Posted: 12/2/16 at 9:04am
disneybroadwayfan, if you want a professional recording of the prologue, there's one on the German cast recording. The orchestrations are beautiful, and the Entr'acte is on it as well.
Posted: 12/2/16 at 9:12am
Ado Annie D'Ysquith said: "Disneybroadwayfan22, Mama Morton was played by Queen Latifah who played Maybelle in the Travolta movie. I thought that was a funny typo! 
"
Haha! Thanks for catching the error, sweetie! :)
HairsprayGuy-Ahh! Thanks for the notification! I'll try to catch it!
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Posted: 12/2/16 at 10:10am
Wow I guess I'm in the minority. I think the movie soundtrack is the best of the three. The orchestrations and vocal ensemble on You Can't Stop the Beat still gives me chills.
Damn--- Jennifer Hudson though...
Posted: 12/2/16 at 10:21am
I enjoy the movie soundtrack a lot, but there's a distinct difference in energy on multiple songs compared to the OBC. I think it's most noticeable in "Without Love". Especially the "Like a week that's only Mondays" section. However, I think your preference ultimately comes down to which recording you listened to first. I'd been listening to the OBCR for 3 years before the movie came out, hence my attachment to it, haha!
Posted: 12/2/16 at 10:50am
Totally agree about Without Love. Hairspray is one of those musicals where I have an "Ultimate" playlist-- combining multiple records to create my favorite, ultimate recording. I think JHud's I Know Where I've Been is about to make the playlist.
Posted: 12/2/16 at 11:13am
Just vocally and acting-through-music wise, these are my favorites so far -
Tracy - Nikki Blonsky, Movie (she sounded like she was constantly on laughing gas and gatorade - very infectious)
Edna - Harvey F, OBC (explanation missing/not required)
Velma - Kristin, Live! hands down. And to the poster who insulted her above - I hope your TV dies so you can't see the live production on Monday.
Maybelle - Jennifer Hudson, Live! (I liked Queen Latifah's restraint, but Hudson is out of this world. I still prefer Alex Newell's version over both of them)
Penny - Kerry Butler, OBC (her "I can't hear anything" alone was enough)
Amber - Laura Bell Bundy, OBC (no competition here, sorry girls)
Seaweed - Elijah Kelly, Movie (was really the only convincing singer in the bunch who makes me want to take my panties off and fan myself)
Link - Matthew Morrison, OBC. I really wish he was doing Corny Collins, would have an amazing full circle moment. Derek's Corny is pretty meh other than that very convincing accent.
Corny - Clarke Thorell, OBC. See explanation for Seaweed above.
Inez - don't have an opinion, I think they all did a good job.
Updated On: 12/2/16 at 11:13 AM
Posted: 12/2/16 at 11:14am
In general the cast sounds great - however the production of this is so overdone and 'glossy' that it has drained all of the energy out. I'm sure hearing it live on Wednesday will fix that though...
And yes, Ariana sounds terribly out of place. I had such high hopes after hearing her do all those impressions on Jimmy Fallon...
Posted: 12/2/16 at 11:17am
Other than the lackluster backup vocals, I think all the principals are in excellent voice and having a lot of fun. Baillio is fine to me, nothing special vocally. It's such a joy to hear Harvey again. I think the attacks on Grande's vocals are kind of absurd...she sounds exactly like she sounds in every other recording. She has a crazy range and some power notes, but it can be thin on occasion. I thought her riffs in "Without Love" were excellent. Kristin is having a lot of fun.
Pleasantly surprised by Garrett Clayton and Dove Cameron - but the reason for this recording is Jennifer Hudson. Can Shaiman and Wittman write her a new show ASAP?
Posted: 12/2/16 at 11:18am
FAVORITES:
Tracy - Nikki Blonsky
Edna - Harvey Fierstein
Velma - Kristin Chenoweth
Maybelle - Queen Latifah, but Jennifer's IKWIB is barely better (that belt)
Penny - Amanda Bynes, but Kerry comes very close
Amber - Laura Bell Bundy
Seaweed - Elijah Kelly
Link - Zac Efron (Sorry :P)
Corny - James Marsden and Derek Hough come very close, but probably Derek
Inez - The girl who was her in the movie
Wilbur-Love OBC, Movie, and Live equally!
Posted: 12/2/16 at 11:25am
I guess I'm in the minority that finds this soundtrack to be brilliant. I find all the performers absolutely wonderful. Maddie sounds fantastic. Harvey and Kristin are just perfect. Pleasantly surprised by Dove and Garrett. Ariana I believe sounds terrific. But Jennifer really steals the entire recording.
Also, a bit surprised no one has mentioned it but the new recording of Ariana and Jennifer singing "Come So Far (Got So Far To Go)" is mesmerizing. It is out of this world.
My one gripe with the recording is that there is no "Prologue" or dance break during "You Can't Stop The Beat". Other than that, I find it to be a superb recording and I'm sure the performances on the 7th will surpass those on this recording.
But really though, no matter the performers, the score alone is simply sublime and captivates you.
Posted: 12/2/16 at 12:30pm
AKarp2013's icon reminded me...I am SO ready for NBC or Fox to do "Oliver! Live" and cast Lady Gaga as Nancy. For some reason I think that would be fantastic to see. Her belt on "As Long As He Needs Me" could be truly something!
Posted: 12/2/16 at 12:57pm
Ado Annie D'Ysquith said: "AKarp2013's icon reminded me...I am SO ready for NBC or Fox to do "Oliver! Live" and cast Lady Gaga as Nancy. For some reason I think that would be fantastic to see. Her belt on "As Long As He Needs Me" could be truly something!
"
Great voice for it, but wouldn't she be too old though?
Posted: 12/2/16 at 1:12pm
she's only 30, Georgia Brown was 29 when she played the part on Broadway and Shani Wallis was 35 in the movie version.
Posted: 12/2/16 at 1:13pm
Lady Gaga would really do wonderfully on Broadway. She's got an insanely powerful voice and she's a pretty good actor as well. I think that in the right show, she could be pretty stunning. She'd actually be a fantastic Audrey in Little Shop.
Posted: 12/2/16 at 1:26pm
Fun fact: Marsden channeled Bobby Darin so well as Corny in the film that I forgot he was the same James Marsden as Teddy on Westworld, and briefly got confused, thinking "isn't it funny that there are two different actors named James Marsden?"
Posted: 12/2/16 at 2:09pm
Damn, Ariana really botched this IMO. Jennifer is better than expected, although I love Alex Newell's "...Where I've Been," and parts of hers reminded me of his.
Posted: 12/2/16 at 4:47pm
gypsy101 said: "she's only 30, Georgia Brown was 29 when she played the part on Broadway and Shani Wallis was 35 in the movie version."
I'm not familiar with the novel, but I don't really like the idea of Nancy being an early 20-something....I think at least late 20's if not early 30's brings out the desperation in the character more. That being said most 30 somethings in Hollywood look like they are in there 20's anyway.
Posted: 12/2/16 at 5:00pm
Ariana really does ruin this whole thing.
Posted: 12/2/16 at 6:25pm
I'm really surprised they've released this before the actual broadcast. I've listened to the album in it's entirety and here are my thoughts on it.
First, I really love this score because it's one of the wittiest and keeps to the quirky/twisted spirit of the 1988 movie it's based on.
The original Broadway recording remains a favorite but I was never really a fan of Marissa Janet Winokur's vocals. She was definitely bested by Nikki Blonsky in the 2007 motion picture adaptation. The young girl here, Maddie Baillio acquits herself quite nicely ("I Can Here the Bells" is her best) but Blonsky remains my favorite "Tracy".
Count me as one who is extremely disappointed in Ariana Grande's vocals as "Penny Pingleton". There is absolutely no spunk and her vocals are devoid of any real joy. She is phoning it in - - - and it is a great disservice to the material. I am hoping that she considers a different approach for the actual broadcast or else she will be considered the show's weakest link (no pun intended).
Harvey Fierstein - - - simply marvelous - - - wasn't expecting anything less and he did not disappoint.
Dove Cameron does a really impressive job with her songs. She is very talented and may I add that she is simply gorgeous. I am looking forward to seeing her in the broadcast.
Kristin Chenoweth hit all the right notes with her rendition "(The Legend of) Miss Baltimore Crabs" - - - so no surprises there but I am still on the fence in regards to her rendition of "Velma's Revenge".
Nice vocals from Ephraim Sykes as "Seaweed Stubbs" on "Run and Tell That" but they lacked the vocal thrust that song was given by Elijah Kelley in the 2007 film. But then again even Corey Reynolds' version on the OBC pales in comparison to Kelley's so in my opinion Sykes' take falls somewhere in the middle.
Derek Hough does a very nice job with his numbers - - - very reminiscent of James Marsden's from the 2007 motion picture. Marsden is actually my favorite "Corny Collins" - I prefer his "Corny" to Clarke Thorell's.
Another nice surprise: Garrett Clayton as "Link Larkin" - - - I liked his vocals very, very much.
and then there is the performer who quite literally stole the whole album from everybody else: Jennifer Hudson.
She deserves all the accolades for take no prisoners approach to her material. She is hands down THE BEST THING about this album and I am eagerly waiting to see if she matches this recorded performance on the live broadcast. She should be extremely proud of her work here. She is talented, she is THE REAL DEAL.
It's nice to have another version of this score but of the three major ones this is the most uneven of the bunch.
My preferences in order: #1: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, #2: Original Broadway Cast Recording and #3: Original Soundtrack to the NBC Live Television Event.
Posted: 12/2/16 at 6:31pm
Hough sounds fantastic, and might easily surprise us and steal the spotlight, as his sister did in Grease Live.
Someone needs to tell Grande to sing out. It seems that she's protecting her own image/persona and not committing.
And there's something about Baillio that I just can't really put my finger on. She sounds boring, or monotone. Where's the excitement and pep in her voice??
Posted: 12/2/16 at 6:52pm
Poor Ariana being singled out as the weakest singer on an album that includes Harvey Fierstein.
I agree.
Posted: 12/2/16 at 6:56pm
Tag said: "And there's something about Baillio that I just can't really put my finger on. She sounds boring, or monotone. Where's the excitement and pep in her voice??
YES! That's exactly it! That's what she lacks - - - I was extremely disappointed with her rendition of "Good Morning Baltimore" because of this. Blonsky exuded all of that and more in her version. As I had mentioned in my earlier post I did not care much for Winokur and her "oh, oh, ohs" on "Baltimore" are extremely grating - - - like finger nails on a chalk board.
Posted: 12/2/16 at 7:04pm
Really impressed with the singing from everyone overall on this soundtrack. Solid voices all around. Right for the characters and the material. Looking forward to the live broadcast!
Posted: 12/2/16 at 7:40pm
I cannot get enough of Kristin Chenoweth's rendition of "(The Legend of) Miss Baltimore Crabs". Hysterical! A really fun listen. I can't wait to see it performed on Wednesday!
Posted: 12/2/16 at 7:43pm
I think everyone sound pretty phenomenal. Even Sykes, who isn't the powerhouse that Elijah Kelley is, doesn't ruin it.
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