Billy Elliot The Musical- Page 125

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 12/17/05 at 2:08pm

i remember when there were TWO Billy Elliot fans of BroadwayWorld.... that was along time ago... i guess since this is not a BE board, people are gonna move to another one.

oh well.

can i speak honestly about the CD? Right-

i've been a champion of this project since i heard from a friend that Elton John was working on adapting the movie to a musical. i was obsessed, and when, on the old website, they released two music clips, naturally, i listened to them daily. I wasn't to impressed with: The Letter but i loved Electricity.

well, i just got around to listening to the samples of the CD on the website, and as i was listening, i realized that: Yes, this was Elton John. what was i thinking?

i didn't like the music at all.

there were a couple of tunes that i liked, i was still wild about Electricity, but over all, the music reminded me shamefully of that trainwreck: Aida, another Elton John piece.

I want to love this musical. hell, i started the first billy elliot love thread and now look at it! there are so many fans we can support a 124 page thread! But i just hope that the full CD is better than the samples. or that its better live in the theater.

i haven't seen Billy Elliot yet (i live in texas...) but i might be seeing it this summer.

you all may hate me know, but i just want you to know that i was blowing this shows horn for a long long time and it was just a huge dissapointment to finally hear the music and realize how... erm... bad, it was.

flame away...

[loti]

Posted: 12/17/05 at 2:29pm

everyone has there own opinions but just to let you know that if you have never seen the show, then the songs and the music probably appear very deceivng to you, but i can assure you that the live perfomance in the theatre is much more moving because during the majority of the songs there is constant movement and the stamana that this cast have is amazing.

[BillyFan2]

Posted: 12/17/05 at 3:53pm

The musical seems to have some rules:

Don't speak it if you can sing it, don't sing it if you can dance it.

BEtM is not a story designed to fit between hit songs, the songs are there as a part of the story. Are they all big show stopping songs, no. Do they fit the musical and help tell a wonderful story, yes. I would strongly suggest you go to see the musical. Basing your opinion on sound clips from a website is like judging a film by some pictures in a magazine.

[tzwicky2]

Posted: 12/17/05 at 6:09pm

I saw Billy twice in October, and then waited and waited for the OCR to be issued. I listened to a few of the clips online and was not in a positive mindset.

That all changed with the arrival of the OCR, because, apparently, clips are clips are clips. I dunno where or even how something as subjective as music and lyrics can be compared, from one stage to another with a different show, but I became addicted to Billy Elliot after just 2 viewings on the same day in October (George and Leon in the Billy roles), and after finally receiving the OCR, I'm more addicted than ever.

Other than a few hours a day when I might play the original score CD from "Narnia," it's Billy all day and Billy all night.

So, Caroline.... don't make up your mind till the full CD arrives on your player and you've given it a few listens. Even though you don't have the basis of having seen the show itself, I feel the OCR is a thoroughly real slice of Billy.

And, of course, 5 more viewings of Billy are on my calendar for March, and at that time, I'll probably start thinking about celebrating July 4th in London (there's some sort of symmetry to that, don't 'cha think?), which would put a return trip to London in October on my calendar, since this October was such an enjoyable experience.

Lastly, remember that every performance of Billy is different from the previous and the following versions of the show. Not only is the show tailored to each Billy, with so deep a bench amongst cast, you have got to know, as James Lomas puts it in his appearance (with the thoroughly BRILLIANT Ashley Lloyd) on TV's "Dance Factory," "It's your stage, your show. Make it yours." or words to that effect.

When I saw the show in October, George and Leon certainly made the show theirs. They freakin' command the stage, Dude! I mean, 1500 seats, filled to capacity, with more than a few wild, cheering addicts like me peppering the seats, leave no doubt. No one is phoning in their performance.

Oh, the OCR CD is actually, aurally, more than what you get in person at the theatre. Phil Ramone and Elton John spent some time and energy on this title, and, I think, it shows. The "band" is a bit bigger than the real band at the theatre.

So, summing up, give the OCR a chance, and secondly, git your butt to London and experience Billy firsthand.

tzwicky

[ruthiefan_felix]

Posted: 12/17/05 at 10:02pm

Caroline-Q-or-Taboo, how is Billy Elliot's music similar to Aida.... I am a huge Aida fan too and I just cant hear the simiarities between the two. The only 2 songs which MAY have some resemblence to the songs in Billy is 'Every Story Is A Love Story' and 'Not Me'.
Maybe it's cuz I havent seen Aida live and I hav seen Billy 6 times now (okokok... I know most of you guys have seen more! hehe).

[AccordCanada]

Posted: 12/18/05 at 9:52am

For those that don't follow the other board, 11 year-old Travis Yates is scheduled to make his debut as Billy Elliot starting tomorrow (Dec. 19).

This morning it was confirmed that photos I had found from the BBC children's program, STUPID, are indeed him.

More info and photos at the fansite:
http://billyelliotthemusical.me.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=215&start=10

Accy
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Updated On: 12/18/05 at 09:52 AM

[DBillyP]

Posted: 12/18/05 at 11:40am

I must echo the sentiments of those arguing that the music needs to be heard in context while seeing the show before it can be objectively judged.

While watching the show, there were a couple of songs for which I didn't particularly care, but they worked in the context of the action. Now, listening to the album, I can more fully appreciate what they added to the show. I don't think a sample clip of any of the songs can provide you enough information to judge the score.

There was a discussion last year about the Tony award for Best Score. I argued that AVENUE Q was a better score than WICKED because it worked better in context of the show and thus served the material better. That is the key to a score's success: how well it supports the rest of the show. The score for BILLY ELLIOT does more for the show than you can ever possibly know from 30 second clips.

For the record, I also live in Texas, but I was lucky enough to be in London recently. It is worth the trip simply to see BILLY ELLIOT.

Updated On: 12/18/05 at 11:40 AM

[Gavriel]

Posted: 12/18/05 at 6:40pm

I have enjoyed the show quite a few times, but not being a native speaker I've always had trouble picking up the jokes Billy and Michael crack while doing the "Expressing yourself" part. Can you help out?

[ruthiefan_felix]

Posted: 12/18/05 at 11:48pm

I think evry pair have their own joke.... i think they change it time to time n catch the other unawares sometimes and crack the other up! hehe!

[tzwicky2]

Posted: 12/19/05 at 1:10am

I am a native English speaker, and I miss stuff, too.

In fact, I posted about a lyric I am still missing after like 100 passes of the OCR.

I misspoke earlier when asking about the unknown lyric.

It is actually toward the end of "Solidarity" and is definitely Mrs. Wilkinson speaking to the ballet girls after one asks, "Can we have a go?" when the teacher is spending too much time on Billy and they're just standing there hanging out.

Mrs. Wilkinson, exasperatedly exclaims, "Baskets of (I cannot understand the word she says next)!"

Anyone, anyone?

It's probably a colloquial phrase, so even if someone has not heard the line on the OCR, they probably know what she's saying.

My earlier similar query probably got lost in another thread someplace. But it seemed apt to bring it up in this thread, so I did.

Regrets at double dipping in this manner, but I am knocking my noggin' on the desk wondering what is being said. Makes me crazy!

tzwicky

[BillyFan2]

Posted: 12/19/05 at 2:27am

"Baskets of Pansies ladies" I think is the line if I remember correctly.

[BillyFan2]

Posted: 12/19/05 at 2:29am

To the person wondering about the jokes, each pair tend to have their own but on the OCR you can here the dialogue much better than when it's live.

[tzwicky2]

Posted: 12/19/05 at 2:37am

Of course is there a specific reference for the phrase?

I mean, it's like exclaiming "Jesus wept" at a point where you're exasperated by something.

I can breathe easier now. If I have a context I can start using the phrase where applicable to upset other Yanks hereabouts.

tzwicky

[BillyFan2]

Posted: 12/19/05 at 3:01am

Not really. I think that the girls are supposed to perform a move that looks like them carrying Baskets of Pansies. Someone have a better explanation?

[tzwicky2]

Posted: 12/19/05 at 3:44am

I am storing up such a huge amount of stuff to unload during the first performance of Billy I see in the spring.

Geez Louise, I sure hope the show hasn't morphed totally into something else between the end of October to the middle of March.

I'll have to meditate or spend a few hours in the Stage Door Pub (same thing, yeah?) to wipe the slate clean before experiencing the show as Stephen and Lee and Peter (and Elton) intend for me at that time.

My first time up in March I'll be in the 5th row in an aisle seat (woo-hoo!) so it'll be a forensic viewing of the show. Thereafter, subsequent viewings of the show will be more experiential, though through enormous field glasses.

If I'm lucky, the final viewing in March will be in the stalls once again.

Maybe by that time I can figure out how to use a handkerchief in a suave and debonair manner. Ain't it weird how joy manifests itself in tears.

Or izzat just me?

If anyone is working on the job tickets for those mid-March performances, let's mix in new (or by that time, current) Billys with some last-minute fill-in Billys. I mean, is anyone sitting there thinking and stewing, "That boy is just too old to be in this role!!" If the performer makes the show his while he's on stage, the chonological stuff is secondary, IMHO. I mean, as long as Billy doesn't have facial hair all over, it's part of the acting, right?

tzwicky

[Out In The Sticks]

Posted: 12/19/05 at 9:01am

Seen BETM twice now and I believe the Basket of Pansies is like the other comments 'hanging out the sheets' and 'now put the on the other line'. Also she makes a comment after that something like 'Thank you very much Mr Braithwaite', is Mr Braithwaite alluding to the other slang use of the word pansy meaning gay???

[Charlotte]

Posted: 12/19/05 at 9:09am

Baskets of pansies refers to a term used to describe an arm action in ballet, just like hanging the sheets and so on. mrs wilkison is exasperated about ARMS and these are all excercises in which emhasise this Xxx meryy christmas everyone!

[ruthiefan_felix]

Posted: 12/19/05 at 11:02am

Think you guys might be interested:

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/96898.html

Who's buying it?

[tzwicky2]

Posted: 12/19/05 at 2:17pm

And here I thought it would not hit till months from now.

Now I gotta see how I was paying for it, since I didn't budget for it happening so soon.

Bollocks!

But, in a good way.

The little card sets in the 2-disc OCR are David's photos, as are the official posters that (I think at this point it's past tense) used to be sold at the concession stand with other Billy items. I got a George and a Liam poster, even though I saw George and Leon do the show.

tzwicky

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 12/19/05 at 2:32pm

AH! i finally got my CD!!

ok, after listening to those samples forever it was nice to finally have the cd. i went to my room and played the cd. three times.

i loved it. the samples do not do the record justice.

for those of you who do not hear the similarities between BE and Aida, it's not in the content, it's in the actual music. Elton John has a very distinct style that you can hear, it's part pop-y, part faux-operetta and part 21st century broadway score. IT's not always a bad thing but i feel that, although i loved the BE recording, he did not do the story justice.

I think any number of other composer would've done a better job than Sir Elton John. While his score is fine, to me, it never goes beyond the fine and into the extrodinary (with the exception of Electricity, which is also a generic Elton John Musical "i want" number). i agree, i'm probably loosing lots of the magic because i haven't seen it live. Lots of show's recordings never do the show justice (DRS, BE, StEx, Pacific Overtures etc).

i don't think that all made sense but i just thought i'd throw that out there.

I would've loved to hear Jason Robert Brown attempt BE. it would've been a much less grandiose score and more intimate, personal, more complex score.

that's just my point of view, so disregard it if you'd like

[BillyFan2]

Posted: 12/19/05 at 3:59pm

I'm not sure the musical would have ever been made without Elton John. A chance meeting between Stephen Daldry, Lee Hall and Elton at the Cannes film festival where the film was showing let 5 years down the road to the musical as it is. I love most of the songs. I love the anthemic Stars Look Down and Once we were Kings especially. Electricity is wonderful but if you haven't had the chance to see Liam performing it at Children in Need this year then you need to take a look as it is 100 times better once the dancing is included. I simply cannot look at that number without feeling awe in both it's ballet and it's streetdance version (I prefer the ballet version but others may prefer the other).

[BillyFan2]

Posted: 12/19/05 at 4:41pm

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/96908.html

Updated On: 12/19/05 at 04:41 PM

[ruthiefan_felix]

Posted: 12/19/05 at 6:43pm

Why does EVERY Westend show wants to go to Broadway?! Couldn't we have our own very musical and not transfer it to the US?!

Posted: 12/19/05 at 8:11pm

The good news is, Billy Elliot will not open in the USA (NY) until Christmas 2007. More good news - the cast will be entirely English - no Americans to ruin the show.

[tzwicky2]

Posted: 12/19/05 at 9:34pm

That's totally the way the non-British stage versions of the show should be, with authentic Brits, doing all the heavy lifting.

We'll have a largely Yank band playing the music (since I'd find it hard to believe it could be canned and set to automatic).

If the cast hails from authentic roots, let's hope the show isn't dumbed down at all, either.

tzwicky
(closeted Geordie wannabe)