Shrek Score at the Tonys...

[BroadwayNick]

Posted: 5/28/09 at 9:54pm

Alright, so hear me out on this one. I've read a lot of the criticism about this show/score and most say it's "mediocre" and "half of it is good". Now, I've been glued to the Shrek OBCR for about 3 weeks now and I'm addicted. Jeanne Tesori is a genius. Rock, folk, show tunes/production numbers, funk, pop, and ballads abound in her wonderful score. The woman is a virtual chameleon as far as her range of work and it's some of her best stuff (Who I'd Be, anyone?) but I have to wonder, is David Lindsey Abaire's mediocre lyrics dragging this score down? And, are they going to be Tesori's downfall at the Tonys this year?

Against Parton's inconsistant 9 to 5 score, Elton John's pop-ish Billy Elliot, and Next to Normal's everything kinda sounds the same garage band sound, what's going to come out on top next Sunday?

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 5/28/09 at 9:57pm

I love it, personally. Not on the level of N2N, but definitely better than Billy Elliot and about the same as 9 to 5. There are a few songs that downright suck (coughcough"Donkey Pot Pie"coughcoughcough), but "Who I'd Be" and even the much-hated "Don't Let Me Go" get me every time.

[BustopherPhantom]

Posted: 5/28/09 at 10:08pm

I don't think the Tony voters are as complicated and impenetrable as we like to make them seem. My thought on the Voting Mentality can be boiled down to one sentence: "I will vote for what I liked most, unless you give me a really good reason not to."

As for Best Original Score, I don't think SHREK is even on the radar: it'll be between NEXT TO NORMAL and BILLY ELLIOT (and it's a really close fight at this point). My opinion: BILLY ELLIOT will win, because a voter's impression of a score can be very very easily influenced by the physical production of the show, and BILLY's physical production for the numbers is superb.

(but I also think Adam Guettel's LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA score won because, even if the voters didn't enjoy it completely on a first listen, they were rewarding a New Generation Composer who had a whole lot of admirers.)

(not that it's not a wonderful score)

SHREK isn't on the radar because SHREK is not an easy show to admire, even if you like it: it's corporate, it's a machine, it's yet another Broadway Theme Park. And when you've got NEXT TO NORMAL and BILLY ELLIOT, which would you feel better about voting for?

(of course, some of this depends on whether a voter has actually heard all four nominated scores, and you can be sure that some voters haven't.)

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 5/29/09 at 12:07am

Billy Elliot will and should win.
The Shrek score is kind of hit-or-miss. And the lyrics usually lean towards miss.

~Steven

[margot serena pilar]

Posted: 5/29/09 at 2:05am

Is David Lindsey Abaire's mediocre lyrics dragging this score down?

Margot Serena Pilar: Yes, they "is".

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 5/29/09 at 2:09am

Yeah, I think BILLY will win Score too. It's clearly between BILLY and NORMAL.

But BILLY is gonna sweep. The more I think about it, the more I think that BILLY could possibly tie THE PRODUCERS with a record 12 wins. It's very possible IMO.

Anyway, SHREK doesn't stand a chance, and rightfully so, in my opinion.
Updated On: 5/29/09 at 02:09 AM

[CyCoSpAz2]

Posted: 5/29/09 at 2:11am

"but I have to wonder, is David Lindsey Abaire's mediocre lyrics dragging this score down?"

I feel the same way about Brian Yorkey's lyrics for Next to Normal.

[Cholly]

Posted: 5/29/09 at 9:55am

No, this is ridiculous. What's dragging down the score is the music. There are moments I LOVE in the show, but other songs that meander melodically, and don't build to a satisfying conclusion. I found the lyrics mostly clever and true to the characters, and in a couple instances actually gorgeous (Who I'd Be.) Are there clunky lyrics in there? Absolutely, but there are just as many in Billy Elliot and Next to Normal. And the lyrics in 9 to 5 are just laughably bad, and shouldn't even be brought into this conversation.

Bottom line is Shrek doesn't have a shot at score - simply because Next to Normal's is more satisfying and Billy Elliot is a better all around show. To blame the lyrics when the music is so hit or miss (and I LOVE Tesori) is just silly.

[Malcolm in a Muddle]

Posted: 5/29/09 at 10:10am

Both wrong. I love the music AND the lyrics. Though I can see that it's not a perfect score, there is MUCH to be admired in it. What's dragging down Shrek's chances is just the competition. In a weaker year, they'd take the Tony home. In a stronger year, they wouldn't even be nominated. I think it's a more than solid showing from the composer AND the lyricist, and there's no need to knock either. I look forward to future scores from both of them.

[JBSinger]

Posted: 5/29/09 at 12:33pm

I think N2N will walk away with SCORE and ACTRESS in the MUSICAL and that's it. Billy Elliot has a lot of momentum, but the score (very simplistic musically, and unsophisiticated lyrics) doesn't really merit the Tony. It will likely get the Big prize, along with choreography, book, featured actor, maybe direction (vs. HAIR) and several technical awards.

SHREK will unfortunately win very little next week.

[Pippin]

Posted: 5/29/09 at 12:38pm

I really hope Next To Normal takes this, while I wouldn't mind seeing Shrek take it, though it's not a possibility at this point. As long as Elton John does not win for that "Score" to Billy Elliot. For the life of me, I can't remember one song from the night that I saw it, except for the "Solidarity, Solidarity" section and about 5 seconds of "Electricity" Just not good.

If, as many people say, Elton is the front runner, they should not award him as payback for the egregious error of him winning the tony for "Aida" over LaChuisa's brilliance that is "The Wild Party"

And Elton's work is so, so, so much better in Aida than it is in Billy Elliot, IMO. So I'm not even an Elton hater. But he should not and will not win the score Tony this time around.

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 5/29/09 at 1:11pm

I think Billy is winning this award. I think the mentality of most voters will be to vote for the score that corresponds with their Best Musical vote. This has pretty much been true for at least the past ten years. The only instances of the Best Musical's score not winning have been when the score is ineligible (Jersey Boys, Fosse, Contact) or if the full score is not completely original (The Lion King, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Spamalot).

Shrek will in costume design, and I believe that's about it.

~Steven

[DCS]

Posted: 5/29/09 at 5:09pm

I tend to agree that this is a race between N2N and Billy....IMHO Shrek is far better than 9to5.....as for what Shrek might win, I agree with costumes and I honestly believe Brian has a shot at Best Actor...he's a well liked guy who's been around and always delivers solid work....for some reason I just don't see the Tony voters going for the 3 Billys, Gavin is the weaker of the two leads in Hair, JP Spencer is overshadowed by all the press for Alice, and Constantine should be thrilled to even be nominated