Music Break [...with Julie Andrews]

I’m back! What? Did you not notice that I was gone? I was offline for the last 40 hours, so that feels like something momentous to me. But, enough of me...what better way to start the morning than Julie Andrews performing a medley in concert?

Good morning.

Music Break [...with Chris Colfer, Judy Garland, Patti LuPone, Audra McDonald, Lea Michele & Barbra Streisand]

I’m feeling fairly out of it today, so what’s a better antidepressant than good music?

First up, Lea Michele and Chris Colfer in the best duet in the episode "Duets". I still wouldn't call myself a fan of Kurt, but this is lovely.

Then there's the absolutely resplendent Audra McDonald teaming up with Patti Lupone. I don't care for Patti, but Audra is amazing and they song brilliant together.

And of course, the iconic original - Barbra and Judy.

Okay, as you were (Good morning).

Music Break [...with Bernadette Peters]

Isn't Bernadette Peters amazing? I really wish that she could have made a viable career as a film actress, but that doesn't dilute her talent. The Disney remake of Rodger's & Hammerstein's Cinderella is very much light-weight, but still enjoyable and there's something genius like about having Bernadette as the evil (and very hot) Step Mother. God knows how she stays looking so young...

Music Break [...with Selena]

No matter how much bad press she gets, or how many awful films she makes I can’t hate Jennifer Lopez. There’s just something affable about her general personality that’s usually difficult to resist, more than her personality I’d say that Lopez does have talent to be an at least fair actress if she’d only use her money and popularity for good. I think her work in Golden-Globe nominated Selena was the first time I saw her in a film, and I’d say it’s easily her best performance. The story of Selena, is a sad one – but the movie is as fresh and effervescent as you’d expect the heroine to be.

Ever seen Selena?

Music Break [...with Andrew Lloyd Webber]

Andrew Lloyd Webber may have my name, but I still sort of loathe him. Still, I'll admit he's sort of awesome sometimes. Case in point: Jesus Christ Superstar. I sort of can't resist his ludicrous at times re-imagining of the New Testament and what not. True all his musicals (Evita, Phantom) sound like they're all the score to one loooooooong show, but Jesus Christ Superstar has some kick-ass numbers.

I'm not sure if Carl Anderson or Ted Neely would win in a sing-off (though Neely does remind me of Adam Pascal, a lot.)

       

Okay, so much for "religion". As you were.

Music Break [...with the Cast of Hairspray]

Hairspray is far from being among my favourite musicals on stage or on screen but it's difficult to deny the infectiousness of it all. It's one of those hundreds of films that make you think WTF when it comes to Oscars. Sure, it may not have been headed to any major categories but it didn't garner nods for costume design and art direction is beyond me.

This version is by the Original Broadway Cast. Notice Matthew Morrison (aka Mr. Schue) and his injudiciously curled hair. Sue's hair jokes are apt...

And the film incarnation...

I think the stage version trumps the film cast, but they're both quite good.

Music Break [...with James Thunder Earlie and The Dreamettes]

I probably always had the information in the back of my head, but it's only last week that I really ruminated on the fact that Audra McDonald was part of a Concert Performance of Dreamgirls back in the day. Sure Dreamgirls wasn't the all-round smash hit that Condon hoped it'd be but it was good enough. True, the second act was clunky - but the second act is clunky on film, on stage even the songs are less interesting. But the songs in the first act are kind of golden - especially this one. Fake Your Way to the Top, times two.

Music Break [...with Velma Kelly and Matron Mama Morton]

I hope that whoever directs the Oscars next year doesn’t take any tips from Adam Shankman. It’s not that the ceremony was atrocious, it was just underwhelming and months after the fact I still can’t believe had the gall to cut the live performances of the nominated songs. I’m certain seeing Marion Cotillard and Anika Noni Rose live would have made up for the otherwise dull ceremony. And to think, if all of the show’s directors were like him we’d never had had a moment like this in 2003.

That’s kind of brilliant, no?

Music Break [...with Stephen Sondheim and company]

Catherine Zeta-Jones recently won her Tony for playing Desiree Amfeldt in Sondheim’s “A Night Music” – I’m not her biggest fan, or anywhere near, but good for her. I found it slightly amusing, though, that when she left the show and theatre icon Bernadette Peters took over the role everyone was saying that CZJ should give back her Tony and let Bernadette claim it. I mean, did anyone think that Bernadette would NOT be better than Catherine? The woman’s all kinds of awesome (I wonder why she wasn't their original choice for the revival). Anyhow, here’s the iconic number from “A Little Night Music” through the ages – from the Original Broadway Cast Production, through some notable film actor all the way up to the recent revival. 

The Original Desiree, you may remember her from Mary Poppins

It's as if there's no Sondheim standard she hasn't covered...

This version is so touching, it's a shame she never actually played the role...

Wow. Seriously? Isn't she brilliant?

She performs it well, no doubt: and so lovely to look at...

It's not a performance, and the feedback is dreadful...but she's always amazing.

                 

Good morning everyone.

Music Break [...with Carla from Nine]

I can’t say there would be anything wrong with waking up to this on a Monday morning...

The Original Carla

The New Broadway Carla

The Movie Version of Carla
              
This has got to be one of the most misleadingly titled songs, “Call from the Vatican”? Sure. The visual quality for the two Broadway versions is poor, but still not completely unsalvageable. One thing is certain: phone sex will never be the same after Maury Yeston.
       
And, yeah, Jane Krakowski kind of tops them all for me. And you?

Music Break [...with the Cast of Rent]

There’s something off about the film version of Rent. I don’t know what it is, and I haven’t seen the Broadway play so it’s unlikely I’ll ever be able to glean it...but it just feels clunky. That being said, measuring the Original Broadway Cast Recording against the Original Film Soundtrack the latter is the superior. I don’t know if the it’s the years of growth that improve the cast, but I do know I prefer Rosario Dawson’s singing voice to Daphne  Ruben-Vega’s – the original Mimi.

              

Still, as weird as some of the numbers look (they all song great) “La Vie Boheme” is untouchable.

So, when you see this I'll be in class having my medicine with a Linguistics' Exam - blech. No idea what my spoonful of sugar will be, I'm relatively sure it won't be the test slated for Wednesday....wish I had my own Mary Poppins...

Music Break [...with Judy Garland & Company]

I really am busy...grrrrr, I'll be back soon....

Music Break [...with The Beatles]

Good morning.

Music Break [...with Evita]

I wish I was this excited to be anywhere at the moment...as it is I'm toiling away at University. Ick.

Though I sometimes loathe Webber, Evita's score is lovely and who doesn't love Madonna? (rhetorical question)

Music Break [...With Gene Kelly, Donald O'Conner & Debbie Reynolds]

The song essentially says it all. Enjoy.

Music Break [...with Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovett]

Cut songs and all (where was the rest of "God That's Good") I do love Tim Burton's adaptation of Sondheim's Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. A bit too short, but entertaining and well made. True to my weird nature my favourite moment in the film is one that is often forgotten. True, I've never actually seen a live incarnation of the piece but even though Depp and Bonham Carter were not the belters associated with the roles their soft voices paid off - especially in this scene. "My Friends" along with "Johanna" is the only love song in the musical, and it's writren so wonderfully - but it's not Sondheim's lyrics that carry it through. Depp is, of course, entranced by his tools but it is Helena with that look of longing, even obsession, on her face that commands the screen (er, where exactly was her Oscar nomination)...and I do love it when actors sing in counterpoint.

Music Break […with Norma Dresmond]

I can’t say that I love Andrew Lloyd Webber – sure he has my name (or I his) but generally I’m wont to loathe the man. Still, he has his moments (name Evita and Sunset Boulevard for me). Wilder’s classic doesn’t seem like the usual film to spawn a Broadway production…but the music is lovely at times. Particularly this excellent number, "As If We Never Said Goodbye". It's a love song to the movies really, as Norma sings to the cardboard trees and painted seas of the studio she loves...

          

Elaine Paige is such a good singer, and here's what she does with it...

         

And Ms. Streisand puts her own stamp on the number. What a voice on that woman.

           

And here is the excellent Glenn Close in full costume singing her rendition (for the role which won her a third Tony Award).

                           

I wonder if they’ll ever get around to that screen incarnation of the musical...

Music Break [with Fanny Bryce]

 suppose that really this is one desperate song...in a way, but who wouldn't like to be serenaded like that?. But then, Funny Girl is so very lovely and it is Baaaaaaaaaabra. So, enjoy.

Music Break [...With A Couple of Lifeguards]

Good God, this brings back some memories. Doesn't it make you nostalgic?