Bo Burnham's 'Inside' is going to cinemas this week (so let's rank the songs)
By Glenn Dunks
Was Promising Young Woman your first interaction with Bo Burnham, playing the too-good-to-be-true doctor? Was it his directorial debut Eighth Grade with its acute insight into social media culture of young adults? Or was it maybe his career as a stand-up comedian, a sort of Weird Al Yankovich for the millennial age? Maybe it was Inside, Burnham’s quarantine inspired one-man musical Inside, which is now receiving a one-night only screening in theatres across the United States on the July the 22nd.
I have watched the Netflix special several times already, as well as multiple trips to its various musical sequences while the soundtrack remains on constant repeat. I think it’s brilliant for all the reasons Cláudio explained (and more). A true swing-for-the-fences achievement that makes elaborate use of its lo-fi trappings, straddling a delicate line between sarcastic mockery of cultural taboos and politically aware understanding of the times that are indeed changing.
Inside became instantly famous for a lot of reasons, landing six Emmy nominations despite being released on the very last day of eligibility. So to celebrate its brief detour to theatres, I am going to rank all 20 songs that appear in it! Keeping in mind, of course, that there isn’t a single dud out of the bunch.