What if the song of the year is a Ben Folds ballad from a Snoopy musical?
The sentiment is universal. But then a plaintive synth follows, and a beat like a broken heart. If you're like me, you'll be fighting back chest-heaving sobs while your kids wonder what the hell's going on with dad.
Is it weird that the most emotional song of the year might be a synth-ballad by Ben Folds, written and recorded for a Peanuts musical where Charlie Brown tries valiantly to save his childhood summer camp from closure? Perhaps, but here we are. I don't know if the Emmys even give out awards for songs, but Look Up, Charlie Brown should win them all.
'I'm glad you like that one,' says Folds, who composed several original songs for what is the first new Peanuts musical in 37 years. 'I always saw that as one that may not even make the cut, but that's the one that everyone keeps saying they like, which is very interesting to me.'
The song was written specifically for the special's emotional peak, Folds explains. In an excited bid to rescue their beloved summer camp from developers, the Peanuts gang decide to stage a 'save the camp' concert. But the weather gods strike.
'It starts raining, which is beyond the control of the children,' says Folds. 'But then the resolution in the script was that the sun comes out. So how do you write that song? How do you earn the sun coming out?'
Feeling the spirit of Charles M. Schulz, Folds' answer was to get philosophical (in a minor key). 'As a kid, you need to understand that things happen that are beyond our control and that when these things happen, all you can do is your best,' he says. 'So I said, ok, Charlie Brown is going to look down and just work. He'll go, 'I refuse to believe that this is not going to go my way, even though everything is saying that it's not because it's raining and I can't stop the rain.''
But just as Charlie Brown, in his Sisyphean tradition – he's the chump who never stops kicking at the football, even if Lucy always pulls it – has vowed not to give up, the clouds part, the sun comes out, and the song builds to its glorious apex, a chanted 'Look up! Look up!' that will rip your soul out.
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Sydney Morning Herald
2 days ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
What if the song of the year is a Ben Folds ballad from a Snoopy musical?
It grabs you suddenly. There you are, half-watching Apple TV+'s new Peanuts special Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical, having finally settled on some wholesome family viewing that isn't just your 14th run-through of KPop Demon Hunters, when 31 minutes in Charlie Brown – depressed, bedraggled and caught in a sudden downpour – existentially mutters, 'I just can't'. The sentiment is universal. But then a plaintive synth follows, and a beat like a broken heart. If you're like me, you'll be fighting back chest-heaving sobs while your kids wonder what the hell's going on with dad. Is it weird that the most emotional song of the year might be a synth-ballad by Ben Folds, written and recorded for a Peanuts musical where Charlie Brown tries valiantly to save his childhood summer camp from closure? Perhaps, but here we are. I don't know if the Emmys even give out awards for songs, but Look Up, Charlie Brown should win them all. 'I'm glad you like that one,' says Folds, who composed several original songs for what is the first new Peanuts musical in 37 years. 'I always saw that as one that may not even make the cut, but that's the one that everyone keeps saying they like, which is very interesting to me.' The song was written specifically for the special's emotional peak, Folds explains. In an excited bid to rescue their beloved summer camp from developers, the Peanuts gang decide to stage a 'save the camp' concert. But the weather gods strike. 'It starts raining, which is beyond the control of the children,' says Folds. 'But then the resolution in the script was that the sun comes out. So how do you write that song? How do you earn the sun coming out?' Feeling the spirit of Charles M. Schulz, Folds' answer was to get philosophical (in a minor key). 'As a kid, you need to understand that things happen that are beyond our control and that when these things happen, all you can do is your best,' he says. 'So I said, ok, Charlie Brown is going to look down and just work. He'll go, 'I refuse to believe that this is not going to go my way, even though everything is saying that it's not because it's raining and I can't stop the rain.'' But just as Charlie Brown, in his Sisyphean tradition – he's the chump who never stops kicking at the football, even if Lucy always pulls it – has vowed not to give up, the clouds part, the sun comes out, and the song builds to its glorious apex, a chanted 'Look up! Look up!' that will rip your soul out.
The Age
2 days ago
- The Age
What if the song of the year is a Ben Folds ballad from a Snoopy musical?
It grabs you suddenly. There you are, half-watching Apple TV+'s new Peanuts special Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical, having finally settled on some wholesome family viewing that isn't just your 14th run-through of KPop Demon Hunters, when 31 minutes in Charlie Brown – depressed, bedraggled and caught in a sudden downpour – existentially mutters, 'I just can't'. The sentiment is universal. But then a plaintive synth follows, and a beat like a broken heart. If you're like me, you'll be fighting back chest-heaving sobs while your kids wonder what the hell's going on with dad. Is it weird that the most emotional song of the year might be a synth-ballad by Ben Folds, written and recorded for a Peanuts musical where Charlie Brown tries valiantly to save his childhood summer camp from closure? Perhaps, but here we are. I don't know if the Emmys even give out awards for songs, but Look Up, Charlie Brown should win them all. 'I'm glad you like that one,' says Folds, who composed several original songs for what is the first new Peanuts musical in 37 years. 'I always saw that as one that may not even make the cut, but that's the one that everyone keeps saying they like, which is very interesting to me.' The song was written specifically for the special's emotional peak, Folds explains. In an excited bid to rescue their beloved summer camp from developers, the Peanuts gang decide to stage a 'save the camp' concert. But the weather gods strike. 'It starts raining, which is beyond the control of the children,' says Folds. 'But then the resolution in the script was that the sun comes out. So how do you write that song? How do you earn the sun coming out?' Feeling the spirit of Charles M. Schulz, Folds' answer was to get philosophical (in a minor key). 'As a kid, you need to understand that things happen that are beyond our control and that when these things happen, all you can do is your best,' he says. 'So I said, ok, Charlie Brown is going to look down and just work. He'll go, 'I refuse to believe that this is not going to go my way, even though everything is saying that it's not because it's raining and I can't stop the rain.'' But just as Charlie Brown, in his Sisyphean tradition – he's the chump who never stops kicking at the football, even if Lucy always pulls it – has vowed not to give up, the clouds part, the sun comes out, and the song builds to its glorious apex, a chanted 'Look up! Look up!' that will rip your soul out.
West Australian
2 days ago
- West Australian
Matt Wright trial: Pilot's alleged spray at boss over stormy weather egg collection request
A young pilot told the Outback Wrangler to 'get f--ked, get vaccinated and go fly his own helicopter' after his boss chewed him out for pulling out of an unsafe mission. Sebastian Robinson on Friday finished giving evidence after being grilled over four days in the trial of Aussie reality television star, Matt Wright. The Apple TV and Netflix star has pleaded not guilty to three counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice during the investigation into a chopper crash that killed his co-star Chris 'Willow' Wilson. It is not alleged Mr Wright is responsible for the crash. On Friday the Northern Territory jury heard about the 'Australia Day incident' where the 28-year-old pilot and Mr Wright had a fight a month before the fatal crash. Mr Robinson said on January 26, he, Mr Wilson and fellow pilot Michael Burbidge were contracted for a crocodile egg collecting mission at the mouth of the Daly River, in the NT. The jury was shown photos of the chopper with an oncoming Wet Season storm looming in the background. Mr Robinson said he radioed Mr Burbidge to say 'it was too dangerous to continue, because the storm was huge', and they mutually agreed to head back into town. He said they went back to the Noonamah Tavern to watch the traditional Australia Day 'ute run' and have a 'beer and a feed'. Mr Robinson said Mr Wright called him 'very hostile and abusive', telling the young pilot 'What the f--k are youse doing back? Egg collecting's not meant to be f—king easy'. 'You sit out there, you f--king ... you wait the weather out. You f--king deal with it,' Mr Wright allegedly said. The jury has previously heard Mr Wright was not able to take part in egg collecting missions in early 2022 because he was an 'anti-vaxxer'. 'I told him to get f--ked, get vaccinated and fly his own helicopter,' Mr Robinson said on Friday. In a group chat with Mr Burbidge and Mr Wilson, the young pilot alleged Mr Wright 'called us all bludgers' for pulling out of the dangerous conditions. The young pilot this contributed to his decision to leave Mr Wright's Helibrook, and he establishing his own company Arnhem Helicopters. Mr Wright sent Mr Robinson a message the next day saying he was 'sorry for blowing up'. The trial continues on Monday.
