The Masterpiece Of All Star By Smash Mouth

 A song that transcends decades, a song that inspires many, while exploring deeper themes. One of those songs has to be the timeless hit by Smash Mouth, "All Star". This song gives us the embodiment of a dream we all share, which is to be a star. But what does it mean to be a star, let alone an All Star.

The song opens with our hero at an all time low, facing the harsh reality of the world around him. No more of a crushing defeat then a girl gesturing an L shape on her forehead towards oneself.  The song shows what it means to go from the bottom. To start at zero and then be a rockstar and maintain it. This lifestyle means saving money and not giving it to strangers for gas money, rocking out no matter your social status, and teaming up Ben Stiller and some other misfit heroes to save that day. 

This song shows the dreams we all have, wanting to be something more. Sometimes we have to seize the day, kick out the door of the outhouse and live the best life we can with this song playing. This song shows that anyone can be an all star if they live like one. Rocking out shows and just keep coming and don't stop coming when it comes to the hits.

Hit the ground running and never stop going. One may think of the tale of Icarus when hearing a ballad as passionate as this, but I feel as this will be held in the same echelon as the greatest works. We will compare that of the golden age of music, the all time greats, to this. This song resonates in the hearts of all living beings and will be immortalized as something that should never be forgotten. Words to live by and strive for as one wants to become more then just a star, but rather ascend to that of an all star. Being able to say no to strangers asking for spare change, and overcome crushing defeats of having an L shape on the forehead directed at you.

The song will never cease in its ever growing relevance. and I hope you can see it too.

APRIL FOOLS!

(Netflix) Matilda The Musical: The Movie Based On The Musical Based On The Movie Based On The Book

 My first stop on this wonderful trip from the comfort of my bed and the streaming apps was a musical movie that premiered on Netflix. An adaptation of the stage show Matilda based on the film and classic children's book. I saw the movie when I was young but barely remember it, and I have never listened to any songs from the show unless in passing but never stopped to listen to it. I have heard good things from those who have seen it, but never seen it myself. I went into this musical movie optimistic, and knowing nothing. So what did I think.

This story of a young girl who is a genius, the world against her in many ways until she learns a new magical power. Her school, parents, and the odds ever against her and those like her, and some she would not expect. The story is simple yet engaging, like a fairy tale, of right and wrong in the world, bullies and those who do what is good. Every plot point fits and many moments are predictable but this is fun romp for families and there are many factors that make this romp work. There are moments of drama, comedy, and encouragement all wrapped with morals in a nice little bow but the time the credits roll. I do not know the differences between the original movie, the book, cast album, or even the stage version. Perhaps I will find out some day but I will judge this purely on its own. The morals are simple yet fun of standing up to bullies, to found family that can at times be very touching, a fun family story.

The story leads to fun music, and great character moments. The tale is so nice, it is a very good first musical for those with young ones who are interested. The songs are fun group numbers, or sometimes big sweeping ballads, there are no style changes, so the music is all the same genre. The songs are pretty good, there are some I will definitely listen to again after watching, there are some fun villain songs, a big group numbers that are as well, and some surprisingly well made ballads. All of the actors in the film version are amazing, both in and and out of song. The show has some really stand out ballads that left me loving some of the songs. 

The acting in this in phenomenal, as well as the performances. But this movie is also shot incredibly well. There were some powerful well shot moments of this film, that were compliments with the music hand in hand. This movie has the scope of a stage musical and the presentation of a film in the best way possible. the cinematography has great big group moments that look like they can fit on stage but also in a movie, it was the perfect balance. The music, score and the way this movie was shot made the presentation stand out and I enjoyed watching this film. The movie had some powerful emotional moments as well, that packed an even bigger punch when complimented with the music and acting. The dancing is also well done. 

There are a couple of shortcomings that I wanted to mention. The ending of the movie felt a tad rushed as did a couple of other moments, I wish we had a little more time with this world and maybe even another song or two, there are a fair amount of reprises here. The CGI in the movie, thought not always present is not the biggest strong suit of the movie, unlike the costumes, set, dancing, performances and just about everything else. Aside from a couple of pacing problems where, like a fairy tale, I felt things zooming by, and this, the film is still pretty great. 

This is a well made musical movie, and I hope Netflix takes the good word of mouth and makes another, and adapts more. This and Tick Tick Boom which I plan on talking about later one are both super well made and has me hoping more will come. Though not perfect, this is still pretty good and worth a watch, with fun songs, a good splash of comedy, and beautifully shot moments, this movie musical has little moments, little stories, that many, myself included can enjoy.

SIX

 Now I have reviewed this amazing piece of stage work before, but only the cast album. I was fortunate enough to see this show live back in January so I wanted to give my thoughts on it. I was so happy to finally see this show because I love the album and have ever since I first listened to it. There is not a single song I would skip but I always wanted to see the visuals that accompanied this amazing music as is one of the joys that comes with as well as reasons on while I love seeing shows live. 

Seeing how the songs incorporated into the story ended up making me enjoy them even more. The story is told in one sitting with no intermission, similar to a show I loved that I saw last November which was Come From Away. The show only was an hour and twenty minutes about the length of a theatrical movie, and this show makes every minute count. The plot has the six wives of British monarch Henry The 8th, in a pop concert competition to see who had it the worst. From the ones who were heartbroken and lost their time and affection to those who lost a bit more. The show is infused with a great message, empowering music and some great writing. The show has a ton of history as well as humor infused into it's writing, not being afraid to get deeper at times either. This show is tightly written and executed to a tee that I am left wanting to see it again live as soon as I can. 

The music and choreography go hand in hand. This show is mostly high energy and the energy keeps going and going from the powerful opening to the final curtain. The show acknowledges history and the facts while showing it wasn't just HIS story. The songs are basically well done break up songs most of the time, but when someone goes deeper you see the powerful emotions woven in that make these songs amazing. Songs about being rejected, used, or being trapped in situations that are less to be desired, but still infused empowering, funny, and relatable lyrics into the songs. Bringing these queens to life in and out of song, making the audience laugh, think, and want to dance along. My favorite songs being "Get Down" and " I Don't Need Your Love" for how empowering they are and the messages about being fine whether in or out of love, or not letting the labels someone puts on you stop you from living. The music is in the same genre the whole time but is still ranged. Different styles and tempos help each song stand out in the best way possible, I can tell which song is which based on how they start, each one standing tall.

Though I may like some songs more then others that is more of a subjective opinion as when I saw this live each one of the performers knocked it out of the park. Watching the tour cast of this show perform with an all female band, making it an all female production helps make the themes of this show stand out so much more. I loved every second of this show from the high energy music to the jokes and writing in between that bring the characters to life, to the subject material. The music is empowering and keeps the tone strong and going from the lights going on till the curtains fall. The lyrics though about historical queens are packed with real and relatable emotions that the audience can see themselves in, and the setting is fantastic. The show stays consistent, in character and focused from beginning to end, taking off strong and nailing the landing.

This show is must see if you can, and a must listen if you can not. This is also another show in desperate need of pro shot, as do many shows need and deserve. The characters, music, story, and writing make this show a can not miss, especially for fans of pop music or can relate to having a terrible EX. The wives showed how much of queens they all truly were, in a truly unforgettable fashion. 

Divorced. Beheaded, Died, Divorced, Beheaded, Survived open this show, the old rhyme, but once the music begins, the audience learns so much more. Seeing this show come to life from the album I loved was a pure delight.

Let's Talk About Bad Cinderella

 Last year I did a retrospective on all things Cinderella, from Disney to Rodger's And Hammerstein to the only version I truly love starring Brandi and Whitney Houston. One I covered via cast album was Andrew Llyod Webber's take on the classic tale has now come stateside from its run on the West End. And this show is getting dragged through the mud. I often don't talk gossip, news, or current events because I do not want my content to date aside from the Tony Awards, but this can not be ignored. 

This show has been facing nothing short of criticism, whether it is due to the shows content, the music itself or the behind the scenes drama that could take multiple posts just to cover. This show is not getting the kindest of welcomes in a time where musical theater is more successful on tour and in the local scene. Oddly right now musicals are thriving more outside New York then in the very city many associate the genre with. Theater after theater has grown vacant and more theaters than ever have no shows to house, even with the large number of shows going on there are announcements of even more closings. With that we need a show that will help make the area boom again and draw people in. This is not that show.

I listened to the album last year when I  was doing the series on Cinderella and I have to say between that album and the Amazon Prime Cinderella I had my work cut out for me. Going to the Wikipedia page and reading through the plot made my head spin. It was hard to follow, had to many story lines and the songs looked like they were slapped in random places. The songs when I listened to them after trying to use the plot as a companion piece still did not land well with me. Some were okay but others felt out of place and the tone was constantly changing between songs. The music was hit and miss and I felt myself grasping to try and have an emotional connection with the score.

The drama circulating this show also brought me out of the experience. That is a topic best explored elsewhere or this blog post would be almost quadrupled in size with that included. But all the off stage drama brought me out of things as well, it felt difficult to escape the outside world and lose myself in the story. The story also was not captivating enough to do so, there are better adaptions of this story, making it hard to not just listen to those. 

This show, though discussed in the past, now that it is in previews still does not fair well. I have not even seen in live but with everything I have seen and heard. This is one clock that will go past the stroke of midnight and much after for me, I am staying far away from this Ball.

 

Someone Gets Hurt Reprise (Mean Girls)

 This musical in particular is very hit and miss for me. I enjoy about half of the songs offered and will listen to them on rare occasion, but this is far from my favorite musical based on a non-musical film. (I don't think anything can top Legally Blonde; I still have other ones I enjoy but that is neither here nor there). There was a song I heard on shuffle the other day that I feel worth talking about from this show. A reprise that stands along and to some may even outshine the song that it comes from.

This song is forty-seven seconds long, but this song proves that you do not need an overly long ballad to prove a point. The song is a confrontation at an emotional peak that even though it is ended with a classic punchline from the film it is adapting leaves the listener feeling an emotional impact. The lyrics are a flurry of hurt and anger that many, myself included can resonate with, collimating in a revamp of the original song's chorus in a powerful way. 

The song not only propels the plot towards its emotional climax but has the characters going into a point that we don't know where they will end up. Damage has been done and there is no going back, this song does lead to another song that I like for the character with a moral tied to it later on which is great. The song being "I'd Rather Be Me" which I will have to cover at some point in the future. 

But today I wanted to shine a light on this powerful little reprise and show how a song's length does not dictate the impact it can leave. This moment of vulnerability, hurt, and anger wrapped up into this short song is nothing short of well written. There is not a lot to say here as the song is less then a minute but this one is worth a listen. The song is way more impactful then ever expected

Mean Girls The Musical

 October 3rd also known as Mean Girls Day, the comedy classic about navigating cliques, highschool, and finding yourself, all while being incredibly quotable and funny the entire time. I have loved this movie since I was in high school, so when a musical was announced I was beyond thrilled, but then I listened to the album and my thrill died quite a bit. I have not seen this show live yet, but I have decided to give the album another try as there is a film version of the musical in the works. Will I warm up to this musical or was it far too fetch for me? 

The musical for me is still a mixed bag, there is a lot of quality numbers in here but for every "World Burn" or "I'd Rather Be Me" there's a "Revenge Party" or "Who's House Is This". The best way to describe this musical is that it is like a rave, sometimes the crow is all jumping in unison and sometimes it is more akin to a mash pit. With the people in crowd being the lyrics and melodies, sometimes the lyrics are stepping all over each other and do not fit will.

They feel rushed at times or like the songs are trying to cram too many words in one long stretch of the song without many rooms for a break. There are also sometimes where the rhymes, near rhymes, or a line does not rhyme at all and it does not land. Like in the aforementioned "Revenge Party" there is a line that tries to just use the word cake twice to make it fit twice and connect with a line later on and it does not work. The wording sometimes is jumbled, and it feels like those performing it are trying to play catch up. There is plenty of potential in this show though so I feel like if it went through rewrites and stayed in production longer then something truly great could have come out of it.

That being said some of the songs do work, this show is not a complete dud. There are some fun upbeat songs, a killer villain song, and a few in-between. Not to mention one of the best reprises I have ever heard in the show, where the sped of pacing actually works because it fits the emotion of the music and left my jaw on the floor the first time I heard it. It is one of the most powerful reprises I have heard in a long time, so much so I will probably dive into greater detail on it later. This show is not without some decent high points and it would be unfair to it to focus just on the bad.

I hope the movie makes it truly different and works on some different aspects, similar to the In Heights where certain aspects are cut and even edited, in that case I think this show could go from okay, to really good or even great. 

Back From Summer Break!

 After the Tony Awards wrapped up I decided to take the summer off of this blog for a multitude of reasons. The biggest and first was burnout, with this and another blog being updated once a week, I decided to take some time for myself to recharge and let my creative juices return to me. I had some summer-based content planned that will be tweaked and then posted as summer wrap up content, so I did have some plans but decided to take some time for myself. Second was that there has not been a lot of waves made in the world of theater, perhaps a cast album here and there and show closing but theater news has been stagnant as of late. So I have decided that I still will be covering plenty of theater-based properties whether it is live, a book, a movie, pro shot and so on but also adding film to this list and other forms of art. Art is not just on the stage and I think it is time to branch out, theater will be my first love first and foremost but sometimes it's nice to just talk about other things. Musicals and theater will still have a major presence on this blog but also regular music and so on will as well, movies, animation, animated musicals and more. This blog is about to see a major shift and it just means more content instead of just theater content, alongside the theater content. 

Thank you all for understanding and it is great to be back, and now for that summer content as promised.