Jersey Boys Blog

The JBB Fantastic Fan Interview series has exploded! Over the last week, we have had numerous “Fantastic Fans” contact us about being interviewed and we are looking forward to upcoming interviews! We’re excited to present our latest JBB Fantastic Fan Interview with Jonathan Alexander Alda, who talks about how he became interested in Jersey Boys; his upcoming trip to Tempe to see JB for the first time; and his admiration for the music of the Four Seasons.

JBB: Tell us about yourself.

JAA: My name is Jonathan Alexander Alda, and I was born on November 1st, 1982 in Las Vegas, Nevada. I currently live in Casa Grande, Arizona, and have lived here for over a year. Check out John’s MySpace page.

JBB: How long have you been following Jersey Boys? What sparked your interest in the show?

JAA: I was first exposed to the show when I watched the Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2005. I had been a fan of the Four Seasons for years, and it made me very happy to see that this great group was finally getting the respect they deserved. Since then, I have made it a goal to watch any of their interviews or performances on television.

JBB: Although you haven’t seen Jersey Boys yet, but have been following it, what makes the show so interesting to you?

JAA: As I said before, I have been a fan of the Four Seasons for years, and was very pleased to hear about this musical. What I find interesting about it is the way it was written: each member of the group gets to tell his story, set to a certain season in a year. Another thing that made it so interesting is the fact that they are telling an actual story, unlike other musicals that include songs from a popular group with little or no plot. I mean no disrespect to shows like Movin’ Out and Mama Mia!, but while they are somewhat entertaining, they have nothing that really pulls you in.

JBB: Why do you think audiences feel so connected to Jersey Boys and keep coming back?

JAA: I know this has been said many, many times before, but it is the truth: the story. I think everybody can relate with these four guys, especially the fact that they had to work hard and struggle for their success. As Bob Gaudio said in an interview recently, they weren’t glamour boys.

JBB: When are you planning to see Jersey Boys and in what city?

JAA: I originally planned on seeing the First National Tour in Las Vegas, but when I heard that they would be going to Tempe (which is only an hour away by car), I was thrilled. From what I’ve heard, they (Chris, Erich, Deven, and Michael) do a wonderful job in their roles.

JBB: You’ve said that you are a big fan of the Four Seasons’ music. How did you become interested in the group and who introduced them to you?

JAA: I remember listening to “Let’s Hang On (To What We’ve Got)” on the radio when I was about five years old. I forgot about it shortly after (I had a very short attention span), but I rediscovered the group when I was 14. Since then, I have tried to get my hands on anything involving the Four Seasons. I really don’t think one person actually introduced me to the group, in that they put on a record and sat me down…I just heard the song on the radio one day.

JBB: What is it about the Four Seasons’ music that makes them one of your favorite groups?

JAA: It was their unique sound that made them one of my favorite groups. What was so great about them is that they could cover any song (“I’ve Got You Under My Skin” and “Will You Love Me Tomorrow,” just to name two) and make it their own with ease, but if any group tried to cover one of their songs, they wouldn’t pull it off. I don’t think I’ve heard a single cover of a Four Seasons’ song that really did the group justice. Billy Joel’s “Uptown Girl,” which, although he wrote it himself, came closer to the original Four Seasons’ sound than any other group, in my opinion.

JBB: Do you have a favorite Four Seasons’ song(s)? What about a top Four Seasons’ CD?

JAA: This is a very difficult question, to be perfectly honest with you. I would have to say my three favorite Four Seasons songs are “Walk Like a Man,” “Silence is Golden,” and “Beggin’.” I am very fond of the “Dawn (Go Away)” CD, along with “Big Girls Don’t Cry.” Their cover of the Rays’ “Silhouettes” was fantastic. I may pick up “Sherry,” if I get a chance.

JBB: Have you seen Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons in concert before?

JAA: Sadly, I have not seen any line-up of the Four Seasons in concert, but I have seen numerous clips on YouTube that have kept me entertained. I remember finding roughly one hundred clips of the group (including some with Nick Massi, which seem to be rare) in the summer of last year, but they were taken off because the person who posted them violated the terms of use agreement. I think they (along with the Beach Boys) are coming here to Arizona in the next month or so, but because of my work, I may not get a chance to see them.

JBB: The Four Seasons’ music has had a lasting appeal with the public for over four decades. To you, what makes this group and their music so appealing?

JAA: I think it was their interesting sound that made them so popular. If it weren’t for those four guys from England, they could’ve had at least eight number-one hits. I think they were one of the few American groups that survived the British Invasion, which tells you a lot about how much talent they really had.

Jersey Boys Blog would like to thank Jonathan Alexander Alda for taking the time for this insightful interview on Jersey Boys and the Four Seasons! If you would like to be featured in an upcoming JBB Fantastic Fan Interview, we’d love to hear from you! Please click on the Contact Page and send us your contact information.