• Casting David Bowie in Musical Adaptations: Labyrinth, The Last Temptation and More

    David Bowie has been working on a musical adaptation of the 1976 film The Man Who Fell to Earth for some time now, and today fans were greeted with the news that the title character Lazarus would be portrayed by Michael C. Hall of Dexter fame when the off-Broadway theater production begins its run later this year. Unfortunately, alas, Bowie himself won't play a role in the actual stage portion of the production, although he will work with Tony-winning writer Enda Walsh (Once) to write original songs and arrangements for the performance. Hall is a solid choice for the role of an alien who comes to Earth, seeking water for his famished planet, only to be turned to the temptations of drugs and sex. If you've watched him in Dexter, you know how much emotion he can bring to a character that struggles with expressing emotions. Hall has a decent block of Broadway work as well however, including stints in Hedwig and The Angry Inch, Chicago and Cabaret. It got us thinking…if we were to create musical versions of other Bowie films, who would we put in the Thin White Duke's shoes? Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (1983) Certainly one of Bowie's more challenging and underrated roles in film, the performer's turn as Major Jack "Strafer" Celliers during Nagisa Oshima's Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence demands an actor that can sincerely portray the sexually ambiguous nature of Bowie's character, along with all of the other traumatic occurrences that take place during a film set in a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp during World War II. Celliers serves as a foil, perhaps even a romantic one, to the character of Captain Yonoi (played by Ryuichi Sakamoto), but there is no hope to be had. One man is executed before the war is over and the other is executed after the war has concluded. We recommend Andrew Garfield for a potentially breakout role…he was Tony-nominated for his role in Death of A Salesman during 2012…does he have the voice to make a musical out of Merry Christmas? Labyrinth (1986) If any of the films suggested in this list have the potential to hit Broadway, Labyrinth is probably at the top. Although a commercial failure upon release, children of that generation and later have formed a cult audience around what is probably Bowie's best-known film appearance. Also consider the fantasy realm in which the film takes place and the current pro-puppet attitude on Broadway (Avenue Q, Warhorse) and this Henson Studios is just begging for a rebirth. Bowie of course plays Jareth, the goblin king, and we're going to play the Neil Patrick Harris card here. Sure, it seems like a obvious notion, casting NPH in a prominent role in a musical, but think about it: for all of wacky musical numbers he's done on awards shows, rarely have we gotten to see him play anyone…weird (outside of Dr. Horrible). Just imagine him with Jareth's blonde coif and the rest of the glimmering outfit will just fall into place. The Last Temptation of Christ (1988) If you think Martin Scorsese's The Last Temptation of Christ is too touchy for Broadway…you obviously haven't been on Broadway recently. Religion is as fair game as anything, from The Book of Mormon to Jesus Christ Superstar. The latter is actually a rather watered-down version of Christ, one of the most controversial films of the '80s. Bowie, alas, did not play Jesus, but he did play a rather hard-up Pontius Pilate (give Scorsese credit…while many directors try to make Pilate out to be a sympathetic character, Bowie wants blood). It's not a headlining role, to be sure, but it's a necessary one that Bowie performs with his usual pleasant intensity. We're going for a more strapping Pilate, played by an actor who has excelled at keeping his cool while dropping the axe for years on Mad Men: Jon Hamm. Basquiat (1996) The focus of the film Basquiat should of course be upon the work of real-life artist Jean-Michel Basquiat (and the excellent performance of Jeffrey Wright in the role) but inevitably attention heads back to one of the most possessing cultural figures of the 20th Century, the artist's friend and sponson Andy Warhol. The pop art figure dominated the cultural landscape of New York City simply by knowing how to present himself, and anyone planning on featuring Warhol in a stage of film project needs to present him in a similar way, regardless of how little the plot focuses on him. If you want a replication-level performance, it's tough to do much better than Daniel Day-Lewis. The guy takes method acting to the extreme, and the results are usually good. And yes, he's sung a bit…although Nine was one of his least popular works. The Prestige (2007) This production—a battle between two turn-of-the-century magicians—hardly revolves around Bowie's character at all, yet the musician plays one of the most curious characters in both science history and regular history: Nikola Tesla. We want to throw out Joseph Gordon-Levitt's name to play the genius and theoretical physicist…and maybe not just for the sake of a Prestige musical but a whole project dedicated to Tesla himself. It got us thinking...if we were to create musical versions of other Bowie films, who would we put in the Thin White Duke's shoes?

  • Interview: Scoring Foo Fighters' 'Sonic Highways' Documentary with Bryan Lee Brown

    Though it may have seemed like the rollout of new music from Foo Fighters may have been the soundtrack to the band's HBO documentary Sonic Highways, the actual musical map of the show came from its score work. The low, ambient tones, the dobro, just the right amount of drama and intrigue marked Dave Grohl and co.'s personal and musical journey across the U.S.

  • Rudimental On Collaborating With Steely Dan, George Clinton [INTERVIEW]

    Normally one looks towards the United States for some of the world's most soulful acts, but recently the music industry has turned its gaze across the pond towards the UK for some of the best new talented breed of acts combining soul with various elements of pop, house and hip-hop. One of those artists leading the way is UK electronic band Rudimental. We recently had the chance to catch up with the group for an interview to discuss their album and who they decided to collaborate with on the project.

  • 'Orange is the New Black' Music Composer Gwendolyn Sanford Talks Season 3 Netflix Episodes, Characters' Stories & More [Exclusive Q&A]

    Orange is the New Black is easily one of the biggest show's on Netflix and this year's third season has already taken over the summer of 2015. Executive producer Jenji Kohan certainly knows how to bring audiences engaging television, having previously worked on the Showtime series Weeds, so we're not surprised that she brought along her longtime musical collaborators for the streaming show. Songwriter Gwendolyn Sanford teams with her husband Brandon Jay and collaborator Scott Doherty to create the music for the genre-crossing series, exploring our favorite characters' backstories and more with each passing episode. Sanford recently sat down with Music Times to discuss season three and much more!

  • Listen to 'Cutie Mark Crusaders' Heavygrinder Remix Ahead of 'DJ Pon-3 Presents: My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic Remixed' Release [EXCLUSIVE SONG PREMIERE]

    You've heard My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic's Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle (a.k.a., the Cutie Mark Crusaders) sing about their quest to get their special mark on their blank flanks, but until now you haven't heard the foals quite like this. Ahead of the release of the first official MLP EDM album DJ Pon-3 Presents: My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic Remixed, Music Times has an exclusive premiere of Heavygrinder's take on "Cutie Mark Crusaders."

  • Eden Co-Writer Sven Hansen-Løve on Daft Punk Involvement, Realism, EDM Evolution [INTERVIEW]

    EDM, which can fill nightclubs, festival grounds and arenas, may have found a movie which has the potential to fill the seats at movie theaters. Mia Hansen-Løve & Sven Hansen-Løve's new film Eden has been garnering a fair amount of press from music publications for its connection to Daft Punk and its ability to artistically portray the growth of the 1990s French house scene from the light of a struggling DJ in a much more humanist and realistic approach.

  • GIVEAWAY: Win Free Copy of 'Eden' Movie Soundtrack Feat. Daft Punk, MK, Frankie Knuckles

    This Friday, June 19, the film about the 1990's French house scene EDEN that has a brief cameo appearance form robot super duo Daft Punk will open in select theaters here in the United States after touring the globe being premiered at various film festivals. The film will premiere in Los Angeles and New York City and since it is a movie about music, the film has put together a soundtrack filled with some of the best songs of the era from the likes of Daft Punk, MK, Frankie Knuckles, The Orb and others.

  • 'Tyrant' FX Series Composers Mychael & Jeff Danna Talk Season 2 Episodes' Score & More! [EXCLUSIVE Q&A]

    Season two of one of FX's most compelling drama series, Tyrant premieres this week, bringing us back into the tumultuous lives of some of TV's best characters from executive producer Howard Gordon. Based in the Middle East, this show brings American audiences to the forefront of many hot topics in politics, religion and most importantly, family, which is why we love the fact that brothers Mychael and Jeff Danna are the composers responsible for the layered underscore of the series, helping to tell the story of the Al-Fayeeds.

  • Ranking Alanis Morissette's 'Jagged Little Pill' 20 Years Later

    Alanis Morissette didn't release her debut album in 1995 but she may as well have: 'Jagged Little Pill' took the teen pop star who had released two questionable previous records and tore them into jagged little pieces. When the vocalist reared up and roared into the first hook of first single "You Oughta Know," the world took heed. Hang with Music Times as we count down the tracks on 'Jagged Little Pill' from least favorite to vice versa.

  • Win 2 Badges for The 2015 New Music Seminar from Music Times!

    We at Music Times spend a fair amount of time at huge music showcases such as Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo and Governors Ball, but Music Times recognizes that it's just as important to keep an eye on the shape of the music industry, especially in an era where streaming, digital downloads and social media have changed how the business sustains itself, and how it will continue to do so in the future. We're all in this together! Therefore Music Times is pleased to offer TWO badges to this year's New Music Seminar, one of the most seminal events for exploring the future of music—from both an artistic and a business perspective—to our readers.
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