Falling

Sundance

Outside the Fresher's fair hall, Isi bumps into her best mate from school, Ange. Ange not only drags her back into the hall, but signs the both of them up for an end of week Fresher’s Ball full of costumes and silly student games. 

The guy running the ball is called Mark.  Both Ange and Isi take a shine to him - more of him later. 

Isi is unhappy at being pushed into the limelight by Ange, but Ange tells her that Uni is a chance to reinvent herself, pretend to be someone different, to let go and live a little. Ange sings BIG DAY whilst dancing around the fair.  It's all about living life in mask and pretending everything is great. It all feels a little false. Isi just watches and clicks away at the funny bits, and wonders if Ange is really as happy as she projects. We see the hall tire of Ange’s antics as the song goes on, and at the end, she’s left being ignored by most of them.

The Recording
So this recording of Big Day was done when the song had a different role in the musical. So the lyrics are not quite right for where it is in the musical - the life Ange is singing about sounds too good. I'm re-writing them to bring the falsehood to life better

LYRICS IN THE MUSICAL

ANGEJust get up
Just grow up
Just get out
Just have fun
 
Showing up as me
In others’ company
Is something that feels hard to do
But I don’t run and hide
I wear a mask with pride
An act so good they can’t see through
 
Loving this day
Let’s go out, let’s go play
Never mind what they say
Just deflect it away
Put my mask on display
And ignore any shame
Yeah it’s time to proclaim 
That today is my BIG DAY!
 
A life of affectation
 
Just get up
Just grow up
Just get out
Just have fun
 
Sitting on the sides
Is lonely, so I find
It’s best to just get up, join in.
And even if I find 
I’m anxious, I just hide it
And act my way into their scene
 
Loving this day
Let’s go out, let’s go play
Nevermind what they say
Just deflect it away
Put my mask on display
And ignore any shame
Yeah it’s time to proclaim 
That today is my BIG DAY!
 
A life of affectation
 
Just get up
Just grow up
Just get out
Just have fun
 
Here’s the part of me
That people want to see 
The boring Ange is in the bin!
 
ISABELLE
But are you really there?
I bet deep down you’re scared
And wonder if you’re part of it.
 
ANGE
Loving this day
Let’s go out, let’s go play
Nevermind what they say
Just deflect it away
Put my mask on display
Just ignore any shame
Yeah it’s time to proclaim 
That today is my BIG DAY!
 
A life of affectation

3. Big Day

It’s the end of week ball. The door to the club is open, and people are pouring in. It's a tarts and togas theme, and dolled up Isi looks seriously out of her comfort zone. She's a bit wobbly and we sense she may be a little tiddly. Simon spots her, approaches her from behind, and again she flinches. They chat. He's keen. Drunk, she's oblivious to his interest, pausing only to notice that he's drinking water. Simon asks Isi to dance, but Isi says ‘ I just don’t want to go there’

Ange joins them with drinks, and Isi downs hers immediately. They all spot Mark on the dance floor. Simon make it known that he and Mark are flatmates. When the others' attention is on Mark, Isi takes a photo of Mark's carefree dancing. Isi sings DISCO. It's another song about wanting to join in. Mid song, buoyed by booze, she goes for it, rushing on to the dance floor, only to stumble right in front of Mark. Her embarrassment is tangible, but soon leaves her as he rescues her from the floor. Simon looks disappointed, Ange is visibly angry - Isi has stolen her man.

THE RECORDING. My homage to the Scissor Sisters - that sounds nothing like the Scissor Sisters! 

LYRICS IN THE MUSICAL

There was a time when I was free
I’d wave my arms around
Uninhibited by what’s behind me.
But as I look across the floor
My back fixed to the wall
To feel safe is the only thing that I let guide me
 
I’d love to dance to disco music
Feel the beat of the disco music
I want a life of disco music
I want to love to dance.

I miss so many open doors
And those inviting beats
I know that it’s ok but then I feel it’s not ok.
I long to leave the wall and stride across the floor
And have my turn to stand up tall
To take a chance the world provides me.
 
I love to dance to disco music
Feel the beat of the disco music
I want a life of disco music
I want to love to dance.
I want to love to dance.
I want to dance.
I feel it in my bones
I feel it in my soul
I want to get back on.
But I can’t.

My arms fold round me tight
My back is still stuck to the wall
Protecting me from being wrong protecting me from feeling
 
But maybe I could dance
And maybe I could play.
If this drink lifts me, I can chance it

CAST
 
I love to dance to disco music
Feel the beat of the disco music
I want a life of disco music
I want to love. To dance.
I love to dance to disco music
Feel the beat of the disco music
I want a life of disco music
I want to love. To dance.

Sundance

Jefed

Related tracks