Michael Wysong
The Songs of Michael Wysong
Don’t Tell Mama, NYC, November 25, 2019
Reviewed by Bart Greenberg
Michael Wysong is a wry and clever songwriter and political
satirist in the tradition of Tom Lehrer. His subversive irreverence was
expressed in the first song of his set, “Keep Your Penis in Your Pants,” a
comment on the recent sex-abuse scandals with a punchy play-on-words ending that
referenced Putin and Pence. Other current topics were dealt with including as
climate change (“Down the Road”—with the musical question “when did the polar
bears help us in a war?”) and gun violence (“Here in America”).
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Wysong has also written musical shows, and he he offered up selections from some of the as delivered by his guest stars. From a commissioned musical version of Marat/Sade, John Lampe offered “Corday’s Arrival in Paris.” In the composer’s viewpoint a John Lennon-inspired melody complete with harmonica break made perfect sense. Wonderful vocalist Dolly Lewis performed an oddly titled waltz, “Corday’s Waltz.”
Even more intriguing and revealing of Wysong’s versatility is his new work Affairs of State, about the mistresses of the presidents; each aria in an appropriate style. Marilyn Monroe (as sung by Lewis) delivered a sultry, torchy number “It Never Happened,” in which she denied the more lurid tales of her involvement with the Kennedy brothers. Monica Lewinsky earned a much funkier treatment with “Right to Be Wrong” as delivered by the powerful Graham Galloway, who also switched gears to portray Lady Bird Johnson in nearly operatic terms as she reflects on her wandering husband in “The Other LBJ.”
Further material included the hysterical “The Tinder Song” as performed by the adorable Macon Prickett, who had a total command of complicated lyrics as he threw off some impressive high notes. On the other hand, Lampe returned to offer a highly disturbing song that he co-wrote with Wysong—“Blow It Up,” about the Unibomber.
All of these facets of Wysong’s work bespeak a major talent
to be kept track of. It will be interesting to see what he comes up with next.
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