Do You Think People Hate Idina Because of Her Fans?- Page 2

[winston89]

Posted: 4/18/08 at 10:01pm

I have no shame in saying that I like Idina's new album. I don't think that she is the biggest thing since sliced bread in any way shape or form but I find the music catchy and enjoyable.

I do think that her fans are a bit nuts and there can be people that try to disassociate them liking her because of them. I was in a similar situation a couple of years ago.

There was a time where I discovered the joy that is Rent a couple of years ago and I used to go A TON. But, I felt bad saying that because this is when the new breed of Rentheads started to surface. The ones who feel that they know every member of the cast personally and all that stuff. I just saw the show politely got autographs after and then went home and I always kept to myself and whatnot. It was the major obsessive fans who kept me from feeling comfortable for saying that I loved Rent because when people thought of Rentheads they started to think of the crazy fans who felt that they knew the actors personally and knew where they lived and thought that the OBC were gods and all that stuff.

As for her getting the Tony for her performance as Elphaba. I remember something that Block said I think it was during the reading of the show. That the role is a Tony winning role and that whoever got the role for the Broadway production was going to get the Tony because the role itself was a tony worthy role even though the actress playing Elphaba might not be a Tony worthy actress she is playing a part that is Tony worthy.

[LittlexFallxOfxRain]

Posted: 4/18/08 at 10:06pm

I have never met anyone who says they hate Idina. Quite the opposite, actually.

[SpellingBeeFan4Ever]

Posted: 4/18/08 at 10:58pm

Updated On: 4/18/08 at 10:58 PM

[SpellingBeeFan4Ever]

Posted: 4/18/08 at 11:01pm

Updated On: 4/19/08 at 11:01 PM

[bwayguy22089]

Posted: 4/18/08 at 11:10pm

Obviously Wicked made her. I am a huge Idina fan. Still, I agree. Many of her fans are simply crazy...bordering on rude even. Whenever I have seen Idina live (at interviews, concerts, stage doors, etc) her fans are just rude...even to her. Yelling and shouting at her. That's something you do for...Justin Timberlake or something. I think her voice is very unique. She doesn't really sing correctly, but hey, whatever lol. I like the sound she makes. I think 60% of the Tony went to Idina, while 40% went to the character herself. I def. think that since originating the role on Broadway her acting has greatly improved. In London her acting was wonderful.

[oohshizz146]

Posted: 4/18/08 at 11:11pm

partly yes, partly because she sucked in everything except rent

[SpellingBeeFan4Ever]

Posted: 4/19/08 at 12:41am

I hate her for obvious reasons!

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 4/19/08 at 12:44am

Block did the first Wicked workshop correct? Wouldn't this alone make here the technical "first Elphaba"?

What did her fans think of See What I Wanna See? I sort of stayed away from the threads on that show just because I adored it so much and Idina's rather brave performance.

[alliez92092]

Posted: 4/19/08 at 10:58am

I'm an Idina fan, but I keep to myself so I don't get meshed into the group of crazies, or as they're calling themselves, Fanzels. I think her fans definitely do turn people off, but this happens for every performer.

And oohshizz, have you ever heard of The Wild Party? Or See What I Wanna See? Because her performances in both of those shows are amazing. Most people only know her from Rent and Wicked and therefore make judgments based on those two performances only. IMHO, her best performance were in the two shows I mentioned previously. I think if some people took time to look at her performances there then they might not write her off immediately. I'm not making sense. I just woke up. Sorry.

[Idinster87]

Posted: 4/19/08 at 4:35pm

It's funny that this post was made, because I was just pondering this same question.

Before all of her crazy fans surfaced on account of Wicked's success (and apparent "grrrl attraction" as the Chicago Tribune puts it), I was a huge fan of hers, only a select group knew who she was, and I was proud of being her fan. She's definitely not for everyone; from what I've seen, she pretty much has a voice that people either love or hate, find incredibly moving, or incredibly annoying. I find her music (especially "Here") incredibly moving, and her solo work is some of my favorite music of all time. I constantly find myself going back to songs like "You'd Be Surprised" and being able to relate to them in new ways.

Also, I don't necessarily agree with the whole "Elphaba is a Tony- winning ROLE". I'm sure many people on this board have seen mediocre at best Elphabas, either onstage or on youtube. For me, Idina played a role that was very similar to herself, and that's why (again, for me, and for some fans) it was so powerful. She knows what it's like to dislike yourself, to deal with other people disliking you, to be shy, to not 'be good enough' for people or the guy (just listen to her music), and she brought all of that to the role. Honestly, you can debate about why she won the Tony, but I do remember that the 'sure fire' Tony-winning ROLE that year was the lead from Caroline, Or Change. That, in my opinion, was a role that was deserving of a tony, Elphaba....ehhh. It depends on how that role is portrayed. But I definitely do not recall anyone predicting that Idina was a shoo-in because of Elphaba.

But yes, I think that Wicked has developed this horrid reputation, and even when it was first in San Francisco it was rare and neat to like it, now you are slammed for liking it. I think the same can sometimes be true for Idina. Her fans are embarassing. Honestly, when I meet theatre fans now, I don't even like to mention that I like Idina because I do not want to be associated with their behavior.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 4/19/08 at 5:22pm

I can't stand her voice. Especially how she yells instead of belting.

[Idinster87]

Posted: 4/19/08 at 5:49pm

Yes, I agree. People either think her belting (or screaming) is great, or it sounds like nails against a chalk board.

[puppetman2]

Posted: 4/19/08 at 6:00pm

I don't hate her, but I do dislike her. I can't take her voice. IMO she doesn't sing, she yells. I really can't appreciate Defying Gravity because of her voice.
When I saw ENCHANTED, I didn't know who she was. What I thought was how can he go for that unattractive woman. Couldn't wait for her scenes to be over.
She seriously needs voice lessons.

Updated On: 4/20/08 at 06:00 PM

[Leo_Yikes]

Posted: 4/19/08 at 9:54pm

The thing that gets me tho is that SO Many people judge her off of bootlegs. I'm sure if I were to listen to a bootleg of the great Sutton Foster and hated her people would flame me, but yet no one has a prob with judging Idina off of them. But Idina, sadly either gets TO nervous infront of the camera (ie Tonys, Royal Variety Show, ect) or just has a bad night someone decides to tape her. IMO her voice is somin that you either love or hate.
The Tony award, personaly I think she deserved. She did pour her heart and soul into Elphaba, and it does show if you see her live.
Again, I dont think she is the best Elphaba vocaly, I think SJB has that distinction, but on the whole, Idina made Elphaba vulnerable, and real. Which is why I think a lot of people like her.
I think alot of her fans are actually extreme Rentheads...some of them are rude...or some of the crazed WICKED fans...I love WICKED, its one of my fave shows but jeeze, some of them are freaks.

[SpellingBeeFan4Ever]

Posted: 4/19/08 at 9:57pm

^Gangsta cat RUVS her!

[greybaby231]

Posted: 4/19/08 at 10:01pm

I ran into a self-proclaimed Chenzel fanatic today at work, and I recant my earlier post. Yes, I hate her a great deal for attracting the stupidest, most obnoxious people on earth to be her fans.
I'm not saying that all her fans are that way........
Dear God, I hate the word Chenzel. I hate the idea of Chenzel. What the hell is a Chenzel anyway?

[maya5892]

Posted: 4/19/08 at 10:10pm

I cannot bear Idina's voice.

[Gobstopper]

Posted: 4/20/08 at 12:16am

I like Idina, and I think she's talented. That said, I'm not in love with her.

IDINA PROS:
She played Maureen as a human being. Sometimestimes Maureen gets played as a bimbo or a bitch, but Idina's Maureen (from what I've seen) has a sincerity and an intensity that some actresses lack in the role. She's one of the few that I can see why Joanne would put up with her nonsense, because she's very charming.
On the Wicked recording, she just sings with such... passion. I can't imagine not getting goosebumps from Defying Gravity on the CD.

IDINA CONS:
From what I've heard of her live recordings, I think the score of Wicked may have been to big for her voice to carry every night consistently.
She needs to use her head voice more and stop belting everything. Like, I really like her song "Brave" but there are some moments that I wish she sang more... "tenderly" I guess.
Her album sounds like warmed-over 90's music.

[Weez]

Posted: 4/20/08 at 6:29am

Are you sure you want to know what a Chenzel is?

The word itself is a portmanteau of Chenoweth and Menzel. Some people use this word to describe themselves as a fan of both ladies. Whereas some people use this word to describe themselves as a fan of both ladies. Getting it on. With each other.

God bless the interwebz! :3

[Becky2]

Posted: 4/20/08 at 10:39am

I don't dislike Idina Menzel, but I'm not crazy about her either. I think many people, whether they like her or not, resent the fact that she is portrayed as being "the best" Broadway actor today. There is so much talent out there that also deserves some recognition.

[A Fleur De Toi]

Posted: 4/20/08 at 9:07pm

I think you are quite right. Idina sounds AMAZING on the cast recording but is a bit of a let down during live performances (like at the Tonys etc).

Some people have mentioned that her technique isnt quite right. Is it true? I mean, I know next to nothing about singing techniques so i cant really tell. And apparently she also hurt her voice belting out defying gravity nightly.

Her album's decent, but Brave was a lil underwhelming. And damn, she needs some new material in her songs. :P