The Color Purple (2005 Original Broadway Cast)
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Free Music Notes for The Color Purple (2005 Original Broadway Cast)
Free Music Review: Awesome!!
Hit: 5 Stars
All hail to the "Queen Honeybee...Shug Avery"! Elisabeth Withers-Mendes has a voice which touches your soul each time you hear it. She makes you feel pain, laughter, passion, or whatever it is that she's conveying. She is absolutely amazing as Shug!!! I loved the book and the movie and agree with a previous reviewer that the third telling of the story was a charm. As I sat in the theater watching The Color Purple on Broadway, I couldn't wait until it was over to go to the lobby to purchase the cd because I was moved by the depictions of Shug, Celie, and Sophia. Much to my dismay, at the time the cd had not yet been released so I pre-ordered a copy. I haven't stopped playing it since receiving it two weeks ago. The women on this recording (and on stage) are phenomenal. Felicia P. Fields's "Hell No" makes me proud of all women who have had the courage to walk away from abusive relationships and prayerful that those who've remained will be blessed to become "Sophias" very soon. Shug's juke joint rendition of "Push Da Button" will make you wish you were at your local Harpo's dancing all night. And "Too Beautiful for Words" is an empowering song of friendship, love and encouragement for anyone feeling less than perfect. LaChanze truly conveyed the joy of overcoming obstacles in "The Color Purple" and "I'm Here". Overall, this cd is a must have and the show is a must see. Enjoy!! P.S. I'm going to see the show again and will be giving the cd as gifts. Free Music Review: WORTHWHILE..............BUT.....
Hit: 4 Stars
The recording of The Color Purple is generally fine and sometimes a good deal more than that but it makes a few mis-steps and that hurts. Let's get that over with first-the three "gossips" who get into every ones' business once too often gets old very quick and 'African Homeland' which opens Act Two feels like it was placed just to have a production number. True it also reveals Netties' letters recounting her life in Africa but with the Lion King chanting and drums it overshadows the postal connection between the sisters.
But this CD belongs to the ladies, the ladies the ladies.
LaChanze as Celie, and a special shout-out to Elisabeth Withers-Mendes as Shug Avery and Felicia P Fields as Sofia send their songs to the heavens.
LaChanze has the sad lullaby 'Somebody Gonna Love You' and the heart-breaking 'Lily of the Field' when she is cruelly separated from her beloved sister Nettie. She also has a lovely duet with Shug called 'What About Love' and her big 11 o'clock number "I'm Here" but LaChanze also lends her vocals to other numbers such as 'Our Prayer' 'The Color Purple' 'Brown Betty' and more.
Miss Mendes as Shug explodes in 'Push Da Button' the soulful 'Too Beautiful for Words' where she be-friends Celie, and 'The Color Purple' with Celie.
Even Sofia has her moments with 'Hell,No' 'Uh-Oh' and a duet with her husband Harpo called 'Any Little Thing'
And when Celie starts her business making pants the three ladies join in with 'Miss Celies Pants'
Another dissapointment I had was the show omits one of the movies most moving scenes. Shugs redemption in her minister fathers' eyes after he has shunned her for years because of her 'wicked ways'. This would have made a roof-raising scene if the composers had written a rousing gospel-flavored number for her. A real shame.
Over-all this is a worthwhile Recording but for the mis-steps and ommissions it could have been a great one.
Free Music Review: It's Just Nice That This Finally Got Made...
Hit: 3 Stars
Over the years, I've always thought that my favorite film of all time, Steven Spielberg's film adaptation of Alice Walker's "The Color Purple," would make an excellent stage musical... at least, when you follow the blueprint of the film. It's practically a movie musical already (thanks to some wonderful gospel and blues and even some African percussion). So when I heard Atlanta was staging a pre-Broadway run of the new musical, I was so excited. Now that it's on Broadway, with backing by Oscar?-nominee Oprah Winfrey (who should have friggin won for this movie), it's just nice to know that it got made. I hope it tours.
But... the music... It certainly has several wonderful moments ("Hell No," "Mysterious Ways," "Push Da Button," the title song), but upon first listen, it's sooo obvious the composers are not seasoned Broadway people, nor do they show signs of aspirations to become so. Love me some Brenda Russell... but here (along with Stephen Bray and Allee Willis), some of the lyrics are so amateurish that I'm totally hoping, juxtaposed against the rest of the drama on stage, that they work and move me. On their own, these other songs would make nice, safe album fillers for Anita Baker or Vanessa Williams, but as part of a grander story, most of the songs are just teetering on blah. The songs *do* sound improved from the few songs heard from the Atlanta run, however, so at least there's some awareness of weak spots.
I'm not sure why they didn't stick in some of the wonderful compositions from the film (couldn't get the rights from Warner Bros. maybe?), especially since the producers are acknowledging that they were inspired by the film. This method certainly worked for adaptations of Thoroughly Modern Millie, Lion King and Mary Poppins. It would have been great to hear (mixed in) "Makidada," "The Dirty Dozens," "Maybe God's Trying To Tell You Something," and, of course, "Miss Celie's Blues (Sister)." All excellent songs from the film. Too Bad.
The cast, though, is quite good. LaChanze and Felicia Fields are outstanding... and it's nice to hear Ren?e Goldsberry's pipes without having to hide behind whoever was that week's musical guest on "Ally McBeal."
All in all, a good effort by all. By the way... where's the Jill Scott/Patti LaBelle duet?
Free Music Review: Can't say enough about the broadway show
Hit: 5 Stars
I was able to see the Broadway show in December with little knowledge of the story (never read the book or saw the movie). It is really an unbelievably spiritual event in the most natural way possible. Highly recommended to just about anyone... The older you are the more you may enjoy it!
Free Music Review: Third Time's a Charm!
Hit: 5 Stars
This is the third telling of Celie, Shug, Nettie, and Mister's story.
What can you say about a story that's already been told in 2 different ways?
This musical is amazing. The songs on the album bring Alice Walker's characters to life with respect and dignity. The music, the lyrics, and the performances capture the emotions of each character perfectly.
I'm not crazy about the opening overture. It just sounds too much like a number to play while people run to their seats.
Highlights -
Lily of the Field - It's heartbreaking. You can just feel the agony of the sisters being separated.
Too Beautiful for Words - such a sweet song, a chance to see some of the sugar in Shug.
What About Love? - it's like "Miss Celie's Blues" from the movie. I like it as a duet.
I'm Here - hearing Celie fully realized, all grown up and able to speak for herself it such a treat!
I couldn't be more pleased with this disc. The only thing that disappointed me was that the duet from Patti Labelle and Jill Scott singing What About Love? isn't on here. It had been announced in November that it would be a single off the soundtrack, but I guess that never actually happened.