Spring Awakening (2006 Original Broadway Cast)
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Free Music Notes for Spring Awakening (2006 Original Broadway Cast)
Free Music Review: Breathtaking...
Hit: 5 Stars
If you have ever wondered what it would be like to hear the sound of angels singing, take a listen to the music of "Spring Awakening" -- it is truly a revelation. The score, with songs ranging from rousing rock with strong hooks to beautiful ballads of haunting melodies and heartfelt performances, is turning out to be one of my favorites to hit the Broadway stage. The vocals are beautifully arranged as are the instrumentals, and I was impressed with the stylistic variations that emanated from the small band/orchestra that was onstage. Mind you, this is coming from someone who has enjoyed more "traditional" sounding scores such as those by Rogers and Hammerstein, Lerner and Lowe, Stephen Sondheim, etc. To the person who called the music from this show a mediocrity (apparently after only one listen) I say this: SEE THE SHOW. While normally I would say that listenening to the cast album would in most cases suffice as far as judging the quality of the show's music, in this instance seeing the songs performed LIVE in the context of the show makes a HUGE difference. Not only will some of the subtler nuances in the lyrics make more sense when viewed in the context of the onstage action, but I promise you, you will really feel the performances (especially if you witness the show from the onstage seating as I did). Upon seeing the show for the first time (yes, I plan on going back), I remembered liking a number of the songs at least enough to give them a second listen. Now that I own the album, I can hardly stop listening to it! True, the lyrics are not necessarily as clever as say, a Sondheim, but what they lack in cleverness they make up in sheer poetry. The kids (late teens to early twenties) who sing these songs give such moving performances that one feels each and every word to the lyrics. As far as I'm concerned, "Spring Awakening" is a welcome relief to some shows currently on Broadway with schlocky pop/rock scores. While I applaud shows with more traditional sounding scores such as "A Light in the Piazza", "The Drowsy Chaperone" and "Grey Gardens", I share equal enthusiasm for the uniquely entertaining "Spring Awakening".Free Music Review: For the Rent generation
Hit: 5 Stars
If you like Rent, I'm sure you will love this new Rock musical. Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater have taken a classical text (Fred Wedekind's controversial play Spring's Awakening, which was banned for 71 years) and added rock music to it. The interesting thing is, the play itself has not been updated at all. It still uses much of the original text. However the songs portray each of the characters inner-monologue with the convention that each of us is a rock star in our own mind.
The songs are haunting. Such a brilliant (and succeeding) effort from a cast that is in my own personal age range (18-23). The songs themselves don't tell much of the story, I would suggest purchasing the play as well. But the music is fantastic, so full of heart and fire. Be forewarned it is extremely explicit and parents be strongly cautioned being as the main theme of the show is the fascination of sex and adolescence.
Songs that are deserving of special praise:
Both "My Junk" and "Mama Who Bore Me (reprise)" are both performed by the female performers in this show and the harmonies are rock solid. Gives you the feeling of a well-trained all girl band. 10x better than the spice girls.
"I Don't do Sadness"/"Blue Wind) (both on track 11) Are amazing solo's that become deep character studies of the outcasts Ilse and Moritz. Lauren Pritchard who plays Ilse has a mezmorizing and sultry voice that is hard to forget.
"Touch Me" "The Wonder of Purple Summer" and "Totally F--ked" are full ensemble numbers that make you belive these performers have been on broadway their entire lives. These three songs are beautifully profound, and a whole lot of fun. You may despise the word. But I'm sure you will be singing with them before you no it.
Spring Awakening is well worth the purchase. Booklet includes production notes from Steven Sater, a synopsis, awesome production photos, and song lyrics.
Free Music Review: Don't judge till you have seen the show!!
Hit: 5 Stars
I have read many of the reviews of SA here and I must say...to all those who have ripped apart an absolutely amazing show...get off your couch and go see it before you say it is garbage or trash or asking what has Broadway become...you are the same people who ripped apart another amazing and Tony winning show..In the Heights....If you actually do a little research, you would learn that SA the Musical is based on a German play from 1892...A time in which sex and talking about sex was taboo...This is the same time period in which Ibsen wrote a Doll's House and Chekhov wrote Three Sisters and The Cherry Orchard...this is the time period during and coming out of the Victorian age...Now...I have seen the show on Broadway...and sat in the onstage seats...and I will also say that those are the best seats in the house...the actors sitting within a few feet of you...you can see the emotion on their faces....This show takes the story of 1892...and juxtaposes it with the modern rock style music of today....It connects teens and adults alike to the story....The topic of teens coming into their sexual awakening is just as prevalent today as it was over 100 years ago... I have taught the play version of Spring Awakening and the musical version alike to college students...and the overwhelmingly positive response speaks for itself...The music is moving and the lyrics are catchy...So, if you haven't had a chance to see this really great show...it is touring...starting in January...or better yet...GO SEE IT ON BROADWAY!! And to those who believe that this is crap and that Rodgers and Hammerstein are the gods of theatre....even R&H were at one time considered to be controversial and taboo...they wrote about controversial topics in turbulent times...just look at The King and I or South Pacific... In closing, I hope this review opened some of your eyes to the touching and heartfelt world of Spring Awakening!!!Free Music Review: Simply Incredible!
Hit: 5 Stars
I saw the play version of this about 3 years ago and found it both deeply moving and very engaging. I always thought it would make a good musical, I just never thought it could be done as a pop/rock musical, but it CAN. "Spring Awakening" is the most amazing thing I have ever seen on stage. The cast and direction were incredible. The story of teenagers coming of age in 19th century repression may seem like a far off topic for a Broadway musical, but the music (which is both poetic and emotional) connects it to contemporary audiences. It transports you back to the memories of when you were 13 and discovering who you are and how things work. It's both frightening and rewarding. And it's interesting to watch teenagers who either know absolutely nothing about sex (the character Wendla believes babies come from Storks) or feel that sexuality is so evil it will send them to hell, experience feelings of eroticism, pleasure, attraction, and puberty and all the confusion and mystery that goes with it. Many people may find this subject matter offensive, in fact many audiences members left during intermission, but the same thing happened when "West Side Story", "Sweeny Todd", and "Rent" first opened and now they are classics.
This musical takes risks, breaks conventional musical rules, and it proves that Musical theatre is changing. It has to. How can anyone expect a living art form to remain stagnant when the world is changing around it? For years I've been hearing about the death of Broadway. And it's true that Broadway has been caught in a time warp of shallow, commercial safety, with big-budget producers and uninspired "non-risk" fluff, I mean just look at "Tarzan", "Mamma Mia", and all the revivals that keep getting redone over and over. This show gives me hope for the future of Broadway and of Musical Theatre.
Free Music Review: The cast and songs are amazing! The CD has flaws though.
Hit: 5 Stars
Since I won't be flying out to NY anytime soon I'm jealous of those who have seen this incredible sounding show. I looked forward to receiving this CD as a Christmas gift and wasn't disappointed at all. "Beautiful", "powerful", "moving" are just a few words I can say. Each time I play this I hear something wonderful and unexpected that I hadn't noticed before. This is an excellent cast recording and for that reason I gave it 5 stars. However, Amazon needs to include a category that rates the CD itself. There are some serious flaws that I'm sure I'm not the only one to have noticed. The most glaring error is that cast member, Tom Deckman (Hanschen), who is listed on Page 5 of the booklet is not listed as a cast member on either Page 3 or the back of the CD. I'm sure his manager is not too thrilled as well! You will also find that the lyrics as written on occasion do not match with what is sung. Someone had mentioned this before and I agree that we do not always know who is singing the songs. I found it frustrating trying to discern which "Boy" and "Girl" I was listening to on most of the tracks. So, if such a category existed I would have to give it only two stars which would then give my combined rating of the CD three-and-a-half stars. I hope that Decca will reissue the CD with the corrections so we'll just have to wait and see. Otherwise, if you're like me and you haven't seen this show I strongly urge you to add this to your musical theatre collection or even to your Pop/Rock collection! And besides the amazingly talented cast, I truly hope that this isn't the last we have heard of Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik on Broadway.