Rent (1996 Original Broadway Cast)
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Free Music Notes for Rent (1996 Original Broadway Cast)
Free Music Review: 5 Stars
I first got hooked on Rent by listening to a friend's soundtrack. I didn't listen to the soundtrack in depth and only listened to I'll Cover You and Seasons of Love. I then bought the cd myself and listened to all 44 songs and instantaneoulsy became a renthead. I bought the special edition movie, went and saw the play on Broadway, and read every book I can get on the subject. Every single song is outstanding, but these are my favorites:2day 4 U - this is an energetic techno-sound song by Angel.
Out Tonight - this song is sexy and raw and is Mimi at her best
Without You - this is the saddest song in the play and is Mimi's goodbye to Roger, drugs and life.
Don't be mislead by the glitzy, sweet, softspoken and ditzy Mimi of the movie played by Rosario Dawson. The Mimi in the original cast is played by Daphne Rubin-Véga who portrays Mimi as punky, fun, crazy, streetwise, depressed and promiscuous. Although the voice of Tracy Thoms who plays Joanne in the movie is better than Freddie Walker who plays Joanne in the play, by listening to Freddie Walker you understand that Joanne is not uptight and somewhat boring like Tracy Thoms plays her, but misunderstood and caught in a confusing world between her Yuppie life and the life of a bohemian.
Angel Dumott Schünard is played by Wilson Jermaine Herédia and is fun through-and-through. Although his voice could be a bit more "mature" his character is so moving and bohemian you never regret hearing a song with Angel Dumott Schünard as a soloist. One problem is that with "2day 4 U", you must see it live, not hear on headphones.
I a going to keep this paragraph short and simple: Adam Pascal REALLY needs a new voice coach, but since Véga is in most of his songs her hazy, punky and mezmorizing makes up for it. (SRY FOR NOT TELLNG U, PASCAL PLAYS Roger, A DEPRESSED SONGWRITER)
Taye Diggs plays the landlord Benny. He has the best voice in the show and portrays the character interestingly.
Idina Menzell plays Maureen and is just as *WACKY* as her character!
L. Martin plays the anarchist/bohemian/tutor Collins, and has a great gospel voice.
Free Music Review: An unprecedented, powerful recording that remains immaculate
Hit: 5 Stars
The often corny and hokey curtain that has drawn itself over Broadway has often been a stereotype that many people cannot escape. Jonathan Larson's "Rent", the Tony-winning Best Musical, has finally drawn that stereotype to the side, proving that Broadway can rock just as much as it can entertain.Transforming the way stage is looked at, "Rent"'s brutal honesty on addressing issues that still remain relevant to our times is amazing. Bringing to life the harshness of HIV, the struggle for artistic freedom, the reality of gays and lesbians, and the honesty of being young, "Rent" recreates the idea of the opera.
Powerfully orchestrated ballads like "One Song Glory", which Adam Pascal's envigorating voice creates goosebumps, proves that the honesty of living and dying at the same time is truly remarkable. "Light My Candle" and "Today 4 U" gives us the light heartedness that we need even when facing the harshest -- and even allows for a chuckle every now and then.
"La Vie Bohème", an overwhelming amusing and energetic dedication to living like who you're meant to be, tops the first act after following several songs that are catchy and infectious. The beautifully contructed "I'll Cover You" and hysterical performance of Idena Menzel in "Over the Moon" just add to the first disc to create a brilliant Act I.
Disc two's opening, "Seasons of Love", is a crown jewel lyrically and emotionally inspiring musically. However, the amazingly powerful "I'll Cover You (Reprise)" makes our hairs stand up and our eyes water. Such powerful performances throughout the disc opt that it is the equivalent of its previous counterpart -- though many feel that Disc One is superior.
"Rent", overall, is an emotional and physical mindtrip that entertains, inspires and envigorates. Powerful voices, incredible lyrics, and awesome music combine together to form a cast recording that stands above the rest. Completely recommended whether you have seen the stage production or not, "Rent" stands out as a testament to the reality and love that can be found in our times.
Free Music Review: Even more meaning when you've lived it
Hit: 5 Stars
I first saw Rent in 1996. That year was quite a year for me. I first tested positive for HIV, my lover died of AIDS, I was an addict at that time. and I saw Rent for the first time (the first of 6 times over the past almost 10 years). Those who claim that Rent is trite, or meaningless, that the characters aren't real clearly haven't been exposed to the things I have in my life. Rent is relevant on so many levels.
So many talk about their favorite songs from this recording, and there are so many different lists of favorites, as Rent shows we are all individuals and our spirits are all drawn to different things. Interestingly, my strongest connection is to "Will I?" I never see that listed on any list of favorite selections, but for me it is incredibly moving. For all 6 of the shows I've been to, I've been lucky enough to get the $20 "night of" seats in the front row. Each and every time, "Will I?" turned me into a sobbing mess. Why? Well, every day for the past almost 10 years, I've asked myself the same questions. They are pretty much ingrained in the soul of every HIV+ person I know. These are fears and apprehensions that touch each of our souls deeply.
The rest of the CD is also beautiful. Let's face it, this was supposed to be raw and real, and not meant to be another Phantom or Les Mis.
Finally, the reprise of "I'll Cover You" has great meaning for me. Living in San Francisco in 1996, I knew a few people in the business and was able to get the music early on. It was performed live at my lover's memorial service and I have to say it was one of the most memorable moments of my life.
Has Rent changed my life? Probably not. My life was changed enough without Rent. I will say that it has helped me to put words to my life, to things that are hard to put words to.
I can't say this CD will change your life. I can't say that this recording is still relevant to our world today. Give it a shot, you won't be disappointed.
No Day But Today....
Free Music Review: A Truly Unexpected and Remarkably Memorable Show
Hit: 5 Stars
Based loosely on Puccini's LA BOHEME, for which it substitutes AIDS for tuberculosis, RENT offers a bittersweet and kaleidoscopic portrait of New York's starving artists, hookers, junkies, and homeless. Some struggle to make a name, most rebel against the consumer culture, and all are fighting to live on some of the meanest streets ever presented on a Broadway stage.
The show stunned New York audiences of the mid-1990s, and it has since toured widely--but if you never have the chance to see a live performance, not to worry; this is a show that is arguably better heard than seen, for what seems an occasional glaring flaw on stage often works extremely well in recording, with the song "Santa Fe" a prime example. The voices are all very fine, the music quite fine, and the lyrics often unexpectedly witty, and it adds up to a very fine package indeed.
Even so, RENT is unlikely to win fans from either Broadway or rock music purists, for instead of coming down hard on one side or other of the equation it essentially merges the two. There are indeed screaming guitars, but the structure is still very much that of a Broadway show complete with harmonic choruses, counterpoints, and solos. For the rest of us, however, the show walks a fine lines between extremes--and the result is simply extraordinary.
Given composer-lyricist John Larson's untimely death, there is a tendency on the part of cult fans to describe RENT as utterly unique in both form and content. This is not entirely true: the Broadway musical has produced a host of shows dealing with such dark material and has dabbled in merging Broadway and rock forms since the 1960s, with perhaps HAIR the best known and EVITA the most artistically successful examples to date. In truth, RENT is part of this ongoing evolution, but that does not undercut the accomplishment involved. Whatever its flaws, Larson took that evolution a great leap, and the result is truly memorable.
GFT, Amazon Reviewer
Free Music Review: A Modern Musical
Hit: 5 Stars
"Rent" is the realization of the brilliant Jonathan Larson's dream based on Puccini's opera La Boheme. Larson changed the way musicals are heard by providing rock music, and modern day topics. "Rent" deals with homosexuality, disease, and growing up in America. The story follows the lives of eight friends as they try to survive in New York's alphabet city as seen through the lead Mark's eyes. Through him, we see the relationship of the friends, and love blooming, and dying, between Roger and Mimi, Tom and Angel, and Maureen and Joanne. Ex-roommate, Benny is trying to evict Mark and Roger from their loft to build a cyber-arts studio, which would displace the homeless in the area. Add in the fact almost all of the characters have AIDS, the story borders on heavy. The story is pretty good, and it turns into a good theatrical presentation, but Larson scores with the musical making the soundtrack worthwhile. There is the heavy rock beginning in the title track, and continues to rock on with songs like "Out Tonight", "Another Day" and "Today 4 U". These songs are well balanced with slower ballads like "One Song Glory" and "Goodbye Love", with everything falling between the two. "La Vie Boheme" is a great cast cut al la Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start the Fire." Larson was great at adding in humor to offset the depressing scenes throughout the story. The bonus to this album is the great Stevie Wonder sitting in with the cast for a cover of "Seasons of Love", which makes the album worthwhile all in its self.
After such a great musical, it was a shame to lose the talent of Larson. He was able to take theater to a new level, and introduce topics that have been avoided on mainstream stages. He really did bring the theater to the modern age with this musical. Add in great music, well-conceived lyrics, and a good story, it is well worth seeing live. The messages Larson tries to communicate are right on target. No day but today.