Stewie's Surprise - Seth MacFarlane and the NSO

When I hear the name Seth MacFarlane, I think of a comedy guy who has a knack for light humor and animated TV shows. What I didn't think about is a show tune singer who idolized pop singers such as Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. MacFarlene of course first came to prominence when he created Family Guy in 1999. Before that, he went to the Rhode Island School of Design and assisted with several animated shows. With Family Guy, he voices several of the characters and was the chief creative artist for much of the time. He has also produced other shows such as American Dad and the Cleveland Show. He has won several awards for his shows, including an Emmy for Family Guy. Recently however, he has released a couple musical albums containing old pop standards and selections from the Great American Songbook. The albums have been successful on the Jazz Charts and he has played with a variety of orchestras around the country. His primary focus has been to appreciate singers such as Sinatra and Martin and to make sure these classic tunes are not forgotten.

I honestly had no idea what this show was going to be like. Was it going to be a comedy or would he stay within the realms of the quieter songs he was singing? What would his voice songs like? In the end, he did a little of both. His baritone voice was quite pleasant and he sang the songs with a deep, rich tone. While I guess one could say there was nothing remarkable about his delivery, the strength of the NSO bolstered the performance to turn it from good to very good. He song selection was diverse and he really tried to give credit to the composers, arrangers, and singers he was covering. It was nice to see how thankful he was for these songs and I could tell being able to sing them meant a lot to him. But never fear because between the songs, the Seth MacFarlane we all know and love came out. He cracks jokes while introducing the songs and while I don't really watch any of his shows, I can't deny that the guy isn't funny. For his last number, he sang in the voice of some of his iconic characters like Peter Griffin and Ted. But for the most part, the show was serious and I was really able to listen to the songs. One thing I realized about these old tunes is that if you stripped them of the vocals, they would still be beautiful songs. Back then, the orchestra was just as important as the voice and behind every singer like Sinatra was a rich and enthralling accompaniment. It was a beautiful night on the lawn and I think by the end of the show, everyone realized that MacFarlane wasn't just doing this for fun, he really put his heart and soul into the performance.

My favorite part of the show was when he did the classic number "Old Man River". This song ends in an incredible climax and it really showcased both the orchestra and MacFarlane's voice at the same time. MacFarlane really gave it his all and for that time, he threw aside the comedy and became a worthy singer just like the men from the 40's and 50's he loves so much. Sinatra would be proud.

As always, looking forward to more shows in the future!

DC

Seth MacFarlane