I’m really quite upset here. I expected John to break my heart in a good way this afternoon. Staged right, that could have had an emotional kick like a mule as you gradually realise what’s been going so badly wrong in John’s life.
They’ve totally got it back to front. It starts off totally dark, just a single spotlight on John, all shot in black and white. And then they gradually leach the colour IN. And the backdrop gradually gets brighter more optimistic. And then, the big emotional punch moment of the whole song:
I should have been THERE (fireworks display!) for you.
I should have been THERE (fireworks display!) for you.
I should have been THERE (fireworks display!) for you.
I should have been THERE (shower of fireworks!)
And we certainly don’t want just John singing the next bit unaccompanied, let’s have a little tinkly glockenspiel! Oh, grrrrrrr.
On the positive side, it’s nice to see that Planet Latvia is an available setting for the stage. And John does sing well. But I just don’t get the raw emotional punch that I wanted from it. Pity.