Starlight Express: AC/DC

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[@ivyj.9489]

someone told me about starlight express today and i think i can feel myself ascending to the fifth realm.

[@molliecameron7074]

That's what its like

[@ivyj.9489]

Mollie Cameron it’s fascinating

[@molliecameron7074]

Ivy J. Indeed

[@affsteak3530]

Welcome to the forbidden knowledge that there was a musical created with more hubris than Spider-Man Turn off the Dark.

[@KingOfElectricNinjas]

@@affsteak3530 And it was somehow an incredible success. At least in Germany for some reason.

[@darrenawang3548]

can we take a second to appreciate that someone did five pirouettes in a row in roller skates

[@GalenMarekOfficial]

He did a lil more than just 5 in a row ^^

[@shaunburch234]

He did 19

[@josielara7969]

I can do that!! I'm only 13 and the show is no longer on🙁🙁🙁🙁 am dying to see this as I am a artistic roller skater xx

[@mikro7399]

Josielara same omg!!!!! :)

[@avsbes98]

@@josielara7969 The Show is still going in Germany (Bochum) - although right now it is ofc closed because of covid. But if you travel to Germany after Covid it will probably be open again and iirc. there are also some english only nights scattered throughout the year.

[@bi_cycle]

"Electra must be rich to have his own repair truck"
"Or unreliable!"

[@theaccidentalhousewife]

I was gonna say Electra must be pretty shitty to need it's own dedicated repair truck

[@redlight4739]

I miss that line

[@michaeljfan9720]

I did a lot of research on this musical just to understand a goddamn Family Guy cutaway gag.

[@Rymeen23]

That's exactly why I'm here today

[@shakeylastephens5171]

Omg that is the very reason I'm looking at this I heard it on TV the other day and it instantly reminded me of family guy

[@MrTim223]

Starlight Express, Starlight Express, Starlight Express, Starlight Express, [now frustrated] STARlight Express, STARLIGHT EXPRESS!
[SKATES away] Starlight Express!
Know what would have made it even better? If Peter had said Starlight Express one more time.

[@mp3holder94]

Ugh same here today (even though I’ve seen the gag 100’s of time)

[@nickynick9800]

Oh my god that's why I'm here

[@ghostrights9314]

Jeez...Thomas the Tank Engine is much more intense than I remembered.

[@randomdudeproductions4835]

Damn

[@KingOfElectricNinjas]

This musical was literally inspired by Thomas the Tank Engine, apparently. And presumably a trainload of cocaine.

[@victoriaaiu5765]

I don't know how to feel about this musical....
....but it's scaring me.

[@pazuzu126]

My God, this is like the most 80's thing I have ever seen in my entire life. It's almost mindbogglingly 80's

[@Charlotte-ci4is]

And its amazing

[@WondersChannel]

No, it's not a patch on the 1984 version of this song...

[@vesselofgod1755]

And every anime villain that talks a big game, but is actually powerless

[@vesselofgod1755]

I thought the plot revolved around a child's dream

[@rhoda6573]

@@vesselofgod1755 That must have been one precocious child!

[@ginastarke2]

If Weber plans to revive Starlight Express, he needs to get Daft Punk involved.

[@AskingAlexandria2303]

Andrea Tharp the whole musical reminds me of daft punk and transformers for some reason lol

[@hawktalon7890]

Okay, I laughed way too hard at this. Kudos.

[@Winterhe4rt]

the musical is still alive and well. Webber and his original team modernized the musical 2 years ago. its still running in germany for over 30 years now.

[@MrTim223]

@@Winterhe4rt the German theater is in Bochum and the stage is made only for Starlight Express. I've seen many UA-cam videos about the Bochum theater and it really looks great, I would like to see it there on one of the English only nights they schedule through the year.

[@usernamenumber]

Wow... just... yes. Wow.

[@freakrx2349]

So basically this is what happens when you give all of the Stands from Jojos Bizarre Adventure their own musical.

[@marcusblackwell2372]

Not exactly.
The only similarity is how unique they all are, which really doesn't say much.
It's more like an aged up (but still family friendly) Thomas The Tank Engine

[@classz123]

Thomas and the amazing techno tank engine

[@KingOfElectricNinjas]

@@marcusblackwell2372 It was literally inspired by Thomas the Tank Engine.

[@cqmorrell]

@@KingOfElectricNinjas And almost WAS Thomas but the Rev. Audry said no.

[@pderham26]

How does that make this any easier to understand? Did you just wanna reference an anime?

[@chriskurtz6707]

props to this guy for singing this song so fookin well... like it took me ages just to understand the time signature

[@genshikashmir]

It's just 7/8, isn't it?

[@chriskurtz6707]

@@genshikashmir yeah...i had the roll when. i was 11 though😂

[@genshikashmir]

@@chriskurtz6707 oh, wow. Yeah, that's pretty impressive, kudos.

[@pazuzu126]

He is kind of like the electronic Rum Tum Tugger

[@sarahshepherd2559]

I mean, alot of actors have played them both, including John Partridge

[@WhiteMadea]

Sarah Shepherd LOVE John Partridge. He will forever be my favorite Tugger.

[@andybtheactor611]

@@sarahshepherd2559 Kofi Missah

[@marcusblackwell2372]

Only difference is that Rum Tum Tugger seems to have actually helped the main characters to an extent

[@MakiPcr]

I think I love Electra, he's beautiful (and environmentally friendly!)

[@ginastarke2]

So, this kid is playing with his trains and one of them is making some pretty obvious bisexual metaphors. Next stop, puberty!

[@MrTim223]

No, it just so happens that Control is very interested in the pros & cons of Alternating Current versus Direct Current in railway applications! Really, I don't know why people think lines such as, "AC, DC, ok by me! I can switch and turn you on to me!" is anything but electrical jargon!!

[@phillipecook3227]

@@MrTim223 : )

[@MakiPcr]

Electra is apparently also gender fluid, so you know

[@thehockeynerd3479]

Electra is confirmed to be bisexual, gender fluid

[@Astrithor]

Side note: while the performance is incredibly well done...let's not ignore the sheer amount of gay energy coming off that main character. Dear sweet Bippy, he's practically shooting rainbows of his very being!

[@jennyupabove]

Dear sweet bippy is the best reaction to this. I'm going to start using this.

[@cuddly-toy7646]

He's canonically bisexual so

[@Purplestraw]

Ac/dc is slang for bisexuality.

[@scrumbula8277]

bro just descends from the heavens to sing about how bisexual and awesome he is and then scampers away

[@robertmandl9326]

One of the most awesome and colorful musical characters created in the 80s. Electra is one of my all time favourites for a variety of reasons.

[@shiloreno9917]

This is a really high quality recording! Rare find! Seeing this show in person, it's so intense. Cool effects, fast and strange movements - I remember it was this constant feeling of "wow did they just do that?!"

[@Goblin_1105]

I'm not 100% what is going on here, but I think it's the best thing I've seen in a long time.

[@cheekysmiley]

It's an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical about steam, diesel and electric trains racing against each other. It's absolutely fantastic, one of my all time fave musicals. If you ever get a chance to see it, do!

[@jwrocks]

I saw it in England when I was about 6-- I loved it and got to sit front row balcony.

[@alyssaxrad]

He's an electric train.

[@gezag.hanniker1940]

The electric locomotive - The future - Is being introduced.

[@OceanbornAngel]

Imagine this musical being given the Cats (2019) treatment.

[@StanBlankPlushelodeon]

I’m not quite sure how that would work out. Would they still maintain human proportions and have the terrifying CGI cover their bodies with train junk, or would they be actual trains with terrifying CGI human faces on them? Either way we’ll never know because this musical never came close to the popularity of Cats, and the 2019 movie bombed hard, so making a live action Starlight Express would be an unfathomably stupid business decision.

[@strangeandinteresting]

Don't you DARE speak this into existence

[@OceanbornAngel]

@@StanBlankPlushelodeon I was actually joking and not serious. I mean seriously...it would be more of a horror show than Cats.

[@StanBlankPlushelodeon]

I know. It would be the most unholy nightmare fuel put to movie screens in a LONG time.

[@geovaughan8261]

@@OceanbornAngel STOP SAYING THE WORDS! You're practically BEGGING the universe to make it real!

[@story3877]

How much coke was involved in the making of this musical?

[@HermanFalckHow]

How much coke you can buy with Cats money. Well that much.

[@Thaumaturge2251]

Yes.

[@henryam503]

It's Andrew Lloyd Webber so, probably none he's just Like That

[@kagato23]

@@henryam503 That's what happens when you have CATS money to buy coke. Nobody remembers who you were sober.

[@petrino]

*in the making of every musical?

[@ThePawsupmonster]

I played Electra last summer! It was probably the best show I've ever done :)

[@blavkjae3981]

ThePawsupmonster ❤

[@oforlikelalune1506]

Lol how did you get into it?

[@izzfizz9721]

Oh wow I played Volta last summer too! Didnt do the play with stagecoach?

[@zoesdada8923]

Im sorry

[@MrTim223]

Andrew Lloyd Webbers' musicals are always very well choreographed and physically demanding with the dance routines & vocals. Then add in the required rollerskates, and that requires even more stamina - you gotta appreciate the dedication and effort of all the actors & actresses, just amazing.

[@TheLunafilms]

And I thought The Spongebob musical was one of the weirdest things to be on Broadway....What a naive fool I was!

[@Charlotte-ci4is]

This isnt Broadway - its a tour, and also this musical didn't do well on Broadway - they only got about 700 performances which is very little compared to other musicals, especially as StEx managed to stay on west end for two decades.

[@hungergames7fan13]

this song is literally about him being bisexual

[@zedwardbvnny]

hungergames7 fan YUP AND ITS AMAZING

[@OwainMilliken]

Viper Kitty tbh i didnt know he was a guy at first

[@JenniferMejia-ir3fp]

true

[@rbdriftin]

ahahahaha

[@MrTim223]

Think you meant it's figuratively about being bisexual, not literally.

[@Annaliebteis]

I also think that the costumes in Germany are much better designed. In other countries, they are so generous and they could go with that as well in a brothel.

[@mattkennedy3474]

Anna generous....?

[@eurovicious]

@@mattkennedy3474 It's a mistranslation from German, she means "revealing"

[@keetard]

Wdym, German version is also a replica??

[@scottiegirl2041]

God, that entrance... I saw SE at the Edinburgh Playhouse about 10/11 years ago and I will never forget how amazing Electra's entrance was into the show. Amazing, just amazing.

[@Scandilady]

ScottieGirl20 I saw this in London where is was sold out seems forever. Speeding skaters, the seats and balcony were removed from the theater, ab fab.

[@RobotSavetheworld]

I thought I knew what camp was before I found out about this musical, but it turns out I had so much more to learn.

[@TheBlackDogChronicles]

I have only known one song from this musical previously, but with this dynamic performance I feel I should listen to the whole musical.

[@kenpope5701]

Wth gives you that feeling lol, I don't even know what kind of weirdness I just watched.

[@whatsittooya4608]

I love the new songs from starlight express!
“Queen” and “guns ‘n’ roses”

[@johnnyjohnny998]

This is me driving in a prius

[@henryam503]

Yeah

[@unfortunatewormpile6872]

God that octave change... Swoon

[@katmanxrocks444]

My school performed this musical earlier this year. This song will always be one of my favourites :3

[@jonaspitt5236]

I just learned about starlight express and I can't believe this is real it feels like something someone would make up as a joke

[@kdonn]

ACDC got really weird after the drummer started doing meth.

[@frankieboitv619]

When was that 😂

[@RogueBoyScout]

LMFAO....

[@izzfizz9721]

Lol

[@joanneg665]

Listening to this and the others makes my hair stand on end. Years ago they skate along the Isles. One of the best memories of my childhood. Fortunately managed to see this 3 or more times ❤

[@JOHNWILLIAMS-yw5iv]

This was the hottest ticket in 84. I was an obsessed 9 year old.

[@BethWillRise]

I’ve just discovered this exists today...I have no words.

[@mardig7271]

I deeply regret not using this song to come out

[@klaine4eva167]

Fun fact, electra is the first bi characters in musicak theatre. The name of his intro song (AC/DC) was slang for a bisexual person

[@theevilascotcompany9255]

@@klaine4eva167 Arguable. Robert and Peter from Company (1970) are strongly coded as bisexual, as both have admitted they have had same-sex encounters in the past and may do so again (especially in Peter's case) but both appear to still like women sexually (especially in Robert's case). Then you've got your pick of the characters in the Rocky Horror Show (1973).

[@geministrial950]

@@klaine4eva167 O H

[@wriggleby]

​@@klaine4eva167no dude what about like everyone in rocky horror

[@klaine4eva167]

​@@theevilascotcompany9255OH fun I didn't know that

[@666stoat]

29th Jan 2015 sees the last ever perfomance of the legdendary Mykal Rand as electra in Bochum, due to a knee injury, he will be greatle missed buy all, all the best Mykal xx we love you x !

[@thiskid990]

Damn I’m in love

[@Yodelinthegully-d7r]

It’s amazing they could find so many people who could roller skate.

[@artierace8664]

I believe they go to a special skate school for three months first.

[@catherinealex1679]

Yes at least 3 months of skate school and then they learn the show.

[@ladyturantulo]

This guys glued on mohawk is making me nervous. It looks like it's going to fall off. 0.0

[@mykalrand]

No it never fell off. We're a professional production!

[@phillipecook3227]

God I'd love to see a full bells and whistles production of this show. Bet it would blow the mind. Hard to believe it came fron Lloyd Webber.

[@rogerstevens4818]

You should have seen the original i mean first six months,they had to slow it down, the cast were travelling at 40 miles an hour round the edge of the circle so fast amazing

[@phillipecook3227]

@@rogerstevens4818 Wow!

[@raydgreenwald7788]

I mean this is the same guy that brought us the Cats musical so an over-the-top musical about train engine doesn't really feel that far out there to me

[@readyplayerart3mis]

I mean he also did Phantom of the Opera, not just Cats

[@stephenpeller1571]

I've never done drugs but I'm pretty sure this is how it feels to be on all of them

[@aguyinagreenhat6614]

All these years and having seen it in London as a kid and a couple more of the wee tours I never realised that song is actually about Bisexuality!

[@connorthemusicguru690]

I feel like I"m on drugs...

[@tracksidefilms5416]

I think he is singing about he his locomotive can run on both AC and D.C. currents like some trains

[@GekkoTVxx]

That and AC/DC stands for bisexual

[@MerylORo]

It's a play on words so means both. The writer was a comedy song writer who often used wordplay

[@phillipecook3227]

Yeh .... right .... that's all he's singing about ...

[@ClassicDepravities]

I DONT WANNA HEAR ANY OF YALL SHITTING ON CATS ANYMORE
clearly, CLEARLY it could have been worse

[@henryam503]

Don't see it Chief

[@birdygamerXD]

Doesnt changes the fact how bad it is

[@stephengregory404]

They made a movie so ya it got worse

[@Rebochan]

I demand a Tom Hooper adaptation with digital steel technology!

[@williampulfer-melville8536]

ID like to see an animated film based on Starlight Express in the near future

[@Fanfiktion1988]

AC DC is a Legend in this Musical!!!

[@JoeyMBrooklyn]

When I was first learning what Starlight is I watched this
Electra's shape and accent of their trucks made me think they're all from France.

[@PhineasFlynn]

They play this Version in Germany now! And Mykal Rand will take over the part of Electra in May!

[@harukozgoalz3566]

Me: how much coke was involved in the making of this musical?
Producer: *yes*

[@sikujacob4556]

Who here actually knows AC/DC is not just the name of a rock band?

[@cakenshake]

SIKU Jacob
I saw this and thought “fuckin what AcDc got involved in a musical?!” Then I saw the fabulousness of all the skaters and thought “Oh it’s starlight express and they’re talking about Alternating current and Direct current

[@shaunburch234]

Me

[@HAMF9666]

It's like the roller skating robot version of cats.

[@Max-qz4tw]

This is hands down the best footage. I've been looking forever for anything this good (the sets for some of these runs are insane), too bad theater refuses to release buyable media after the initial run. Thanks for the upload.

[@Johnjacob654]

Having an idea of Thomas The Tank Engine going on Broadway and being like this show

[@ninereeds1810]

Electra should've been the main character and I will die on this hill

[@geministrial950]

This is such a based comment

[@burnt_0range319]

Oh that would have been so much fun! That entrance was no joke!

[@pumpkinpatch5]

Jeez... I saw this as a kid and now I’m amazed at how the school thought this would be ok for kids. 😂

[@agent_277]

Well. I'm from Germany, very near at Bochum, and I must say, that the German Version is SO AWESOME! Starlight Express was my first visited Musical and i was a couple of times there. Everything ja so fantastic there. Costumes, music (of course) Singers, Theater. EVERYTHING. And know, that i saw this Version, i really can see a difference between the English and German Version. The really first difference i saw between these are the costumes. Way different! But i really like the Singers Voice! Except that Electro can Fly...THIS is more than a little bit wirde, also a huge difference. Honestly. You guys must see the show in Germany if you have the Chance. (Sorry if my language is not that fantastic.)

[@tabesssss]

Natascha Klein ich komme auch aus deutschland baden Württemberg und das war auch mein erstes und das war viel besser

[@jestersbitch6891]

I thought i dreamt this musical but apparently it’s real!

[@idahoblue4851]

The staging looks like the UK tour version from 2012 (the Bill Kenright-produced tour) that eventually went to Singapore. I saw this in May 2012 and it was the worst of the versions of the show that I have seen so far since 1993.
They have to use the costumes from the 2003-4 US tour as the races use a 3D video that was produced for that particular tour.
Mykal Rand as Electra though. Love that guy... ;-)

[@paula.cosplay]

Iam so glad that we have the good costumes in the german version 👌🏼

[@psrpippy]

This is the touring version and in my opinion not worth seeing. The only one worth seeing these days is in the permanent theatre in Bochum, Germany. Excellent show.

[@Jyihomichiru]

I have never been so attracted to a gender fluid, pansexual train before. And that is Probably the most bizarre sentence I’ve ever typed.

[@DreamBelief]

Good, but John Partridge is my favourite by far. Has anyone else got a favourite Electra?

[@artierace8664]

I have three; John Partridge, Dustin Dubreuil, and Jeffrey Socia. Ive sort of mashed them together into a hybrid of all three for my fanfics; the appearance of Jeremy (with the exception of the mohawk, I see it as detachable); the singing voice and vocal mannerisms of John Partridge, and the characteristics of Dustin Dubreuil.

[@Charlotte-ci4is]

The original x

[@Darkkiss-mv7em]

Jeder der das deutsche Starlight Express kennt,weiß wie überspielt diese UK-Tour ist bzw. war.....ich wünschte mein English wär gut genung,das auf English zu verfassen^^

[@tabesssss]

Darkkiss1410 ich kenne das und das ist so aufreizend(sexuel anregend) wegen den kostümen vorallem bei dinah die sind so spott in schritt gesteckt bah

[@melina123zumba6]

Ich kenne manche Lieder auf Englisch.

[@lukeross2247]

I love this watched it about 73 times

[@louisemasterson2904]

I'm am doing this at my drama youth group and I'm Electra so I'm going to have fun xx

[@lazlomattachine8334]

Trippy is an understatement

[@t3swyatt798]

It’s pronounced “Esidisi” but tbh I prefer Wamuu

[@AleskanderPog]

Ah I love seeing Boruto references

[@kaelinmilesky9654]

fancy seeing jojo in the starlight express comments .. small world

[@OneWingedAngel1999]

I love this song!

[@marleecarter9953]

They might as well be robots

[@Shindai]

This looks wild, I wish live shows like this got an official release

[@frazerwright8653]

Electra you’re brilliant

[@haseulibae7083]

I literally just stumbled across a thread on twt about this and I'm in love, this is the best thing I've ever watched

[@EthalaRide]

Why has this never been a theme on Drag Race?? I mean come on.

[@burnt_0range319]

RIGHT- it's serving without even trying to.

[@superpeytendo64]

Trains in 80's Britain: Hahaha look they're model steam engines with faces!
Trains in 80's Germany:

[@bi_cycle]

Okay. As a nostalgic fan,
THIS IS NOT HOW YOU DO IT

[@edwardlee6507]

family guy and a lot of Pancresta brought me here now I must ascend to the higher planes be at peace people be at peace

[@2realanime]

Peter griffin brought me here

[@Musicalfreaky93]

the german version is much better.. the costumes, the show etc.. they can't beat Starlight Express Bochum

[@lenaaaa4326]

Ist wirklich so ... Voralem der unterschied zwischen Pearl amerika und Pearl Deutschland find sie in Boch viel schöner...

[@joelscb]

Musicalfreaky93 the german one is shitty

[@darkzeus5154]

HUSO

[@tdeggz]

too bad i dont know a lick of german :”)

[@siishigh05]

Musicalfreaky93 yes. I'm a germangirl and I go on the 11.8.18 the next! Its better😃

[@shrekgetsspooked4615]

Starlight express! Starlight express! Starlight Express! Starlight express!
*Gets angry*
STARLIGHT EXPRESS! STARLIGHT EXPRESS! STARLIGHT EXPRESS! STARLIGHT EXPRESS! STARLIGHT EXPRESS!! STARLIGHT EXPRESS!
*Takes off helmet*
*THROWS HELMET WELL TRIGGERED!

[@sparkplugdoug4489]

SHREK GETS SPOOKED! Yo I just got here after seeing that clip of peter

[@sumosacks9558]

Peter griffin

[@karaminter8208]

I love this song. I did the whole starlight express show not too long ago with 23 other people.it was brill ! out of all the songs, I think this one was my favourite ( although, I wasn't in it ; I played the prince of whales part - lucky me , not! LOL ). still I know all the lyrics to this song and I think its great !!!

[@imav1ctor]

I like this in an ironically unironic way

[@Dim4323]

their need to be a live action movie of this

[@itzelgc4637]

They should get Taylor Swift for this too.

[@JoshFreilich]

I love this new 21st century remix of the song! This should be recorded in the studio, maybe even with some Auto-Tune for the "Change my frequency" bits...

[@felipef1nn40]

3:52 omg he's doing the triple bye bye birdie

[@sikujacob4556]

That's one, "Rock n Roll Train."

[@jonnguyen001]

If you’re watching this in 2022 and wondering why this crap was so popular in the 80s and considered the pinnacle of human artistic expression, there’s a simple explanation:
Cocaine

[@drewbieark]

I don’t remember this level in mega man.

[@Indestructiblevibranium]

Peter from Family Guy
"Starlight Express"

[@BruceWayneBrady]

Waypoint radio brought me here and it's wilder than I imagined

[@magician722]

I stumbled on this by mistake now I love it!!!

[@JeraWizard]

The fact that there isn't a recording of this person's performance on spotify is a crime against humanity and trainkind

[@t.e.burgos3263]

For people who thought CATS was not weird or incomprehensible enough...

[@daleksupreme922]

Almost brings a tear to my eye to see the old performance before they butchered it

[@wobblesman4316]

This is definitely one of the weirder things i’ve seen on the internet and this isn’t even from the internet

[@sghps4315]

The “Turn you on to me” part broke me. This was way too much to understand a family guy reference

[@Da1Dez]

When will the inevitable big budget film version come out I wonder...

[@JoeyArmstrong2800]

Freakishly garish but I cannot stop watching.

[@hawktalon7890]

It's nice to be able to actually see the costumes.

[@thisisusRRR]

This scared the living **** out of me when I saw it in London as a kid in the 90s!