Xanadu on Broadway (Original Broadway Cast Recording 2007)
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Free Music Notes for Xanadu on Broadway (Original Broadway Cast Recording 2007)
Free Music Review: A perfect souvenir from a perfectly, hysterically FUN time on Broadway!!
Hit: 5 Stars
I'd just like to mention before I rave about the CD that the music and dialogue on this CD is the way the material is performed in the musical on stage, which seeing it is at times hysterical, at times charming, and at times endearing and tender... For those who have not seen the musical but have listened to the CD and rated it poorly, please know that once you've seen the musical, you'll say, "oh! so THAT'S why they say this on the CD," or "THAT'S why it's sung like that..." If you're not in or around NYC and are unable to come to see it, don't worry - it will eventually be in your area as a touring show, as all huge broadway hits are... and this is a justifiably HUGE HIT! If you haven't bought the CD but are considering buying, BUY IT! So when you see it, you'll laugh HARD and say, "I remember them saying/singing that on the CD and it really IS funny!" Although it's not all intended to be just funny. There are several songs that are downright beautiful (thanks to Kerry Butler's and Cheyenne Jackson's singing).
Regarding the singing, You can't get any better than Cheyenne Jackson and Kerry Butler! Her Australian accent is intended to be an exaggeration, and her "breathy" parts are both a "shout out" to the fans of Olivia as well as Olivia herself -- and an homage (exaggerated of course) to Olivia's fantastic style of singing. Watching Kerry perform these songs is such a delight. For Cheyenne, well, there's no words to truly describe his singing... it's just sheer amazing. Sublimely beautiful. OK, there are a few words!
Mary Testa, an amazing Broadway talent, has a phenomenal voice, although in this musical she uses it for totally hysterical purposes - so if you aren't familiar with her work, don't get the wrong impression! The woman is TALENTED! Watching her sing her solos are truly laugh-out-loud moments - especially with her other "evil muse sister," the phenomenal comedienne Jackie Hoffman.
About the dancing, when you DO see the musical... AMAZING. Not just because it's top-notch broadway dancing, but because the dancing is done on roller skates and is STILL top-notch! Wait until you see Chris Holbrook do his stunning tap dance solo on a grand piano -- it's a moment that nearly steals the show! Throughout the rest of the show he, Andre Ward and the other "muses" dance in an array of styles that one is left completely in awe by their skill and versatility. Singing, dancing and roller skating all at the same time and doing it with total effortlessness is something to see. (My personal shout-out to Marty Thomas... You're awesome!!)
I know this seems like a review of the musical, but I'm trying to explain that the CD is the AUDIO track of the MUSIC (with some "lead-in" dialogue) to enjoy for those who have seen it as well as for those who, hopefully, WILL see it when the get the opportunity!
Two quick notes regarding a couple of comments above:
First, regarding the comment that the length of the CD is "too short." Every song in the musical is on the CD. The musical wasn't just one song after another. There was, as with many musicals, dialogue between the songs. So the producers couldn't very well "write new songs" just to fill up the CD...
Second, recommending the original soundtrack instead really doesn't make sense. Many people HAVE the E.L.O. songs already, as well as the Olivia songs. The songs on the musical CD are the songs from the MUSICAL. The musical wasn't intended to be an exact re-make of the movie and songs for the stage. It's different, and is intended to be different. It's both an homage to what talent WAS in the movie (i.e. Olivia's and ELO's songs) as well as a fun spoof of the movie as a whole.
THANKS TO ALL WHO MADE THE SHOW AND THE CD AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE!!
Free Music Review: XANADU CONTINUES A GREAT LEGACY IN AMERICAN MUSICAL COMEDY
Hit: 5 Stars
There was A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM, there was SPAMALOT, and now there is XANADU, the funniest show currently playing on Broadway and the first ever ELO musical. And of course, here is where I got the cast album to go along with it. I love this album because each of the songs are masterful pop songs, Produced here under the brilliant, Award-winning musical director, Eric Stern. The cast of top notch Broadway stars, all at the top of their careers, creates the stuff of legend. From the exhilarating, opening track of "I'm Alive", in which the Muses from Ancient Greece descend to Venice Beach, California in the fated year of 1980 to the smooth love ballad send-up of "Suddenly", in which the stunning Kerry Butler and dream boat Cheyenne Jackson conjure up endless high school first kisses, through funny-lady extraordinaires' Jackie Hoffman and Mary Testa's zany rendition of "Evil Woman", to the rousing, youthful and inspiring power ballad, "Don't Walk Away", this COMEDY album keeps on giving. While celebrating pop masterminds' Jeff Lynne and John Farrar with reverent accuracy and lushness, the album does not shy away from the brilliance of what the Broadway hit is: a satire. The story of this album, like the Broadway show, is one of alchemy. Here, the musicians, singers, Producers and playwright Douglas Carter Beane, the show's creator, use the Broadway Cast Album to celebrate the creative process of artists and entertainers, and their ability to transform a very bad thing into something joyous and life affirming. The bad thing, in this case, is obviously the iconic idea of "badness" that shrouds the 1980 film's legacy. The transformation is what the artists connected to Broadway's most celebrated musical of the year have achieved both on the stage and on this beautiful record. Get it, laugh with it - hell - laugh at it - they don't care. They just want you to feel good about being alive!Free Music Review: Cheesy Heaven : Roller Blades + Greek Goddess = Paradise!
Hit: 5 Stars
"Xanadu" was totally unknown to me upto two months ago, which is when I downloaded it online. What a treat, and what a great example of a show coming to life on CD. For the record, I've never seen the show, nor will I probably get a chance to this year, but the CD does more than a great job of opening up new worlds for me. On disc, the melodies positively soar.
I heard that many of the tunes here were rehashed numbers by a defunct group called ELO - but I have no idea if this is true. Either way, the songs are way too catchy to be left alone. Its amazing that this wasn't a stage musical sooner. The various musical genres blend well, but they are all layered with a 1980s-inspired 'synth-sound' that dates the musical beautifully. It sounds purposefully vintage, and purposely so! Wonderful!
My favorite track here is "Strange Magic" (sung by Cleo's sisters). I also love that the lead actress had to sport an Australian Accent. This accent comes and goes in patches and you can tell she had a huge task maintaining this! There is one time where she is speaking about the phone book and her accent sways between American and Australian, though she tries really hard!
The final song "Xanadu" is an explosion of pink-80s-pop, in the most Olivia Newton-John meets Michelle Pfeiffer from "Grease 2" way that you can think of. A Greek Goddess sent to earth to get a man to open a roller disco is one thing, but making it a classic musical that will last forever on disc is quite another. On both counts, the producers of the show have succeeded. Take it from me, I haven't even seen the show, but the soundtrack is now firmly on my Ipod and I can't ever possibly delete it. I love how the show closer number can bring me out of any bad mood almost immediately - the power of music!
Five Stars - if this isn't in your collection, then, well, it should be! An Essential Purchase.
Free Music Review: The Place Where Everyone Is Going!
Hit: 5 Stars
The season's big surprise hit is accredited to Book writer Douglas Carter Beane, who not only had a ball creating the script, but allows us in on the fun and never leaves us out. Beane takes the material just seriously enough to establish credibility while teetering on the sublime but never going over the top.
As far as the CD is concerned, credit is given to Music Director Eric Stern who has known all along that the strength of the material lies in the songs. Though the orchestra is stripped to about five musicians, and the cast exists of twelve performers, listeners are not void of talent or quality.
Kerry Butler is adorable as Kira, the muse who comes to rescue Sonny, portrayed to perfection by Cheyenne Jackson. This Broadway stud proves that he can not only sing, dance, and act, but can rollerskate as well! Tony Roberts adds sweet affection to "Whenever You're Away From Me," as Danny and is quite enjoyable when playing Zeus.
The Muses justify an argument for a Tony category for Best Ensemble, buy it's Mary Testa & Jackie Hoffman who stop the show with their hilarious rendition of "Evil Woman."
The place where "nobody dared to go" is now the place where everyone is going!
Free Music Review: TELL HIM IN A SONG!
Hit: 5 Stars
I have yet to see Xanadu on Broadway, but I love what I've seen/heard of the show. This disc is incredible! But since they can't perserve the whole show along with witty dialouge, we just have the music, which is just fine. The music was the one thing about the movie that was good, and it still makes an excellent cast recording whatever odd years later. The music is still as good as it was, and the snatches of funny we do get are great. Even more than that, you can feel the cast's infectious sense of fun in the recording, and makes great pop even greater. And Kerry Butler and Cheyenne Jackson bring a beautiful sound and soul to the slower songs, while Mary Testa and Jackie Hoffman TEAR UP "Evil Woman" and "Strange Magic". And the ensemble is just to die for. I love this CD, and hope to see the show someday. Its great for kids too, I loved watching my baby sister stand on my bed using a water bottle for a micro phone and using her best, um, "belt", singing "DON'T WALK AWAY!!!!" Great CD.