A change of heart...

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 8/1/06 at 9:45pm

Have you ever gotten the CD of a show or gone to see it and had a 360 degree turn around in your opinion of it- for good or the worse? I mean, let's face it. We're Broadway junkies... We all have STRONG opinions. Some we make before we're able to see/hear the show/performer.

My most recent involves THE WEDDING SINGER. I got the CD and was blown away by not only the score, the talent and the fun... but by the "feel good" feeling I got

Brenda Braxton as Velma in CHICAGO exceeded my expectations as well.

The EVITA movie also surprized me.

Let's hear some stories

[mrs felciano]

Posted: 8/1/06 at 9:51pm

Sweeney Todd. I thank my brother for it. He is a film major and is drawn to very dark movies and musicals. He has been a fan of Sweeney Todd for a long time and I had absolutly no interest in it because I was being close minded. I heard the concept and thought "Wow, that is the stupidest concept I've ever heard." He was planning a trip with friends to go and I decided to go because even if I hated the show the tickets were cheap and it was a trip to NYC, and I wanted to see Patti. I started to really listen to the cast recording and I was blown away. I saw the show and was amazed. I thought it was phenominal. It's still taking me a bit to get into the Original Cast Recording, but I'm getting there.

Since then I've gone back twice and written to the cast members thanking them on changing my perspective of what a musical should be.

:) That's my bit.

[Flahooley]

Posted: 8/1/06 at 10:32pm

Lord, but I hated OLIVER! Now, however, I "like" it.

Lord, but I loved ANNIE! Now, however, I "like" it.

[Yero]

Posted: 8/1/06 at 10:37pm

The Light in the Piazza. It was just really boring to me, but I had to CD and I would listen to it occasionally, but until I saw the PBS broadcast I really saw what it truly was, a beautiful piece of art. I am in love with the music now. I really, really wish I can see it when it comes to Boston. Hopefully I can persuade my mom.

[Johnnytoc]

Posted: 8/1/06 at 10:45pm

LitP for me too. I had the cd after hearing how amazing the score was, however, by itself...the cd makes no sense. Even reading the synopsis it was just weird. It wasn't until I saw the PBS broadcast (then saw it live) that I was able to appreciate the show for the amazing piece it is.

[StageManager2]

Posted: 8/2/06 at 1:36am

Yero and Johnnytoc, I felt the same way about INTO THE WOODS. The first time I tried to listen to the original cast recording, I couldn't get into the music. Then, I saw the DVD and immediately fell in love with it. I ended up watching it five times that weekend. More recently, I have tried to listen to THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA, but again the music wasn't doing it for me. I missed the PBS broadcast, so I'm going to have to wait until it comes to Boston. Now that I think about it, I should give CAROLINE, OR CHANGE another go. I didn't care for it when I tried listening to the CD.

[C is for Company]

Posted: 8/2/06 at 1:52am

I hated the Tarzan cd, but saw the show and fell in love with it. I wish people around here would give it the chance to see before completely tearing it apart and insulting those that like it.

[COOOOLkid]

Posted: 8/2/06 at 1:53am

I didn't care much for Carousel, but now, I "like" it.

Same for Ragtime, except I LOVE it! I listen to most of the songs at least once a day.

The Lion King. I thought it was going to be great, but after I saw the show, I came out thinking I had just wasted 2 3/4 hours of my life.

Les Miserables didn't really excite me much, and I had only listened to few of the songs (OBC) when I was taking a bath (just a background music, I guess. I didn't listen to it carefully), but I didn't really like it. After I watched the 10th Anniversary DVD, I just fell in love with every single song. Same with Miss Saigon.

I didn't particularly have any feeling for Sweeney Todd, but now, after watching Hearn/Lansbury DVD, I fell in love!

I somehow hated Chicago (original) after seeing Tony Awards clip on Broadway's Lost Treasures, but after watching the movie, I fell in love with all of the songs!

It takes me quite a bit of listening for me to start liking any musical, unless it's flat-out comedy like Avenue Q.

[StageManager2]

Posted: 8/2/06 at 2:22am

I also didn't care for OKLAHOMA! because I'd only seen the film, which I thought was a waste of celluloid. A couple of years ago I watched the Hugh Jackman London revival on DVD and now it has become one of my favorite musicals. The acting, the staging, and the singing are superb!

[hermionejuliet]

Posted: 8/2/06 at 2:34am

Light in the Piazza- I had no interest in it at all -even after seeing the number on the Tonys. Went to NY a couple of times, and I completely ignored it. Saw it on PBS, and I fell love with it. I'm now kicking myself for choosing other mediocre shows over this one. Hopefully, I'll find a way to see the tour.

Quite awhile ago, RENT. Saw the tour when I was 13 and liked it. Liked "Seasons of Love" and the music in general. I revisited the show and my recording several years later, and I just fell in love with it.

Drowsy- I totally didn't really understand the point of the show until I saw it. First, I saw the numbers on Regis and Kelly and the Tonys. I was curious. Then I decided to see it in NY and bought the recording. I liked the show after I saw it, but the more I thought about it, the more I liked it! It's gradually grown on me . Now, I'm about to hit my head against a wall to stop the songs from repeating in my head!

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 8/2/06 at 2:38am

While I never disliked the CD for Caroline, or Change...I couldn't really get into it, despite me liking some of the songs. But then for a project I had to buy the text and analyze the characters and eventually design the costumes for it, I grew to flat out love it.

For me, as someone who has never been to Broadway and has spent his whole life really only being able to live vicariously through cast recordings, I have come to learn that a great synopsis is essential to a good CD of a show. I cannot get into a show unless it has a fully fleshed out synopsis. for me the songs need that context to be complete. So often I will dislike a musical until I find a good synopsis and then begin to love it.

Akiva

[EugLoven]

Posted: 8/2/06 at 2:41am

THE LAST FIVE YEARS was on my "Dislike" list for months. Now it's one of my favorites.

Unlike many of the BWW.com users I know, I cannot at all start liking RAGTIME (sans the first song). Can someone please help me get a change of heart for this highly-acclaimed show? The OBCR is seriously not working for me... at all.

[RentHead2]

Posted: 8/2/06 at 7:40am

Spelling Bee was my change of heart show. For months, I would not listen to the cd because it was really sketchy and I didn't know what they were talking about. Then I went to see the show and completely fell for it! Now I listed to it almost every day if not twice a day. Getting snickers and popcorn thrown on you really makes you love MY UNFORTUNATE ERECTION.

As for Wedding Singer, loved the CD but I ended up loving the broadway production even more. I plan on seeing that show at least a dozen times! So much fun.

[DWalk]

Posted: 8/2/06 at 7:51am

When I saw We Will Rock You, I left the theatre thinking I had just seen a truly horrible show. However, a friend bought the CD for me and I listen to it all the time.

[peggyandvelma]

Posted: 8/2/06 at 9:36am

I never thought much of Piazza either but I taped the Lincoln Center performance on PBS. I finally got around to watching the first act and I really like it. I need to watch the second half...

[jasonf]

Posted: 8/2/06 at 10:30am

I think you mean a 180 -- a 360 would put you right back where you started...

But The Wedding Singer for me...I was just "eh" on the CD until I saw it - and then I loved it.

[alwy15]

Posted: 8/2/06 at 11:26am

i was very young when i got the album of once on this island. and i couldnt listen to it because the ten second storm at the beginning scared me too much. once i could get past that, i loved the score (hehe)

first time i heard floyd collins it went over my head. with subsequent listenings, it became one of my favorite shows.

the first time i listened to parade, i just heard a big jumble of sound. but then it became a favorite of mine.

when i was younger i liked andrew lloyd webber, and now i think he's awful.

[mijofly19]

Posted: 8/2/06 at 12:01pm

I was always bored by the Piazza cast recording until I saw it live, and it was one of the greatest experiences I've ever had.

I was also shocked at how much I liked Diana DeGarmo as Penny in Hairspray.

[madbrian]

Posted: 8/2/06 at 12:11pm

I liked The Color Purple very much in the theater, but we bought the CD and I found it disappointing.

I went to Elaine Stritch: At Liberty expecting to see a formulaic one-woman show and was blown away by the experience.