Aida- Page 2

[TGIF]

Posted: 12/28/04 at 10:46pm

For me I dislike all OCRs or CDs for that matter on first listen. I need to be familiar with it before I can decide if I like it - unless it is absolutely horrible. My advice to anyone for any CD is to get to know it first.

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 12/28/04 at 10:50pm

My major criticism with AIDA is it feels like two completely different shows mushed together: a haunting story about slavery, war and forbidden love mixed with a campy extravaganza complete with stock characters and a fashion show. There are definitely two tones to the piece, and the show never really decides what it wants to be.

I think if Disney (and John/Rice) had been more courageous and turned it into a dark, serious musical, and let go of the "family entertainment" aspect, it would have been a better show.

[TGIF]

Posted: 12/28/04 at 10:57pm

"Campy extravaganza complete with stock characters and a fashion show."

Maybe I am tired and not thinking properly, but the only "campy" thing I remember was the fashion show. I always viewed it as them trying to show the contrast in how Amneris treated slaves and how others like Zoser treated the slaves. I might agree that they went to an extreme show this, but it did serve a purpose.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 12/28/04 at 10:59pm

I guess "Another Pyramid" could be kind of campy, as well... at least the dance breaks. *shrug* The show wasn't as campy as people accused it of being.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 12/29/04 at 12:00am

I've always wanted to hear "Like Father Like Son" with a completely different composition. Maybe not completely different, maybe use the same melody but make it more like a duet without the chorus and the harsh rock sound. Make it more like "Elaborate Lives"... there are some interesting lyrics from Mr. Rice that get lost becasue the music to it is so... something. something that I can't put into words really. yes. I'd like to hear that...

[GaLiNdaFied]

Posted: 12/29/04 at 12:09am

I agree that for some it does take some growing into but it is a truly great show :)

[MyNameInLights]

Posted: 12/29/04 at 12:14am

Maybe I'm alone in my principles... but Elton John is the God I worship and I don't understand how someone could not love Heather's voice. Ooooomph. I love Aida, very much so, but everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

[OrdinaryJukebox1]

Posted: 12/29/04 at 9:37am

I'm sorry, I don't enjoy HeadlEEEEEEY's voice at all. See that "E," does it make us feel better now? I don't understand, when other Tony winning, singer/actors are insulted to the heavens above, no one says, "You still have to recognize talent." To me, she doesn't have the goods. Sorry, I'm glad everyone things she's amazing and wonderful, but those veins bulging out of her neck to hit nothing at all, was just weak. I like my singer's to stay on key at least ONCE when I see them.

-Vincent

[Thesbijean]

Posted: 12/29/04 at 9:58am

I personally thought Deborah Cox did a much better job. When I saw it with Headley, she was not very good. Very flat and yeah, her veins were a'bulgin.

[zippyjen]

Posted: 12/29/04 at 10:42am

Now i am a huge adam fan as well as elton john fan but something about aida just i don't know, errked me. I saw it once and Will chase, Mandy GOnzolez and Michelle williams were in it. They were pretty good i guess from what i remember but the show just seemed bad to me. Cheesy actually. I saw it again with adam, Deborahs understudy and Lisa Brescia. They did a better job but there was still something about the show that i didn't like. I love some of the songs like the God's love nubiaba but all in all i disliked the show. My little rant is now over.

[insomniak]

Posted: 12/29/04 at 10:51am

Thank you, BlueWizard. That's one of my problems with Aida. I feel like the show had a lot of potential to tell a serious, dark story of love and loyalty, but Disney covered it up with campy numbers like My Strongest Suit and Like Father, Like Son. Aida only met a shred of its potential and it is sad because I feel like it could have been a truly great show if the themes and character's conflicts had been developed further instead of spending time and energy on fancy, ugly and unecessary outrageous costumes and sets. Sometimes the characters came across as very believable, other times the writing was careless and filled historical inaccuracies that kept me from fully enjoying it. (Example- Radames' Letter being written on a piece of paper. That would NEVER happen, papyrus was only used for important documents that needed to last a long time. He would've used a clay tablet or a broken bit of pottery; they were much more common.) To me, even the 'spectacle' aspect of it could have been good if it had been tastefully created around reality and not Disneyland. My Strongest Suit comes to mind; instead of goofy space-age costumes and annoying repetive pop music, that scene could have referenced actual Eygpytian trading habits and included Chinese silks and tea, gold, ivory and the like. The song, and really a lot of the score, could have benefitted from taking elements of the time period's music and relying on historical facts to create an atmosphere and establish a credible Eygpt. All I could think of while watching the show was how great and emotionally provacative it could have been and how sad it was that the mature and thoughtful show that almost was was instead coated in Disney's seasoning of sugar and five-year old friendliness. The score itself isn't terrible, but only a few of the songs are really good in my opinion- Elaborate Lives, Gods Love Nubia, Every Story Is a Love Story reprise. I love the cast, despite Adam's acting *ducks rocks* Sorry, not great. It's decent, but he can't match Heather (though they do have excellent chemistry).

Anyway, I realize that wasn't a very well-organized ramble, but it's still early. I do like Aida and I don't think it's bad, but it could have been so much more than it was. Updated On: 12/29/04 at 10:51 AM

[zippyjen]

Posted: 12/29/04 at 10:55am

Adam is no tony winning actor but i love him anyway!

[insomniak]

Posted: 12/29/04 at 11:00am

*gestures to Off-Topic Board*

So do I, jen, but I can admit it when he's not so wonderful. His singing was lovely, I'll give him that. It's a good thing his acting improved by the time Cabaret rolled around.

[SWTaffy]

Posted: 12/29/04 at 4:43pm

Aida is the only show that I have ever seen without knowing ANY music from it. I loved it from the very beginning. I saw Simone as aida, don'tknow who else.

I got the cd relatively quickly after I saw the show and actually "How I know you" is one of my favorites, but "Like Father, Like Son" and "Another Pyramid" are two of my least favorites. During those songs, it was like watching a different toned show.

I loved the campiness of the fashion show! Amneris is a very unique character.

[insomniak]

Posted: 12/29/04 at 7:47pm

Unique? I thought she was quite the sterotype.

[zippyjen]

Posted: 12/30/04 at 12:59am

I also thought amneris was a sterotypical dumb blonde turned heroin. My opinion though.

[Peppermint Patty]

Posted: 12/30/04 at 9:48am

I really don't like this show. It's very bland and cheesy, too Disneyfied.

[SWTaffy]

Posted: 12/30/04 at 9:55am

I guess she is stereotypical, but the way she changes over the show made her unique (to me anyway)

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 12/30/04 at 11:05am

Jukebox, I like my E. Is correct spelling really that much to ask? Please, do whine about it.

Amneris IS a stereotype, but that's what makes her character what it is, in the context of the story. By making her such a blatant stereotype, they were able to very obviously portray the change in her persona... and the story sort of hinges on that.

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 12/30/04 at 11:25am

zippy,

does errked mean you liked it or didn't?



JK

[Peppermint Patty]

Posted: 12/30/04 at 11:27am

Irk means annoy.

[zippyjen]

Posted: 12/30/04 at 11:30am

yeah annoyed. Sorry eerked has become part of my everyday language recentlly.

[EVIE]

Posted: 12/30/04 at 1:05pm

Has anyone hear listened to the foreign cast recordings? I've heard the Dutch and the German (I love the German Amneris, the lady kicks ass!!). Has anyone heard the Japanese cast?

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 12/30/04 at 1:06pm

I really, really like the German cast.

[N0tThatGirl213]

Posted: 12/30/04 at 1:12pm

::grumbles::

Vincent...we know you don't like her...you made your point.