DEATH BECOMES HER Original Broadway Cast Recording Thread

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 11/20/24 at 12:16pm

Set for a spring 2025 release; exact digital and physical dates TBA. Music and lyrics by Julia Mattison and Noel Carey

Four tracks will be available to stream at midnight:

• If You Want Perfection
• For the Gaze
• Tell Me, Ernest
• Alive Forever

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 11/20/24 at 12:29pm

“For the Gaze”

[NOWaWarning]

Posted: 11/20/24 at 2:12pm

Jordan Catalano said: "“For the Gaze”"

I’ve been waiting for this! The audience reaction drowned out some of the lyrics when I saw it.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 11/20/24 at 5:49pm

Spring release for a cast recording that is already recorded is eye rolling.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 11/21/24 at 3:27pm

I took a first listen to the released tracks today. My initial thoughts:

• "If You Want Perfection" is an effective prologue of sorts, introducing the Viola Van Horn character and setting up the message of the musical... is eternal youth worth the risk? The song has an air of mystery and it is complemented by some spooky and bombastic ensemble vocals. I'd say the vibe is "Arabian Nights" meets "Kiss of the Spider Woman", with a small touch of "Beauty Has a Price."
• I had heard a lot about "For the Gaze" dating back to the Chicago tryout production, and this did not disappoint. It is as much a bop about craving all the attention as it is a tribute to the main demographic that has kept this title's legacy alive through the decades. Reminded me of a Peter Allen song or an early disco hit. I can only imagine the wild reception that "We all know that this whole damn show - " gets each night.
• The groovy, sung-spoken "Tell Me, Ernest" is my least favorite of the bunch so far, but it does appear to serve its purpose.
• "Alive Forever" has been getting lots of "For Good" comparisons, but I say it's closer to "I Will Never Leave You" or "Face to Face." Though it starts out with a bit of recitative, it turns into the kind of big, belty power ballad duet that SPAMALOT parodies in "The Song That Goes Like This."

 

Needless to say, the album is off to a decent start... sounds like a big, swirling, eclectic and filmic score. Looking forward to hearing the rest. 

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 3/21/25 at 10:32am

Bumping the previous thread.

The full album will release digitally on April 17, with preorders for the physical and vinyl releases available that day as well. 

Updated On: 3/21/25 at 10:32 AM

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 3/22/25 at 8:34am

Track listing:

• ACT I
• 1. Prelude
• 2. If You Want Perfection
• 3. For the Gaze
• 4. That Was Then, This Is Now
• 5. Tell Me, Ernest
• 6. Madeline Ashton’s Intimate Wedding Extravaganza
• 7. Ernest’s Real Vows
• 8. Madeline
• 9. ‘Til Death
• 10. Tell Me, Ernest (Reprise)
• 11. Falling Apart
• 12. Siempre Viva
• 13. Let’s Run Away Together
• 14. Confrontation

 

• ACT II
• 15. Don’t Say I Didn’t (Warn You)
• 16. Hit Me
• 17. The Plan
• 18. Stefan’s Turn
• 19. Live to Serve
• 20. Siempre Viva (Reprise)
• 21. ‘Til Death (Reprise)
• 22. Alive Forever
• 23. Fifty Years Later
• 24. The End

[Dolly80]

Posted: 3/22/25 at 2:51pm

Separate topic, but have they produced a souvenir program?

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 4/14/25 at 4:52pm

At 5:10 PM EST, iHeartRadio Broadway will premiere “The Plan.” 

They will play it six more times on Tuesday + Wednesday before the full cast album releases. 

Updated On: 4/14/25 at 04:52 PM

[Mskuphantm]

Posted: 4/14/25 at 6:06pm

Definitely cannot wait!!! 

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 4/16/25 at 11:53am

April 17th? Right?

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 4/16/25 at 12:16pm

CATSNYrevival said: "April 17th? Right?"

That's the digital release date as of now, and both the musical and Concord Theatricals have been pushing it this week.

Is it out yet where you are, Cats?

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 4/16/25 at 1:36pm

No.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 4/17/25 at 12:01am

Now streaming. Enjoy, everyone!

[MrsSallyAdams]

Posted: 4/17/25 at 6:29am

I like "Stefan's Turn" and "Hit Me." Neither song was in the Chicago preview I attended. They add some zing to the second act.

[darreyl102]

Posted: 4/17/25 at 10:13am

The soundtrack is free on YouTube. Just gave it a listen. Love it!

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 4/17/25 at 10:32am

darreyl102 said: "The soundtrack is free on YouTube. Just gave it a listen. Love it!"

It’s an Original Broadway Cast Recording - NOT a damn soundtrack!  Learn the difference. Please. 

[Observation]

Posted: 4/17/25 at 10:32am

TheatreFan4 said: "Spring release for a cast recording that is already recorded is eye rolling."

Except it wasn't already recorded? 

[Kad]

Posted: 4/17/25 at 10:43am

BrodyFosse123 said: "darreyl102 said: "The soundtrack is free on YouTube. Just gave it a listen. Love it!"

It’s an Original Broadway CastRecording - NOT a damn soundtrack! Learn the difference. Please."

Y’all lost this battle years ago. Give it up. 

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 4/17/25 at 10:45am

I thought this music was a little better than what most of us have been saying - a big, swirling, gay, overdramatic, very "Broadway" score that this material deserves. Some of the lyrics are especially snappy.

Among the previously unreleased songs, I quite liked Hilty's "Falling Apart," when she anxiously plots a return to her former youth and glory. I also took more of a liking to "That Was Then, This Is Now."

 

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If they kept "I See Me" in the show in some capacity, very clever they omitted it from this album to save a little surprise for those that haven't seen it yet.

Williams sounds fine here. (Is she really that stiff onstage?) "Siempre Viva" again gives me that ominous "Arabian Nights" vibe.

I can only imagine Josh Lamon stealing the show live with his "For the Gaze" reprise.

Nice to hear the musical motifs heard in the advertising pop up a bunch of times throughout the record.

Solid mixing and production, and some splendid Doug Besterman orchestrations. 

In short - even if DEATH BECOMES HER is among the weakest of our cast albums this season, it might still be worth a listen. For better or worse, Universal could have their response to BEETLEJUICE (which wasn't my thing)... if it eventually captures even a tiny smidgeon of its virality, it will have been worth it.

[DAME]

Posted: 4/17/25 at 10:52am

I bet this is the one of the season that gets played by listeners the most.  

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 4/17/25 at 10:58am

Also, the physical CD releases on June 6 and a 2-LP purple vinyl follows on July 11.

[darreyl102]

Posted: 4/17/25 at 11:09am

BrodyFosse123 said: "darreyl102 said: "The soundtrack is free on YouTube. Just gave it a listen. Love it!"

It’s an Original Broadway CastRecording - NOT a damn soundtrack! Learn the difference. Please."

I did that intentionally to see if people would get pissed....and it worked. 

 

 

Updated On: 4/17/25 at 11:09 AM

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 4/17/25 at 11:10am

EDSOSLO858 said: "Also, the physical CD releases on June 6 and a 2-LP purple vinyl follows on July 11."

[Fordham2015]

Posted: 4/17/25 at 11:34am

Don't Say I Didn't Warn You is Michelle's best number, that and Tell Me Ernest are my favorites in the score