Once More with Once More, With Feeling
1. OVERTURE / HELLO AND WELCOME
JENNY:
Hello and welcome to Buffering the Vampire Slayer
A podcast where we’re watching every episode of Buffy
One by one
Mmm mmm I’m Jenny Owen Youngs
Kristin did you hear that? I just sang the intro! Did you hear that?!
KRISTIN:
Hey, I’m Kristin Russo
This week we’ve got a treat for you
We’re here to talk about Once More with Feeling
(The musical episode) so stay tuned
Cause the songs run all the way through
Wow, um, you’d almost say that like maybe I’m a… I don’t know... natural talent?
JENNY:
Oh directed and written by Mister Joss Whedon
It originally aired on November 6th 2001
KRISTIN:
And this is the one where —
JENNY:
Only 16 days!
Before I turned 20!
Years old!
KRISTIN:
Ahem!
As I was saying
This is the one with all the singing
So buckle up for the show
Cuz here we, here we
JENNY + KRISTIN:
Goooooooo
2. BIG FUCKING NERDS
KRISTIN:
They’ve got a theory
Oh fuck, we’re singing
KRISTIN + JENNY:
And it sounds like there’s 20 of us
JENNY:
We’re on quite a journey
Need an expert in TV
KRISTIN + JENNY:
Maybe LaToya will know!
LATOYA:
Hey guys.
There’s a whole lot of reasons that we could be seeing
This singing from outta nowhere
Might be time in the season when shows end up needing
An uptick in listens and shares
You don’t have a shark you can jump
But you have to get over that hump
Okay
JENNY:
Well we’re not big on spectacle
KRISTIN:
And there’s none more dependable
Than scoobies who lean homosexual
JENNY:
So, what else could it be?
LATOYA:
Well sometimes a musical is therapeutical
Feelings need moving along
That could be another clue if either one of you
Processes better in song
KRISTIN:
Jenny’s day job is singing hot tracks
JENNY:
But I come to this pod to relax!
LATOYA:
Okayyyy
JENNY:
Look, we’re good on the processing
KRISTIN:
Though it’s odd that we’re still singing
JENNY:
But maybe somebody does have feelings
KRISTIN:
I bet it’s Jenny!
JENNY:
Hey!
LATOYA:
Now back to your query, an alternate theory
On tracing the source of these jams:
Perhaps one of you lesbians might be a thespian
Doing it all for the fans
Does anyone sound like the type?
JENNY:
Well Kristin, she saw Rent 8 times! On Broadway!
LATOYA:
Oh, that could definitely be it
KRISTIN:
Excuse me but Jenny also starred in Godspell
JENNY:
I didn’t STAR in it, I was way in the back!
LATOYA:
Okay, I’ve examined the evidence and I think the truth is, you’re just singing because you’re nerds
JENNY:
Eureka, Doctor Ferguson!
I think we get what’s happening
When you’re looking for explanations
Usually the simplest is the right one
Baby that’s Occam’s razor
Saying that maybe we’re just big fucking nerds
LATOYA:
Oh you’re definitely just big fucking nerds!
I rest my case! I think that’s all there is to it. The answer was right in front of you the whole time… you dummies.
KRISTIN, JENNY, LATOYA, + THE SCOOBY NERD CHOIR:
Nerds nerds nerds nerds
Nerds nerds nerds nerds
(repeat + build for quite some time)
KRISTIN + JENNY:
Nerds, they’re cool
Nerds, they rule
You wouldn’t be here
If you weren’t one too!
3. MUSTARD
JENNY:
I’ve got a bone to pick
Mustard doesn’t stain unless you mix it with some other shit
KRISTIN:
Jenny
JENNY:
Like oil or blood
KRISTIN:
Jenny
JENNY:
Or grease from your car under the hood if you know I meeeeean
KRISTIN:
JENNY!
4. ON REN FAIRE DRESSES AND LEVITATILINGUS
JENNY:
I’ve got a question, a tiny question
Don’t you think something like, say, levitation
Would require an awful lot of concentration
KRISTIN:
Maybe this is just how witches do it every time they do it
Tara doesn’t look surprised to me
JENNY:
But what about the vending machine?
JENNY + KRISTIN:
The people have a right to know!
The people have a right to know!
KRISTIN:
I’ve got a question, a tiny question
It’s hard to hit a target when it’s moving
Especially when you are also floating
But do we even know if Willow’s floating?!
JENNY:
It’s impossible to say
What’s going on just out of frame
KRISTIN:
Whatever it is, it’s pretty gay
JENNY + KRISTIN:
The people have a right to know!
The people have a right to know!
JENNY:
In the heat of the action
Was that a magic-gasm?!
This is a family show!
KRISTIN:
What happens when it’s over?
Do they fall down or keep floating?
JENNY:
Do the people really have a right to knoooooow?
KRISTIN:
I say nooooooooooo!
5. YOU CAN ALWAYS GET DIVORCED
KRISTIN:
Xander and Anya
It’s been weighing on you
You’re scared that you might make
A really big mistake
JENNY + KRISTIN:
But take it from two girls who’ve been down the line
There’s no knot so knotted it can’t be untied
You can always get divorced
You can always get divorced
You might even be better friends if you reverse your course
Yeah you can always get divorced
JENNY:
You might discover
He hogs all the covers
KRISTIN:
Or she might get incensed
And start taking vengeance
JENNY + KRISTIN:
But listen two girls with experience
If shit gets bananas you just hit eject
You can always get divorced
You can always get divorced
You might even be better friends if you reverse your course
Yeah you can always get divorced
**WEDDING BELL SOLO**
You can always get divorced
You can always get divorced
We did it!
6. WOW WOW WOW
JENNY:
Wow! Wow! Wow!
Excitement unlocked!
Wow! Wow! Wow!
Holy shit that rocked!
7. PROBLEMATIC FAVE
JENNY:
Mmm ba ba ba mmm ba ba ba mmm ba ba ba Spike looks good
Mmm ba ba ba mmm ba ba ba mmm ba ba ba Spike looks good
KRISTIN:
Well I never wanted to be fabric before
Til I saw that black tee hugging all your contours
KRISTIN + JENNY:
Mmm ba ba ba ba mmm ba ba ba ba ba mmm ba ba ba ba Spike looks good
Mmm ba ba ba ba mmm ba ba ba ba ba mmm ba ba ba ba Spike looks good
JENNY:
Got your washboard abs and black nails workin’ for me
Let me see those boots come off in 1080p (HD!)
KRISTIN + JENNY:
Mmm ba ba ba ba mmm ba ba ba ba ba mmm ba ba ba ba Spike looks good
Mmm ba ba ba ba mmm ba ba ba ba ba mmm ba ba ba ba Spike looks good
JENNY:
You’re a bleach-blonde evil fiend
Who clawed his way out of the grave
But you’re still our number one problematic fave
Now if only we had one more person to weigh in —
Oh my fucking god, it’s Joanna Robinson!
JOANNA:
No one stands a chance against your cheekbones
I would save you all my mini marshmallows
JOANNA + KRISTIN + JENNY:
Mmm ba ba ba ba mmm ba ba ba ba ba mmm ba ba ba ba Spike looks good
Mmm ba ba ba ba mmm ba ba ba ba ba mmm ba ba ba ba Spike looks good
JENNY: Slurpin some blood, Spike looks good!
KRISTIN: A sensitive stud, Spike looks good!
JOANNA: Long leather coat, Spike looks good!
ALL: Smokin a smoke, Spike looks good!
JOANNA + KRISTIN + JENNY:
Mmm ba ba ba ba mmm ba ba ba ba ba mmm ba ba ba ba Spike looks good
Mmm ba ba ba ba mmm ba ba ba ba ba mmm ba ba ba ba Spike looks good
Spike looks good!
8. O! TO BE MENTIONED!
GABY:
Well I couldn’t help but overhear
You said the magic words my dear
One’s “Dunn” and then the other is “Gaby”
You know what to expect when you mention meeeeee
Did I ever tell you all about
The time that I almost made out with —
JENNY:
Gaby, we’re kind of in the middle of something here
GABY:
Okay byeeeeeee
9. GABY’S BALLET
10. STEREOTYPE BUFFET
ALBA:
Hey Mack. So they made a monster. A *Black* monster. What a surprise, right? I know. Let’s talk about it.
MACK:
This week on the Hellmouth, we’ve got some things to say
About the shit they’re serving up at the stereotype buffet
Tap dancing through the twenties in that forties-style zoot suit
Chuck Berry’s taste in the underage and Superfly slang to boot
ALBA:
Tired of seeing a bad guy every time I see my face
White people are not qualified to be writing and conveying race
When y’all try our culture on, nuance gets erased
Why don’t you just step aside, give people of color space
MACK:
At first glance, you’ll wanna dance, but take a closer look
Sweet’s jazz tune is just a page from Robert Johnson’s book
Sweet is cool, Sweet is smooth, until you realize
Some straight white guy justified these sinister stereotypes
ALBA:
While you show up for fashion, no matter time or place
I wanna watch my favorite show and trust the characters with my face
Instead I must resign myself to the writer’s vapid taste
Ampata, Forrest, Kendra, Trick: BIPOC copy paste
Still not done - still have to talk about more!
MACK:
In Sunnydale, bad things always happen to girls who are underage
ALBA:
Like getting sacrificed in a frat-house basement to a giant demon snake
MACK:
Or being assaulted by the varsity swim team (who would make a tasty ceviche)
ALBA:
But of course the biggest predator would be
MACK + ALBA:
A Black man with the devil’s face
MACK + ALBA:
To everybody listening who still think Sweet’s badass
Consider this your crossroads, cuz now we have to ask:
How much of our little song did you need to research?
Privilege provides the luxury to watch passive from your perch
So don’t force us to compromise we’ve had e-fucking-nough
We should tell our own stories, it’s really not that tough
11. ACCCCIDENTAL PARENTAL
JENNY:
My dude
Be reasonable
It’s true, your slayer’s seasons are few
But it don’t mean that you should run
Good sir
We really think you should stay
With her, she needs support and to slay
You didn’t mean to be a dad
But you are now so how ‘bout that
You think that your presence is holding her back
You should know your absence would be twice as bad
Nobody said you should right all the wrongs
But she sure deserves someone she can lean on
Oh Giles
You’ve been here through thin and thick
So why would you choose right now to split
You didn’t mean to be a dad
But you are now so act like it
You think that your presence is holding her back
You should know your absence would be twice as bad
Nobody’s saying you should fix it all
But you know to be there to answer her call
12. ON LEAVING
KRISTIN:
Tara you should really go
You had a right to know
Even though it hurts, let go
You had a right to know
13. WHAT IN THE ACTUAL
JENNY:
What in the actual fuck
Are you doing
Right now you kinda suck
You’re bailing when you should have her back
KRISTIN:
You’re really screwing it up
You’re losing the mission
Supposed to be the grown up
But you’re leaving her open to attack
JENNY + KRISTIN:
It’s not helpful when you bring somebody back from the grave
To say they gotta grow up so you’re going away
Post-resurrection testing them while they fade away
Even slayers need a little help when they save the day
Save the day
Save the day
KRISTIN:
What in the actual fuck
JENNY:
Are you thinking
JENNY + KRISTIN:
We are not sorry but
JENNY:
We have to disrupt this dumb bullshit
JENNY + KRISTIN:
Bad choices runnin’ amok
JENNY:
We hate what you’re doing
JENNY + KRISTIN:
Freakin’ morally bankrupt
KRISTIN:
And all of you Scoobies are complicit in it
JENNY + KRISTIN:
It’s not helpful when you bring somebody back from the grave
To say they gotta grow up so you’re going away
Post-resurrection testing them while they fade away
Even slayers need a little help to get through the day
To get through the day
Even slayers need a little help when they save the day, save the day
14. ONCE MORE, WITH FEELING
JENNY:
I’m just tryna get some light back
Scared that it’s forever gone
Maybe we can find it in the feedback
Somewhere there’s a hidden song
I go the only way I’ve ever known
A step, and then, again, another one
I’m just tryna get some light back
Scared that it’s forever gone
Maybe we can find it in the feedback
Somewhere there’s a hidden song
I fight the only way I’ve ever done
A step, and then, again, another one
I’m just tryna get some light back
Scared that it’s forever gone
Maybe we can find it in the feedback
Somewhere there’s a hidden song
15. PATRIARCHY REIMAGINED
The patriarchy!
Thunderclap!
Scary laugh!
16. THE END OF THE EPISODE
JENNY:
It’s the end, it’s the end of the episode
We’ve had some highs, we’ve had some lows
KRISTIN:
It’s the end, it’s the end of the episode
And everybody’s lost now that they know
JENNY:
They can’t see where to go
KRISTIN:
Or how on earth to get there
JENNY:
But they've made it up til now
JENNY + KRISTIN:
And so
It’s the end, it’s the end of the episode
Guess we’ll figure out together where we’ll go
JENNY:
We’ve got lots of awards for tension to mail
KRISTIN:
Jingles to write and spoilers to veil
JENNY:
Hunks to examine, we’ll manage somehow
KRISTIN:
Erotic novellas await, but for now
JENNY:
It’s the end, it’s the end of the episode
JENNY + KRISTIN:
And you know we hate to say goodbye
It’s the end, it’s the end of the episode
JENNY:
If you’ll excuse me I have something in my eye
17. CODAWoooooooo
JENNY + KRISTIN:
Mmm ba ba ba mmm ba ba ba
Mmm ba ba ba Spike looks good
Mmm ba ba ba mmm ba ba ba
Mmm ba ba ba Spike looks good
JENNY:
And it’s not like we’d think Buffy’d be feeling
In tip top shape to fight some demons
KRISTIN:
But holy shit they’re kissing
JENNY + KRISTIN:
So that brings her vampire smooch count up to twoooooo
JENNY:
And til next time
JENNY + KRISTIN:
Awoooooooooo