line ends on "go" so musically it would work
I think the "If I didn't believe in you and here's where the travel log ends" Is where he's interrupting his flow to say "This is the final point I'm making about the situation" and back to the point.
MY SOOUULLL
THE PAAIINNN 😩
Brilliant job! Though you seemed puzzled by Jamie's position, I think it's pretty clear that he felt that Kathy should just suck it up and be Mrs. Jamie. Her pride doesn't allow that, so that's why Jamie has to move on. I don't side with one or the other, but I can see why they split.
Love this show ! Love Jeremy and Zac Resnick / Margo Seibert. Jamie's narcissum is the reason for his success(?) Tsuris is not Hebrew, its Yiddish for difficulty. Your voice is terrific.
I find it telling how the ending is “I wouldn’t have loved you at all”, past tense
my thoughts on this, with my own experiences in arguing with a SO in mind, have always been along the lines that with the argument going down an octave the music is portraying that fizzle that happens at the end of a fight. you know those type of fights where you're so into what your saying, you believe in it, it's something that's been in your mind for so long that your finally repeating aloud. it's almost like your talking to yourself and someone just happens to be there.
I used to have those ALL the time. and the person your talking to just.... sits there. and they say nothing. (having also been that person, I know that it can occur for multiple reasons such as thinking over there words said, comprehending, fighting your own emotions which was why I connected so much with Cathy in the beginning.) after you've poured everything out and your waiting for something, anything to convey that they understand or they don't agree or the screaming. just anything.
and you get nothing but dead air. That octave drop always told me that he was just done. he laid everything out and got nothing in return. so now he's just tired and trying to sum up this entire monologue of feelings into one defining sentence. and he barely had the energy to do it. that's what I always got from it.
and I felt very in tune with Jaime on like my fourth time watching it. 😅 the first three times I was very anti Jaime. like I realized immediately that their relationship was toxic and that Cathy had her faults and problematic behavior. but he CHEATED on her and just gave up on their relationship. obviously he didn't care about her at all. and hearing the song more from Cathy's view, relating to her for having been in that role before myself, he sounded condescending and insincere. it did very much seem like he was just filling the air with words that would persuade her to go with him to the party.
and I rolled my eyes and talked to my computer and called him a bastard.
but after trying to see the relationship from Jaime's view, I also realized that his stance was something I was familiar with too.like earlier stated, very anti Jamie in the beginning- save for when he was singing the smuele song. that was I guy I wanted a relationship with.
like he was cheering her up, had secured her things she would need to get a refreshed start on what she wanted. he was supportive and caring. So with this new mind frame, you see him do this, and support her summer trips, and not constantly be on her case about casting calls. I think Jaime really did want her to succeed. I don't think he *meant* to sound conceited or have a tone of 'I've done this why can't you' . I definitely don't think he meant to say the the damning lines of the song aloud. (I will not fail so you can be comfortable Cathy/I will not lose because you can't win.) And the music goes along with that I think.
To me the shift change conveys that moment when you've said too much. but it's out there and you can't take it back. the best you can do is summarize, try to take your words back to the main thought that you were trying to convey. That shift is regret, a lack of energy, a finished outlook. He's exhausted and at a loss for what else to say.
or at least that's how I always felt after one of my ranting fits 😂
also I did notice something during this video. After the 'I will not lose because you can't won't, the chords (not having read the actual music) it sounds like the beginning of I'm still hurting. It kind of makes me think that this argument was something that Cathy was thinking about while having that moment of hurt. I just thought that was pretty cool.
also the past tense I think is also him summarizing his entire argument. he's bringing it all to a close. and the travel log could possibly convey just all of it being in one place . their entire relationship of him being the one to stand her up on her feet again and kiss her boo boos and reassure her constantly. his whole history of being the one to do that. he's telling her that they've caught up to the present moment and he's reassuring her that one last time. I believe in you because I love you. but it's hard and it's exhausting and I don't think I can do it anymore. him saying that the travel log ended there could've also been akin to that being the moment he had to stop. the beginning of the end. the moment when he stopped putting so much effort into their relationship. the figurative end to their journeys together. relationship=journeys=travel.
Great now do the rest of the show
I absolutely love these videos! Please continue. Maybe try a group number next? (I also love Jeremy Jordan so much thanks for doing one of his songs)
I love this so much, I agree that Jamie is a jerk throughout most of the story. You should do an analysis of the rest of the musical.
omg i would be so happy if you did soul of a man or im not my fathers son, literally anything from kinky boots
To me, Jaime is in love with the idea of love, and Cathy this ideal of a life she envisioned. So on both sides they ended up ruining their relationship Bc they never quite got to the reality of it all.
IIDBIY fucks me up, bc to me it reads so much like someone who doesn’t quite know how to support someone, so they’re kinda playing the part. He has this idea that he needs to convince her, fix her, instead of just existing with her and supporting her. And her not becoming 1000% successful and confident and fixed, to him is a failure in himself. Which pushes her away, just as her fixation on being better then where she came from ends up making her more bitter, insecure, and etc...
Honestly I feel that the reason for the collapse of the relationship was the tension and Cathy's depression and lack of confidence, yes Jamie's cheating was a part of it but she never actually knew about that just he did. Her behaviour pushed him away, eventually pushed him into another's arms and then he made the decision that they couldn't make each other happy.
She is constantly getting down and he's trying to help her but feels that the way she is acting she is almost jealous of his success. I don't hear it as his belief in her is all that matters, I hear it as him saying that he has always believed in her and he knows she can do it, if he hadn't believed in her or her abilities then there would be no relationship because belief in what your partner can achieve is vital. It is almost like he is responding to her arguing maybe that he doesn't believe in her and all he cares about is his own success. He's trying to explain that he's there for her by believing in her achieving her goals and pulling her up to where he is rather than belittling his achievements and bringing himself down to where she is emotionally and in her career.
You kind of see him now at the end of his tether, he's fighting for them and supporting her and their relationship and she is kind of emotionally blackmailing him and complaining to him all the time, feeling sorry for herself that her career isn't where she wants it to be. He wants to celebrate his achievement (which lets face it to be a famous author is a pretty great achievement) and she is being petty and childish that she won't even come with him.
Honestly this is the song that makes me understand that Jamie isn't the utter knob that you initially think he is.
He's tired of fighting a loosing battle against her, he tries to build her up she tries to tear him down. This song signals the end of their relationship because after that the love and faith has gone, she's become petty and naggy and he after turning down lots of women over the years because of his love for Cathy has enough and then you see in his next song that he has turned to the woman who has always supported HIM and helped HIM, his agent Elise. He has fallen for her because she has been there for him whilst Cathy complained at him, unfortunately, Cathy pushed him away. Jamie's mistakes were A) Not ending things with Cathy in person and B) Not ending things with Cathy before moving on.
I agree. I see both sides of it especially in this song. I see how Jamie comes across, but I don't think that matches his intentions. It's all kind of a misunderstanding which is what makes it so heartbreaking.
hI i'M jEwIsH
What i thought the line "here's where the travel log ends" meant was that if jamie didn't believe in cathy, their relationship would end right then and there, which he does a little bit later when he cheats on her, showing that he never truly believed in her.
I wonder what your take on Shmuels song because I thought that was him being supportive🤔
do burn from hamilton
I desperately need a piano tutorial :'(
You WIN and sold out!! Suscribe!!
It's funny how much Jamie is a jerk in this show considering that it's Jason Robert Brown's self.
you're adorable
Les mirsables - I dreamed a dream.
Waitress - she use to be mine.
Phantom of the opera- any song!!
Totally random but... Wow... Idk how you can play The piano with a chair that short.