Seasons of Love

Song from the musical "Rent"

For other uses, see Season of Love.

"Seasons of Love"

Song by Cast of Rent
from the album  Rent (Original Broadway Cast Recording)
Released| September 1996
Genre| Show tune
Length| 2:52[1]
Songwriter(s)| Jonathan Larson

"Seasons of Love" is a song from the 1996 Broadway musical Rent, written and composed by Jonathan Larson. The song starts with an ostinato piano motif, which provides the harmonic framework for the cast to sing "Five hundred twenty-five thousand, six hundred minutes" (the number of minutes in a common year). The main instruments used throughout the song are piano, vocals, guitar, organ, bass and drums.[citation needed]

The song is performed by the entire cast in the musical and in the 2005 film adaptation. The lyrics ask what the proper way is to quantify the value of a year in human life, concluding in the chorus that the most effective means is to "measure in love". Since four of the lead characters either have HIV or AIDS, the song is often associated with World AIDS Day and AIDS awareness month.[citation needed]

## Songwriter

[edit]

Jonathan Larson actually intended for "Seasons of Love" to be performed symbolically as a song at Angel's funeral. When Larson died the night before the preview opening of the show, the cast sang it at the beginning to pay their respects to him.[citation needed] It is performed at the beginning of the second act, referencing recent past events or the events to come. The song is heard twice throughout the second act (before "A Happy New Year" and the reprise is heard after "Take Me or Leave Me", before "Without You") before hearing it in its last incarnation as background to "I'll Cover You: Reprise" and Angel's eulogy.

## Stage productions

[edit]

In the original Broadway production, the song is sung at the opening of the second act. The cast stands downstage in a straight line facing the audience. The entire cast performs the song, and the solos are normally performed by two cast members who play several minor roles each (namely Mr. and Mrs. Jefferson). "Seasons of Love" is performed in two parts, the first at the beginning of Act II with the reprise following a few numbers later, following "Take Me or Leave Me".

The song has been translated into multiple languages for the international productions of the musical ("Tiempos de amor" in Spanish, "Nur Liebe Bleibt" in German, "Sígræn ást" in Icelandic and "A szerelem évszakai" in Hungarian).

## Film adaptation

[edit]

"Seasons of Love"

Single by Cast of Rent
from the album  Rent: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Released| August 2, 2005 (2005-08-02)
Studio|

* El Dorado Studios
* Skywalker Sound

Genre| Show tune
Length| 3:02
Label| Warner Bros.
Songwriter(s)| Jonathan Larson
Producer(s)| Rob Cavallo
Rent soundtrack singles chronology
|  | "Seasons of Love"
(2005)  | "Take Me or Leave Me"
(2006)

|
|

In the 2005 film version of Rent, "Seasons of Love" and its reprise are performed. Only the eight principal characters perform the song, and the two solos are performed by Joanne (Tracie Thoms) and Tom Collins (Jesse L. Martin). "Seasons of Love" is first performed at the start of the film with the cast singing it on a theater stage. In the reprise the song plays as a backdrop to a documentary style film about New York life made by the character Mark.[citation needed] Selections from "Seasons of Love" were also used in several of the film's trailers and other promotional material.[citation needed]

### Track listings

[edit]

Digital download[2]No.| Title| Length

|
|

1.| "Seasons of Love"| 3:02

Remixes digital EP[3]No.| Title| Length

|
|

1.| "Seasons of Love" (Gomi's Lair Radio Edit)| 3:47
2.| "Seasons of Love" (Monkey Bars Remix Edit)| 4:48
3.| "Seasons of Love" (L.E.X. Theatrical Club Mix Edit)| 4:59
4.| "Seasons of Love" (Eddie Baez's "Payin' the Rent" Club Mix Edit)| 4:57

Remixes CD maxi single[4]No.| Title| Length

|
|

1.| "Seasons of Love" (Gomi's Lair Club Mix)| 8:22
2.| "Seasons of Love" (Monkey Bars Club Mix)| 7:20
3.| "Seasons of Love" (L.E.X. Theatrical Club Mix)| 5:11
4.| "Seasons of Love" (Eddie Baez's "Payin' the Rent" Club Mix)| 10:13
5.| "Seasons of Love" (Gomi's Lair Radio Edit)| 3:44
6.| "Seasons of Love" (Monkey Bars Remix Edit)| 4:48
7.| "Seasons of Love" (L.E.X. Theatrical Club Mix Edit)| 4:57
8.| "Seasons of Love" (Eddie Baez's "Payin' the Rent" Club Mix Edit)| 4:59

### Charts

[edit]

Chart (2005–06)  | Peak
position

|

US Billboard Hot 100[5] | 33
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[6] | 4
US Dance/Mix Show Airplay (Billboard)[7] | 25
US Hot Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)[8] | 4

## Alternative versions

[edit]

In addition to the 1996 Original Cast Recording (OCR) a number of different versions have been recorded.[9] Along with the OCR soundtrack is an alternative version of Seasons of Love featuring Stevie Wonder who sings (and improvises upon) the part usually sung by the soloists and also plays harmonica.[10]

Hong Kong singer Sandy Lam recorded a version of the song for her 1997 album Wonderful World.

A version of the song was recorded by The Broadway Kids on their 2001 album The Best of Broadway.

The Office (U.S.) characters surprised lead actor Steve Carell playing Michael Scott upon his departure on the show during "Michael's Last Dundies".[11]

Rent star Idina Menzel covered the song for her 2019 Christmas album Christmas: A Season of Love.

Cast of Rent performing "Seasons of Love" at Broadway on Broadway, 2005

In January 2021 a parody entitled "Seasons of Trump" was posted on YouTube by Randy Rainbow about the presidency of Donald Trump.[12] As of February 27, 2021 this had received over 1.9M views.[13]

## Glee cover

[edit]

On October 10, 2013, the song was covered on the third episode of the fifth season of Glee, "The Quarterback", as a tribute to Cory Monteith and his character Finn Hudson. This version placed on a few record charts, published by Billboard.

Chart (2013)  | Peak
position

|

Canada (Hot Canadian Digital Songs)[14] | 60
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[15] | 21
US Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[16] | 56
US Pop Digital Songs (Billboard)[17] | 23

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Rent (Original Broadway Cast Recording) Archived 2010-12-26 at the Wayback Machine from AllMusic
2. ^ "Seasons of Love (From the Motion Picture RENT) - Single on Apple Music". iTunes Store. 2 August 2005. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
3. ^ "Seasons of Love (From "Rent") [Remixes] \- EP on Apple Music". iTunes Store. 3 January 2006. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
4. ^ "Seasons of Love" Remixes (CD booklet). Warner Bros. Records. 2006. 093624286622.
5. ^ "Cast of Rent Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
6. ^ "Cast of Rent Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
7. ^ "Cast of Rent Chart History (Dance Mix/Show Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
8. ^ "Dance Singles Sales: February 18, 2006". Billboard. 2 January 2013. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
9. ^ Albums containing a track with the title: Seasons of Love[permanent dead link] from Allmusic
10. ^ "Rent [Original Broadway Cast Recording] \- Original Broadway Cast | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-07-11.
11. ^ Caulfield, A. J. (2019-12-17). "The One Scene The Office Cast Almost Couldn't Film". Looper.com. Retrieved 2022-01-09.
12. ^ "'Genius' Trump song parodying Broadway hit 'Seasons of Love' goes viral". Independent.co.uk. 20 January 2021. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
13. ^ "Seasons of Trump". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
14. ^ "Hot Canadian Digital Songs: October 26, 2013". Billboard. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
15. ^ "Glee Cast Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
16. ^ "Glee Cast Chart History (Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
17. ^ "Pop Digital Songs: October 26, 2013". Billboard. 2 January 2013. Retrieved November 3, 2018.

* v
* t
* e

Jonathan Larson

Musicals|

* El libro de buen amor (1979)
* Sacrimmoralinority (1981)
* J.P. Morgan Saves the Nation
* Mowgli (unproduced)
* Superbia (unproduced)
* Tick, Tick... Boom! (1993)
* Rent (1996)

Songs|

* "Come To Your Senses"
* "Sextet"
* "30/90"
* "Rent"
* "One Song Glory"
* "Light My Candle"
* "Tango: Maureen"
* "Will I?"
* "Over the Moon"
* "I Should Tell You"
* "Seasons of Love"
* "Take Me or Leave Me"
* "Without You"
* "Finale B"

Film and television|

* Rent (2005 film)
* Rent: Filmed Live on Broadway (2008 film)
* Rent: Live (2019)
* Revolution Rent (2021)
* Tick, Tick... Boom! (2021)

Albums/soundtracks|

* Rent albums (1996 / 2005)
* Jonathan Sings Larson (2007)
* The Jonathan Larson Project (2018)
* Tick, Tick... Boom! film soundtrack (2021)

Other|

* Away We Go! (children's video)
* Boho Days: The Wider Works (by J. Collins)
* Without You (by Anthony Rapp)
* Jonathan Larson Performing Arts Foundation
* Library of Congress (contains Jonathan Larson papers collection)
* Sesame Street (wrote songs 1992-3)

* v
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Henri Murger's Scenes of Bohemian Life

Opera|

* La bohème (Puccini)
* La bohème (Leoncavallo)

Film|

* La Bohème (1926 silent)
* Mimi (1935)
* La Vie de bohème (1945)
* La Bohème (1965)
* La Vie de Bohème (1992)

Rent|

* Rent (1996 musical)
* Rent (2005 film)
* Rent: Filmed Live on Broadway (2008 film)
* Rent: Live (2019)
* Albums

Music|

* La Vie de Bohème (1969 album)
* La bohème discography
* "La Vie Bohème"
* "Seasons of Love"
* "Take Me or Leave Me"
* "Finale B"

* v
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* e

Idina Menzel

* Awards and nominations
* Discography

Studio albums|

* Still I Can't Be Still
* Here
* I Stand
* Holiday Wishes
* Idina
* Christmas: A Season of Love

Live albums|

* Live: Barefoot at the Symphony

Singles|

* "Take Me or Leave Me"
* "Defying Gravity"
* "Brave"
* "I Dreamed a Dream"
* "Let It Go"
* "Making Today a Perfect Day"
* "Into the Unknown"

Other songs|

* "La Vie Bohème"
* "Seasons of Love"
* "The Wizard and I"
* "What Is This Feeling?"
* "I'm Not That Girl"
* "Dancing Through Life"
* "No Good Deed"
* "For Good"
* "For the First Time in Forever"
* "Show Yourself"
* "A Whole New World"
* "Love Power"

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* I Stand tour
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* A Season of Love Tour

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Discography

Studio albums|

* The Jazz Soul of Little Stevie
* Tribute to Uncle Ray
* With a Song in My Heart
* Stevie at the Beach
* Up-Tight
* Down to Earth
* I Was Made to Love Her
* Someday at Christmas
* Eivets Rednow
* For Once in My Life
* My Cherie Amour
* Signed, Sealed & Delivered
* Where I'm Coming From
* Music of My Mind
* Talking Book
* Innervisions
* Fulfillingness' First Finale
* Songs in the Key of Life
* Hotter than July
* In Square Circle
* Characters
* Conversation Peace
* A Time to Love

Live albums|

* Recorded Live: The 12 Year Old Genius
* Stevie Wonder Live
* Live at the Talk of the Town
* Natural Wonder

Soundtracks|

* Stevie Wonder's Journey Through "The Secret Life of Plants"
* The Woman in Red
* The Last Dragon
* Jungle Fever

Compilations|

* Looking Back
* Stevie Wonder's Original Musiquarium I
* Song Review: A Greatest Hits Collection
* At the Close of a Century
* The Definitive Collection
* The Complete Stevie Wonder

Singles|

* "Fingertips"
* "Hey Harmonica Man"
* "Uptight (Everything's Alright)"
* "With a Child's Heart"
* "Blowin' in the Wind"
* "A Place in the Sun"
* "Someday at Christmas"
* "Hey Love"
* "I Was Made to Love Her"
* "I'm Wondering"
* "Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day"
* "You Met Your Match"
* "Alfie"
* "For Once in My Life"
* "I Don't Know Why"
* "My Cherie Amour"
* "Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday"
* "Never Had a Dream Come True"
* "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours"
* "Heaven Help Us All"
* "We Can Work It Out"
* "Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer"
* "If You Really Love Me"
* "What Christmas Means to Me"
* "Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You)"
* "Superstition"
* "You Are the Sunshine of My Life"
* "Higher Ground"
* "Living for the City"
* "Don't You Worry 'bout a Thing"
* "He's Misstra Know-It-All"
* "You Haven't Done Nothin'"
* "Boogie On Reggae Woman"
* "I Wish"
* "Sir Duke"
* "Another Star"
* "As"
* "Pops, We Love You (A Tribute to Father)"
* "Send One Your Love"
* "Master Blaster (Jammin')"
* "I Ain't Gonna Stand for It"
* "Lately"
* "Happy Birthday"
* "That Girl"
* "Ebony and Ivory"
* "Do I Do"
* "Ribbon in the Sky"
* "Front Line"
* "I Just Called to Say I Love You"
* "Love Light in Flight"
* "Part-Time Lover"
* "That's What Friends Are For"
* "Go Home"
* "Overjoyed"
* "Stranger on the Shore of Love"
* "Skeletons"
* "You Will Know"
* "Get It"
* "Gotta Have You"
* "For Your Love"
* "So What the Fuss"
* "From the Bottom of My Heart"
* "All About the Love Again"
* "Faith"
* "Can't Put It in the Hands of Fate"

Featured singles|

* "My Love"
* "How Come, How Long"
* "California Roll"

Other songs|

* "You and I (We Can Conquer the World)"
* "I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)"
* "Golden Lady"
* "All in Love Is Fair"
* "They Won't Go When I Go"
* "Love's in Need of Love Today"
* "Knocks Me Off My Feet"
* "Pastime Paradise"
* "Isn't She Lovely"
* "Black Man"
* "We Are the World"
* "Just Good Friends"
* "Seasons of Love"
* "True to Your Heart"
* "Stop Trying to Be God"

Songwriting credits|

* "It's a Shame"
* "Tears of a Clown"
* "Tell Me Something Good"
* "Uptown Festival"
* "Let's Get Serious"
* "You're Supposed to Keep Your Love for Me"

Tours|

* Songs in the Key of Life Tour

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* Lula Mae Hardaway
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