Chapter 29: Street Perfromance
'All around me are familiar faces
Worn-out places, worn-out faces
Bright and early for their daily races
Going nowhere, going nowhere
And their tears are filling up their glasses
No expression, no expression
Hide my head, I want to drown my sorrow
No tomorrow, no tomorrow'
Evan Bell's voice was deeper than usual, with a faint hoarseness that added a rich texture to his singing. His voice was slow and heavy as if he were telling a distant and sorrowful story.
Even though Evan didn't intentionally make it sentimental or weigh down his voice, there was a power in the melody, lyrics, and his singing that moved everyone listening.
'And I find it kind of funny
I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I'm dying
Are the best I've ever had
I find it hard to tell you, 'cause I find it hard to take
When people run in circles
It's a very, very
Mad world
Mad world
Mad world
Mad world'
As Evan Bell sang "Mad World," he felt a sting in his nose, a reminder of the car accident that once upended his life. This truly is a mad world that's both absurd and cynical.
Often, the most touching sounds are not the ones filled with elaborate skill, but the simple, direct expressions of emotion.
Undoubtedly, "Mad World" carries a weighty, breathtaking energy in its melody and lyrics. Coupled with Evan Bell's stirring voice, the effect was mesmerizing.
Almost everyone in the studio was drawn into a vision of life's harshness, the absurdity, and the sadness of this mad world that brought tears to their eyes.
When Evan Bell finished singing, the studio was silent, everyone was lost in their thoughts. Richard Kelly, the screenwriter and director of Donnie Darko, was especially absorbed in his own world, unable to pull himself away.
"Mad World" resonated deeply with him, capturing the very essence of Donnie Darko's helplessness and the film's underlying critique of society.
All forms of art are interconnected; they can touch the heart, stir emotions, and reach the soul. Whether it's a movie, a painting, or a piece of music, this kind of spiritual impact is universal.
This performance of "Mad World" was the most powerful and vivid one Evan Bell had delivered so far, even more so than his rendition of "Boundless Oceans and Skies." The silent, reflective expressions on the faces of everyone present spoke volumes.
Evan Bell, unfamiliar with the movie Donnie Darko, hadn't recognized Richard Kelly immediately, nor did he recall what the original soundtrack was like. But the crew's reaction confirmed that Evan's new arrangement of the song was a perfect fit for the movie, another affirmation of his journey in music.
Richard Kelly, despite his background in directing, knew very little about music—he could barely read sheet music. So, after receiving the new arrangement, he had rushed over, insisting that Evan Bell sing it for him.
The new arrangement, featuring piano and cello, told the song's story like a narrative poem. Although the atmosphere was slightly different from the original a cappella style, the emotion behind it made the song just as powerful. Evan didn't hesitate and sang the song in his clear voice, holding the music score.
At first, only Richard Kelly was listening. But soon, the surrounding crew stopped what they were doing and quietly listened to Evan Bell's voice, falling into the mad world he created with his velvety tones. This led to the silence that followed the performance.
"Evan, I love you. This song is incredible, just incredible!" Richard Kelly, wiping tears from the corners of his eyes, hugged Evan Bell, unable to contain his excitement.
Evan rolled his eyes and quipped, "Kelly, save your love for the lovely ladies. As for me, I'm more into the copyright fees." His teasing successfully embarrassed Richard Kelly, making the crew around them laugh.
Without a doubt, Evan Bell's version of "Mad World" became the theme song of Donnie Darko. The adaptation also marked a significant milestone for Evan, giving him new insights into music arrangement.
However, before the movie could be released, they needed to secure the rights to adapt and use "Mad World," and the new version of the song had to be registered for copyright. But these were concerns for Richard Kelly and Drew Barrymore to handle.
Donnie Darko wrapped up a day ahead of schedule, which was a relief for Richard Kelly, allowing him to start post-production sooner and aim for the Sundance Film Festival in January.
Sundance is the premier independent film festival in the world, dedicated to unknown filmmakers and their low-budget films, making it a haven for independent projects like Donnie Darko.
It's the first major platform for emerging directors to gain recognition and a talent pool for major Hollywood studios scouting for new talent.
Regardless of Richard Kelly's future plans, Donnie Darko was his debut film, and he was eager to share it with audiences. Whether he sought professional recognition, audience praise, or both, was his personal aspiration. For Evan Bell, the most important thing was that the work resonated with viewers.
After returning to Boston from Virginia, it was already mid-October. With the crew disbanded, Evan Bell and Drew Barrymore drove north together.
At the fork of Interstate 93, Drew continued to New York, while Evan got off and headed towards Boston. Hitchhiking was easy, and it took Evan less than two hours to reach the city.
Boston's traffic is notorious, with no clear rules in the maze-like streets of the city center. As one of the oldest cities in the U.S., Boston's roads were laid out centuries ago without much planning and gradually filled in over time.
Now, the streets twist and turn unpredictably, each section bearing a different name, with narrow lanes and sudden alleys. This chaos has earned Boston the reputation of being one of the worst cities for cycling in the country.
Evan Bell had lived in Cambridge for two years and had become somewhat familiar with Boston, though he still often got lost in the city's confusing streets. Even those with a good sense of direction found Boston a challenge.
Thankfully, the Boston City Government recognized the city's traffic issues. To boost tourism, they created the Freedom Trail, a path paved with red bricks that connects the city's main attractions.
Cambridge, one of the most famous college towns in the world, is located along this trail, making it easy for Evan Bell to find his way back to school by simply following the red-bricked road.
After leaving the Donnie Darko crew, Evan Bell found it hard to shake off the character of Donnie Darko. He had accepted Drew Barrymore's invitation to drive back together, hoping the journey would help him purge the dark emotions lingering within him.
But it didn't work. Throughout the drive, he remained unsettled, his thoughts heavy with the weight of the role. When they parted ways Drew continued to New York, and Evan returned to Boston on his own.
Walking slowly along the Freedom Trail, with the slightly salty breeze from the Boston harbor clearing his mind, Evan began to feel more like himself again. Many great actors struggle to break free from their roles, some taking months to recover.
But Evan had always been more open-minded, his thoughts more flexible, so while he felt a lingering heaviness, it wasn't something that consumed him.
Laughter from nearby drew Evan's attention. He looked up to see a lively crowd gathered ahead. Boston is a renowned university town, home not only to Harvard and MIT but also to Berklee College of Music, a world-class institution known for its leadership in modern music. Street performances by talented musicians were a common sight.
As Evan approached, he recognized the performers immediately. His bandmates were there, playing their instruments with joyful smiles, clearly enjoying the interaction with the crowd.
Jacob Tipo was sitting on an African drum, pounding out rhythms with enthusiasm; Bruce Stewart had a portable keyboard strapped to his back, playing rock melodies; and Gillen Haas was strumming a guitar, engaging with the audience.
They had done this kind of street performance many times before. It wasn't always about singing songs; sometimes it was just about playing music and getting the crowd to dance. The atmosphere alone was enough to draw people in.
Evan Bell couldn't help but smile as he watched. He didn't join the middle of the group immediately but stood on the edge, clapping along with the beat and swaying with the crowd. He even joined in the occasional chant, becoming part of the small, spontaneous concert.
Gillen Haas spotted Evan right away, and his smile grew even wider. He moved towards Evan with his guitar in hand. Evan, not missing a beat, stepped forward, matching Gillen's rhythm. The two of them met in the middle, and Evan began to dance alongside Gillen, leading everyone around them into the dance.
There were only about 20 or 30 people gathered, but those who had stopped were all eager to join in the fun, so they danced along with Evan Bell. Though the crowd was small, the energy was infectious, attracting even more tourists and locals to pause and enjoy the spectacle.
Evan didn't have an instrument with him, but he kept the rhythm with his hands and feet, pulling everyone further into the melody. As they danced and laughed, the afternoon sun gently peeled away the darkness in Evan's heart, and his laughter began to blend with the music.