My productivity levels have plummeted since I’ve downloaded TikTok.
The amount of time that I spend scrolling the app should be studied. Honestly, it’s a bit of a problem. I find myself in awe of the talent displayed on the app, plus there is literally nothing else to do; so you can stop judging my endless scrolling now.
In related news: I, much like every other person on earth, binged Shonda Rhimes’s latest endeavor Bridgerton on Netflix as soon as it was released. I have been thinking about Simon ever since. So imagine how ecstatic I was when I discovered Abigail Barlow on TikTok.
Not only did Abigail binge Bridgerton, but she was also inspired by it. Abigail is a singer/songwriter and she immediately imagined Bridgerton as a musical and posted a snippet of a possible song titled, “Daphne’s Song” on TikTok.
I wrote songs for a non-existent #Bridgerton musical… can we make this happen for real?? I’d die??? pic.twitter.com/93JmYb8slx
— Abigail Barlow (@abigailbarloww) January 11, 2021
The initial video went viral and Abigail quickly delivered more songs. Prominent publications started sharing the videos and Abigail’s dream soon took a life of its own. People have been singing along to her songs, they’ve been making up dance numbers to her songs, coming up with concept art and Abigail has energized the creative community in ways that I don’t even think she has truly understood yet.
Abigail eventually got together with her writing partner, Emily Bear; we are well on our way to a concept album people! Though a Bridgerton stage musical is the end-goal, we’ll at least have the songs to hold us over until the world opens back up. Let me just tell you, a Bridgerton musical is all I have been thinking about since I first discovered Abigail’s first video. I’m sure my roommate is tired of me singing “Burn For You” under my breath all day.
Absolutely blown away by the Bridgerton musical playing out on TikTok
— Netflix (@netflix) January 13, 2021
Standing ovation for @abigailbarloww & @nick_t_daly pic.twitter.com/hoHsDtNyAE
She’s documenting the entire process on her TikTok and it’s truly invigorating to witness the process. The world is constantly falling apart but Abigail has provided some much-needed joy during these Quarantimes. Not only is it exciting to see her create this idea, but she inspires me to try for my wildest dream. She makes me consider the wildest possibility and tempts me to just go for it. At a time when I’m constantly feeling defeated and not up to creating; Abigail has lit a much-needed fire under me.
There is very little that I find myself looking forward to lately but Bridgerton the Musical just made it to the top of my list. Now, I’ll excuse myself to go listen to “Burn For You” for the 548th time.
If you could turn any Netflix show into a musical, which one would you pick?