Billy Elliot: The Musical (Original Cast Recording)
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Music CD Cover
Composer: Elton JohnConductor: Martin Koch
Performer: David Hartley
Performer: Alan Forrester
Performer: Alexander Delamere
Performer: Alice Stephen
Performer: Alison Jiear
Performer: Charlotte Hamilton
Performer: Chris Hornby
Performer: Chris Lennon
Performer: Christie Halsey
Performer: Craig Armstrong
Performer: Damien Delaney
Performer: Daniel Coll
Performer: Daniel Page
Performer: David Coombs
Performer: David Massey
Performer: David Porter Thomas
Performer: Ellie Jaine Woolf
Performer: Elton John
Edition: Music CD
Format: Cast Recording
CD Release Date: 2006-02-07
Music Label: Decca Broadway
Soundtracks:
Music CD 1
- The Stars Look Down
- Shine
- Grandma's Song
- Solidarity
- Expressing Yourself
- The Letter
- Born To Boogie
- Angry Dance
- Merry Christmas Maggie Thatcher
- Deep Into The Ground
- He Could Be A Star
- Electricity
- Once We Were Kings
- The Letter - Reprise
- Finale
- The Letter - John, Elton
- Merry Christmas Maggie Thatcher - John, Elton
- Electricity - John, Elton
Free Music Notes for Billy Elliot: The Musical (Original Cast Recording)
Free Music Review: FANTASTIC MUSICAL ADAPTATION OF THE ORIGINAL MOVIE
Hit: 5 Stars
When the movie `Billy Elliot', written by Lee Hall and directed by Stephen Daldry, hit the cinemas in the year 2000, both the critics and the audiences where somewhat taken aback. It became an instant success, defying the customs of the day by not having star names or a big Hollywood blockbuster director in its credit lines. A simple story, about a young talented boy growing up in the English north, during the 1984 miners strike against Margaret Thatcher's conservative government, wanting to pursue his dream of becoming a ballet dancer and thusly going against everything his own establishment and surroundings stood for (beautifully summarised in a phrase used in both the movie and the musical: `ballet is for poofs'), seemed to deliver the message and hit the critics and the cinemagoers alike. Apart from these accolades the movie got several BEFTA and Academy Award nominations.
After seeing the Cannes screening of the movie that literally sent him home in tears, Elton John, who at the time already had a name in the world of musical theatre as the composer of `The Lion King' and `Aida' in his collaboration with Tim Rice, was certain that the movie has all the potential for a musical adaptation. It is quite a good thing that he stuck to the idea and even more, he decided to use the original creative team that was involved with the movie and had both the knowledge of and love for the material. Thusly the director Stephen Daldry directed and Lee Hall the screenwriter wrote the lyrics for the musical version. After the musical started its previews in March 2005 it was praised by the critics as the best thing that happened to the British musical theatre in years and has been playing to the full house in London's Victoria Palace Theatre night after night. Among other things it won the prestigious Laurence Olivier Award as the best musical.
This CD cast recording catches all the main musical numbers of the production. The score Elton John composed for this occasion is quite different from his prior show `Aida'. The latter had some exceptional pop, rock and roll and gospel numbers that won you over after the first listen. This is a bit different. Some of the numbers are deeply rooted into the framework of the North English area where the action takes place. This means we have some gorgeous working class hymns, songs of male choirs and club rock and roll music. They are all very well made, but it is not something that will probably make you ecstatic in an Andrew Lloyd Webber sense after the first listen. With a couple of listening, however, the score just grows on you so much you keep revisiting it over and over again. Several of the songs in the canon, however, hit you in the heart from the start. Some of the examples are: `The stars look down' (a very melodic opening anthem sung by the miners expressing their pledge to remain loyal to their just cause and honest way of life); `The letter' (a guaranteed tearjerker, a moving song in form of a letter written to Billy by his late mum before she died); `Electricity' (a big showstopper with Billy's elaborate dancing and explaining the way he feels when he dances) and a simple yet touching `He could be a star' (when Billy's dad decides to end his strike against the majority of his co-workers and go back to work so that he could help his son go to an audition to The Royal Ballet School in London). Other numbers are downright funny, such as `Grandma's song' (in which Billy's old and a bit senile nan deliberates about the painful life the women of her age had no choice but to lead after they got married very young), `Expressing yourself' (a hilarious number where young Billy joins his best friend, a nice closeted cross dresser gay guy Michael in wearing a women's tacky clothes of the 80-is, but this is rather a call for a need to support each person's individuality and be tolerant) and a giggling song called `Merry Christmas Maggie Thatcher' (where the mining community expresses their disapproval of their political foe at their annual Christmas party). As a whole, Elton John has made his most ambitious musical theatre score up to date with this. Lee Hall's lyric reflect the language of the area and are very witty.
Some of the numbers must be seen on the stage to be fully appreciated, so the best thing to do would be to see the show in London. As someone who just did that, I can say it is definitely worth your time and money.
The cast on this CD does a very good job. Billy is portrayed by Liam Mower, one of the three boys who were originally selected to play the role; due to the fact that one child actor could not do such a demanding job six nights plus two matinees a week. Liam has a voice of an angel and he deservedly won his Laurence Oliver award, becoming the youngest person ever to do so. His vocals transfer all of the characters actions and emotions in the perfect way. His grumpy and encouraging ballet teacher, Mrs. Wilkinson, is played with much gusto by Haydn Gwynne, who puts on a great accent at that. Stephanie Putson evokes sadness with her short appearances as Billy's dead mum. Ultimately, it is the whole ensemble with these talented soloists that manages to deliver this touching story.
The single CD comes with some credits and production pictures, but no synopsis or lyrics are included, which can be quite hard for the people who are not familiar with the story. There is also a 2-disc edition, with a second disc where Elton John himself performs a couple of songs, and that one features the lyrics. The best thing to do would be to see the original movie before listening to this cast recording.
At the end of the day, `Billy Elliot' comes as a true winner in the current offer of the West End. The story can be applied to everyone who wants to pursue their own dreams or just simply to express themselves in the best way they can. This cast recording serves as a good testimony of the show that will fulfil you in a most rewarding way if you ever have a chance to see it, but it works just fine as an ordinary cast recording. The second best thing next to seeing this show alive would be a good DVD issue of this musical, so that is something to hope upon while listening to this CD at home.
Billy Elliot: The Musical (Original Cast Recording) Poster
Billy Elliot is the heartwarming story of a young boy from a working-class family who discovers a passion that will change his life forever. Eleven-year-old miner's son Billy Elliot is on his way to boxing lessons when he stumbles upon a ballet class. Billy secretly joins the class, knowing that his blue-collar family would never understand. Under the guidance of his teacher Mrs. Wilkinson, Billy's raw talent takes flight. But when his father discovers his son's ambition, Billy must fight for his dreams and his destiny.Based on the 2000 film about a young British boy who tries to escape a future as coalminer by training in ballet, Billy Elliot--The Musical feels like an exemplary screen-to-stage adaptation, making the best use of composer Elton John's melodic resourcefulness. Fans of John's regular output need to be warned that this album is show tunes all the way and that they'd be hard-pressed to recognize the songs as usual fare by the author of "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" and "Your Song." Still, they really should give the CD a chance. Fans of musical theater, on the other hand, will need no prodding. They are likely to be enchanted by this recording, which shows that John has thoroughly absorbed the genre's classic strain. The show is very catchy, with well-structured, dramatic songs and some genuine tearjerkers ("The Letter"). Sir Elton even proves he's listened to great "jazz hands" classics (some by Kander and Ebb, perhaps) on "Shine," which even requests some "ol' razzle dazzle." Teaming up not with usual lyricist Bernie Taupin but with the film's screenwriter, Lee Hall (and its director, Stephen Daldry), John has written a lovely stage score, as evidenced on this recording of the London cast. Note that John himself performs three songs from the show on a bonus CD. --Elisabeth Vincentelli
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