His Music Was Great. His Lyrics Were Greater.

By Sniffles

This is not an entertainment blog, but Stephen Sondheim transcends entertainment.

We've long thought that the great Judi Densch gave the most intelligent performance of "Send in the Clowns" from A Little Night Music. Unlike the mundane covers by the likes of (yes, really) Frank Sinatra, Densch clearly knew what the song was about: people who were destined to be happily-ever-after lovers, except, of course, they weren't.

But that's okay. The most important thing is that America and the world appreciate the genius that Sondheim graced us with for the duration of his very long life. He learned at the feet of the master — Oscar Hammerstein II — and he took musical theater to the next level and then some. We all have our favorite Sondheim moments. Let's treasure them all as we salute him, and everything he brought us:

"Pantaloons and tunics! Courtesans and eunuchs! Funerals and chases! Baritones and basses! Panderers! Philanderers! Cupidity! Timidity! Mistakes! Fakes! Rhymes! Crimes! Tumblers! Grumblers! Bumblers! Fumblers!" We cats PURR.