Beyoncé Knowles, Jennifer Hudson - Dreamgirls: Music From The Motion Picture [2-CD Deluxe Edition]
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Free Music Notes for Dreamgirls: Music From The Motion Picture [2-CD Deluxe Edition]
Free Music Review: A dream come true!!
Hit: 5 Stars
`Dreamgirls' is the long awaited movie version of the smash hit Broadway play from the early eighties, which chronicled the rise of a fictitious girl group, The Dreams, which many saw as an allegorical reference to The Supremes story.
The accompanying soundtrack features the original Broadway showtunes (and some new songs), which comprise most of the 2 discs, as well as the Blues of `Takin' the long way home', the Jackson five-like 'Perfect world' by Steve Russel - a pastiche of 'I want you back', soulful ballads like `Steppin' to the bad side', `I want you baby', the moving `Family' (available in 2 versions), the piano ballads `When I first saw you' (Jamie Foxx version, it gets reprised as a duet with Beyoncé) and the jazzy `I miss you old friend' by original dreamgirl Loretta Devine, `Patience', `I meant you no harm/Jimmy's rap' (which takes a turn into a James Brown style funk number) credibly performed by Eddie Murphy, and the sax sprinkled `Lorell loves Jimmy/family'.
Then there are the standouts; `And I'm telling you I'm not goin' by ex American Idol contestant Jennifer Hudson who really shines and turns in a fiery showstopping performance. There is also a techno version which I can see setting dancefloors alight (with its dramatic breaks).
The more mellow, but just as beautiful ballad `One night only' with a forlorn but powerful performance from Jennifer Hudson, which is also done again by Beyoncé in 70s disco style, as well as a killer swirling synthesizer dance mix a-la Giorgio Moroder. Excellent!!
`Listen' is a Beyoncé composition which featured as a hidden bonus on her sophomore disc `B'day' which came out a few months ago. A passionately performed stirring ballad with sweeping strings.
Also look out for 'It's all over' which features a diva showdown between Effie (Jennifer) and Deena (Beyoncé), as well as Curtis (Jamie) and the other Dreams.
A really ambitious CD (and movie: Beyoncé and Eddie Murphy wanting to be taken as serious actors, the launch of a new star, Jennifer Hudson, and finally being able to bring the show to the silver screen) with a little something for everyone. Look out for this to explode once the movie is out!
Free Music Review: In A Word WOW!
Hit: 5 Stars
After seeing the movie and many listens to the soundtrack, I can now talk about this excellent CD.
First, when Dreamgirls landed on Broadway the "powers that be" went out of their way to deny any direct connection to The Supreme's story. The first page to the movie program corrects this, and pays tribute to not only The Supreme's, but Berry Gordy, and Motown. Jennifer Hudson is a treasure as many have already reported, but more on her later......
Beyonce does a superb job portraying Deana Jones, the Diana Ross "role" complete with many of the insecurities and questions that Diana had when she was singled out to be the star (read Mary Wilson's book, Dreamgirl, for more on this and see my review). Ms. Knowle's standout song here is Listen, and she lets loose on the Disco version of One Night Only. A few critics knocked the song Listen as being out of step with the other songs, however, Listen is set at the time when the movie is taking place in the 70's, making it quite timely.
Eddie Murphy is able to shine with his songs here, and why everyone seems so shocked that he can realy sing is beyond me. Patience is another standout track here, and Eddie sings this as a duet with Anika Rose, ala the famed Marvin Gaye/Tami Terrel duets of Motowns glory days. Eddie's alter ego in the movie, James "Thunder" Early is a mix of Marvin Gaye, James Brown, Jackie Wilson, and others, and the tracks I Want You Baby, Fake Your Way To The Top, Jimmy's Rap allow this diversity to shine. We all (should) know that Jamie Fox can sing, and his standouts here are Steppin To The Bad Side, and When I First Saw You.
Jennifer Hudson, what is their to say, she is a vocal powerhouse, and yes she takes down the house with And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going. Jennifer however also shows what she's got with the tender, Love You I Do, the breakthrough of I Am Changing, and the ballad version of One Night Only. If only Florence "Flo" Ballad had her spirit.
The "white" version of Cadillac Car lends a great time stamp on the era that Dreamgirls starts in.
Ken
Free Music Review: SUPERB ADAPTATION FOR THE SCREEN
Hit: 5 Stars
At least aurally, this soundtrack adaptation of the Broadway score stands as a superb reading in all ways of the stage version. The film has been getting enormous press and terrific reviews, along with reports of applause inside movie theaters where it has been shown in advance of the roadshow premiere on 12/15. The album supports these reviews and reports in that it is spectacularly thought out in terms of the arrangements, orchstrations, tempi, styles of performance, and all other aspects of getting the music to match the visuals. The four new songs sound wonderfully organic to the original score and the Broadway songs have been re-thought and performed with attention to detail that is wonderful to hear. Movie musicals always sound different than their stage counterparts for a number of technical reasons, and in this case, the recording, mixing and sound quality are perfectly cinematic in nature. Everyone on the album, singers and musicians, do exemplary jobs. Eddie Murphy is a wonder as James Early - his vocals are full of soul and passion - who knew he could do this? Jennifer Hudson burns up the album with her blazing tracks. If you ever thought no one could match Jennifer Holliday's rendition of the iconic song "And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going", take your first listen to Hudson and you'll be convinced that there is room enough in show-biz history for two spectacular performances of this terrific song. It is one of the highlights of the album (and of the film, reportedly - the world premier audience in NYC actually stood up and cheered inside the Ziegfeld Theater at the end of this number). Beyonce sounds smooth, young and stylish - and her Diana Ross-like intonations near the end are just perfect. All in all, the transition from stage to screen works extremely well on this two-disc set, and if the reports are true, what we'll see on the screen will more than match the artistry that went into the score. Bravos to everyone responsible for this dazzling soundtrack album.Free Music Review: Wonderful, What Can I Say But Wonderful?
Hit: 5 Stars
This is a great CD. I must admit I was listening very, very critically to apply my comparison test. The singer/actors on CD shine and brilliantly compare to the Original Cast Album. Knowing the music so well from the Broadway production I was a little startled at the lyric changes and additions but it does nothing to detract from the excitement of the music. Jennifer Hudson is absolutely wonderful as Effie. She more than aptly compares to Jennifer Holiday's musical performance and has nothing, NOTHING to be concerned about. Eddie Murphy, Anika Rose, Jamie Foxx and Beyonce have put on CD one of the most exciting cast albums I have heard in a very long time. The young woman who plays Effie's replacement has a great voice! She is as exciting as any of the others. In fact, Beyonce is given a run for her money, um,.... no, she is bested in several places. One in particular is the "It's All Over" segment. She struggles. You will hear it for yourself. These folk brought vocal talent to the table! There is some real singing going on here. It's great, it's wonderful. I'm loving every minute of it. It was good to hear Loretta Devine on thiis disk singing "I Miss You Old Friend".
My only ctitique is that the orchestration on many of the numbers obscures the backing vocals on the tracks. The most obvious is on "Move" and "Cadillac Car". You can really hear the individual voices better on the Original Broadway Cast Album It's not that you can't hear them on this CD but they are competing for prominence in the arrangements. I am going to buy another just to have in case mine gets swiped!
If this music is any indication the film will be a slamming success. I gave this 5 stars because a cast album should give an indication of what the play/film is about. You get that here with all the bonuses of good, no, GREAT music.
Free Music Review: Dream Come True
Hit: 5 Stars
The musical performances in this film are phenomenal. We're talking honest to goodness showstoppers and genuine toe tappers. All the vocal performances are top notch. Of course, the standout voice is Jennifer Hudson who I voted for during her American Idol run and I am very pleased to see her using that powerful voice for such a powerful character. I don't care what anyone says. Hudson delivers a knockout performance and her version of "And I'm Telling You" is breathtaking. Beyonce, Jamie Foxx, Anika Rose, Keith Robinson & Sharon Leal are also incredible. It's a nice blend of Broadway stage voices and mainstream R&B pipes. I was very pleased with Beyonce's solo on "Listen" which proved she is more than a "flash in the pan" pop singer. If her two solo albums haven't proved that Beyonce is a great singer, "Listen" should be the performance that silences the critics and naysayers. I knew Eddie Murphy had a nice voice but I had no idea he could sing like that. His vocal performances as James "Thunder" Early are very authentic and true to real soul masters such as James Brown and Wilson Pickett. Eddie will amaze you. And people who are familiar with Loretta Devine will be happy to hear her singing a song here too.
I bought the 2 CD set because it's got virtually every song from the film. Even the little ditties like "Step On Over" and the Jackson 5 clone song "Perfect World". Some of the songs are a little different on the CD such as "Stepping To The Bad Side" with a reworked intro. The bonus tracks are okay. The duet on "When I First Saw You" is well done but the dance mixes are so-so. Overall, if you enjoyed the music in the movie you will enjoy the soundtrack. If you haven't seen the movie then please know that this has got some great musical performances on it that will move your soul and your feet.