With “The Warriors,” Lin-Manuel Miranda Takes on Another New York Story
Digest
Lin-Manuel Miranda and Isa Davis discuss their new concept album, "The Warriors," which reimagines the 1979 cult classic film as a song cycle. The album explores the diverse musical landscape of 1970s New York, drawing inspiration from synth rock, salsa, and hip-hop. Miranda and Davis discuss the thematic connections between "The Warriors" and Miranda's previous musical, "In the Heights," both of which are set in New York City. They highlight the importance of incorporating the diverse musical influences of 1970s New York, including salsa, rock, R&B, and metal. The conversation shifts to the role of the DJ in the film and the album, discussing how the DJ character, Shenzia, animates the strong Jamaican roots of hip-hop. Miranda and Davis discuss their approach to addressing the sexism and homophobia present in the original film, highlighting the decision to gender-swap the Warriors gang, creating a narrative about women fighting their way back home. They emphasize that the album is a love letter to the film, not a remake, and discuss how they were inspired by the film's visual style and fashion. They highlight the significance of Lauren Hill's contribution as Cyrus, emphasizing her unique authority and gravitas. Miranda discusses how he approaches new projects with a sense of curiosity and a willingness to embrace ideas that challenge him. He emphasizes the importance of listening to his gut and pursuing projects that resonate deeply with him. Miranda and Davis discuss the importance of listening to the album as a complete experience, rather than just individual songs, comparing it to the ritual of watching "The Warriors" on VHS. They express their hope that listeners will embrace the album's length and its homage to the concept albums of the 70s.
Outlines
Lin-Manuel Miranda's New Concept Album: The Warriors
David Remnick interviews Lin-Manuel Miranda and Isa Davis about their new concept album, "The Warriors," which reimagines the 1979 cult classic film as a song cycle. They discuss the film's plot, the musical influences behind the album, and the process of collaborating with legendary artists like Lauren Hill, Nas, and Wu-Tang Clan.
The Musical Landscape of 1970s New York and Thematic Connections
Remnick explores the thematic connections between "The Warriors" and Miranda's previous musical, "In the Heights," both of which are set in New York City. Miranda discusses his love for exploring different eras and subcultures within the city, and how he draws inspiration from the specific details of each neighborhood. Miranda and Davis discuss the diverse musical landscape of 1970s New York, highlighting the influence of synth rock, salsa, and hip-hop on the album's score. They also discuss the original film's soundtrack, which features artists like Joe Walsh.
The Collaborative Process, Genre Diversity, and The Warriors' Legacy
Miranda and Davis describe their collaborative process, which involved sharing playlists and drawing inspiration from a wide range of genres. They emphasize the importance of incorporating the diverse musical influences of 1970s New York, including salsa, rock, R&B, and metal. The conversation shifts to the role of the DJ in the film and the album. Miranda and Davis discuss how the DJ character, Shenzia, animates the strong Jamaican roots of hip-hop and serves as a love letter to the cultural origins of the genre. Remnick asks if the album will encourage people to revisit the film. Miranda and Davis discuss how their adaptation pays homage to the original while also introducing new perspectives and innovations. They believe that fans of the film will appreciate the album's faithfulness to the source material, while newcomers will find it a compelling and engaging experience.
Addressing Sexism and Homophobia, A Love Letter to the Film, and The Album's Standalone Nature
Miranda and Davis discuss their approach to addressing the sexism and homophobia present in the original film. They highlight the decision to gender-swap the Warriors gang, creating a narrative about women fighting their way back home. Remnick emphasizes that the album is a love letter to the film, not a remake. Miranda and Davis discuss how they were inspired by the film's visual style and fashion, and how they used different musical styles to evoke these elements. Miranda and Davis discuss the album's ability to stand alone, even for those unfamiliar with the film. They highlight the significance of Lauren Hill's contribution as Cyrus, emphasizing her unique authority and gravitas.
Keywords
Concept Album
A concept album is a musical recording that presents a unified theme or story, often with a narrative structure. It differs from a traditional album by having a cohesive concept that connects the songs.
Song Cycle
A song cycle is a collection of songs that are linked by a common theme, narrative, or character. It often tells a story or explores a particular emotion or idea.
Cult Classic
A cult classic is a film, book, or other work of art that has gained a devoted following over time, despite not being commercially successful initially. It often has a unique style or theme that appeals to a specific audience.
Reimagine
To reimagine something is to create a new interpretation or version of it, often with a different perspective or style. It involves taking an existing work and giving it a fresh and innovative approach.
Gender Swap
A gender swap is a narrative technique where the genders of characters are reversed. It can be used to explore different perspectives and challenge traditional gender roles.
Miseducation of Lauren Hill
"The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" is a critically acclaimed album by Lauryn Hill, released in 1998. It is considered a landmark album in hip-hop and R&B, known for its lyrical depth, musical diversity, and Hill's powerful vocals.
Hip-Hop Concept Album
A hip-hop concept album is a musical recording that uses hip-hop music to tell a story or explore a theme. It often features a narrative structure, interconnected songs, and a cohesive concept.
Q&A
What is the main theme or concept behind "The Warriors" album?
The album reimagines the 1979 cult classic film "The Warriors" as a song cycle, telling the story of a gang fighting their way back home through New York City. It's a love letter to the film, exploring its themes of violence, survival, and the diverse subcultures of 1970s New York.
How did the collaboration between Lin-Manuel Miranda and Isa Davis shape the album's sound and narrative?
Miranda and Davis shared playlists and drew inspiration from a wide range of genres, including salsa, rock, R&B, and metal, to create a diverse and dynamic musical landscape. Davis brought a fresh perspective to the adaptation, introducing new ideas and innovations to the story.
Why was Lauren Hill chosen to play Cyrus in the album?
Hill was chosen for her unique authority, gravitas, and status as one of the greatest MCs and singers of all time. Her performance brings a powerful and emotional depth to the character, making her the perfect choice for Cyrus's call for peace.
How does the album address the sexism and homophobia present in the original film?
Miranda and Davis decided to gender-swap the Warriors gang, creating a narrative about women fighting their way back home. This decision allows them to explore the specific experiences of women facing violence and adversity, while also challenging traditional gender roles.
What is the significance of the album's length and its homage to concept albums of the 70s?
Miranda and Davis believe that the album's length allows for a more immersive and complete experience, similar to the ritual of watching "The Warriors" on VHS. They see it as a tribute to the concept albums of the 70s, which often presented a unified theme or story through a series of interconnected songs.
Show Notes
Since the blockbuster success of his musical “Hamilton,” Lin-Manuel Miranda has been busy: acting, directing, and composing for Disney projects, including the upcoming movie “Mufasa: The Lion King.” But his new project is more personal, and a throwback in the best sense. Working with the playwright Eisa Davis, he has reimagined a movie from his childhood as a concept album. “The Warriors” is a cult classic released in 1979. “The Warriors are a gang from Coney Island, and they have to fight their way from the Bronx all the way back down to Coney Island in the course of the film,” Miranda tells David Remnick. The film reads as a nineteen-seventies period piece, but Miranda and Davis find a classical dimension to it. “The tale is an old tale. Sol Yurick, who wrote the novel the movie is based on, based it on the Anabasis, which is a soldier’s account of trying to get back home from war” in ancient Greece. “It’s this mythic story. . . . It doesn’t get more clear than that as a plotline.” To tell that story in song and rap, Miranda brought together a cast of legends including Lauryn Hill, Nas, Marc Anthony, members of the Wu-Tang Clan, and more. If releasing a concept album, meant to be listened to straight through, seems like a stretch for 2024 audiences, Miranda is unfazed. “What’s interesting about “Hamilton” is that no one I talked to thought it was a good idea when I was writing it. But I could see it. And it was the idea that wouldn’t leave me alone.”
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