Original Cast Recording - Disney's The Little Mermaid (2008 Original Broadway Cast)
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Free Music Notes for Disney's The Little Mermaid (2008 Original Broadway Cast)
Free Music Review: on the fence . . . or uh reef . . . that is
Hit: 4 Stars
i have been interested in this production since it was nothing more than an online rumor that alan menken might turn his acadamy award winning musical into a broadway stage musical. i followed this production through its original demo, casting anouncements, delays and reviews. although i have never seen the show, i did buy the cast album as soon as possible. one reason that i wanted this so badly is because i feel that although the little mermaid is not alan menken's greatest work (that would go to beauty and the beast) the little mermaid is the most consistantly strong piece that he has produced. so how do i feel about this new recording?
PERFORMERS
with material that's already been recorded and loved the world over, it is essential that the performers bring something new and worth while to the production. this is especially true of a disney film from almost 20 years ago. so how do the performers do here? for the most part, many of them sound like they are just impersonating the original cast. eddie korbich as scuttle is a nearly perfect impression of buddy hacket. this could really hinder the creativity of the piece, but for the most part, the cast works well
sierra boggess as ariel is quite good, she's not jodie benson, but she still does nicely, especially on the songs that benson never sang (the world above, beyond my wildest dreams, and if only) these songs all shine and boggess' voice is beautiful. however, on part of your world, something just isn't quite there. don't get me wrong she does give a great performance, but it's just not the same.
sean palmer is increadable as prince eric. his biggest strength is that all of his songs are new to the score (her voice, one step closer, and if only) his voice is emotional and his songs are subtley beautiful. he and boggess do a great job in their respective leads.
titus burgess is great as sebastian and brings the cool sound of the carribean regaee that makes all of his songs great.
and now there's sherie renee scott. my biggest complaint comes here. she doesn't try to impersenate pat carroll which is nice, but she also lacks the cool sultry quality that carroll brought to poor unfortunate souls. her other song (i want the good times back) doesn't work well either. scott's jazzy and brassy voice is great, but seems misfit here and she doesn't seem consistant in either her character or dialect.
overall, most of the cast does well, especially when they get to sing songs that no one has heard.
PERFORMERS 4 out of 5
SONGS
alan menken said that he used his original academy award winning score to produce the new music for these songs. that in itself works well, when he actually sticks to that. the songs are obviously rooted in the original score (the world above, her voice, sweet child, beyond my wildest dreams, one step closer, and if only) sound great and are some of my favorites. but the songs that leave me scratching my head are the ones that seem completely out of left field with little or no connection to the original score (human stuff, i want the good times back, she's in love and posituvity) the orignal songs all shine just as brilliantly as ever, and for the most part this is a wonderfully cohesive musical.
SONGS 4 out of 5
overall, this is a strong fun musical that doesn't really aspire to as much as say beauty and the beast. that in itself is obvious in just the original scores. i still love beauty and the beast, but overall i do feel that mermaid's cast is better, wheras the new songs are not up to same quality as beast's were. but this is a good musical for fans of the broadway form and especially anyone who loves alan menken or disny.
OVERALL 4 out of 5
Free Music Review: FIN-TASTIC'
Hit: 5 Stars
"The Little Mermaid" swims along a wave of melody gathering a net full of treasures from under the sea. And speaking of which who can resist the steel drum Jamaican inspired rhythms of "Under The Sea" merrily sung by Tituss Burgess as Sebastian the happiest crab in the ocean and Mr Burgess later on sings a calypso flavored tune as he tries to coax Prince Eric to "Kiss The Girl". Pretty Sierra Boggess as Ariel and the even prettier Sean Palmer as Prince Eric have a series of lovely songs including Ariels' "Part of Your World" and a new song for Prince Eric, "One Step Closer".
Then there is the force of nature named Sherie Rene Scott. Miss Scott is a shameless scene-stealer and as Ursula the Sea-Witch she grabs the show by each of her eight tentacles. Twice in Act One she stops the show-a new song "I Want The Good Times Back" and her idea of a good time is anything but. Then she brings the curtain down with "Poor Unfortunate Souls". It's a shame Sherie Rene Scott can't be in every show-she is to quote myself,"Fin-tastic".
There are 29 tracks on this CD and not a dud among them. Enchanting, just enchanting.
Free Music Review: Better than the original, is that possible?
Hit: 5 Stars
Actually, it is!
At first I was a little swayed by all the negative reviews this show has been getting, but what do critics know? Obviously nothing if they had anything bad to say about this show. Just by the music I can envision it all on stage, I am sincerely hoping for a tour!
I absolutely love Ursula, Sherie Rene Scott has something so Idina Menzel-like to her voice that I can't help but love her! Sierra actually gives Jodi Benson a run for her money and yet gives her own twist on Ariel, not a carbon-copy of Jodi and that's great. Tituss Burgess actually does a great job as Sebastian.
It's always been hard for me to try and even say something is better than the original, but The Little Mermaid pretty much breaks that rule for me.
I guess this show is so optimistic that people overlook it for something more depressing such as Spring Awakening, which is a shame...because I always thought musicals should have something a tad bit positive about it.
Free Music Review: I'm in LOVE!
Hit: 4 Stars
Much much better than the $25 they were charging at the theatre! I'm glad I waited...and the wait was so worth it! This soundtrack is pretty gosh darn awesome!
I really do think that the new songs could easily fit into the original - my favorites are "I Want the Good Times Back", "She's in Love", and "If Only". But all the other newbies are good too! Sherie Rene just shines!!
Unlike many, I think Sierra Bogess is a little lacking - I just don't fully associate her voice with that of Ariel, but then again no one can compare to the incomparable Jodi Benson. But nevertheless, Sierra does amazingly well and is not at all difficult on the ears! (Same goes for whoever played Sebastian - the Broadway vocalist does not compare AT ALL to Sam Wright!!!)
I do like how they really fleshed out Eric's character in the Broadway show. You can't really tell from the soundtrack, but they gave personality to Ariel's sisters as well. The only downside is that there is considerably less Flounder in the stage show than in the movie, but with two little kids playing the part I can see why they wouldn't want it to be so overburdensome!
So basically - go buy the cd! You won't be sorry!
Free Music Review: This is a delightful cast recording
Hit: 5 Stars
Composer Alan Menken brings "The Little Mermaid" to the stage nineteen years after it was shown in theaters, and it is still delightful. I felt like I was watching the show just listening to this cast recording. The overture is so fun. Sierra Boggess has a beautiful voice singing tunes like "The World Above" and "Part Of Your World". I love Tittuss Burgess singing "Kiss The Girl" and "Under The Sea". I love the calypso sound of these tracks. Sherie Renee Scott is so good as the evil Ursula. I love her delivery on the songs "Poor Unfortunate Souls" and "I Want The Good Times Back". Norm Lewis has a strong resonant voice on the track "If Only". Sean Palmer is a great singer. He displays both brave and romantic qualities in his voice on the tracks "Fathoms Below" and "Her Voice". I hope to see this show on Broadway some time soon.