Hairspray (2002 Original Broadway Cast)
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Free Music Notes for Hairspray (2002 Original Broadway Cast)
Free Music Review: My New Obsession
Hit: 5 Stars
I've been lingering over this CD for the past few weeks and finally decided to buy it and so happy I did so. This is all I've been listening to for the past few days.
From the great opener 'Good Morning Baltimore' to the best closing song I've ever heard, 'You Can't Stop the Beat', this recording is a gem.
One of my favorite songs on this soundtrack is 'The Nicest Kids in Town'. It has that kind of beat that's hard to not dance to. Another favorite is 'Mama, I'm A Big Girl Now'. It reminds me of the songs of Leslie Gore. My favorite line comes from Amber von Tussle "Once upon a time I used to dress up Ken/but now that I'm a woman I like bigger men/And I don't need a Barbie doll to show me how".
'(The Legend of)Miss Baltimore Crabs' is a glorious song for the villain. With wonderful drumming and violins in the background, Velma von Tussel has a great solo song.
'It Takes Two' is such a great slow song. I can just imagine a 1960's prom. Everyone slow dancing and the lights low. A band set up on the stage. I can't help sing along.
'Welcome to the 60's' is another wonderful song. It seems to be everyone's favorite. It's one of mine too. Harvey Fierstein is great as Edna.
'Big, Blonde, & Beautiful' is another good song. A good message to all big girls to be proud of yourself. Ignore what everyone says about you and strut. "Bring on that pecan pie/pour some sugar on it/Sugar don't be shy"
'(You're) Timeless to Me' is such a cute song between Wilbur and Edna.
'Without Love' is my number one favorite on this recording. Link proclaiming his love to Tracy who's locked up in solitary confinement and Seaweed proclaiming his love to Penny who's tied up on her bed. "Darling I'll be yours forever/'cause I never wanna be/Without love/so darling throw away the key"
'I Know Where I've Been' is a glorious gospel song. Sung by Motormouth Maybelle about her experiences and having learned from them.
'Cooties' is such a childish sounding song but it's the kind of song that should have it's own dance. It's too much fun.
The little song that follows 'You Can't Stop the Beat' is so funny and dark. I don't know the name, I just refer to as 'Blood on the Pavement'. "Don't drink and drive/please keep your head/Or come graduation day/you'll be dead".
I recommend this soundtrack to everyone. It's the kind of soundtrack that doesn't sound like a musical soundtrack.
Free Music Review: YOU CAN'T STOP THE BEAT!!
Hit: 5 Stars
This is one of the most fun Broadway Shows I have ever seen. And this is one of the best CD's I have ever heard. Marissa Jaret Winkour had got a wonderful voice that just fits all of her songs. Harvey Firestein had got one of the most recognizable voices in history, and while it's not really made for singing, he does just as good a job as the rest of the cast. The opening number, "Good Morning Baltimore," just sets the fun tone of this fantastic show. "Mama, I'm a Big Girl Now," is one of my personal favorites in the whole show. I loved the way they staged it and the song is just perfect. I can't think of a better way for girls to rebel against their mothers than through song. Linda Hart also has a great song with "Velma's Cha Cha." She sings it with such maliciousness that you sorta want to applaud her for being so mean. And then there's Wilbur and Edna's duet, "Timeless To Me." Just watching Harvey sing and dace was enough, but they had to go and give him a really great song to sing with Dick Latessa. "Big Blonde and Beautiful" is Motormouth Maybelle's time to shine and Mary Bond Davis has more than enough attitued to spare. Then of course there is the great big huge finale. You couldn't ask for a better song then "You Can't Stop the Beat." Having the entire cast onstage and singing at the top of their lungs is Broadway heaven for me. And during this you really can't stop t he beat. It will make you want to just dance around the room. Then of course you'd have to hit play again and listen to whole thing again. I do have one complaint though. Where is Kerry Butler's song? She has quite the powerful voice (which she proved in Bat Boy the Musical). I think she deserved a song of her own. Marc Shaiman and definately got what it takes to write some of the best songs ever. I mean c'mon, how many other writers could have gotten an Oscar nomination for writing a song called Blame Canada for the South Park movie. Only he could have pulled that off. Well, he's done it again. I wasn't sure anyone could turn John Waters into musical. With the exception of Cry-Baby of course. Marc and his life partner Scott Wittman are just the perfect team. They write songs that just make you wanna dance and sing along.
Free Music Review: infectious...
Hit: 5 Stars
And nothing else: these are the kind of songs that get lodged into your brain and refuse to leave. It's no revolution in musical theatre, and it's not the best school for blossoming voices, but HAIRSPRAY is a pee-your-pants good time. I can envision the kinetic energy engulfing the stage when I listen to this CD. It's just great...There's not a forgettable song on the disc*. Shaiman and Wittman (Tony winners, might I add) have created a fun-filled extravangza with a little (well, a lot) of everything. The story involves overweight Tracy (with a surprisingly-not-annoyingly squeak for a voice), her nerdy friend Penny (with a pop-diva-in-training voice), and her hunky boyfriend Link (with a polar-ice-cap-fresh voice) as they fight to integrate Baltimore while winning a nationally-aired dance competition. You've got a "Big, Blonde and Beautiful" Mary Bond Davis with a battleship for a diaphragm; a trio of motown beauties who outsing the leads; a cool Corey Reynolds who reminds me of a cleaner, more masculine Michael Jackson; and an ensemble that provides the pulse for the show. (Also, when Linda Hart sings her "Baltimore Crabs" number, I can't help thinking of Molly Shannon of SNL and grinning.)
I almost didn't give this CD a fifth star because A) I don't like Harvey Fierstein's one-cigarette-too-many "singing" voice and B) because it lacks substance, philosophy, and resonance. But then I realized, hey, I don't really care. Sometimes, you just want energy in its purest form, and this CD supplies just that. It's worked my way into the machine more times than any other in my collection, and I consider that a five-star accomplishment. Yes...this is a great recording of a great show that will get you dancing no matter where you may be (I can't tell you how many accidents I've had to avoid while groovin' in the car). This is a delightful and, yes, charming little show with probably the BEST finale ever (see for yourself). Go get it.
*After "You Can't Stop the Beat," there is a hidden track sung by the Nicest Kids in Town. Just so ya know...
Free Music Review: You Can't Stop the Beat!
Hit: 5 Stars
I could try to come up with a more clever title for this review, but the title of the last track says it all about the soundtrack from the Broadway show Hairspray. I went reluctantly ($110 per ticket) on my last trip to NYC, and found to my surprise that I enjoyed the show and then adored the soundtrack--every number is performed with great gusto and excitement. "Good Morning Baltimore", sung by Marissa Winokur as Tracy Turnblad, the portly dance-crazed teen from 1963 Baltimore, gets the show off to a great start. "The Nicest Kids in Town" takes you back to the days of American Bandstand and its local knockoffs. "The Bells" was one I knew before seeing the show as my daughter and her friends sang (or at least lip synched) it at a drama camp talent show. "It Takes Two", a teen idol number sung by the character Link, sounds much better to me that the real Frankie Avalon/Ricky Nelson tunes of the early '60s that are its models. Other great songs, many with a civil rights theme following from the story of the film, follow, topped off by "Cooties"--an insult song sung by Tracy's rival Amber Von Tussle, and the showstopping (literally) finale "You Can't Stop the Beat", which sounds more urgent with every listen. Along the way the songwriters include some clever and slightly subversive lyrics--Tracy sings about the "rats on the street" who "all dance round my feet"; Linc croons that "Liz, she has her Dick"; and Penny Pingleton is ready to "call the NAACP" if anyone challenges her love for her African-American boyfriend Seaweed. Some have said that Hairspray is the Grease of the 21st century, but to me it's much better-more human; and also significantly better than the '80s comedy film on which the musical was based. We await with excitement and trepidation the film musical, which could hardly improve on the stage show, but in any event we'll get to hear those great songs again.Free Music Review: "Hairspray" makes your hair shine, but leaves a few tangles.
Hit: 5 Stars
Hairpsray is --bottom line-- fun! It's funny and energetic with some standout performances and probably Tony-worthy for Best Musical.As you listen to the songs, you'll find they sound like pretty much every 60s song you've ever heard on your local oldies station. For some of the songs, you could almost point out the exact song it's copying. The surprising thing is that even though every song maybe just be another 60s sounding tune, they are all slightly unique and the funny lyrics and wonderful performances give them a magic touch.
Standout songs for me were "Good Morning, Balitimore," "I Can Hear the Bells," "Welcome To the 60's," and "You Can't Stop the Beat." Every song though is very catchy and worthy of a good listen.
The leading lady, twenty-something Marissa Jaret Winokur, whose voice can be a bit shrill at times, takes some time to get used to, but after a while, you get so used to it that you rather enjoy it. One, however, wonders who cast Harvey Fierstein as Edna Turnblad. I can see how he could bring a lot of humor to the stage production live, but as far as singing talent goes, he does nothing more than grumble the lines in his low, monotone voice. Maybe if he put just a bit more effort into giving the songs some pitch I would enjoy his performance more, but I can certainly hear the comic potential he has. Also fine performances come from Matthew Morrison playing Tracy Turnblad's love interest Link Larkin, Corey Reynolds as Tracy's friend Seaweed, and Mary Bond Davis as the local record store owner, Motormouth Maybelle.
Bottom line for me--besides a few lyrics that just don't fit and seem a bit too calculated such as "First we'll make a pitstop the the wiener stand"--is that the performances a great and that the music is really catchy. You'll find yourself humming the melodies if not singing the lyrics. Worth your money.