Wow, so much to say in reaction to the cd as well as comments posted...so many thoughts, so little time, lol.
Well, I'll just start with the fact that I love it. Mostly because it's like this kick ass time capsule of the show and the actors, and how they've grown..and I feel like parts of my life too in a way.
When I first listened to it, I found tears welling up, just because here I was, 10 years later, listening to Rent for the first time again, basically. And it instantly and uncontrollably sent me right back to 10 years ago when I heard the OBC for the first time, and made me think of my reactions then to hearing the lyrics for the first time and the effect they had on the person I was and my outlook on my future and life in general - just very powerful and overwhelming. No matter how much I may now think it's a bit of a 'fad' that teens get into this show, and then you go to study theatre and kinda grow out of it (maybe that was just me and the people I knew - I certainly don't speak for everyone here), there's no changing that period in time when this show impacted my life immensely, and that will always stay with me. Listening to this cd for the first time took me right back to that place, and I haven't left it since.
I love how much they've all grown and that you can hear it undeniably on the album. As someone said before, it is a soundtrack, which is very different than an obc. Not only that, but it's the tracks from the film itself, so...it's kinda like if, hypothetically speaking (cause NO ONE really does this lol) someone ipodrecorded a show or something and listened to it - you'd expect a difference in that and the obc, right? maybe that's a bad example.
I digress. I love that you can just listen to it and get the full extent of what they're expressing and feeling just by listening to them - that they've all grown as actors to the point that now they're not just rockin' out to this great new music, but have learned how to truly cherish the words and fully utilize them as a means of dialogue and expression as opposed to just something that goes along with this melody - does that make any sense? There seems to now be a marriage between the lyrics and music that is lacking (in comparison to this one I mean) in the original, to sum up what I'm trying to say on that subject.
I like tracie a lot. I love that she's just different: not better, not worse. The whole tone of her voice is just different from Fredi's right from the get-go so there's no "this is a comparison" but rather an obvious new interpretation of the character so you take it as something new and not meant to be put up side-by-side to the obc joanne immediately. I dunno which I like better: fredi's rich, thick, soulful voice, or tracie's light, clear. but-can-still-funk-it-up-with-the-best-of-em' voice...but I love that there are two options now, y'know?
Onto the last part ms. dawson. Not sure how to put this. The first time i listened, I thought "very impressive" - and I STILL think that. But that first time I remember thinking "so much potential there, I can't wait to hear where it goes"...and then I realized, neither in the movie, or the more I listen to the cd, will it 'go' anywhere, y'nkow? (yet another reason why I'd choose live theatre over film any day of the week and twice on Sunday, lol) It seems that, knowing she's such a strong actress and that she has a naturally beautiful and pop-ish vocal quality, that they could have gone further with making her sound less "I'm singing on an 'album'" and more "I'm singing because my emotions are so intense that simply SPEAKING these words isn't enough to express what I'm feeling and what these words mean to me" - there are most certainly many instances where she DOES manage that, but overall. because everyone else on the cd is at that level 100% of the time, she suffers in comparison.
The only 'qualm' I have with listening to her is that I DETEST her vowels. I can understand making some choices to make it more 'rock' sounding, but I dont' think that's what that choice was. I think it was just not knowing better, or a choice that perhaps will be conveyed and clear once it's SEEN. I just have a huge pet peeve about bad vowels, especially dipthongs that are sustained on the wrong sound...it's like nails on a chalk board to me.
I do feel absolutely certain though that when I SEE the movie, Rosario's entire package of the acting and hearing the 'so-so' singing parts together will blow me away and that she'll be amazing. No doubt in my mind about that one: the girl is pretty fierce. I also think she could be an amazing musical theatre performer if she sticks with it and just gains experience and a teeny bit of training with her instrument vocally.
All in all, I love the fact that this cd even exists because it's this chance to listen to the show for the first time all over again and embrace the growth and the changes, all the time understanding that it's a new medium, but that the message is still there.
yay rent! can't wait to see it!
oy - sorry for hte long post - it's been months I think since I posted, so I'm makin' up for lost time
Kristy
If I show you the darkness I hold inside, will you bring me to light?
Updated On: 10/6/05 at 10:00 PM
