Oscar Hammerstein II - Flower Drum Song (1958 Original Broadway Cast)
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Free Music Notes for Flower Drum Song (1958 Original Broadway Cast)
Free Music Review: Period, not dated.
Hit: 4 Stars
One of the middle-level successes of the Rodgers & Hammerstein cannon. This is rather a whimsical look at the serious subject matter of inter-racial and inter-generational relationships in the Chinese districts of America. There is plenty of light and shade in the score, from the heavily dramatic, poignant Love Look Away to the great comedy moments in At The Celestial Bar and Don't Marry Me. Grant Avenue is a great dance number, easily visualised, celebrating Chinatown. This is sung by Pat Suzuki, who also gets to shine on I Enjoy Being A Girl, another of the score's highlights.
So the storyline might no longer apply, but that is no reason for the music in this show to be so overlooked. I'm pleased to see from another review here that there is a revival heading for Broadway.
Don't allow the fact that this is not one of the better known R&H shows put you off being this recording. Some good music is mixed with some great performances, to give a light, but entertaining confection.
Free Music Review: An underrated gem
Hit: 4 Stars
Flower Drum SongFlower Drum Song (1961 Film Soundtrack)OK,so it ain't "The King And I".The book may be somewhat dated and over-sentimental,but so what?The main thing about "Flower Drum Song" is its colorful and tuneful score,well-performed here by a brilliant cast.Pat Suzuki and Miyoshi Umeki are the standouts here,the former with her delightful "I Enjoy Being A
Girl" and the latter with a beautiful "I Am Going To Like It Here".These are two of the album's highlights,and the best of all is Arabella Hong's haunting "Love,Look Away".The last two,in fact,are among Rodgers And Hammerstein's most beautiful ballads.This is a wonderful album that all Broadway and movie musical fans wil love.
Free Music Review: Not great, but fun
Hit: 4 Stars
Okay, so "Flower Drum Song" might not be great theatre and might not be top-drawer Rodgers and Hammerstein. But it is lovely and contains some sharp moments. "A Hundred Million Miracles" is enchanting, and ballads like "Love, Look Away" and "You are Beautiful" cannot be passed by so easily. "Chop Suey" is awful, and "Sunday" is one of those tunes that's supposed to be a hit but never really sticks in your mind no matter how often you hear it. But, contrary to the reviewers opinion below, it DID have a small, successful revival in New York a few years ago. Overall, a pleasant diversion and a must for R & H fans.Free Music Review: This one sneaks up on you
Hit: 4 Stars
At first play, I thought this one was a dud. But the more I listened to it, the more I liked it, and now I love it. Hammerstein's lyrics are very funny and loaded with pop culture references. The music is sweet at times, like Cinderella, and sassy at times, like South Pacific. The real gems on this album though are "The Other Generation", two songs really, one version sung by the adults and the other by the kids. It not only sums up the show in a funny and poignant way, but it is also one of the most powerful melodies Rodgers has ever written.Free Music Review: Enjoyable
Hit: 4 Stars
Sounds great! I enjoyed this as an album in my youth. And, I've seen the movie numerous times. Of course, the broadway recording is not a perfect match to a movie soundtrack, but I'm enjoying it for what it is.