Oh curly haired seraph.  Why must you keep recording live versions of songs already sung?

The past few months have not gone by Josh Groban free, of course.  He has yet another live album and DVD of songs I already own.  On at least two other albums, at least one of which is also a live recording.  One could argue I need not buy them, and for awhile I don’t, but then I get nervous and think, “But what if this album has that one perfect note, that one refrain that will trigger something in my brain to achieve academic greatness?” And then I end up buying the Limited Edition Super Special Internet Edition.  Because maybe there’s something in the included fan art booklet.

However, also recently released is a recording of “Chess,” a musical about, I think, the game of chess.  I’m unsure about it for several reasons.  First, I tried to watch the production of the show on PBS, but due to digital conversion issues, or the cable issues of the college where I live, or perhaps God’s will, PBS channel 2 or 44 does not come in correctly.  So while I taped the Great Performances and also watched it when it was on, all I could get was grainy, broken up images that went black every minute or so.  I would miss key scenes featuring solos by Josh Groban’s hair and other seemingly important characters.  The pixelated love story seemed to be about a Russian and an American and some woman who could really sing, though I know not about what.

Another issue is that the baby does not care much for Josh Groban, a clear indicator that genetics have favored her father’s DNA.  She likes to watch him emote, laugh hysterically, and then chew on the remote because she knows there is a connection between it and making the noises stop coming from Groban’s song hole.  (Also, interestingly, the remote turns on her ocean aquarium singing crib toy.  So Groban stops and the fish start dancing.  Poor guy can’t compete with that.)

Finally, since the sun hasn’t been out in Boston in about a week, the child and I spend a lot of time hunched in the Britax box.  Well, I’m hunched and she’s sprawled luxuriously.  She loves it in there.  And she gets mad when I try to do anything but entertain her these days, looking at the TV included.  So I would try to angle myself to subtly glance at the screen from under the box flap, and she would growl in disapproval.  Then we’d have to watch 10 minutes of Feist videos for me to make it up to her.

Seriously.  I’m related to this child?

Anyway, I mandated convinced Peter to get me the Internet Only Sparkle Version of Chess, so that I might finally know what is going on, and hear Josh once more.  Singing new music!  See, live music can be new! 

Allegedly he’s also recording a new album for possible release this year.  (Uh, or maybe next year.) Which probably means a tour. 

Which means that the child, she will be reared in the ways of popera whether she likes it or not.