Customer Reviews

Let the Sun Shine In: The Genius of HAIR

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book covers everything you could ever want to know about HAIR, The American TRibal Love-Rock musical, it's background, it's creation, what everything in it means, how it fit in history, how ti changes peoples lives, everything!! If you love HAIR, you'll love this book!!

This book was a fun and quick read and for anyone who is interested in what the hippies of the 60's were all about, or has nostalgia for the time, it will probably be enjoyable. I have to say that I found numerous factual errors in it about historical events (most notably the very one-sided and overly generalized summary of US involvement in Viet Nam, but also more mundane things like his history of Rock music), but they did not detract from the points the author made about the forces driving social change. Having seen HAIR about a dozen times, both the film and stage show, I have to disagree with some of the meanings that the author ascribes to the lyrics. I have found deep meaning in many lyrics that the author doesn't mention, and found quite different meanings in the ones that he does. I was disappointed that the book lacked any end notes, attributions or interviews with either Mr. Rado or Mr. Ragni, and if you are looking for the full lyrics to the songs, you will not find them here. Beware also that there is a lot of repetition in this book. It seems as if each chapter was written as a separate essay without much regard for the points already made. I also found the repeated references to Star Trek and the hero's journey in Star Wars rather amusing.

Having read the other books of Mr. Miller and enjoyed them, I was looking forward to this little book. I think Mr. Miller has finally lost the plot! He is so uncritical of the show it's an embarrassment. His critical faculties have sailed out the window! HAIR's music is a Wonder but the lyrics and book (?) are atrocious and often gibberish. The revelatory experiences Mr. Miller claims his cast had performing a production are Not their audience's response,i would imagine. An audience cannot always appreciate the research a cast has invested, it sees the product not the process. Miller is looking at his subject from the inside. I am surprised that Mr. Miller has descended to this "tribal" love-stuff. He never steps back from his subject and discerns its weakness. His efforts have actually steered me away from this musical.