Idina Defying Gravity Single- Page 2

[avab802]

Posted: 6/20/07 at 9:14am

beautyofmydream, I think Bwaygirl was referring to Idina's concerts in Provincetown & Boston, but the arrangement of the song is pretty much the same as what she did at the Zipper.

Personally, I don't really like the remix, but I don't fault Idina for it. It's obvious that her record label thought this was a good way to market her new solo album. More people know her as "the girl from Wicked" than as Idina Menzel, solo artist. I hope it doesn't backfire. In 1998 when her first solo album came out they tried to market her as "the girl from RENT" and it didn't work so well. I just wish her the best and I can't wait to hear the new album regardless.

[lakezurich]

Posted: 6/20/07 at 9:15am

Broadwaygirl. While part of the blame is that of her producers most of the blame is on her, because if she didn't want to do something all she would have to do is say no. It is not like they are holding a gun to her head and forcing her to do all of these things. So I stick with my usage of the word SHE.

[avab802]

Posted: 6/20/07 at 9:26am

lakezurich, you try being a (to the general public) no-name singer and say no to Warner Bros Records. If she'd refused to record Defying Gravity, she'd probably be kissing her record deal goodbye.

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 6/20/07 at 10:43am

Like Ava said, try being an unknown artist on a major record label more than ten years older than the average person who gets signed to a major label these days, and then try saying "No," and watch how quickly they say "Okay, bye!"

Recording "Defying Gravity"--while I'm sure it was never on her list of things she ever wanted to do and still probably isn't something she's really crazy about doing--is something she's got to do to play that game for a while before she gets her music out there enough so she CAN say "No" (and even so...have you been reading the music news? Look at what happened to someone even with huge success like Kelly Clarkson when she DOES say "No") I'm sure if it was something that entirely went against what she stood for, she'd say "No," but since she's sang the song several hundred times, I'd imagine she figured hell, she's been waiting for a major deal for her whole life, if this is a compromise she has to make to play the game, it's not exactly the worst.

[lakezurich]

Posted: 6/20/07 at 11:43am

Sorry, I don't care for Kelly Clarkson, so I don't know what happened with her. Personally I think her saying no to recording DG would not have been a big deal, but I don't work in the recording industry, so I'm not sure. I think saying no would have been the best thing for her. Otherwise, as I mentioned earlier she will be stuck with Elphaba for the rest of her life. To the public that does not know her beyond Rent and Wicked she needs to do something that says "I can do much more than that." Which from what I've heard she hasen't been doing good with seperating herself from Wicked. Now I don't know if this is true or not but I heard that in an interview shortly after finishing her original run in Wicked she said that she would not do it again. But we all know that did not happen. She has got to seperate herself from this character. And don't say that she just went back to Wicked because she couldn't get a gig at that time. She had just finished "See What I Wanna See" so that demonstrated that she has high demand as an actress, because she basically started work on that show right after her first Wicked run, but she still decided to do Wicked in London instead of looking for something else. Which really confused me by the way, she wasn't brought in as a special Elphaba for any of the other productions that opened, so why the London one?

[avab802]

Posted: 6/20/07 at 12:13pm

Which really confused me by the way, she wasn't brought in as a special Elphaba for any of the other productions that opened, so why the London one?

Because the West End is to the UK what Broadway is to America. For her to open a production in another US city would have been a step down from Broadway, while opening in the West End was more of a lateral move. It gave her international exposure.
I have also heard through the rumor mill that the producers offered her an insane amount of money to open in London.

[AuditioningWaitress]

Posted: 6/20/07 at 12:28pm

People seem to be forgetting that she was on a major label before...Her first CD "Still I Can't Be Still" was released on Hollywood Records in 1998, which is owned by Disney. It didn't do very well and she bought back the masters.

[DRSisLove]

Posted: 6/20/07 at 12:46pm

Raul sounds like the male Julia Murney.

[avab802]

Posted: 6/20/07 at 1:20pm

Waitress, I didn't know she bought back the masters to SICBS. Interesting. I wonder if she plans to re-release/re-record any of those songs on her own, or if she bought them back so they'd never see the light of day again. I think it's a good album overall. Some strange production (background music that can only be described as "noises" on some tracks, in particular) but the songs themselves are all good.

[AuditioningWaitress]

Posted: 6/20/07 at 1:26pm

avab802, she already re-released it several years ago when she was in WICKED and put out the "Here" EP. You can get it at CD Baby.
Idina at CD Baby

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 6/20/07 at 1:35pm

"Personally I think her saying no to recording DG would not have been a big deal, but I don't work in the recording industry, so I'm not sure."
Oh, but the point is her recording it is not that big of a deal and it WOULD have been a big deal for this artist, who is really a nobody in the music industry (and like I said, significantly older than anyone who's even tried to break out into the industry) decided she'd say no to the people who signed her in spite of her not exactly being the perfect type of artist to market (again...age, her style of music, etc). Had she said no, I'm sure the record label would have said goodbye.

To the public that does not know her beyond Rent and Wicked she needs to do something that says "I can do much more than that."
You mean...like record an album? Had she said no to recording "Defying Gravity," she could very well have shut herself out of even having the option of releasing another album on a major label, which is the very thing that can stop her from getting "stuck" in the role (besides the fact that she's done movies and theatre since...). So while I my think it's a stupid strategy on the label's part, and I'd e willing to be she's not too fond of it either, it was probably in her best interest to sck it up and record it.

"Now I don't know if this is true or not but I heard that in an interview shortly after finishing her original run in Wicked she said that she would not do it again."
Uh, not in any interview I read. In fact, I recall her saying she wouldn't have minded going back, down the road maybe. But they were talking about the Broadway production, and I'm sure she didn't foresee the opportunity for international exposure. Remember, while going to do the role in London may seem repetitive to you, nobody over there would know who she is if she hadn't. It was a good career choice for her.


Auditioning, I don't think anybody is forgetting that; I just don't see why it would have come up in the conversation...


EDIT: By the way, Still... is being sold on Amazon and in Virgin Megastore and whatnot..there's not need to buy it on CDBaby; it's cheaper elsewhere. She seems to have worked out something with the label for a re-release because there's now an audience. This happened a year or so ago...
Updated On: 6/20/07 at 01:35 PM

[avab802]

Posted: 6/20/07 at 1:47pm

avab802, she already re-released it several years ago when she was in WICKED and put out the "Here" EP. You can get it at CD Baby.

Yeah, I know about that. I thought those were just left over copies from the original release, not a new pressing. They were for sale at Colony as well for a while, but with a hole punch out of the bar code. I'm not totally familiar with CD retailing, but I think that indicates that they were marked out of stock at the original point of sale and returned to the label.

Not that that really matters to this discussion. Back to the original topic...

[JRybka]

Posted: 6/20/07 at 1:52pm

I like the remix. I know I am in the minority. I am not a tweenie teen. I am 33 years old. But I like it. It is kitchy and fun.

[BroadwayDoc]

Posted: 6/20/07 at 1:57pm

"I'd imagine she figured hell, she's been waiting for a major deal for her whole life, if this is a compromise she has to make to play the game, it's not exactly the worst."

I think Waitress was responding to that comment. Plus after she left Hollywood Records she was signed to Dreamworks Records (which released RENT) but was one of the artists dropped (along with Daphne Rubin-Vega) when Universal bought them out. She put out the HERE EP on her own because at that time she was fed up with the larger labels.

As for her new CD, I've only heard the demos. And I don't know what will make the final cut. But, both "Rip In Heaven" and "So Perfect" where my personal favorites. But, I agree, I think "Defying" will be listed as a bonus track. Like "Taylor" was on Kristin's CD.

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 6/20/07 at 2:04pm

Have demos leaked? I haven't heard any. I'm kinda dying to, though.
Updated On: 6/20/07 at 02:04 PM

[BroadwayDoc]

Posted: 6/20/07 at 2:19pm

"EDIT: By the way, Still... is being sold on Amazon and in Virgin Megastore and whatnot..there's not need to buy it on CDBaby; it's cheaper elsewhere. She seems to have worked out something with the label for a re-release because there's now an audience. This happened a year or so ago..."

Just to clarify on this statement. Idina had the rights to STILL for X amount of years (I'm pretty sure it was 2, but don't quote me). So, the CD that you purchase on CD Baby is the one she released (hence the copyright - 1998 Idina Menzel) and she will receive all the profits for that sale (minus CD Baby's cut). The one being sold on through Amazon is the Hollywood Records reissue and she will only see probably $2 to $3 dollars (if that) off of that sale. So, if you want to support Idina, pay of few bucks more and support independent artists.

Off my soap box now.

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 6/20/07 at 2:29pm

In that case, shell out the dough for the one on CDBaby!
Updated On: 6/20/07 at 02:29 PM

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 6/20/07 at 2:47pm

As usual, Idina Menzel fans prove themselves to be tone deaf and blind.

It's like seeing a horrific murder, then saying it never happened.

Yes, she kills songs.

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 6/20/07 at 3:03pm

LOL. Brilliant metaphor.
Updated On: 6/20/07 at 03:03 PM

[avab802]

Posted: 6/20/07 at 3:51pm

I'm still stuck on BroadwayDoc's mention of demos. Should I bother scouring the Internet, Doc? Or do you work in the industry? I'd love a point in the right direction if they've leaked on the 'net. :)

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 6/20/07 at 3:56pm

Yeah, so am I...I assumed he was in the business because he seemed to know a lot about Idina's record label dealings.

I searched the internet and found nothing. Though if I didn't search hard enough, you should let me know, Doc. :)

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 6/20/07 at 8:11pm

broadwayguy2: Agreed.

It's kind of funny that she's screaming her way through a rather slow-paced song. Haha. And the lyrics don't fit the new rhythm at all, either...

[Sylar2]

Posted: 6/20/07 at 8:41pm

Please.... Taye ain't sleeping at home.... lol

[Raviolisun]

Posted: 6/20/07 at 9:02pm

I don't mind the one on her website, and I have yet to hear the other ones.

And you seriously think she's going to be doing this the rest of her life? She has done two Wicked productions. Two. That's not a lifetime, and hopefully, she will move on to bigger (well, I'm not sure if it gets any bigger than Wicked...) and better things in the future.

[vmlinnie]

Posted: 6/20/07 at 9:20pm

Ok, I detest the single arrangement, but that doesn't take away from Menzel's own talent.

But I just watched Raul Esparza on Chatterbox doing it - And I don't think Ive laughed that hard in a year! BRILLIANT.