Monty Python's Spamalot (2005 Original Broadway Cast)
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Free Music Notes for Monty Python's Spamalot (2005 Original Broadway Cast)
Free Music Review: Far from perfect, but very, VERY funny!!!!!!!!!
Hit: 5 Stars
I saw Spamalot very early on in it's Chicago preveiws (the third ever public display of Spamalot). While some songs have been cut since then ("Burn Her" about the Witch, and "The Cow Song"), what remains is still hillariously funny.
The performances are wonderful, starting with King Arthur, played by The Rocky Horror Picture Show's Tim Curry. While his certainly isn't the biggest highlight and his role is mainly that of straight man to everything else going on (that term is used in relative terms, of course), he's the glue which holds the entire show together. Next is The Simpsons' Hank Azaria as Sir Lancelot, the head Knight Who Says "Ni" - doesn't appear on the CD as that - and the French Taunter (you know, directional farting and all that stuff). He's hillarious live, but a lot of his role isn't on the CD. Frasier's David Hyde Pierce is Sir Robin exclusivly on the CD, but also plays Brother Maynard and one of the Guards on stage.
The truly wonderful performance - live and on the CD is the Lady of the Lake, Sara Ramierz (she was also the witch and the cow when the respective songs were still included). Her ability to adapt her voice from sweet and intrancing, to mockingly sweet and intrancing, to overly jazzy and mock Liza, to gospel-ballad extrodenaire makes her lock for the Tony Award this year or any year EVER. And she is (thankfully) promently featured on the CD. Another featured show-stopper who is on the CD a lot is Christian Borle, the Historian, Not-Dead-Fred, Sir Robin's Minsterl, and Price Herbert. His diversity and the fact that he almost steals the show from the bigger stars make him a serious contender for the featured actor Tony, as well.
The score isn't amazingly overwhelming, but nice. And the lyrics are quite funny, especially songs such as "You Won't Succeed on Broadway" (you'll find out why not), "His Name is Lancelot," and "The Song That Goes Like This," the latter of which pokes fun at the Anderw Lloyd Webber ballads we've all heard WAY TOO MANY times. Also, some preexcisting Python songs have been included, namely "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life," even though that was from Life of Brian, not Holy Grail.
I'm a huge Python-ite, but you don't have to be to love Monty Python's Spamalot.
Free Music Review: Superb - a riot of a musical!
Hit: 5 Stars
As I said about Cameron Mackintosh's production of "Mary Poppins" in London, there are a number of preconceived ideas about what the show should be like before you see it. However, unashamedly, Spamalot blows apart all of your expectations and delivers a powerhouse musical which ticks all the boxes for theatrical excellence. Whilst being hysterical from start to finish, this cast recording is also one to devour on a musical side. With great songs (however ridiculous the lyrics may be), it is a catchy musical with many a hummable tune - examples of this include "Finland/ Fish Schlapping Song", "I am Not Dead Yet" and the stupendous "Find Your Grail".
The storyline, whilst being thin on the ground, is sufficient enough for anyone (however hating of the original Monty Python) to make this show really enjoyable- however, this isn't really what you're interested in it for after all so its no big loss. With a dream cast, Tim Curry (The Rocky Horror Show), Hank Azaria (The Simpsons, Friends), David Hyde Pierce (Frasier), Christopher Sieber (Beauty and the Beast) and relative newcomer Sara Ramirez, everybody shines with talent and unsurpassed humour. Ramirez's quick wit and comedic chemistry is perfect, adding a feminine touch to the original all-male Python material, making her, for me, the star of the show. Azaria's brilliant performance in "I Am Not Dead Yet" (the meaning of which will soon become apparent to you) makes this song the first `big' number in the show - Azaria being amazing in this role.
Tim Curry's much welcome return to Broadway is here on this recording - capturing his stunning deliverance of many a funny line. Hyde Pierce, being a newbie to musical theatre alongside Azaria, is already a Broadway hoot.
Mixing quick-wit and unashamed fun-poking, this musical is quick to parody many other Broadway greats. From "The Phantom of the Opera" to "The Producers" - each is given a non-specific mention in the show... "The Song That Goes Like This" being Phantom's hysterical parody and "You Can't Have a hit Show in Broadway (With No Jews)" being The Producers'. Bring together all of this a-star excellence and you have a recording of this blockbuster to treasure for ever...
All together now "He is not dead yet..."!
Free Music Review: A great cd of the broadway show
Hit: 5 Stars
I went to see this show, when it played here in Chicago during its Broadway in Decemember, and January. And while at the time, I didn't even know that it hadn't been released on cd yet, and I bet this would have been a nice thing to take home to remember the show by, but I am now glad the show is now out on cd, and this would have to be the next best thing if you can't see the show in New York this summer, whether or not you live in New York. But if you have been to the show, you would now that 2 songs, or at least I know of that are missing from the cd, the songs are Burn her and The Cow Song that played during act I. I don't know if they might have been cut from the show in between the time it left Chicago, and it started to play in New York? He Lady of the Lake (Sara Ramirez) wonders what ever happened to her part, and Patsy (Michael McGrath) teaches King Arthur (Tim Curry) to always look on the bright side of life. There are 25 tracks, and by the time it is 2 minutes into this cd, it is already on track #4. Also on the cd is the Historian's (Christian Borle) introductions to act I and act II. The songs that are on this cd are as follows, I hope that you enjoy the cd for yourself.
1. Tuning
2. Overture
3. Historian's Introduction to Act I
4. Finland/Fisch Schlapping Dance
5. Monks Chant / He Is Not Dead Yet
6. Come With Me
7. Laker Girls Cheer
8. The Song That Goes Like This
9. He Is Not Dead Yet - Play Off
10. All For One
11. Knights of the Round Table/The Song That Goes Like This (Reprise)
12. Find Your Grail
13. Run Away!
14. The Intermission
15. Historian's Introduction to Act II
16. Always Look On The Bright Side of Life
17. Brave Sir Robin
18. You Won't Succeed On Broadway
19. Diva's Lament (What Ever Happened To My Part?)
20. Where Are You? Listen Listen
21. His Name Is Lancelot Listen Listen
22. I'm All Alone Listen Listen
23. Twice In Every Show Listen Listen
24. Act II Finale Listen Listen
25. Always Look On The Bright Side of Life - Company Bow
Free Music Review: Perfect...almost
Hit: 5 Stars
I enjoyed this CD recording immensely and have listened to it enough to piss off my roomate. Now, the songs aren't what I would call memorable or well written, at least musically speaking. But, they are hilarious and had me wetting my pants (well, not literally) during the actual show. Some of the humor and parody is lost on the CD and were much funnier in person. Now, once I saw the show, the songs suddenly were more fun to listen to, mainly because I was able to relive the show's funniest moments. The only complaint was that there was no song for the Knights Who Say NI! That had the potential to be funny and/or annoying, perfectly fitting in. Just a quick overview of some of the performers:
Tim Curry - unfortunately he had bruised his vocal chords and was not performing when I saw it. But, his understudy (his name escapes me) was a decent replacement. Tim Curry, I must say, is impossible to replace really.
Sara Ramirez - Never before have I seen nor heard a performer quite like her. With sheer power she is nothing more than Idina Menzel, but, with her tone and color, she is much more pleasent, and just plain better sounding. Also, I don't know of another person who could parody so many voices so well, while making her own voice known. She certainly deserved the Tony. I hope to hear more out of her.
Hank Azaria - I must say, after becoming a fan of Huff, I was certainly taken aback to find his name attached to a broadway production. He isn't a great singer, but he certainly is funny.
Selected Song Reviews:
Finland - hilarious to see, not so much on the CD.
The Song that Goes Like This - quite hilarious in person and captured well on the CD. Fun to sing both parts.
Knights of the Round Table - Hilarious to see all those men dancing. And the reprise of Song that Goes Like This was hilarious. Ramirez spoofs the typical "jazz singer" perfectly.
Find Your Grail - What a song! It successfully doubles as a spoof of typical uplifting songs, as well as serves as an uplifting song.
Definately buy this CD and then go see the show.
Free Music Review: This is a funny soundtrack with a talented cast
Hit: 5 Stars
Eric Idol and John Du Prez bring the story of the search for the Holy Grail to the Broadway stage. I really enjoyed this listening to this album. All of the cast members give excellent performances in their roles. The soundtrack not only provides the lyrics these songs, but it also describes what happens on stage when these songs are performed. I felt like I was actually watching the show just listening to this CD.
David Hyde Pierce sings a very great song entitled You Won't Succeed on Broadway. This is a very funny song in which he sings that you can't succeed on Broadway if you don't have any Jews. Hank Azaria lends his talents here in his role as Lancerlot. His name is Lancerlot is a very upbeat dance number and one of my favorites. I enjoyed the track Laker Girls Cheer. It sounds very funny. I also liked the song Always Look on The Bright Side of Life. This is a happy song performed by Tim Curry who plays King Arthur. This is a kind of song you would sing to a friend just to cheer them up.
Sara Ramirez is such a great singer. She performs on several numbers on this soundtrack in her role as Lady Of The Lake. My favorite is Find Your Grail. This song shows off Sara's powerful voice. It is a song about letting nothing stop you from achieving your goal. Sara also sings a song with Christopher Sieber who plays Sir Gallahad entitled The Song That Goes Like This. This song is romantic and funny at the same time. I really enjoyed this track. This soundtrack is excellent. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys good music or anyone who needs a laugh. I hope to see Spamalot on Broadway in the near future.