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chicafrom3"Public Life", from the short-lived Broadway musical Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, as sung by Benjamin Walker.
I remain convinced that Benjamin Walker should play all the unconventional interpretations of American presidents. All of them.
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson is a loose history of the life and politics of Andrew Jackson, the seventh president of the USA. Emphasis on the "loose". The core conceit is that Jackson took the presidency at a very adolescent stage in the US's history, and so BBAJ tells Jackson's story in a very adolescent emo-rock fashion.
"Public Life" takes place immediately after the death of Rachel Jackson and Andrew Jackson's election to presidency. In it, he weighs his love for his wife against his desires for the country, and decides that since his wife hated his political career, the best way of honoring her memory is dedicating himself to being the best and most powerful politician around! Right?
Forgive my flippant summary of the context, because it actually is a very moving and emotional song. AJax is an emotionally dysfunctional guy, and "Public Life" does a great job of showing the struggle between his personal feelings and his desire to do the job he was given.
And just when everything I wanted was within my grasp
The irony
Yeah, the irony is killing me
I remain convinced that Benjamin Walker should play all the unconventional interpretations of American presidents. All of them.
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson is a loose history of the life and politics of Andrew Jackson, the seventh president of the USA. Emphasis on the "loose". The core conceit is that Jackson took the presidency at a very adolescent stage in the US's history, and so BBAJ tells Jackson's story in a very adolescent emo-rock fashion.
"Public Life" takes place immediately after the death of Rachel Jackson and Andrew Jackson's election to presidency. In it, he weighs his love for his wife against his desires for the country, and decides that since his wife hated his political career, the best way of honoring her memory is dedicating himself to being the best and most powerful politician around! Right?
Forgive my flippant summary of the context, because it actually is a very moving and emotional song. AJax is an emotionally dysfunctional guy, and "Public Life" does a great job of showing the struggle between his personal feelings and his desire to do the job he was given.
