The Latest Show on Earth - 02/19/08 - part 2

Joe welcomes Stephin Merritt of The Magnetic Fields, who performs "The Nun's Litany" from their new album Distortion and talks to Joe about recording the album, his ambition to do 50 successful Hollywood musicals and silent movie scoring. Tune in on Tuesday, March 4th for another song from Stephin Merritt and the second half of his conversation with Joe.

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[ianflaig]

"I go to the silent movie theater.......I eat the cupcakes.." *stare at camera*

Genius.

[MusicJew158]

This interviewer is fine. Merritt is a toughie.

[NezbitOfficialBand]

This song is fun to sing in basso profondo.

[ChrisSketch]

Awkward interview aside, the footage of Merritt playing is a real gem. I'm trying and failing to read his finger positions on The Nun's Litany but it's instructive nonetheless.

[embi3n]

I love the lyrics to that song

[Inlovewithloureed]

oh my god this interview is giving me anxiety

[CheeseCakeExplosion]

"I go to the silent movie theatre. I eat the cupcakes."

I cannot believe people think of him as being a dick. He's very funny, I think. Dry, yes, and perhaps a bit abrasive, but a real laugh.

[henryyydarkkk]

My god this interviewer is awful.

[ultimatio]

Merritt is a notoriously difficult interview, but the right interviewer could play cat and mouse with him in a way that was pleasing to all three parties (the audience being the third). Unforutnately, this interviewer ain't it, but the fact that he isn't makes for some incredible, classic awkward Merritt moments.

[crowgirl1]

Thanks for posting! Please is there any way you could separately post just the song? I love this rendition.

[merrittfan]

7:11 is the most magical moment of all time.  Look at that face.