Aida Revival?

In 20 years, maybe. Right now, no.

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I would like to see it as an animation like Beauty and the Beast :P

AIDA is a case of the book being stronger than the score. The story, as always. The score is not very strong. None of the somes are standouts and many are quite dull. Have any of these songs become standards outside of the show, or even become popular audition pieces?

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frontrowcentre2, that opinion shocks me. I haven't met anyone who doesn't like the score.

"Every Story Is A Love Story/Fortune Favors The Brave" is a wonderful introduction of a musical number, though on its own isn't much because it is a story-telling song.

All songs thru "Dance of the Robe" are dull in the respects that they are very much story-telling/character songs. Once we get to "Dance of the Robe," most of the rest of the songs are OUTSTANDING emotion songs.

"Dance of the Robe," "Not Me," "Elaborate Lives," "The Gods Love Nubia," "A Step Too Far," "Easy As Life," "Written In The Stars," "I Know The Truth," and the "Enchantment Passing Through (Reprise)" are all brilliant. The highlights of the score. Extremely memorable.

And "Every Story Is A Love Story (Reprise)" is a wonderful closing to the story.

I don't have a problem with the score on its own - it's the placement/choices I have issue with. All of Radames' father's songs are horrible and distracting from the main plot in a bad way. The other songs are more for fun/character build. They are the lest interesting to the story, which hurt the show. The emotion songs, in my opinion, make up for everything (except for "Another Pyramid").

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Preach it, Ariella!

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eatlasagna, I respectfully disagree, however I do see that view. That number is very very fun and I did enjoy it, however it was confusing in context of the show as to why all of a sudden we were watching a fashion show.

It added a lot to her character, however if removed, we'd only miss the diva aspect to Amneris. In my opinion, that isn't as important as all of the other scenes she is in. The number is fun, but I think the show would be improved if that fashion show were removed (keep the song, perhaps? I'd have to see it.)

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While I'm able to remove myself in some ways, in others, it's very hard for me to look at the show objectively. Time has allowed me to realize its faults in some respects, in others, I still look at the show the way I did seven years ago. The passage of time has definitely revealed its imperfections where I had previously not known how to look for them, and I have no problem admitting that the writing is problematic in many, many places, for example (Another Pyramid being one of them, though the majority are in the book, for me). The fashion show sequence is one of the things that's hardest for me to re-evaluate, though. I still look at it now the way I did then -- it was fun, and visually spectacular. I'm generally not into that kind of thing, but I felt like it fit within the show's aesthetic -- indulgent, decadent, and perhaps even a little bit fantastical. I think it works, because it's hard the only moment of the show that departs from realism. No, it's not necessary, or even all that important, but I don't really think it hurts. It's fun and harmless. I probably look hypocritical because I generally stand against fluff, but in a show like AIDA, I don't think a scene that takes you out a little bit is that big of a problem, in principle. It fits, and I think it would be a bigger issue if it didn't.

ETA -- wasn't there a stand-alone radio version of "Written in the Stars?" I think Elton did it with Leanne Rimes.

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Updated On: 4/8/07 at 04:09 PM

Not sure, but there is that AIDA concept album I still don't own.

Emcee -- I agree with everything you said except for it being "harmless." I think it does harm the pace and maturity of the show, not to mention distracting from the love triangle storyline. But it's fun and adds a new element to Amneris' character. If Disney did a revival and re-wrote the show, I think they would end up keeping it.

ETA: Chloe - "I don't really like the idea of an animated version. That would be tipping the balance too far in the other direction for my taste."

I can definitely see it as an animated film. Same style/tone as THE PRINCE OF EGYPT. More of a serious animated film as opposed to a kiddie version.

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Updated On: 4/8/07 at 04:19 PM

The "maturity" of the show is kind of an interesting thing, because I feel like if you want to make it more... serious, or realistic (pick your term, really), which is what I assume you mean by "mature," then you have to play with a lot more things than just the removal of that one sequence. Stylistically, the show is really almost a fantasy. As far as saying it's "harmless," I mostly meant that to say that it's really not the biggest problem with the show where a lot of people are concerned, which is with things like historical accuracy and all of that. For what AIDA feels like it was probably meant to be, it seems alright to me. I guess it can be distracting in that it might taken attention away from the central love triangle thing, but it's a character moment... and I think we can trust audiences not to forget about the love story.

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where do u get concept albums?

"ETA" = "edited to add"

I've seen the concept album in a bunch of stores. It's not hard to find. It's this:

http://www.amazon.com/Elton-John-Rices-Concept-Album/dp/B00000IFTH/ref=sr_1_1/102-3184000-4087362?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1176066124&sr=8-1

I think The Past is Another Land is really pretty, but I often skip it when it comes up on iTunes, because it's a bit boring out of context. Fortune is a completely ridiculous song... one of those "hey, we need a song here," songs, but it's kind of a guilty pleasure.

I've never seen the opera -- what's the ending with the messenger?

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Yes, it was too long. That I'll give you.

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