BILLY ELLIOT's score...

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 5/17/09 at 12:18pm

So since it opened, many BWWers have had very strong (negative) thoughts on BILLY's score. But I thought it was fantastic...and, in fact, if you go back to my original review, I cite the book as being the show's most problematic link.

I thought it was anything but what many on here are titling it as..."boring" and "uninventive."

Does anyone else like the score besides me?! And if you hate it, what do you hate about it specifically?

Updated On: 5/17/09 at 12:18 PM

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 5/17/09 at 12:25pm

The score is somewhat catchy, but it's very, very repetitive. The lyrics, however, are atrocious. "He Could Go and He Could Shine" is one of the worst musical theatre songs I've heard in years. "Solidarity" is the same verse over and over and over. And "Electricity" and "Expressing Yourself" have terrible lyrics. It's not horrificly awful, but it's definitely not Tony-worthy.

[Taryn]

Posted: 5/17/09 at 12:28pm

I really love the score (with the glaring exception of "He Could Be a Star"/"He Could Go and He Could Shine," both versions of which I think are TERRIBLE). I think a big part of this, though, is that I felt so emotionally overwhelmed when I saw the show for the first time in London. My thoughts of the score might be friendlier just because it will always remind me of seeing the production.

[BustopherPhantom]

Posted: 5/17/09 at 12:42pm

I actually think "He Could Be a Star" is one of the best songs in the show (how dare they sing "He could go and he could shine"! Why, that's like trying to sing "The corn is as high as an elephant's eye"!!): it's dramatic, and the music (the descending chords and such) matches the mood very well.

(and am I the only one who thinks that descending chord is something of a motif, used again right before the chorus of "Electricity"?)

No, it's not a great score. But it does its job (and well), and it works much better on a stage.

(and I like that the soapy lyrics like "Everyone's special / It's a natural thing" are paired with lyrics like "The world's bad enough without making it worse" and "He could go and he could shine / Not just stay here, counting time" and "Will anybody die if you put on a dress?")

[Tom's Cat]

Posted: 5/17/09 at 1:19pm

I think it's close to brilliant. Right from the start - each song tells you about the world of Billy Elliot.

My favorites are those that deal with the Elliot family. In fact, I've heard negative criticism about calling it "Billy Elliot, the Musical" because the story has been changed so much from the original film. In a sense I have to agree. I think it would have been much more accurate (although not as popular) if they'd called it "The Elliots". The real story here concerns Billy's life and relationship with his family.

Starting with Grandma's Song, we hear about what life must have been like for Jackie when he was a child. With a father who was a brutal and abusive drunk and a mother who used every opportunity she could to hit him back. And then with Deep Into the Ground we learn that he literally stopped being a child at 15 when he started working the mines. Then there was a family - a young wife and two sons. Now the wife is gone and both boys have said he was worthless and they hated him. Now he can't even support them with the only work he knows - mining, so what does he do? Is it any wonder that he yells and hits first? And that Tony does the same thing - and then Billy at the audition? How would we have known why they act the way they do without those wonderful songs?

And with He Could Be a Star, Jackie is trying to let his oldest son know that this is all that's left to him. He can't provide housing or food anymore, so he'll be a scab and make whatever money he can to help Billy.

This is why I believe Greg Jbara has really earned the Tony award for this show. The character of Dad was willing to do the worst thing he could think of - just to help his son. And he doesn't even know if Billy can dance or not. He just knows that Billy WANTS to. You can see the agony he goes through to do this for his youngest son - and the amazement and pride when he actually sees Billy dance (Electricity). Just fabulous.

[ljay889]

Posted: 5/17/09 at 1:19pm

I think if it wins, it will be the blandest score of the entire decade to win Best Score.

And I hate how synthesized the score is. Whatever happened to strings?

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 5/17/09 at 1:28pm

The songs are character-defining. Dad doesn't express himself in a flamboyant production number as the young gay child does because Dad wouldn't do that.

It's a nice score - hummable, bouncy. Not as good or inventive as NEXT TO NORMAL, but it certainly doesn't ruin the perfection of BILLY.

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 5/17/09 at 1:33pm

DAD
I couldn't take it anymore son
It was tearing me apart
We're lost, we're finished man, we're through
I need to give the kid a future
I need to look him in the eye
Believe me son I'd do the same for you

TONY
But you can't give in now Dad
We've all been out a year
I can never talk to you again
You can't do this to me Dad
You can't do it to yourself
He's just a kid, he's only just a bairn

DAD
He could be a star for all we know
We don't know how far he can go
And no one else can give what I can give,
And no one else can give what I can give
He could go and he could shine
Not just stay here counting time,
Son we've got the chance to let him live,
Yes, we've got the chance to let him live

TONY
This isn't about us Dad
It's not about the kid
It's all of us, it's everybody's chance
It's everybody's future
It's everybody's past
It's not about a bairn who wants to dance

It's about our history
It's about our rights
Think about the sacrifice we've made
It's what you always taught us since I was a lad
Please, Dad, don't let that passion fade

DAD
He could be a star for all we know
We don't know how far he can go
And no one else can give what I can give,
And no one else can give what I can give

MINERS
We're all in this together Jack
There is another way
All for one.
And one for all
Take this and this.
And this and this
And this and this
And this and this.
Don't worry, lad, we'll never let you fall.

DAD
He could be a star for all we know
We don't know how far he can go

TONY
But we'll give all that we can give
We'll all give all that we can give

MINERS
We will go and we will shine
We will go and seize the time
We will all have pride in how we live
We will all have pride in how we live
(Yes we'll all have pride in how we live
Yes we'll all have pride in how we live)
We will always stand together
Through the dark and through and through the storm
We will stand shoulder to shoulder
To keep us warm

[DRSisLove]

Posted: 5/17/09 at 1:37pm

I think people don't like He Could Go and He Could Shine because its repetitive.

I really, really like the score. I think its extremely catchy, and very fun to sing a long to.

I think the music does a great job of advancing the plot, unlike a lot of shows today, where at the end of song nothing has really been accomplished.

To each his own, however.

[DRSisLove]

Posted: 5/17/09 at 1:37pm

I think people don't like He Could Go and He Could Shine because its repetitive.

I really, really like the score. I think its extremely catchy, and very fun to sing a long to.

I think the music does a great job of advancing the plot, unlike a lot of shows today, where at the end of song nothing has really been accomplished.

To each his own, however.

[homeimp]

Posted: 5/17/09 at 1:38pm

Billy has one of the best and most moving scores to appear in years. "Electricity" is brilliant in how it takes many of the original lines spoken by Jamie Bell in the movie and translates them to music. To truly appreciate "Solidarity" you have to see how it works with the action onstage. To me there is no better musical moment currently on Broadway than "Expressing Yourself". "Shine" is sublime. The "Boogie" song exactly parallels the Boogie song in the film, and gives the three performers a chance to really kick up their heels. I cry every time I hear "Once We Were Kings" and "The Letter". Elton's music for "Angry Dance" and the dance solo following Electricity" is powerful and appropriate. I have occasionally wondered about the dance finale. I know it's catchy, but it's a long show already and I wonder if it wouldn't be better to go out on a dramatic high with Billy making his way up the aisle and Michael sadly but enviously watching. Then just the bows. But then I think, no, we need the joy of the whole cast dancing, and I think it should be there. Anyway, count me as one who has yet to find anything of musical interest in Title Of Show, but loves the score of Billy.

[Tom's Cat]

Posted: 5/17/09 at 1:44pm

Now there's where we DEFINITELY disagree. I would cut Born to Boogie completely (I really hate it) and I would cut down Expressing Yourself and completely cut out the dresses. It turns a really good moment into a cheap vaudeville act.

And the ending? Perfection. I don't want them to touch a thing. If the show's too long, the cuts I mentioned above should bring it down to size.


And PiraguaGuy2 - If you're talking about a top 40 hit song, then go ahead and print the lyrics. But the music in this show is meant to tell a story and enhance the action on the stage. Cutting it out of that source and expecting it to stand alone on its own is ridiculous.

Updated On: 5/17/09 at 01:44 PM

[willep]

Posted: 5/17/09 at 5:56pm

I think the score is fantastic. i think my biggest complaint (from what I remember of the Broadway version) is that they changed "He Could Be a Star" I really, really liked the "We're all in this together, Jack, there is another way. Take this and this, and this and this" part on the OLCR better. But I have to see the Broadway version again when I am in full health before I can make too many judgments (I was kinda sick when I saw it).

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 5/17/09 at 6:12pm

Maybe the score would be better if any of the Billy's could sing.

I understand they are kids, and dancing is the major requirement, but come on...

That said, I do enjoy a few songs; 'Grandma's Song', 'Merry Christmas, Maggie Thatcher' and 'Electricity' mainly.

[Weez]

Posted: 5/17/09 at 6:27pm

The score is somewhat catchy, but it's very, very repetitive. The lyrics, however, are atrocious.

Taking this as a generic statement and not responding directly to PiraguaGuy at all, I'd just like to point out that this applies to a great deal of Andrew Lloyd Webber stuff, particularly his Tim Rice collaborations, and I'm pretty sure *he* has his share of Tonys.

[scott68]

Posted: 5/17/09 at 6:32pm

Well, to be fair, ALW's Best Score Tonys are for Evita (deserved), Sunset Boulevard (basically by default), and Cats (yeah... not touching that one), so I don't think that comparison is entirely reasonable...

[BroadwayBound062]

Posted: 5/17/09 at 6:57pm

I love the music from the show acutally. Its not the most amazing score ever but I think some of the shows are great. What I love about the show is that each song really tells us a lot of the character in style of lyrics and how it is presented. Also "Expressing Yourself" is near perfect. It literally brought the house down and was one of the show stopping moments. Also "The Letter" is absolutly beautiful. I don't think its earth shattering Sondheim but I don't think that would work in this show.

I disagree with the notion the show is "The Elliots". I think each of his family characters show us why he is who he is and why he does what he does. And most of their songs, they either sing to Billy or about him. Now "Grandma's Song" musically is great but was the worse staging I have seen in a really long time. I hated it honestly. But I think the score has a good chance of winning and wouldn't be the worst.

[siny]

Posted: 5/17/09 at 7:44pm

Well, this show is not going to spawn any "Memories" or "On My Own" or anything like that, but the score goes very well with the story in the context of the show. And a few songs - like "The Letter", "Grandma's Song", "Once We Were Kings", "Expressing Yourself" - are up there among the best on Broadway. Heck, I liked every song, except for "He Will Go and He Will Shine". As far as for Billys being unable to sing, I disagree. Just because they can't belt, does not mean they can't sing.

[rentheadca]

Posted: 5/17/09 at 8:02pm

the score wasn't memorable to me... I didn't want to rush home and buy any of the songs on itunes. I didn't love any of the songs.
I do think the book is worse though

[Taryn]

Posted: 5/17/09 at 8:39pm

This is why I believe Greg Jbara has really earned the Tony award for this show.

I keep hearing this, and I just don't see it. When I went to see the show in January, I felt that Jbara just played the obvious, oafish qualities of the character without any of the depth or subtlety. MILES behind the current Jackie in London.

I do think that "Solidarity" is one of the best-staged numbers I've seen in a long time.

[sanda]

Posted: 5/17/09 at 9:36pm

I think it is brilliant. My favorites are "Solidarity", "Angry Dance", "the Stars look down", "Grandma's song","Once we were king" and "He could be a star".

[siny]

Posted: 5/17/09 at 9:45pm

I went to see the show with an absolute "Billy Elliot" virgin who would not know Jbara from a hole in a wall and she immediately singled him out as the one who made the best connection with his character.

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 5/17/09 at 9:53pm

I normally wouldn't touch this one with a ten-foot pole because of the Jbara contingent around here, but I found him to be wooden and one-note. YES, I know, that comes with the character, but there's still opportunities for better acting than what I saw from Greg that night. I've loved him in so many other shows, so it's a disappointment that he had a bad night when I saw him.

In my opinion, the Tony nomination was mostly because he's in Billy Elliot, and because of his impressive body of work.

And not to knock you, rOcKs, but threads that start with "Many BWWers" are usually giant cans of worms.

Updated On: 5/17/09 at 09:53 PM

[sking]

Posted: 5/18/09 at 3:08am

Coming into this topic as an admitted obsessive(39 times in london 10 times on Broadway) fan the score is soso. I listened to the cd before I saw it and only the Letter and Letter reprise were stand out. After I saw it the music just fit right in, but this musical is so visual that more then a few people forgive the soso score. In the end in 50 years Billy wont be remembered as much because its TOO visual and the cast album just doesn't do it justice on its own. All that said I'll still see it a few dozen more times and the music DOES fit in perfectly and tells a great story(Once we were Kings is getting better and better for me).

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 5/18/09 at 1:10pm

I wasn't especially keen on the score until I actually saw the show. Now I love it and get goosebumps when I listen to it.