Dreamgirls: The problem is the MUSIC?

Posted: 12/19/06 at 4:27pm

I've read seen three reviews for the film now that say the fatal flaw of the Dreamgirls movie is it's weak score. The reviewer on Fresh Air today compared the score (unfavorably) to "Lionel Richie at the Met."

Frankly I don't get it. I think the score is close to brilliant. "And I'm Telling You..." is the closest thing to a hit record that Broadway has generated in a generation. If that song hadn't been written, I think people would be falling all over themselves to rave about "I Am Changing." The score is catchy, evokes the era without resorting to parody or plagiarism. Why's everybody gotta be hating on the Dreamgirls score??

[Liverpool]

Posted: 12/19/06 at 4:30pm

its not the music, it's the orchestrations. the orchestrations are cringeworthy in certain places.

[Yawper]

Posted: 12/19/06 at 4:31pm

It's a Motown show without the Motown sound

All Hail the Funk Brothers!

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 12/19/06 at 4:33pm

I do think that is the complaint, that for a movie about the rise of Motown it is lacking in a true Motown sound.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 12/19/06 at 4:36pm

I still think the soundtrack is going to be huge.

[Kringas]

Posted: 12/19/06 at 4:40pm

Was this criticism as common for the stage version? I ask because I wonder if the relentless Supremes parallels of the film have helped to contribute to this complaint.

Posted: 12/19/06 at 4:46pm

I haven't seen the movie and have heard about half the Scoundtrack-- So I don't know how different the score is on the film; I'm basing my comments on the stage show.

BUT I do know at the time (1981) the creators were much more eager to say that this was NOT the story of the Supremes. Personally I think the score evokes Motown pretty perfectly. Motown rose to fame by making White audiences accept black performers-- Here's the Wikipedia definiation and it seems to describe Dreamgirls to me: "The Motown Sound, a style of soul music with distinctive characteristics, including the use of tambourine along with drums, bass instrumentation, a distinctive melodical and chord structure, and a call and response singing style originating in gospel music."

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 12/19/06 at 4:50pm

well, it's been pretty amusing and annoying reading certain movie critic opinions of recent movie musicals. very much like grandma critiquing rap or rock music. they often just don't comprehend it.

[Yawper]

Posted: 12/19/06 at 4:53pm

The reason they wouldn't say it was the Supremes' story is because one Supreme in particular is fond of lawyers.

[best12bars]

Posted: 12/19/06 at 4:57pm

Actually, playing "devil's advocate" here, I can see how songs like FAMILY might make people wince a lot in the movie theatre.

"We are a family, like a giant tree... etc."

Can be perceived as fairly barf-inducing by people who don't already know and love this material. It's... really nerdy and awkward to them. And I can't argue with that perception, although I don't share it.

Also, Curtis's "When I first saw you," might get the same cold, eye-rolling response as well. He kinda hammers home the point that she's a Dream and HIS Dream, and my DREAM and everyone's DREAM... in Dreamgirls.

I think overall the film's orchestrations and arrangements are a thousand times better and more authentic to the era than Wheeler's Broadway (totally non-authentic) slick '80s orchestrations. And I LOVE Harold Wheeler's work, but it's so definitely "Broadway."

I've heard people say that the "And I'm Telling You..." film orchestrations are cheesy... well you need to listen to the Broadway ones again, because they are virtually identical, and the Cheesey Muzak Award edge would go to the Broadway version (aside from Holliday's vocals). "We're part of the same place..." etc., sounds like I should be pushing my cart down the produce aisle at the A&P.

Updated On: 12/19/06 at 04:57 PM

[DG]

Posted: 12/19/06 at 5:02pm

"like I should be pushing my cart down the produce aisle at the A&P."

If that happens, Best, you BEST be singing out loud and proud!

[best12bars]

Posted: 12/19/06 at 5:05pm

You know it, DG.

Posted: 12/19/06 at 5:06pm

True JRB-- plus the reviewer today SLAMMED the music then admitted that he had burst into applause at the end of "And I'm Telling You" and people all around him had lept to their feet.

So the music is REALLY awful EXCEPT for that one incredible song.

[best12bars]

Posted: 12/19/06 at 5:09pm

JoeKv99 --- True. No critic I've heard has slammed "And I'm Telling You..." as a song.

But they go after the rest of the score to a certain extent. Some call it sappy, or unauthentic... or unmemorable.

And some (like me) LOVE ALL OF IT!

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 12/19/06 at 5:11pm

They are all just jealous!


And I am telling you that I'm off to dinner and the 8 oclock showing at the Ziegfeld.

Suffah!

[Kringas]

Posted: 12/19/06 at 5:11pm

And you, and you, and YOU, you're gonna love it!

Posted: 12/19/06 at 5:13pm

And I'm telling you...I'm NOT going! At least not till Monday when it opens anywhere near me! But THEN I'm going!

[Kringas]

Posted: 12/19/06 at 5:14pm

Scratch that. I just got my answer as I was typing my original message.

Updated On: 12/19/06 at 05:14 PM

[best12bars]

Posted: 12/19/06 at 5:16pm

You're all gonna love it. Kringas is right. It's one hell of a film.

And I don't get the "music is lousy" critics, honestly. I was playing devil's advocate here (for the Broadway-impaired), but the bottom line is I love this score, and schmaltz and cheese factor included to whatever level you choose, it's still a million times better than the dreck showing up on our radio stations, CD stores and download sites these days.

...by a mile.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 12/19/06 at 5:16pm

If I didnt get these tickets, I'd probably make myself wait until the hoopla died down (did that with Brokeback as well) so I could watch it in peace...or at least find an out of the way theater.

[best12bars]

Posted: 12/19/06 at 5:18pm

doodle---the road show is great. It's such an "event" to be there. It's not like your typical day at the movies.

Enjoy!

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 12/19/06 at 5:22pm

yes, it was a blast seeing the film in a sold out theatre of people who absolutely wanted to be there and love on the film.

i'm hoping that seeing it with average joe and jane won't be misery as can be with atypical films.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 12/19/06 at 5:22pm

Thanks, kids!

I'm excited. I'd say I'd give a review tomorrow, but who needs another opinion on bww, right?!

[DG]

Posted: 12/19/06 at 5:30pm

It's not working out for us to get to a roadshow showing, but if I could, I'd be there in a heartbeat. It's so RARE to have movie audiences moved to response, so it would be worth it just for that alone.

[DayDreamer]

Posted: 12/19/06 at 5:42pm

This thread prompted me to do a search for a local screening. And yes... there's one... YESTERDAY!!! And it was free. They couldn't get rid of tickets fast enough... because of the storm, the word didn't get out.