"The alphabet? You'd better learn to listen, kid."

July 16, 2013 6:14 AM

A clever bit of constrained writing in song from Matilda the Musical and Tim Minchin.

Studio 360 interview: Starting at 13:30, Minchin discusses and then performs "School Song" himself.

Tim Minchin previously 2 3 4

posted by Gordafarin (5 comments total)

That is a wonderful bit of songwriting, very subtle, and it works really well. Each letter just keeps coming at you right on cue.

Very cool. I appreciated seeing that. Thanks!
posted by hippybear at 6:43 AM on July 16, 2013

Love Tim Minchin so much. I hadn't had a chance to get to know the Matilda songs, but I need to fix that.
posted by Lyn Never at 6:48 AM on July 16, 2013

New Yorker podcast about Minchin and Matilda (the associated article is behind the paywall)
posted by moonmilk at 6:57 AM on July 16, 2013

Unfortunately, it's a lot easier to get all the lyrics when you're reading them on a screen, rather than sitting in the audience listening to little kids sing them. Not to take away from the kids or the lyrics, but I'm pretty sure I wasn't the only one having trouble making them out.
posted by still_wears_a_hat at 10:28 AM on July 16, 2013

I did this in a song once but petered out when I got to H... it was hard.
posted by Dokterrock at 11:57 PM on July 16, 2013