GRACE KIM & THE SPIDERS FROM MARS:

The cast and the director of Lodestone’s FINAL production on the music of their lives.

In Lodestone’s upcoming world premiere of GRACE KIM & THE SPIDERS FROM MARS, music plays a significant role in the story.  Grace Kim, our protagonist, is obsessed with music—it’s the one thing that keeps her sane and brings fulfillment to her life (that is until Wayne, her sister’s fiancé, enters the picture and complicates matters).  The play itself will be filled with music from all genres—carefully selected by writer Philip W. Chung to help tell this story of a woman who comes to learn that all endings are also beginnings.

In this spirit, director Jeff Liu and the cast (Feodor Chin, Elizabeth Ho, Elaine Kao, Jully Lee, Rachel Morihiro, Hanson Tse and Kelvin Han Yee) were asked three questions about the music that matters to them.  Here’s how they responded:

IF YOU COULD TAKE ONLY ONE SONG WITH YOU ON A DESERT ISLAND WHAT WOULD IT BE?

LIZ

ìDie Moldauî by Smetana

I love the journey that Smetana takes the listener on with ìDie Moldau.î  This piece is a beautiful composition that chronicles the course of the Vltava river.  Smetana takes us through springs, woods, meadows, even a wedding.  I used to listen to this piece in the car with my family during long road trips through the Pacific Northwest.  It makes my heart swell when I hear it and makes me yearn for adventure and travel.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlLPLO90fSk

ELAINE

ìStir it Upî or ìNo Woman No Cryî or ìThree Little Birdsî by Bob Marley

Why?  Because Bob Marley makes me want to chill out with a couple of mai tais and get my groove on.  Perfect for island life.

JULLY

ìIt's Good to Be In Loveî by Frou Frou

Because I'm Korean and I like to dwell on the inner "han" in me.

RACHEL

ìLose Controlî by Missy Elliot 

 I need a track that I can turn up so loud that I feel it vibrating through my entire body. I think Missy Elliot is brilliant, and she, Ciara and Fat Man Scoop are a pretty sick trio. The sample from Cybotron's ìClearî is classic old school (which I love).  Some of the characteristics that make up this song are similar to characteristics that make me who I am.  I figure I can conjure up a lot of my favorites in my mind, or they're on the tip of my tongue, but to really get my dance on, I need to physically hear/feel the music.  Now if I had a great salsa partner on the island, my song choice would probably change. 

JEFF

ìTime After Timeî by Cyndi Lauper.

That album (She's So Unusual) will always be special to me because it was the first cassette tape I bought for myself as a teen in Hong Kong. 

FEO

ìFreebirdî by Lynyrd Skynyrd

Let it be known, that is my official theme song.  In fact, my immediate family, closest friends and loved ones are all well aware that "Freebird" is to be played at my funeral.  And it must be the 14-minute live version, at the end of which, a single dove will be released into the air.  Then, hors d'oeuvres and light refreshments will be served as the mourners discuss, in hushed tones, what a jackass I was to make everyone sit through the 14-minute version of "Freebird."

HANSON

ìBlame it on the Rainî by Mili Vanilli 

If I could have dreads like those Milli Vanilli guys I'd look really cool on the island and besides it's a desert so I'd have rain on my mind.

KELVIN

ìSympathy for the Devilî by Rolling Stones  

The LIVE version from ìGet Yer Ya-Ya's Outî with Mick Taylor’s brilliantly blistering lead guitar solo selling his soul for Rock and Roll.  There is a sense of the ecstatic in the musical build and it's wonderful to be able to access that in music at anytime.

IN THE PLAY, GRACE SAYS HER FAVORITE SONGS ARE THOSE YOU SHOULD ONLY LISTEN TO LATE AT NIGHT WHEN YOUR HEART IS BREAKING.  WHAT'S YOUR ìLATE AT NIGHT/HEARTBREAKî  SONG?

LIZ

ìLove Riddenî by Fiona Apple

I cannot tell you how much I adore this song.  There is so much love and heartache in ìLove Riddenî because it's about letting go of someone that you love. The combination of Fiona's melancholy voice and the warm sounds of the piano and strings makes this song so heartbreaking in it's simplicity.  It's a love song in the most gut-wrenching ways.  It is also the only song that I know of that recounts the disintegration of a relationship from intimate lovers to people who "only have to wave" to each other.  Hot.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiMHRn-DFgI

ELAINE

ìThe Sea and the Rhythmî by Iron and Wine

Why? It’s sensual, it’s beautiful, it’s melancholy.  It should ONLY be listened to late at night...preferably with your luv-ah ;) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyiSg_iNLSI

JULLY

ìIt's Good to Be In Loveî  Frou Frou

The saddest, most heart-wrenching feeling is unrequited love -- especially with someone you've already shared that love with.  It's totally cliché which makes it even harder to face.  That feeling of "loss" of someone you deeply cared about -- due to circumstances and choice -- is a feeling you can't completely share with, and expose to, other people.  And at times, it seems and feels totally ridiculous, pathetic and trivial.  And that makes it even harder to feel those feelings with any validity.  It's a private grief.  Sometimes, it's so private, you can't even share it with yourself.  Because you believe you're ìbetter than that.î  Because you have to.

RACHEL

ìI Get Along Without You Very Wellî by Chet Baker 

 It reminds me that it's impossible to avoid the process.  Chet Baker's version is sad and beautiful at the same time, and he is so soulful. 

JEFF

ìI Can't Make You Love Meî by Bonnie Raitt.

A classic in the genre.  Saw her perform it live at the Greek.  Liked what she had to say about having been on both ends of that song. 

FEO:
The next time you find yourself home alone, late at night, nursing a broken heart, fix yourself a nice stiff drink and listen to the Linda Ronstadt (backed by The Eagles) version of "Desperado."  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHS1Jey4clk

HANSON

When I was a young adolescent my first girlfriend broke my heart and for days I put ìBlame it on the Rainî on repeat over and over again to torture myself and everyone in my house.  That is a true story and now if you'll excuse me I'm going to go shoot myself.

KELVIN

ìWhyî by Annie Lennox  

ALSO IN THE PLAY, WAYNE PLAYS GRACE A SONG THAT SHE CLAIMS TO HATE BUT ENDS UP GETTING INTO.  WHAT’S YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE?

LIZ

ìMy Prerogativeî (The Britney Spears Version)

This song makes me strut.  When I need an extra boost in my step, a little more bitch in the Ho, I choose this song.  Because let's face it -- it's my prerogative. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kaw6hfuQXQ0

ELAINE

Anything by Milli Frickin’ Vanilli!  ìGirl You Know It’s True.î  YESSSS!!!!!!

JULLY

What song?  How about an entire genre?!  K-POP, BABY! 

Why is it a guilty pleasure?  Because I was into K-Pop in junior high and high school.  And one would HOPE that one has evolved... 

RACHEL

ìToxicî by Britney Spears 

I actually like a lot of her songs, because they're catchy, but she also puts out very entertaining videos.  She's a pretty sick performer.  There's something embarrassing about admitting this. 

JEFF

Guilt is overrated.  Asian Americans overdo guilt.  We should be able to freely admit to enjoying Backstreet Boys (ìI Want It That Wayî), Britney Spears and for that matter, NKOTB.  No Guilt! 

FEO

I have no ìguiltyî pleasures as I am completely devoid of any personal sense of shame.  However, there are a number of albums and songs in my ipod that I imagine some less sophisticated individuals would find to be prime fodder in an attempt to ridicule me.  One such song would probably be The Captain & Tennille's classic ìLove Will Keep Us Together.î http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1G0sOA6hTg0  I also enjoy their lesser known, but equally catchy, Spanish version, ìPor Amor Viviremos,î which features some of the most gringo-tastic Spanish ever recorded.

HANSON

ìBlame it on the Rain.î  Need I say more?

KELVIN

Anything Country.  I'm kind of a Chinese redneck ‘cause I have country music in my blood.  I grew up listening to Johnny Cash, Johnny Hartford, Glen Campbell because my mom would play it.   Country music is not COOL for liberal people.  But I can't help singing along to The Wreckers.  My total guilty pleasure is Taylor Swift.  I know.  It's wrong.