Ding Dong! Vocal ANALYSIS of South Park Creator's Musical Intro from "Book Of Mormon"

[@dianechristensen1391]

I don’t like South Park I don’t like the musical making fun of my religion I just wish somebody could set them straight you say stop it already you’re not doing yourself any favors

[@TheCharismaticVoice]

I'm sorry you feel that way, Diane. In researching whether to do this or not, I read the following: 'In response to the musical, the church issued a single statement: "The production may attempt to entertain audiences for an evening, but the Book of Mormon as a volume of scripture will change people's lives forever by bringing them closer to Christ."' This was corroborated by multiple sources that the leadership of the Mormon religion was acceptant of this musical.

[@TheRealKarlis]

Your church leaders turned it in to a marketing coup. They ran ads in the play bills. As soon as you come out of the theater, you are almost guaranteed to be confronted by a bus with church information plastered down the side of it. I live in a place where I know more about Mormon's than I would ever care to, but many people know nothing about this religion. This musical introduces them to it, and in a very positive and humorous way. There is no such thing as bad press after all. Also, it's more about the missionary life experience than any type of attempt to attack the religion as a whole, and all of the runs in Salt Lake when the tour came through were sold out instantly.

[@mikek9297]

Well, I don't like religion and I wish someone would set that little past time enjoyers straight. It has done way more damage to this world than silly cartoons and musicals so... how about a look in a mirror, Diane ?

[@shanej6798]

As an active LDS member and former returned missionary I find this hilarious! If you find this offensive you have no sense of humor!

[@maleexile9053]

I actually heard the church leaders didn't mind the episode heck they loved it

[@jacksonsteele5084]

I remember being a missionary when this play came out. The church made such a huge marketing push, and if anyone ever asked about it, we were encouraged to talk about it. Then within a week of returning home, my good friends who were not LDS took me to see the play. And noone out of the group was laughing harder than me. I've since parted ways with the church, but I still have very fond memories of seeing this musical at the Fox Theater in Atlanta.

[@tookitogo]

It’s the only musical I’ve ever watched live, and it was glorious. There were Mormon missionaries waiting outside when it finished, handing out the book and talking to anyone who wanted to. They were very friendly. I imagine that if they’d made a similar parody musical about Christianity or Islam, there would be people picketing outside with torches and pitchforks…

[@Finsternis..]

​@@tookitogo Mormons are Christians. They believe in the same god, they believe in the holy spirit and in Jesus as well as his resurrection. So your prediction has little merit.

[@tookitogo]

@@Finsternis.. Yes, they do. But the musical is about Mormonism specifically, so you really can’t say it’s about Christianity in general.

[@bluexbeanlyn]

@@tookitogo parodying Islam can easily evolve into racism tho

[@bluexbeanlyn]

*devolve

[@blairphifer1554]

Josh Gad (Olaf, Frozen) was Elder Cunningham in the original Broadway production of the show.

[@jedinxf7]

that's who I saw it with and I can't trust anyone else but Josh gad to play elder Cunningham

[@cunha545]

And he's sooooo freaking amazing in that role

[@carlbarron3087]

Bear claw

[@jdorffer]

I saw it and loved it,

[@rapsakkc-rwoah9258]

@@jedinxf7I saw a bootleg of the Chicago version where Ben platt played him and he’s was great maybe not as good as josh gad but still great

[@Chapterhouse86]

Trey Parker may be one of the most underrated songwriters of our time. The stuff he has written for South Park, plus this musical, just wow. True musical genius, and he can sing/play the piano like a beast!

[@dizdawgjr34]

Plus the South Park movie is a musical as well

[@joefriedman9843]

@@dizdawgjr34 Its such a good musical that Stephen fucking Sondheim said it was one of the best musicals of the last 15 years when he saw it. He loved Team America too.

[@guyr.6053]

@@dizdawgjr34 And Team America... Almost every thing Trey does somehow becomes infused with terrific music...

[@nonapplicable8817]

Gigachad for the Clyde Frog pfp.

[@hengineer]

he was in Newsies as a young man

[@williamhutton2126]

The Book of Mormon is one of my favorite musicals. "Hasa Diga Eebowai" is an absolute gem

[@Hamiltonfai]

oh man, i cant imagine her doing a reaction to that song LOL

[@williamhutton2126]

@@Hamiltonfai Me either but it was worth a shot

[@blairphifer1554]

When I went to see it last year on Broadway, they were selling "Hasa Diga, COVID" t-shirts.

[@garretthenderson5738]

I wrote a parody of Hasa Diga Eebowai for my law school's big annual revue. Very few accomplishments in my life will ever compare to the total glee of performing that on stage. Glorious song.

[@williamhutton2126]

@@blairphifer1554 That's awesome.

[@BrowneePointz]

So for a fun fact Elizabeth, the original Elder Cunningham was played by Josh Gad, and it's in fact the role that launched him into the spotlight. His original run in the role is as iconic as Chip Zien's Baker from Into the Woods

[@ziggystardog]

He was also cast in later productions of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee which predate BOM as the nerdy Barfee which likely lead to this similar role. The song Pandemonium from this show would be a good one for her to analyze.

[@brocephus1107]

When the voice first talks to Elder Cunningham, it says "You're making things up again, Elder Cunningham!" That's the line that pulls the entire play together

[@richardeaton6119]

You should do "I Believe" from the same Tony Awards broadcast. Andrew Rannels plays the main character and he has a pretty incredible voice.

[@turcj]

I agree. I Believe is amazing!

[@ZappaSheik]

("The fuck is this?")

[@richardeaton6119]

@@ZappaSheik Haha. yep!

[@andmyster4]

I agree! though I believe (pun intended) that performance was from the previous year's broadcast

[@richardeaton6119]

@@andmyster4 Ah, yeah. You are probably right.

[@courtneyphoenixhealing9477]

OMG I'm so happy you're doing this! I absolutely love everything that Trey and Matt do because it's hilarious and also teaches a lesson. And for anybody who is Mormon, the church took out an ad in the playbill welcoming people to check out their church and their faith. Trey Parker and Matt Stone called it "an atheist love letter to religion" as well as calling the Mormons "crazy nice."

[@GrunkleBearnison]

The church took out like 3 ads in the playbill when I saw BoM, lol.

[@courtneyphoenixhealing9477]

I did not know about the 3 ads! 😂 But goes to show that those getting upset about her doing this reaction may not be as aware of the goings on in their own religion as Trey&Matt fans do 😉

[@flavoredwallpaper]

They also make fun of every religion, so it's only fair that they make fun of the Mormons too.

[@WookieWarriorz]

@@courtneyphoenixhealing9477 i just know im not even from american and i have 2 friends who were excommunicated for being bi or gay and arent allowed to talk to their family, then another who was sexually abused and the mormon church hid it. fuck religious institutions.

[@jb7753]

derka derka

[@richardfranz3180]

For the uninitiated, "South Park, The Movie" is also a musical. It shocked the sh*t out of me. If you can stand the F-bomb dropped 5,000 times, I highly recommend it. What a glorious precursor to the fabulous "Book of Mormon". Matt and Trey are brilliant. Elizabeth, you ain't half bad either.

[@theJohnGaltLine]

Not to mention Team America and Cannibal! The Musical.

[@CyberBeep_kenshi]

Nothing wrong with f-bombs. Bring it on

[@CyberBeep_kenshi]

@Lemon Sweets ye, it's just sad really. The gop uses jebus to control these idiots. Glad i am not from there or i might have ended up like that pffff

[@scottanderson2807]

Love the South Park movie. Have always wanted to become a stage musical

[@SJRenkola]

All the movies Trey Parker writes are basically musicals. Cannibal, South Park, Team America.

[@NPK476]

OMG YES. Tray and Matt just had the 25th South Park Anniversary concert at Red Rocks a few weeks ago, it's worth checking out a song or two and so funny seeing the songs live.

[@courtneyphoenixhealing9477]

I watched the gay fish song about 20 times 😂 I so wish I could have been there

[@unmemorablehero]

How did I not know about this?!?!?

[@NPK476]

@@unmemorablehero Are you serious? OK, you gotta watch the whole performance, It's up now on Comedy Central. Ween and Primus are the backup band with a very amazing surprise band. They do something like 30 songs though the whole 25 year span of the show, think they did a few Team America songs also.

[@NPK476]

@@courtneyphoenixhealing9477 lol i've done that with the Lemmiwinks song.

[@NPK476]

Joseph Smith was a prophet dumb dumb dumb dumb, Sally Harris smart smart smart smart.

[@Quintzal]

I like how the black & white clothes and upper/ lower tiers are reminiscent of a piano's keyboard. The 11 singers are given their twelfth key when Elder Cunningham pops out, completing the set and introducing a lead character, who quickly distinguishes himself as being a bit off key.

[@tjshannon8762]

Trey wanted to write a Broadway musical before he ever did anything else. I was so happy for him when he achieved his dream. His student film Cannibal: The Musical, while rough due to not having a real budget, gave you a glimpse into that dream. It's a fun, campy watch when you have a couple of hours to kill.

[@ragerequiem6323]

I love Cannibal! The musical. It's one of my favorite movies.

[@starjake]

"Eyebrows speak louder than words" Definite life motto

[@paddy_black]

I saw The Book of Mormon four times in London (yes, I fly to London specifically to watch musicals we don't get here in Austria) and it has some really, really dark humor. But I mean, it was made by the creators of South Park, so that is to be expected. I get if people don't like/appreciate that specific brand of humor/satire, but I enjoyed it! I actually saw two of the actors from the performance you watched in the London performances (Nic Rouleau and Brian Sears as Elders Price and Cunningham), it was really cool! It's awesome to get your perspective as someone who sees and hears it for the first time, also you're pointing out some really cool things I never paid that much attention to.

[@tookitogo]

Surely it hit Vienna a few times? I saw it here in Zurich, which is a much smaller market.

[@paddy_black]

@@tookitogo if it did, I wasn't aware of it, we dont get too many touring productions as far as I know. Also I'm definitely not patient enough to wait for a tour, when I discover a musical I like 😅🙈

[@FeaturingRob]

When the show opened on Broadway, the original leads of Elder Price and Elder Cunningham were played by Andrew Rannells (Price) and Josh Gad (Cunningham). Gad would later work with Robert Lopez on 'Frozen' as Gad voiced Olaf the Snowman (his song "In Summer" is twistedly funny for a Disney movie). He also played LeFou in the live-action version of 'Beauty and the Beast'. Watch the Tony Awards when the show was nominated and you'll see Rannells bringing down the house with Elder Price's big number "I Believe".

[@bluedingo1186]

I cannot properly tell you how excited I was when I got the notification for the premiere of this episode! This opening number is so masterfully coordinated and precisely executed that I get a giddy feeling whenever I hear it. I've never seen it live, but I do have the soundtrack and I listen to it all the time and I love this song so much! Also, Elder Cunningham is the real hero of the story!

[@laisla79]

How did I miss this? The Book of Morman is both hysterically funny and touching.

[@rozasupreme]

Trey Parker is a genius songwriter. The fact most of his work is hidden behind parody and vulgarity is part of the reason he's not spoken about more in the field. Like how most Metal vocalists are ignored and we ALL know how you think of Dio. Even some of the stuff he wrote for South Park is just amazingly put together. The song "Push" he wrote for "Lorde" (Performed by Sia in the Episode) is a perfect example of ho well he understood the assignment and made an authentic sounding Radio Hit. When South Park ends he's gonna become Broadway Royalty

[@AmeriMutt76]

"I've never seen a man eat so many chicken wings!"

[@Robb403]

Seen the play. Wish it could come to TV as a stage play. It won't work as a movie. Maybe PBS could do it because it's not family friendly. This play is so elaborate and energetic and yet incredible that you could watch it ten times and still get drawn in and feel entertained every time. It's amazing how much physical energy it must take to put it on.

[@TheMarcodiator]

HASA DIGA EEBOWAI!!! I Saw this in the theatre in London. I was in TEARS. But also musically, it was AMAZING.

[@mattrichardson5678]

First time hearing this song, and could hear the the closing to the “r” and “n” vowels so early, and knew it would get that reaction from you Elizabeth! Given the satire here it’s definitely on point, and they hold the “o” sound just long enough to trick the listener. Love your message too, love music more every day!

[@MikeDCWeld]

I honestly have no idea what she was talking about with the bit about the "r colored vowel" bit. The end had a beautiful, heavenly tone to it

[@tristanbowman7098]

Got to see the original cast in previews a few weeks before the official opening and was blown away, Andrew Rannels, Josh Gad and Nikki M. James, were incredible.

[@sublucky74]

This song always makes me laugh but I got so much joy from your reactions to it and I loved learning about the musicality too. Thank you!

[@shakarocks]

LDS (Mormon) person here. I served a mission in Africa and I've been a fan of South Park almost since it began. I love satire and I don't mind satire that discusses my religion. Trey and Matt are actually very fond of LDS people and grew up around and even dated them. While this musical is edgy I think it is actually quite fair and reflects a soft spot of Trey and Matt for the church. For the record I didn't do a lot of door knocking in Africa but I did teach about my religion quite a bit. I also did a lot of service work that had nothing to do with proselyting. I worked in orphanages, homes for battered women/children, hospitals, and even coached a basketball team. An LDS missionaries life has some variation and can be very rewarding. Most LDS missionaries experience a huge growth and maturity bump as a result.

[@themplar]

Damnit.. now we have even more education to do over there. And explain them your religion came from a convicted fraud for doing basicly the same thing moronism is based upon. We have to again teach them its all nonsense and that we share common ancestors with them etc etc to stop te harm comming from your beliefs. And all to make you feel better about yourself. Stop doing this harm to others its bad enough you fell for it.

[@giant_rat7781]

What did you think of the South Park episode

[@tookitogo]

When I went to see the Book of Mormon musical, there was a group of Mormon missionaries waiting outside for when it finished. They weren’t mad, they weren’t protesting, they were friendly and simply offered to talk about it to anyone who wanted to. (And give away copies of the book.) Religion isn’t for me, and even if I were, as a gay man the mainstream Mormon church wouldn’t work for me. But I respect Mormons for being, well, pleasant and respectful. It’s a stark contrast from the rabid banshees many other religious unleash as missionaries.

[@shakarocks]

@@giant_rat7781 I thought it was fair. LDS doctrine can seem outlandish to some but most of the time the church produces high-quality people who are just trying to do their best.

[@johnjohn37371]

The thing I find appealing about the majority of Mormons I've known is their tolerance of others beliefs...I was raised Pentecostal, and trust me, my church did not share in this characteristic. I've been an atheist now for nearly thirty five years, but always do my best to respect beliefs, which, ironically, is not something I share with most atheists. Judgement is a nasty thing...

[@TehMegaSnakeFan]

"His(her) enthusiasm is infectious!!": Elizabeth unknowingly explains what we all love about herself

[@darthmagnum2007]

Hi from the future! I just saw The Book of Mormon today and it is everything I hoped it could be and more. Between every aspect of it egregiously stamped with the essence of Matt and Trey, it felt like South Park, Bo Burnham, and Mel Brooks wrapped in one. Amazing show!

[@courtneyphoenixhealing9477]

Also, if you have never reacted to Lacuna Coil, I highly highly encourage you to listen to Cristina! Although you may not find too many live performances, the live ones are so much better than the recorded ones! They did a concert in Poland in 2016, which is one of the best full concert recordings of them that I've heard thus far! I think I've mentioned this before because I so want you to hear Cristina💚 I think some of their best songs are Nothing Stands in Our Way, Heaven's A Lie, Delirium, Spellbound, and House of Shame

[@GrunkleBearnison]

Seconding Lacuna Coil!

[@courtneyphoenixhealing9477]

YAAAAY!! I've been hoping and hoping that she will get to them eventually, hopefully sooner rather than later 💚

[@russward2612]

I also love their cover of REM's 'Enjoy the Silence'. Good call.

[@SonicImmersion_]

Sooo many good songs from them. To name just a few, showcasing Cristina Scabbia's voice: - Lacuna Coil - "Our Truth" (soaring vocals) - Lacuna Coil - "To Live Is To Hide" (more soaring vocals, earlier album) - Lacuna Coil - "Virtual Environment" (just beautiful... singing, instrumentation, and all) - Lacuna Coil - "Hyperfast" (heavier, earlier, more raw) - Lacuna Coil - "Layers Of Time" (newest album, the heaviest yet. Cannot believe Cristina is 50 now, watch official music video of that one to see her sing in different ways) - Lacuna Coil - "Veneficium" (super awesome as well) - etc., etc., etc. Too much good stuff. @Courtney Phoenix: And thank you for requesting that Elizabeth check out Cristina Scabbia & Lacuna Coil! I've also been requesting this, for a couple years! Cristina has such a beautiful & ethereal (their original band name), & powerful voice. Combined with the dueling male vocals, Lacuna Coil has always reminded me of Evanescence... although, Lacuna Coil started some years earlier. Elizabeth's gotta react to Cristina & them!!!

[@perturabo1512]

@@russward2612 depeche mode?

[@Emilaria]

I've watched this video like 4 times because you're joy and glee is incredibly infectious.

[@DD-ef2os]

Will be checking this out when it comes on, looks hilarious. LOL. Shamelessly suggesting this until it happens... Queensryche MTV Unplugged "I Will Remember".. that entire Unplugged session is gold. This song was excellent and one of my favorites, but when I saw this on MTV back then... the acoustics lent it a new beauty. And, of course, it allows Geoff Tate's live vocals to stand out. The master at his prime.. that tone is heavenly.

[@oglschmitt]

I'm with you! Such an amazing performance of a beautiful song!

[@oglschmitt]

🤣🤣🤣This was SO MUCH FUN!!!! After 20 minutes of smiling and laughing my face hurt to the point that I thought it was going to be frozen mid-grin and I would be like a derpy Joker! Did you known that Blind Guardian released a classical/orchestral album? It's based on a fantasy novel called "Die dunken Lande" and I think the lyric video for "This Storm would make an excellent reaction. It has stunning visuals, epic arrangements, and a vocal performance from Hansi that you would love. Soft, vocals, soaring vocals, harsh vocals, vocal layers, character voices, vowel modification; he is truly an Elite level Bard. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and love of music with such joy!

[@gacchan]

This is one of the few musicals I've seen live and it's amazing. A lot of the pieces are so good. Spooky Mormon Hell Dream and I believe are very good

[@jeansvanjeansington1794]

Oh my gosh, you did it! A couple of months ago I left a comment, recommending this to you and now you've actually done it! I had my doubts it would be a good fit for the channel but seeing your analysis now - just awesome :) I saw the musical 3 times(!) 2019 in Cologne, Germany - it was such an amazing experience. And it makes me so happy to see how much you've enjoyed it to analyze the song and the staging. It's so fun and beautiful to watch your reaction and how excited you are. There are so many details and nuances to discover in "Book of Mormon", the whole play is so well written, it's incredible. I mean, for example: The first 7min. of your video you're talking about the opening alone and how cleverly they worked in the door bell sound - it's faszinating how much you could get out of this alone, I learned so much and had so much fun watching - love it! :) Thank you so much for the video!

[@papaquonis]

I saw the West End production a few years ago - easily the most fun I've ever had in a theatre. I loved every second of it.

[@logankerlee1988]

I love that you watched and reacted to this! I've been a huge fan of this musical for many years. I first heard/watched it back when I was in high school in 2005. Wow.. that was a long time ago. xD Such a fun watch! :) Really enjoyed it.

[@MonsieurJimjams]

Saw this show on the West End in London. Was really great.

[@hufflepuffwannabe]

I love your analysis! thank you so much for reacting to this!

[@thedarkdragon89]

James Earl Jones answered ready to sign a Darth Vader Picture, what a Legend!

[@Disturbedmelloow]

You have such an infectious laugh. Sincere and warm! You come across so genuine and kind. I enjoy seeing your vids and see you also go deep into instrumentals instead of only vocals. I love how you can dissect tracks and glue them back together! Keep up the great content! Again, amazing smile! Have a nice day! Hopefully see you tonight at 8PM for me. :p

[@metalmark1214]

For a fun song and video for Elizabeth to do, I nominate Rammstein - Dicke Titten.(with English subtitles )

[@aaronwynn8114]

Its a brilliant show, I laugh cried the entire way through!!

[@johnburns1692]

If you enjoyed this then I highly recommend that you look into their first musical, "Cannibal! The Musical". They made it while in college and the songs are fabulous.

[@alaskannorse7565]

This isn't their first musical. Their first was made into a movie for Troma called Cannibal: The Musical Also known as Alfred Packard: the musical.

[@PatrickKCompton]

Trey and Matt are freaking musical geniuses! 😅

[@jaredfalk7701]

Trey is. Matt isn’t really musical. But together, they are one of the greatest comedy duos of all time.

[@Azraeladonis488]

Elder Cunningham would have the best chance of convincing me to convert haha

[@deeperthings]

They are also approximating the classic Utah accent by the clear shift to the vocal "R" on Mormon. "Sihppin' mah reut behr down by thah crihck in Amurican Fark." approximates the Utah accent for "Sipping my root beer down by the creek in American Fork." The Utah accent tends towards closed, nasal, twangy sounds, and typically every vowell color you should avoid on a long note.

[@loadmypantz8287]

I live in Utah im and I’ve never heard someone speak anything like that lol

[@deeperthings]

@@loadmypantz8287 Where in Utah? There are places in the state that do not exhibit this classic twangy accent. You can also find it in south-eastern Idaho, north-eastern Nevada and Western Wyoming.

[@polishedmedia6902]

I was incredibly lucky to see the Australian cast in New Zealand on stage in Auckland the week before our covid lockdowns in 2020. We were the last to see the show before everything got locked down. It was incredible to see a show that had not been leaked, so me and my partner (both in musical theater) had tears running down our eyes in laughter from Book of Mormon

[@joergojschaefer3521]

Back to South Park 😀 I'm curious if Elizabeth and Kirk will ever get a guest appearance on SP

[@nightmusic8]

Oh my God The Opera Singer killed Kenny..

[@joergojschaefer3521]

🤯 Kenny was not Prepared for the POWER of an Opera Singer 🤯

[@contranimal]

I had the joy of seeing this show live a few years ago in Hershey on one of their tours, and now I'm going again in October 2022 to see it again in Hershey PA, AND I will be taking 2 people who have never seen the show before.

[@DoubleZeroNine]

*_NEXT ANALYSIS SUGGESTION: The Blues Brothers | Aretha Franklin Sings "Think"_*

[@russward2612]

Thank you Aretha Franklin for your body of work. R I P.

[@PK--ITA]

Omg, it's a nice afternoon, the sun is outside and I'm looking at "Book of Mormon" on YT ..... Well, I love South Park and everything about it ... Thank you Elizabeth!

[@antivanti]

The first thing they made was a musical film during a break while at film school. It's called "Cannibal the Musical" and it is reeeeally good. It is their musical take on the infamous Donner party that got stuck in the Sierra Nevada mountains during winter. Highly recommend it!

[@sullisen]

Not quite correct, it's based on a trip decades later through the San Juan mountains lead by Alfred Packer(main character played by Trey), the film was originally titled Alferd Packer: the Musical. You are correct in that it's reeeeally good tho! Have a shpadoinkly day!

[@TheTradge]

You must try and see this show if you can, I saw it last month on tour, it was about my 4th or 5th time seeing it, and it's always absolutely hilarious, if you can get to NYC it's been there for over 10 years and I doubt it's going anywhere any time soon! 😄

[@ger5956]

I saw TBoM in London a few years ago, honestly the best show I’ve seen. I was laughing so much I was in pain the next day 😂 I’d recommend it to anyone 💯

[@seanhendren5874]

Elizabeth you have to see this whole thing, it’s incredible!

[@iemand2612]

If you wanna see more musical theatre, I would recommend watching Stephanie J. Block in Falsettos doing I'm Breaking Down, it's absolutely amazing!!!

[@mudiusp6050]

I would not care if she was 6 foot five and her knees were on backwards but Elizabeth is lovely to watch and learn from. Kid you brighten my day.

[@cornbredx]

"Did you know the creators of South Park also created a musical...?" Ya. They've made a few. The South Park movie was a musical, their first movie Cannibal the musical was... a musical (they actually talked a lot about Mormonism in this movie, too- they've had a long standing interest in that religion). If I remember Team America was a musical. Plus you could argue, even if not every episode, that the South Park show is often a musical. They make a lot of musicals. 😄

[@theassortedhobbyist]

Team America had songs in between and during scenes, but aside from "I'm so Ronery", none of the other songs expressed a characters emotions or progressed the story like how Cannibal the Musical or South Park: Bigger Longer and Uncut did. It was more like Tarzan, where the songs were written like musical numbers but are sung by an outside voice instead of the characters in the story. Ironically, Orgazmo isn't a musical, but the structure of the plot can easily translate plot relevant scenes and emotional scenes into musical numbers.

[@petemclaughlin6315]

I don’t watch many musicals, but I absolutely loved Book of Mormon, I found myself adlibbing my own verses to “Hasa diga Eebowai” the next few weeks. Mother’s Day lunch, dropped my parents at a restaurant and went to find a park, but forgot to bring the drinks bag … as I was walking back to the car to get it, I found myself singing something along the lines of “I left the drinks in the car, hasa diga eebouwai. Though the walk’s not very far, hasa diga eebouwai…”

[@dart0us]

Have you heard “Riders of the storm” by Doors? That’s just such an amazing song

[@mattwillis4562]

Wow, I'm surprised you didn't catch this, you caught the Major 3rd between doorbell and "hello" - the "hello" (both pitch changes and sustained rhythm) matches the doorbell. But, I may or may not be a BoM nerd and have listened to the entire show more than a few times prior to this analysis. Thank you Elizabeth for analyzing this amazing musical!

[@tysonjohnson5375]

I would absolutely love to see you react to anything by Danny Elfman. He is an absolute songwriting genius and an even better composer. Beyond that I’ve always thought he has an incredible voice. Everyone knows his work on Nightmare Before Christmas but my personal favorites are Skin, Spider, or No One Lives Forever (Oingo Boingo).

[@ericdavis3879]

I hope you get a chance to watch the entire production sometime soon. It's an absolute romp, start to finish. There's not a bad number in the entire set. Love the whole thing, and have downloaded and listened to the soundtrack probably over a hundred times.

[@sethkaicer319]

Elizabeth showed me how to get to Sesame street.

[@joergojschaefer3521]

Elizabeth knows why the men without hats don't wear hats!

[@oglschmitt]

She also turned Oscar the Grouch into Oscar the Optimist! I heard a rumor that she will make an appearance on the new album by Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem.

[@sethkaicer319]

@@oglschmitt you're getting better at this gl. You're very imaginative my friend

[@sethkaicer319]

@@oglschmitt you're getting better at this gl. You're very imaginative my friend

[@oglschmitt]

@@sethkaicer319 Thank you Seth! You're giving me some pretty sweet set-ups!

[@Lance54689]

Without question, the Book of Mormon on Broadway is the best live performance I've ever seen. I really didn't get how good a Broadway musical can be. I'll always be thankful that my daughter went through a musical phase. Kinky Boots, Come From Away, Matilda, traveling productions of Hamilton and Something Rotten!. Good stuff.

[@richfas]

If you explore songs from other musicals, please consider Lea Salonga singing _On My Own_ during the Les Misérables 10th Anniversary Concert at Royal Albert Hall. You will not find a more perfect rendition by one of the premier Broadway performers.

[@PerseusAsazi007]

South Park's "Blame Canada" rendition by Robin Williams at the Oscars would be awesome to analyze!

[@sparrow420500]

I would love to see you do a video on the band Frozen Crown!! They are an amazing Italian band and I think you would really appreciate Jade's singing and also the amazing talent of the rest of the band! In my mind Jade is kind of like a cross between a female Eddie Vedder, with her AMAZING breath control, and a young Ann Wilson, with her power and projection!! Please consider checking this band out for a future video.

[@Stormsfury777]

Neverending is a good start. Actually saw that video as an ad popup. Was thoroughly impressed

[@arrongumbrell539]

The whole show is brilliant. Got the soundtrack CD from the American stage show. Went with my parents to see it a few years ago in London. They didn't know much about it but ended up loving it.

[@luisnunes3863]

When we finally go back to opera (2024 maybe? 😢), can we take a look at one of the funniest recitals ever... up there with Patricia's Doll aria, maybe funnier! It's Mireille Delunsch's La Folie, kzbin.info/www/bejne/maHaip2XrLx2kKc Rameau's wonderful composition, magnificently played by the Musiciens du Louvre and a bravura performance that finds time and energy to poke fun at a bunch of opera tropes. 🎶🎶🎶 We all need a good laugh. Guaranteed to make Elizabeth lol, not just giggle! 😉😂😂😂

[@joergojschaefer3521]

😁Yay Elizabeth, can you come over here, please? It's about opera 😀

[@luisnunes3863]

@@joergojschaefer3521 E knows about this singer. Learned that when I asked her if Ms. Delunsch had been one of her teachers, they both have that knack for facial expressions. 🧐😁😁

[@joergojschaefer3521]

😁 More Facial Expressions than Miss Elizabeth? IMPRESSIVE and UNBELIEVABLE ...will take a look when i have Time...

[@luisnunes3863]

@@joergojschaefer3521 Not more, at least not while singing a fairly difficult aria.😏😏😁😁 The conductor could play straight man in any comedy act, too. 😎😎

[@luisnunes3863]

Here's the link, didn't stick the first time kzbin.info/www/bejne/maHaip2XrLx2kKc

[@linnoff]

This is one of the two shows I've seen on Broadway and it was phenomenal. It may not have the same cultural impact as a show like Rent or Wicked, but it absolutely succeeds at entertaining, laughed the whole way through. Very much agree with another comment, "Hasa Diga Eebowai" is another stand out of this show

[@davidhamilton2682]

Please react to electric call boy hurrikan

[@petersage5157]

Classical music nerd guy here. It's not a fugue or a round; it's a Canon, because Trey and Matt love puns. "Eyebrows speak louder than words." My eyebrows are Scot; sometimes they want to secede from the rest of my face. I love that "Hello!" essentially begins as a montage. "It takes a montage."

[@brianware8934]

It’s that time again! Suggestion: CrazyEightyEight - “Shinebox” (live one-take performance by Lauren Babic) voice of an angel, scream of a demon. Lauren is awesome!

[@MopTopMase]

I was expecting opera snobbery, but the actual musical analysis is AWESOME!!

[@tianyiluo0105]

Thank you! You verbalized every subtle yet clever point that I love about this piece!

[@noblefir9106]

The way the are arranged on stage and each sings hello, and kind of shakes their body, in turn, and in a patteren reminds me of the playing of the hand bells, like in Hark Hear the Bells.

[@Raixor]

*That HARRRRD R-colored "R" in "MORRRRRRMON", at the end, pair with that tightest-butthole-in-Broadway-history,, "♪♫...burn in, HELLLLLLL, HELLLLOOOOOO!!!♫♪", are indicative of some of the whitest sounds possible. And before anyone tries to put me in check, just remember....it's Matt & Trey.* *It's also interesting how the Elders' names, at the beginning, have to do with money. Elder Price, Elder Grant, Elder Green. Not sure about Elder Young, though. lol*

[@Klespyrian]

The quick switch from the 'r' in mormon at the end is really enjoyable to me. They hit the note but do a peppy hit on the last "on" of the word which I quite like.

[@fubarmdk]

I literally fell out of my seat laughing when I saw this musical live. One of the funniest things I have ever seen.

[@tookitogo]

I agree! There were moments where I was laughing so hard I could barely breathe! 😂

[@rlosangeleskings]

I had to be rushed to emergency after the musical was over because I broke a rib from laughing so hard... First thing on the TV after getting out of the ER was the Broadway musical on PBS... Were they TRYING to finish me off???

[@talldave1000]

That big pop towards the end, much like the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, was brilliantly placed

[@ananthropomorphictalkinggo6641]

I almost asphyxiated from laughing so hard the first time I watched the book of Mormon. Hasa Diga Eebowai nearly killed me.

[@ShortyRock801]

There was a whole episode about a Mormon family that moves into South Park. It’s the basis for the musical

[@polrua]

As someone who is not the biggest fan of 'South Park', I cannot deny that Trey Parker's musical chops are truly incredible. The guy truly understands how musicals work, and it's that deep, profound understanding that makes his satirical uses of the genre, whether it's here, in the South Park Movie or in 'Cannibal: The Musical' so damned good.

[@Potts1966]

I've seen this 3 times and still think it's the most perfect piece of entertainment I've ever seen. The Mormon church advertising in the playbook is the absolute best response they could have had.

[@roqueabalsamo]

I got to see this play, and it was one of the best plays I've seen and definitely the most funniest

[@MacCalder86]

The panning was probably done live and not in post - it is pretty standard in professional musical theatre staging to try and pan vocals where possible. Orchestra is almost always panned out as well. Widening out the panning makes the sound feel more authentic in the space. Some productions even use tracking beacons to automate the panning of the singers. Our brains are actually really good at telling us when a sound source does not appear to be coming from where our eyes expect it to originate.

[@captaintortuga3191]

I really hope you continue down the Book Of Mormon rabbit hole. It's SOO worth it!

[@thepapschmearmd]

I am finally getting to see this in May. I cannot wait. They are geniuses.

[@nomaddamon100]

I need to see this show so bad. Thanks for being you and reviewing this

[@prmac3071]

Matt Parker and Trey Stone are awesomely funny and amazing! They make fun of literally EVERYONE! Some people are too sensitive. Thanks for sharing; love the analysis of the talented people who star in this musical.

[@wendull811]

If you haven't seen the show yet I highly recommend it. Just remember who wrote/co-wrote it and you will have a great time. Yesterday was the first time I saw it and it blew my hair back. It was really amazing and not what I was expecting.

[@davesmith5092]

I've seen Book of Mormon twice, and I will definitely see it again. It's fantastic.

[@MrGjones001]

I saw this in NYC a month ago. You need to see it. The whole show and cast is awesome.

[@reaprendendoguitarra]

I'm mormon, I also served as a missionary a long time ago... I think that this musical is super funny! The faces, the songs... everything is pretty cool! I doesn't hit me at all, it's only a musical! But what scares me a bit is the fact that a movie, musical, song, or whatever making fun (in a good way) of LGBT, blacks, or any "minority" groups is not allowed, it would make people offended for some reason... it really bugs me how people can't see that some people can be "offended" and some can't and the industry is the only one to say what is right or not to do.

[@srae1971]

This is my favorite musical. It's not for the faint of heart or the easily offended, for sure. But it's the funniest thing I've ever seen on a stage, and really sweet in a weird way by the end. Josh Gad played Elder Cunningham originally, and Andrew Rannells was Elder Price. I highly recommend going to see it if you get a chance.

[@GaviLazan]

I saw Book of Mormon in London in 2016 and Brian Sears - who is Elder Grant here (the guy who rings Matthew Broderick's bell) and is standing next to Elder Cunningham on stage - was Elder Cunningham. Each person that plays him gives him their own twist. This one is channelling Josh Gad's Cunningham, with a whacky hyperactive character. Sears' Cunningham was almost crazed or deranged and was hilarious on stage live.

[@Thesarcasticdom]

There is a really great performance from the revival of Guys and Dolls at the Tony’s with Titus Burgess that has a really fun arrangement and phenomenal vocals that I’d love to see you review as well. Your level of review was phenomenal! Gained a new follower!!!

[@perturabo1512]

Elizabeth, your laugh/giggle is so infectious 😊

[@GeometricMason]

Robert Lopex also wrote the music for Frozen... including "Let is Go" for which he won an Oscar completing his "EGOT" Emmy Grammy Oscar Tony.