dollhouses, rain, bob harris
02-09-2009 03:35 am

bridge1.jpg bridge near Chalk Farm. kinda how I feel. koala in headlights.

DOLLHOUSE is almost upon us. In fact Friday the 13th is the premier. Fox took the bootleg of the video of the theme song down from YOUTUBE. ;( 

We'll keep you posted as to where and when it shows up next. I guess it's only right that they control how they roll the show out. I would feel the same about a new record!
That being said ;) I hope the show kicks BUTT. I LOVED the original little tease. I loved the pilot. It was so sexy and ridiculously far fetched. Addictive. Go Eliza and Joss. I'm rooting for you!! For us all.

bridge2.jpg
steady on

Well Joss's idea for the theme was Jonatha Brooke singing "Careful What You Wish For" meets Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies! So of course I called Eric Bazilian and we rocked it up. 

bridge3.jpg is mercury out of retrograde yet?

The full length version is called "What You Don't Know" -- weird --
 I wrote a little pretentious, overwrought song in college called "What You Don't Know Won't Hurt You." It was influenced by that flinty Suzanne Vega sound. The second line was, "Don't touch the stove it's hot." (cringe)
Writing this from London. They were warning of more ‘severe weather' here today. HA. It's raining. Apparently they've just recovered from last week's snow. We got a little review in the London Sunday Times yesterday, so that didn't suck. Except they spelled my name JOHNATHA. Come on now people! What will it take, although i suppose it's better than JONATHAN.

I'm taping the Bob Harris show tomorrow, to be broadcast on the 14th. More soon. Go DOLLHOUSE.

p.s. the official WORKS release in the UK is next week. Trumpets please.

cdstogo.jpg
Cheers,
jb

Add Comment
Submitted by: George Caballero on 04-08-2009 08:42 pm
Like Method Acting for Singers
Jonatha, I've heard of Method Acting, but never Method Singing. It's as though you sang yourself into, and out of, and back into, the character's shoes. You perfectly and passionately captured her despair and dilemma. And I love the paradoxical lyrics. The character can't decide between blissful ignorance or painful reality, and neither can you. Wow. Congratulations to you and Eric Bazilian for, hands-down, one of the best theme songs ever. It's almost criminal that DOLLHOUSE only plays 10% of the song, albeit the insanely infectious La-La-La-La outro. When you release the single on Itunes or CD, I hope you include an extended version and a La-La-La-La instrumental. Keep up the amazing work. --Your Newest Fan
Submitted by: jbro on 03-07-2009 12:31 am
the writing mystery
The end theme came first for DOLLHOUSE, because that was the priority. And the direction was: "Jonatha Brooke singing 'Careful What You Wish For' meets Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy. But they didn't want lyrics. So I thought a haunting, creepy la la la voice paired with Eric Bazilian's gnarly guitar vibe from 'Careful' would be just the ticket. Then we worked backwards to write the song so that it would lead into the theme at the end. Some of the lyrics are definitely inspired by the script of the original pilot -- and I guess I got lucky because the dolls, almost every episode say "did i fall asleep?" and the mad scientist guy says, "for a little while" -- our little bridge echoes that. Songwriting is still a lovely mystery to me. There are things that just appear. And you write them down before you've forgotten them. So this song was a little bit of that and then trying the bits and pieces until it felt right.
Submitted by: JS on 03-06-2009 10:03 pm
Wow
I've never heard your music before, but will definitely be checking it out. I heard the dollhouse theme and I was hooked -- it seemed like Eva Cassidey meets Pink Floyd meets Lisa Gerrard -- AWESOME stuff! I just saw the free iTunes video too and was wondering how the theme and the song (with lyrics) were related -- and which came first? And what is the creative process from which you come up with your music? Do you start with a melody, or a feeling, or a chord pattern? I'm a budding musician myself, and love to learn from people whose work I admire. I hope you'll be able to take the time out to write a response. Even if not, thanks for creating a hauntingly beautiful melody -- I just love it! JS
Submitted by: Bob on 02-27-2009 06:24 pm
love that you're doing the dollhouse theme
I love all things Jonatha Brooke. have The Works, saw you in Madison, own the CD's. Imagine how awesome it was to hear you on the Dollhouse theme. An added bonus to a great new Joss Whedon gig.
Submitted by: jbro on 02-13-2009 12:24 pm
woweeee
well if it's a song i wanna know about it! And if it isn't, I wanna write it!! jb
Submitted by: Haunt on 02-13-2009 09:17 am
I'm going to second both the love for your song and the desperate search for what that OTHER song is. "If you could take a dream and make it real... would you?" NO ONE seems to no what this song is. Some say it's a cover of a Massive Attack song but no one knows who it's by. Any ideas?
Submitted by: Wil on 02-12-2009 01:32 pm
Thanks for the active link, Wow!
Okay, there was so much in that trailer. That show looks like it can be really intense, and the premise could set it up to have a very powerful suspense factor. I think it came off that way because of how strong the theme is. I'd forgotten who commanding your voice is in the Rock setting. If the show fan follow that energy, it will be just fine. Way to deliver the goods!
Submitted by: Gabca11 on 02-10-2009 02:28 pm
To Andy:
Where did you see the promo?? Btw congrats Jonatha, I'm looking forward to it ;)
Submitted by: Jeremie on 02-10-2009 01:59 pm
Found the vid!
Here's a link: http://www.whedon.info/Dollhouse-Tv-Series-Official-Theme.html
Submitted by: Jeremie on 02-10-2009 01:33 pm
NUTS! I missed it.
Funny what happens when you're not constantly paying attention. >.
Submitted by: jbro on 02-10-2009 01:25 pm
for the record
Hey all, thanks for the response. But, for the record, when i mentioned the immediacy of the internet and how snarky comments are, I was really responding to how brutal they were about Eliza and Joss. For my part, I just can't wait to see the damn show. I had a blast working on it. That's all that matters.
Submitted by: andy on 02-10-2009 12:41 pm
dollhouse
jonatha, i just saw the promo for dollhouse and the score is absolutely beautiful! please come to san francisco! we love you.
Submitted by: Donnie on 02-10-2009 11:59 am
Good song
Don't worry about the bad comments. For everyone who likes something, there are people who can't stand it. I like the song and I must admit I wasn't familiar with your work before I watched the video (even though I watched "Buffy"). When will the song be released? I'm looking forwards to it. Another question: There was a song in other DOLLHOUSE promos with the lyrics "If you could take a dream and make it real....would you?" and it sounded like it could be your voice? Is that a song of yours?
Submitted by: Lindy on 02-09-2009 03:24 pm
Dollhouse
Fortunately I got a chance to see the video and hear the song before it was taken down. I'm sorry your work received such harsh comments; the song is amazing! Have a wonderful time in London! :)
Submitted by: Amelia Ray on 02-09-2009 11:36 am
Congratulations!
The song sounds great! I like the Johnny Cash...brown look. :)
Submitted by: Paul on 02-09-2009 10:00 am
What a great song!
I especially love the stacked vocal arrangement and the sinister ending. Bravo! Will this be available on iTunes?
Submitted by: Steve on 02-09-2009 07:51 am
Dollhouse Song
LOVE the song!...You did it again!...Thanks.
Submitted by: jbro on 02-09-2009 05:48 am
forgot to mention the giveaway of Christine Mason Miller's book on Denise Andrade's website. Go, run, don't hesitate. jb http://bohophotography.blogspot.com/