Bo Burnham: Make Happy

I know I said I wasn't posting another review for a while, but I have a couple days free so here you are.

I've been following Bo Burnham since "words words words" and ever since 2010 his work has only improved (I'll have to rewatch "what"). It's clear to me that he is an extremely intelligent person who understands humanity.

He injects personal more "serious" elements into his act which actually resonate with me a lot. He touches on mental health/illness which is something that has affected me for a long time, he touches upon this among other things.

All the songs are great, I especially enjoyed the country song, it's perfect satire and commentary on modern music as a whole, not just country music.

I could talk about Bo Burnham for ages but I'm not going to. He's one of the most intelligent celebrities working today, I feel this way about a few comedians funnily enough.

Before you go, if you don't mind answering I have a genuine question... Are you happy?

Watched "what." some time before and really liked it, so I jumped right into Make Happy, when it was uploaded on Netflix and i loved it. I have to admit, he already has gotten my favourite Comedian now and I hope for a few more shows that can make you think and laugh in a different manner than other Comedians do. Highest Recommendation on my part, obviously. And even if you didn't like it, it's just an hour long, so don't worry about "spending too much time on something you didn't like".

It's rare that a comedy show makes you think hard about the world, about your relationships, and gives you concern for the happiness of the performer. Make Happy does all this at once, wrapped up like a burrito that's too full.

I watched on Netflix, then a second time that same night with a group of friends. Then a third time with a new group of friends a week later. And honestly, I'd gladly watch it again this week.

There were plenty of burst out laughing moments. There were plenty of clever classic Bo songs that mocked the state of "mainstream" problems and the way the public thinks. There were tons of jokes, then there were some very serious mentions of mental health, depression, and trying to appease the crowd (all of us.) All-in-all it was an incredible performance, unique, hilarious, and deep. A refreshing new dip into your standard stand-up comedy routine.

At only an hour, it's not too long that you'll feel like you wasted your time even if you hated it, and will leave you satisfied, yet begging for more if you love it. If you're reading this, give it a try.

I'm a long time fan of Bo Burnham (started seeing his stuff on YouTube back when he was in his bedroom) and every special he's put out has left me feeling different.

Words Words Words made me see art differently, especially performance art.

What made me question how I think and perceived my identity.

But Make Happy made me realize how shitty being a creative can be and how ageist the society at large can be surrounding ideas of love and acceptance.

This show explores the system surrounding commercialism of the music industry, how the rich shape the minds of the poor, how being down to earth can be an act, and how looking okay is a mask.

I loved the show. I felt awkward and uncomfortable when facing the realness of depression and working through it because life must go on. I laughed at the impressions, at the face value jokes, at the wordplay, and the interesting lyrics. I teared up at the end because it's hard to put into words how fleeting happiness is...

And Bo captured it.

It is scary or even frightening to see a ground-breaking, innovating performer like Burnham be this unhappy. Fighting his fans who see in him the role model he doesn't want to be. Terrified of today's commercial based entertainment industry which he ridicules over and over again to convince his audience stop looking for answers in the words of performers. Seeing the irony of his own fans blindly following the young comic this one hour special consist of a constant fight between Burnham and his audience with a goal to make them really listen. Where his previous shows 'What' and 'Words,words words' showed a generally happy kid making fun of everything about performing, 'Make happy' shows an angry, depressed soul begging for answers. This dark, mind-bending moving one-hour piece which elevates from being a stand-up piece to being existential monologue makes you wonder. What does it take to be satisfied?