2021 Grammy for Best MT Album & Sondheim Tribute - News & Discussion Thread

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 10/25/21 at 10:54am

https://variety.com/2021/music/news/grammy-awards-musical-theater-album-race-1235095695/

While Broadway lights remained dimmed for much of 2020 and 2021, they flipped back on in September and delayed cast albums finally were released — unleashing potential contenders for the musical theater album Grammy, alongside new content in the form of more concept albums that could very well dominate nominations.

“Girl From the North Country” opened to rave reviews on March 5, 2020, and was a New York Times critics pick. A week later, the cast, featuring Marc Kudisch and Kimber Elayne Sprawl, were in the recording studio. However, as with the rest of the world at that time, New York City shut down because of the COVID pandemic, and the album didn’t come out until almost a year later. “I think the album finally being released last month, with the show reopened, brings a huge sense of relief and cautious optimism,” says Lisa Goldberg, owner of LSG Public Relations. “I may be biased, but it’s a truly stunning show with a score of Bob Dylan songs sung in a way you’ve never heard before. I’m thrilled that after over a year in waiting, the public can finally hear this beautiful album and buy tickets for the show in person.” Filled with fresh takes on Dylan tunes — including lesser-known tracks such as “You Ain’t Going Nowhere,” “Sign on the Window” and the titular song, “Girl From the North Country” — it’s poised to land a nomination, if not win.

Princess Diana is everywhere — from “The Crown” to “Spencer,” to Broadway via “Diana: The Musical” and a filmed performance of that show landed on Netflix, too. The show, with book and lyrics by Joe DiPietro and music and lyrics by David Bryan (of Bon Jovi fame), went into previews in March 2020, but COVID closed down Broadway. Still, the production announced it would film a special presentation during the pandemic and release it for a worldwide audience ahead of its Broadway reopening. Netflix streamed it earlier this month. Broadway rock and catchy pop define the soundtrack, which was released as eligibility closed. Whether the Recording Academy falls in love with this version of the people’s princess remains to be seen.

While Broadway was shuttered, creators looked to provide theatrical content and a wealth of concept albums dropped.

Composers Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear took their viral music sensation from Netflix’s “Bridgerton” and turned it into “The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical” concept album. To date, the duo has clocked in more than 200 million views since sharing their music back in January and releasing an album in September with 15 original songs and orchestrations.

Another album in the running, released two days before the submission deadline, is “Burt Bacharach and Steven Sater’s Some Lovers,” featuring Broadway favorites Jonathan Groff and Lea Michele. The album is Bacharach’s first score since 1968 and came as an alternative concept album with a promise of an “awesome theatrical production to come.”

While Off Broadway’s “Einstein’s Dreams,” “Unknown Soldier” and even Andrew Lloyd Webber’s West End cast recording of “Cinderella” also find themselves in the running to land nominations, Pete Ganbarg, president of A&R at Atlantic Records, wonders if the shift to concept albums might shape the future.

“The pandemic forced a lot of people inside, and we saw creators creating from necessity,” he says. Ganbarg also points to the success of “Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical,” among the viral sensations that allowed theater to be open 24/7 for audiences. “There was a very excited audience to experience new works of musical theater. It’s showing if you can’t be in front of an audience, but you need to create, what can you do?”

Where concept albums land in the race alongside traditional cast recordings remains to be seen, but it’s not a trend he expects to fade anytime soon.

Says Ganbarg: “I think you’re probably going to see a lot more, content-wise, created in the new style alongside the traditional.”

Updated On: 3/24/22 at 10:54 AM

[BCfitasafiddle]

Posted: 10/25/21 at 12:24pm

Girl From the North Country is a beautiful album. Among those eligible, it's a clear winner in my eyes.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 10/25/21 at 12:29pm

BCfitasafiddle said: "Girl From the North Countryis a beautiful album. Among those eligible, it's a clear winner in my eyes."

^^^

[chrishuyen]

Posted: 10/25/21 at 12:35pm

I can't say I've listened to all of these, but Cinderella was much better than what I had expected. And I've heard good things about Einstein's Dreams

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 11/23/21 at 12:42pm

And the Nominees are…

• Cinderella 
• Some Lovers
• Les Mis 2020 Live
• Stephen Schwartz’s Snapshots
• Unofficial Bridgerton Musical
• Girl from the North Country

 

Updated On: 11/23/21 at 12:42 PM

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 11/23/21 at 2:29pm

Congrats to all the nominees

[SpiritualGangster]

Posted: 11/23/21 at 7:11pm

I’m rooting for Girl From The North Country…

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 3/24/22 at 8:02am

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Cynthia-Erivo-Leslie-Odom-Jr-Ben-Platt-andRachel-Zegler-Will-Honor-Stephen-Sondheim-on-the-Grammys-20220324

Cynthia Erivo, Leslie Odom Jr., Ben Platt and Rachel Zegler Will Honor Stephen Sondheim on the Grammys

The Grammys will be broadcast April 3 on CBS live at 8 p.m. ET/5 PT.

 

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 3/24/22 at 8:48am

At first glance, this are *NOT* the people who I would ask to do a Sondheim tribute. But, then again its the Grammys, not the Tony's.

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 3/24/22 at 8:55am

jacobsnchz14 said: "And the Nominees are…

• Cinderella
• Some Lovers
• Les Mis 2020 Live
• Stephen Schwartz’s Snapshots
• Unofficial Bridgerton Musical
• Girl from the North Country

"

A cursed list. They might as well have nominated Diana.

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 3/24/22 at 2:29pm

Rachel Zegler's a natural and timely choice for the Grammy salute to Sondheim since she starred in the ''West Side Story'' movie, but I don't associate any of the others - Cynthia Erivo, Ben Platt or Leslie Odom Jr. - with singing Sondheim at all. I wish at least one of the performers could've been someone who's starred in one of Sondheim's Broadway shows. Like Bernadette Peters. Or Jake Gyllenhaal. 

Updated On: 3/24/22 at 02:29 PM

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 3/24/22 at 2:49pm

The devil works hard but Rachel Zegler’s team works harder. Dang. 

[binau]

Posted: 3/24/22 at 2:54pm

Wayman_Wong said: "Rachel Zegler's a natural and timely choice for the Grammy salute to Sondheim since she starred in the ''West Side Story'' movie, but I don't associate any of the others - Cynthia Erivo, Ben Platt or Leslie Odom Jr. - with singing Sondheim at all. I wish at least one of the performers could've been someone who's starred in one of Sondheim's Broadway shows. Like Bernadette Peters. Or Jake Gyllenhaal."

Exactly. Ridiculous! 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 3/24/22 at 4:20pm

I feel like those 3 (not Zegler, sine her inclusion makes sense) sing every year. Didn't Platt do west Side story a few years ago too? 

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 3/24/22 at 4:36pm

Platt already sang ''Somewhere'' at the 2018 Grammys.

And I didn't care for his riffs on it. Hope it's not that again.

Updated On: 3/24/22 at 04:36 PM

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 3/24/22 at 4:53pm

With the exception of Zegler, how boringly predictable is this Grammys lineup? 

[DaveyG]

Posted: 3/24/22 at 4:55pm

Such a lame category this year. The only worthy album is Girl From the North Country. Hope the voters do the right thing.

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 4/1/22 at 5:08pm

The Grammy Awards are this Sunday. Very curious about what's gonna be honored this year... and how the Sondheim tribute is produced.

[fosterfan2]

Posted: 4/2/22 at 1:58pm

I wish Company had already released a cast album so it could've been nominated!

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 4/3/22 at 4:11pm

The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical won

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 4/3/22 at 4:15pm

They probably should have just canceled the category this year. Oy…

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 4/3/22 at 4:19pm

Fresh off his Tony win, Charlie Rosen just won a Grammy for Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella. Congrats!

[DaveyG]

Posted: 4/3/22 at 5:02pm

HeyMrMusic said: "They probably should have just canceled the category this year. Oy…"

Truly…what a sad state of affairs. 

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 4/3/22 at 5:19pm

At least next year’s Grammy nominations might have Company, The Music Man, Funny Girl, A Strange Loop, Kimberly Akimbo etc.

[jkcohen626]

Posted: 4/3/22 at 10:46pm

I thought that was very touching. I agree, not the group I would have picked and I'm sure the Tonys will make this look silly, but I thought it was still very touching and performed wonderfully for sure.