"BEAUTIFUL GHOSTS" New song from Cats

[chernjam]

Posted: 11/15/19 at 1:34am

As much as I'm an ALW fan, I never really was a Cats fan and have had mixed feelings about the film (not because of the CGI we saw in the trailer)

Anyway, was curious about the new song that ALW wrote with Taylor Swift.  Again, the preview clips a few weeks ago didn't inspire a lot of excitement for me.  But just listening to it - wow - it sounds amazing.  Like the lyrics and the melody seems perfectly suited for the score.  
 

[Justin D]

Posted: 11/15/19 at 7:12am

I think its ok, starts out reminding me of that one we wrote for wizard of oz for Glinda, (something about home?)

but i think it will work based on where it comes and what it's purpose is now that Victoria is the central character in the movie and the song is being sung by her after Memory.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 11/15/19 at 9:34am

Lyrically it’s just Swift whining again and playing the victim. It doesn't seem like an attempt was made to incorporate any of Eliot’s existing verse outside of his work for Practical Cats as “Memory” does so brilliantly.

[brian1973]

Posted: 11/15/19 at 5:27pm

this song is TERRIBLE. This film is going to be all out bad and I cannot wait!

[sabrelady]

Posted: 11/15/19 at 5:41pm

This film is going to be all out bad 

 

Beg to differ. Now that weed is legal here in Canada- I think this film will be the best stoner experience since, well Fantasia.

[chernjam]

Posted: 11/15/19 at 5:41pm

Justin D said: "I think its ok, starts out reminding me of that one we wrote for wizard of oz for Glinda, (something about home?)

but i think it will work based on where it comes and what it's purpose is now that Victoria is the central character in the movie and the song is being sung by her after Memory."

Wow - now that you mention it, It does have some echos of "Already Home."   I think this sounds far more effective then that one did.  I really liked the melody and thought Swift's lyrics were better than I expected.  Will have to see how it ties in with the rest of the score/movie.

Anyone seen or heard of a release date for the soundtrack?

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 11/15/19 at 7:28pm

sabrelady said: "Beg to differ. Now that weed is legal here in Canada- I think this film will be the best stoner experience since, well Fantasia."

I dunno. Tron: Legacy in 3D was pretty exceptional.

Oh right. This is a thread about “Beautiful Ghosts.” I forgot already.

 

[Highland Guy]

Posted: 11/15/19 at 8:43pm

I have known cats such as this, embracing the terribleness of their existence.  Beautiful song, beautifully sung.

 

 

[SouthernCakes]

Posted: 11/15/19 at 10:20pm

Nice melody wasted on trite lyrics.

This movie will be bad. Please keep this director away from movie musicals. Les Miz had so much potential.

[Globefan]

Posted: 11/15/19 at 10:52pm

This version of the song is for the end credits. 

[Dolly80]

Posted: 11/16/19 at 2:03am

There’s a good chance it will be so awful that no one will be sat there by the end credits

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 11/16/19 at 7:19am

I like Taylor Swift but she's not the best singer. I legitimately cannot tell if her diction is different because she's trying to sound better for a musical theater role or if she's trying to do an accent. You can hear it in the way she pronounces words like "chances" and "born."

This doesn't sound like Cats. At best it sounds like a really watered down version of "On My Own."

[Auggie27]

Posted: 11/16/19 at 9:10am

Minority opinion: I think it's quite moving I een responded as a pet owner who's taken in shelter cats my whole life As prosaic as the words are, they are honest, and in their earnestness, poignant. And I like that ALW didn't push something too grandiose. The simplicity here is an exercise in restraint  

[sherie_worshipper]

Posted: 11/17/19 at 3:04pm

Taylor Swift and Beyoncé have a lot to learn from the Queen of Pop herself, Madonna. When she did “Evita”, she was wise enough to step aside (even though she’s an accomplished lyricist who can write perfect rhymes) to let Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber write a new song for her. Beyoncé did the opposite in “Dreamgirls” and “The Lion King”, writing her own sloppy lyrics to songs that stand out like sore thumbs in otherwise perfect scores. And now Taylor Swift - “If you can't get T.S. Eliot, get T.S.” - has graced us with “Beautiful Ghosts”, a beautiful melody by Andrew Lloyd Webber ruined by her ghastly lyrics. If these two pop stars are so intent on getting an Oscar, how about learning how to act, for instance? Leave the lyrics to someone who actually knows how to write musical theatre songs.

Updated On: 11/17/19 at 03:04 PM

[acekatherineplumber2]

Posted: 11/17/19 at 9:56pm

For the record, ALW approached Taylor Swift about writing lyrics for this song. She didn’t presumptuously force herself on it.

Updated On: 11/17/19 at 09:56 PM

[sherie_worshipper]

Posted: 11/17/19 at 11:38pm

And you believe that? Do you also believe she signed to be in this movie without a deal to write a new song? Wake up. That video with Taylor and ALW is 100% scripted. He notoriously made Jim Steinman write perfect rhymes for Whistle Down the Wind. Do you think he would willingly let Taylor Swift butcher his song and put her name in front of his in the song’s credits? It was part of her contract with Universal from the beginning and he had no other choice but to agree. I bet he hates the lyrics too.