I'm Still Here – Follies (with Alex Stuive)

Show Notes

Whether it's good times or bum times it's still fun to sit around and talk about this song that can often steal the show. I'm Still Here is a song that's been covered by dozens of artists, but how does it work in the show Follies? Alex Stuive joins Kyle to explain the references and how the music in addition to the lyrics makes this one of Sondheim's best.

Follow Alex on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlexStuive
Commission Alex by emailing him at: [e-mail]

An example of Milton Babbitt. This is his Three Compositions: https://youtu.be/_wmvX_RVvjk

You Must Remember This is a podcast hosted by Karina Longworth. Here's the episode about Yvonne De Carlo: http://www.youmustrememberthispodcast.com/episodes/2018/11/12/yvonne-de-carlo-the-seduced-episode-5

Can That Boy Foxtrot! - a cut song from Follies: https://youtu.be/IMMYBcRLA8c

Brother Can You Spare a Dime? - An example of Yip Harburg's lyrics. Sung by Bing Crosby: https://youtu.be/0I8-CbJYGMA

Pick Yourself Up - An example of Dorothy Fields's lyrics. Sung by Ginger Rogers: https://youtu.be/AGUsRGuZb6k

Stormy Weather - An example of Harold Arlen's music. (Sondheim's second favourite composer.) Sung by Lena Horne: https://youtu.be/TPgnj5upihQ

A radio episode of Amos 'n' Andy from 1944: https://youtu.be/y45KLiINuC8

A radio episode of Major Bowes' Amateur Hour from 1939: https://youtu.be/bUzt0ofscjQ

Eartha Kitt singing I'm Still Here at the Olivier Awards: https://youtu.be/j3RQwTNgplY

Barbra Streisand singing I'm Still Here: https://youtu.be/MrxOIeySlqQ

The I'm Still Here scene from the movie Postcards From the Edge: https://youtu.be/g_bbF4K90HA

Elaine Stritch talking about and then singing I'm Still Here: https://youtu.be/--u0kxITaBU

You can purchase Stephen Sondheim's first book of lyrics, Finishing the Hat, by going here: https://amzn.to/2LB9ZJo

We are using three productions to frame our discussion of Follies.

The original Broadway cast starring Alexis Smith, John McMartin, Dorothy Collins, Gene Nelson, and Yvonne De Carlo (1971)

You can listen to it on Apple Music: https://apple.co/2xj4Pi7

Or listen to it on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/33zmfDm

Or buy it on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2WwbksB

The original West End cast starring Diana Rigg, Daniel Massey, Julia McKenzie, David Healy, and Dolores Gray (1987)

You can listen to it on Apple Music: Not available unfortunately.

Or listen to it on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2Un7RKl

Or buy it on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2wqrTvs

The London revival starring Peter Forbes, Imelda Staunton, Janie Dee, Philip Quast, and Tracie Bennett (2017)

You can listen to it on Apple Music: https://apple.co/2Qz2Pt2

Or listen to it on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2Unetbu

Or buy it on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2UplKrd

Our sponsor this week are:

1. Alberta Podcast Network - https://www.albertapodcastnetwork.com - The Network promotes and supports Alberta-made podcasts, and connects their audiences with Alberta-based businesses and organizations.
   The podcast featured this week was Kyle and Dave vs The Machine - https://kdvstm.transistor.fm - A podcast where a sentient machine forces Kyle and Dave to watch films in order to prevent the apocalypse.
2. ATB Goodness Grows - atb.com/covid-19/community - an initiative that motivates Albertans to bring joyful moments to others.

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Putting It Together is a proud member of The Alberta Podcast Network: Locally grown. Community supported. Here's their link again: https://www.albertapodcastnetwork.com

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What is Putting It Together?

This is a podcast about Stephen Sondheim's entire body of work show by show and song by song. Each week Kyle Marshall invites an expert to discuss a Sondheim song in-depth. Together they discover the humour, how the songs inform character, and any hidden meanings. Most importantly they try to understand the man behind the music, the Shakespeare of our time, as best they can.