Why staged concept albums are better than (and different to) jukebox musicals

I’ve been issued a challenge.

Last night over dinner I mentioned to my fiancé my excitement over the cast recording of American Idiot coming out in May. Yes, I am that sad. I then went on to explain exactly what American Idiot was, ie a staged version of two of Green Day’s albums.

You can imagine how exciting it is living with me.

For some reason, a wry smile appeared on her face. Knowing my disdain for jukebox musicals, she commented ‘but isn’t that a jukebox musical…’ I protested, making it clear that American Idiot was originally a concept album, and therefore this is just a staged version of a concept album, just like Chess or Jon English’s Paris… Ok, so not all concept albums deserve to be staged, but they sure aren’t jukebox musicals. Thus, a challenge was issued.

Prove that staged concept albums are better than, deserve more appreciation, and are ultimately different to jukebox musicals.

Easy.

First off, the definitions. A jukebox musical, according to Wikipedia, the source of all knowledge, “is a stage or film musical that uses previously released popular songs as its musical score.” Jukebox musicals have recently become a plague hit on Broadway and the West End, with shows such as Mamma Mia, Priscilla: Queen of the Desert and Jersey Boys taking other people’s songs, placing them within the show and raking in the money.

Wikipedia also, incorrectly, includes American Idiot on it’s list of jukebox musicals.

Jukebox musicals use previously released popular songs within the context of their plot. That is, they take a song out of it’s original context and give it new meaning within the story of their show. Sure, some could argue that shows such as Buddy, Dusty or Jersey Boys don’t fit within this classification due to the fact that the songs are being performed as part of the artists story. However, I would still argue that they are jukebox musicals, due to the fact that the songs weren’t originally intended to fit as a reference to that artist’s life. They were released as pop songs, devoid of context within a story.

Now we come to American Idiot.

American Idiot was released by Green Day in 2004 as a concept album. The songs follow a narrative based around the story of Jesus of Suburbia.

Green Day’s most recent release is another concept album called ‘21st Century Breakdown.’ The songs also follow a narrative.

American Idiot is also a musical that just premiered on Broadway. American Idiot, the musical, is an amalgamation of the American Idiot and 21st Century Breakdown storylines into one story. That is, the songs that are used within the show, with the exception of the curtain call, are all used in their original context, fitting into the storyline that they were written for.

This, to me, is the fundamental difference between a jukebox musical and a stage concept album. Why do I think the latter is better than the former? Mostly due to the fact that the songs were written and intended for a narrative. Writing for musical theatre, or cabaret for that matter, is a very different beast to writing a pop song. Concept albums flirt with the line a little, but generally fall into the musical side of the fence, due to the fact that these songs are written to progress a story. They don’t need to be altered or played with very much because that element already exists within the song. Jukebox musicals, however, usually need to alter the source material slightly to make it relevant to the story. Quite often, due to the fairly strict Verse/Chorus/Verse/Chorus format of most pop songs, when they are appropriated to the stage they seem slightly naff. A show like Priscilla works for this reason. They don’t want, or need, to provide deep emotional connection through the songs, but simply need to entertain.

Actually, I think most jukebox musicals can be summed up in that last statement.

I get quite snobbish when I get on the subject of jukebox musicals, but I seem to prefer songs within musicals when they were written specifically for the musical/story.

If you think otherwise (and you probably do) then comment.

Convince me otherwise.