December was a blur, so when HBO aired the documentary “Six By Sondheim,” it flew past our radar, but we should have been paying close attention.
Directed by James Lapine, it’s a look at the creative evolution of the famed composer via six key songs. “We didn’t choose the most famous songs,” the director told The New York Times. “We chose the ones that had an interesting story behind them and also fit into the linear storytelling of Steve’s life.” And of those tunes is “I’m Still Here” from the musical “Follies,” and it got some high class treatment.
Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker and director Todd Haynes created this segment/performance for the documentary, with the pair turning the showstopper song, usually sung by a woman, into a lounge-y take with Cocker crooning it out. It’s a stylish, comfortable spin that still finds the spirit of Sondheim’s original while showing why his songs have such longevity. So give it a look below, and be sure to track down the full “Six By Sondheim” if you’re a fan.