ALW vs. Sondheim- Page 2

[dotmarie]

Posted: 6/12/05 at 11:24pm

Stephen Sondheim. He is a genius. The end.

[Princeton78]

Posted: 6/12/05 at 11:25pm

The end? Ha..so that's it? Hmm..interesting.

[BwayFan4]

Posted: 6/12/05 at 11:26pm

Sondheim all the way

[dotmarie]

Posted: 6/12/05 at 11:28pm

Well, Princeton, I was going to add "While ALW might write pretty melodies, Sondheim is so much more intricate with his lyrics" but Elphaba3 had basically already said that, so I didn't see the need to post it.

but there ya go.

[wickedfan]

Posted: 6/12/05 at 11:29pm

Sondheim. That is not to say that I don't like ALW. I LOVE Evita, and I like POTO very much as well as JOESEPH...(I think it's the sincerest form of camp)

[LilMiZBroADwaY23]

Posted: 6/12/05 at 11:31pm

I've grown up with ALW so I'm going to have to go with him.

But I haven't heard much of Sondheim (only ITW, which I mildly enjoyed) so I have a strong bias.

[Princeton78]

Posted: 6/12/05 at 11:33pm

Webber creates tunes that you tend to immediately form an opinion about. Either you like the tune or you don't. Sondheim often takes several listenings to appreciate. This has been what I have found.

[Matt_G]

Posted: 6/12/05 at 11:36pm

Updated On: 5/9/06 at 11:36 PM

[dotmarie]

Posted: 6/12/05 at 11:37pm

I definitely agree Princeton. Sondheim's material usually takes some time to warm up to... I think it's so much easier to love Webber's melodies, but it's Sondheim's witty lyrics that really make his work.

[Princeton78]

Posted: 6/12/05 at 11:40pm

Webber shows have churned mega-$$ into the theatre world. His shows that have long closed still generate boffo sales in souveriers (sp?). He's certainly not hurting the Broadway economy.

[Matt_G]

Posted: 6/12/05 at 11:44pm

Updated On: 5/9/06 at 11:44 PM

[Princeton78]

Posted: 6/12/05 at 11:45pm

In my last post, I didn't say anything about artistry.

[JudasIscariot]

Posted: 6/12/05 at 11:49pm

Yeah, I mean he is destroying art in the broadway community. Just look at Jesus Christ Superstar, utter crap!

You want crap? Look at Into the Woods.

[LaVieBoheme2]

Posted: 6/12/05 at 11:57pm

Sondheim, no question. I could elaborate but you've all seem to have it covered. Elyse. No day but today.

[felineofavenueb]

Posted: 6/13/05 at 12:04am

I love ALW and I agree with whoever said that theatre fans are embarrassed to admit they like him - it's become a faux pas or something nowadays Well screw that, I'm a fan (well, except for Cats and Starlight Express. Ugh). I love his music, it's catchy and gorgeous.

But, Sondheim still wins for his musical and lyrical genius and innovation.

[phantom_tenor]

Posted: 6/13/05 at 12:05am

I love them both.
ALW might be unoriginal, schmultzy, and simplistic, but he's great. It really is amazing how many incredibly famous and good melodies this man has turned out. Pity he has picked such mediocre lyricists since he ended his collaboration with Tim Rice.

Look to Sondheim for depth. His lyrics are truly brilliant and his music is very focused on bringing life to the lyrics, rather than vice-versa. Because Sondheim isn't so focused on catchy showtunes, although he has had his fair share, i think the general public don't appreciate his work as much as it deserves.

[Plum]

Posted: 6/13/05 at 12:06am

I don't think ALW is as artistically bankrupt as a lot of his detractors seem to believe, but maybe looking at jukebox musicals has lowered my standards. Anyway, for all that his melodies are "lush," when I listen to his music today it just seems unbelievably dated. Maybe it's those synth-heavy orchestrations, but that's my impression. Sondheim, by contrast, is classic. Most of his stuff has barely aged at all, with the orchestrations of Company being the most notable exception. The music he wrote for A Little Night Music and Sweeney Todd is as "lush" as anything in ALW's canon. And not only does he write his own lyrics- he does it better than anyone out there. Sondheim wins this one by a mile.

Updated On: 6/13/05 at 12:06 AM

[GovernorSlaton]

Posted: 6/13/05 at 12:16am

Sondheim is a wonderful lyricist, yes, but I agree with Hal Prince, who said (I'm paraphrasing) "He is a great lyricist but a brilliant composer."

[Mattio98]

Posted: 6/13/05 at 12:19am

"It really is amazing how many incredibly famous and good melodies this man has turned out."

...and stolen.

[GovernorSlaton]

Posted: 6/13/05 at 12:20am

Ba-Zing.

[stagemaster333]

Posted: 6/13/05 at 12:21am

I guess I'm in the minority here. While I enjoy Sondheim's work, love his lyrics and think he is an absolute genius, If I had to choose one to listen to it would be Webber, hands down. His music is what made me fall in love with theater. I guess, to me at least, his music is just easier to listen to. I do enjoy Sondheim (ITW is one of my favorite shows), I just prefer ALW.

[arykahmarye]

Posted: 6/13/05 at 1:23am

This is interesting to me, because only really recently did i start to appreciate Sondheim.

I've been listening to Webber since i was a wee child (8 years old, and my cousins and i would run around the neighbourhood singing "Magical Mr. Mistopholes", and in art class i drew pictures of the Phantom leading Christine to his underground lair), and they are why i originally loved musical theatre. And true, when you listen to Phantom, you are hit with overwhelmingly 80's synthesized music, but that's what helps make the show.

My love of Sondheim developed in these past 6 months. The first thing i ever heard of his was 'West Side Story', which i hated. "Tonight" seemed to go on forever. But then a friend started playing songs from 'Into the Woods' and 'Sunday in the Park with George' at our drama rehersals, and i was overwhelmed by the complex music and witty lyrics. Now i've got 'Sweeny Todd' sitting in my car and 'A Funny Thing..." sheet music on my piano.

I love both of them. Webber does seem more simplistic when compared to Sondheim, his lyrics (which, since he doesn't write, he can't be completely blamed for) don't have the quick sharpness that Sondheim has. I envy Sondheim's complex creations, and try my best to take them as a model for what i try to write. Sondheim is a thinking person's composer for musical theatre.

But still, when i'm driving home, thinking about that one guy, i find myself singing Webber's "Unexpected Song" or "I Don't Know How to Love Him".

[devonian.t]

Posted: 6/13/05 at 1:59am

I'm amazaed nobody has mentioned Frank Wildhorn as a rival to both... hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

Andrew does the music thing, but you know what: other people do it better. And he does the money thing very well, and you know what: nobody does it better.

Andrew Lloyd Webber Inc

[phantom_tenor]

Posted: 6/13/05 at 2:05am

um, the music for West Side Story is by Leonard Bernstein. Sondheim only did the lyrics.
West Side Story also happens to be one of the most brilliant pieces of musical theatre ever written....but each to their own.

[Blair]

Posted: 6/13/05 at 2:07am

Sondheim, no question.

With ALW, there are a few shows that I simply cannot stand. Cats and JCS being the main ones. But, there is not a single Sondheim show that I have heard that I can honestly say I hated.