Marti Pellow joins Chicago cast- Page 2

[robusa]

Posted: 8/9/04 at 12:59pm

thanks for the post madame x.

hoping that marti gets some positive reviews, if not here in the U.S. press.

his voice is wonderful and as others have stated, marti was not seeking theater stardom, it came to him.

please keep posting your reviews everyone.

[janem]

Posted: 8/9/04 at 1:30pm

give him some time, once he`s settled in he`ll knock you out, he must be nervous as hell, i know i would be, Broadway is nothing to be sneezed at is it...maybe they turned his mic down, he can sing for Scotland so there`s no way his voice would be weak unless he wasn`t well...

[wee Wet 1]

Posted: 8/9/04 at 3:17pm

So "G" you think Marti Pellow is only a pub singer do you?..Let me give you some genuine facts..Marti and his band(Wet Wet Wet)have sold out AND HEADLINED major venues such as large arenas' and stadii..around the world from UK to Australia.. From Egypt to Japan..26 top selling Uk singles(inc 3 No1's)inc. the absolutely massive WORLDWIDE hit "Love is all around" from the hit movie.."4 Weddings and a funeral.. this record was no1 in 26 countries at the SAME time.. BEAT THAT!!..10 top ten albums..in Uk..many more hits all around the globe..many, MANY silver, gold and platginum disc presentations globally..Even blew the established American acts off the stage at the 1994 Elvis tribute concert in Memphis..Pub singer? I DON'T think so..

[janem]

Posted: 8/9/04 at 4:04pm

weren`t the Wets the ONLY Uk band there?
says something doesn`t it..

[wee Wet 1]

Posted: 8/9/04 at 4:23pm

Yes..Jane they WERE the only Brit act there..

[janem]

Posted: 8/9/04 at 4:29pm

wonder why they were considered to be the ONLY act worth calling upon? the mind boggles..

[Moon55]

Posted: 8/9/04 at 9:52pm

From the very early Days with Wet Wet wet - Marti Pellow has been recognised as having an amazing voice by many well respected people in the music industry.
His voice has matured wonderfully - I simply can notunderstand why he is not impressing you on Broadway.
He was extreemly popular as Billy in the UK. Perhaps the above coment about nerves or possible ill health may be true?
In my opinion he did appear a little nervy on UK television interview the day before flying to the USA.
wet Wet 1 - a very nice summary of the Wets history - 'Love Is All Around' also broke uk record for longest at No.1 (U.K.) It held it for 15 weeks and marti went on after The Wets and had his own brilliant solo career.
G - ??? A PUB SINGER ??? - Are you seriously insane - no pub could cope with the masses that would flock to see him. Customers would never stand a chance of getting served.
BUT if you don't want him send him home where he is wanted and his talent is much appriciated!. Updated On: 8/9/04 at 09:52 PM

[janem]

Posted: 8/10/04 at 6:56am

very true moon,
I can`t wait for september, Glasgow, here I come!

[wee Wet 1]

Posted: 8/10/04 at 9:32am

..and I can't wait for Dec. when Marti and his band (Wet Wet Wet)are headlining vast (nearly sold out) Arenas' in the UK and Ireland, with strong rumors that Australia is next on the list..Gee must be SOME hell of a pub singer!! Updated On: 8/10/04 at 09:32 AM

[Moon55]

Posted: 8/10/04 at 9:38am

I wonder - If Marti Pellow was american would he have got a different reception on Broadway?
I still can't understand this negative reaction. If it was a new role to him maybe I could understand but he has played Billy here with great success.
Robusa - Any sign of any 'Official' press?? I also wonder if people will change opinions if the 'official' stuff is positive? I have seen it happen before!
Updated On: 8/10/04 at 09:38 AM

[robusa]

Posted: 8/10/04 at 9:51am

Mainstream press has been non-existent from what I can tell. If anyone in the New York area saw any, please post links.

I'm sure there were plenty when Kevin "Backstreet Boy" Richardson played Billy Flynn, but of course none for Marti.

In regards to the Scottish accent post... I am quite interested to see how Marti does with his American accent. I could see this as the only slight negative of his performance in the US.

Any knock on his vocal talents is just rubbish.

Looking forward to Saturday and wish i could make it over in December to one of the 15,000+ seat pubs... oh yeh didn't Wet Wet Wet open for Elton John years ago, too? At Madison Square Garden! Updated On: 8/10/04 at 09:51 AM

[wee Wet 1]

Posted: 8/10/04 at 10:03am

LOL @ 15,000 seater pubs..And yes Sir Elton (gee I wish we all could be called "Sir")Did invite Marti's group to open for him, long before most people had even heard of them..Btw I wonder how many ppl. know that there is a "Marti Pellow day" held each May in Memphis, Tennessee?..(I kid you NOT)

[Madame X]

Posted: 8/10/04 at 10:09am

Well, like I said, I didn't even know who Marti was before this thread came up (and am actually having a hard time figuring out these songs of WWW - I digress) and so I had no idea he was Scottish. I would've never guessed he was Scottish when I saw him (just slimey :)).

[wee Wet 1]

Posted: 8/10/04 at 10:29am

..he's MEANT to be "slimey" LOL..he's Billy Flynn of course.. And about the songs from Wet Wet Wet.. I suggest,(as a start) you check out a Cd album called "Part One" on the London records (USA) label.. Cat. no. 314 522 285-2..This Cd has 12 top WWW hits, inc. the massive "Love is all around" from "4 weddings"..I'm sure (after a couple of plays) you WON'T be disappointed.

[robusa]

Posted: 8/10/04 at 10:43am

i wonder where g went? probably at a pub with other understudys.

[wee Wet 1]

Posted: 8/10/04 at 11:00am

a 100 seater 1?

[Madame X]

Posted: 8/10/04 at 11:54am

I know he's meant to be slimey - hence the smiley after writing it. Like this see --> :)

[wee Wet 1]

Posted: 8/10/04 at 12:06pm

Yes..Madame..I DO understand.. That's why I said "LOL":))

[CJR]

Posted: 8/10/04 at 12:13pm

I had trouble understanding his accent at times. It wouldn't have been so bad if he just stuck with one... but sometimes he seemed to try to "americanize" his accent which made it more difficult.

[robusa]

Posted: 8/10/04 at 12:41pm

if he didn't try to 'americanize' it, most americans would have not liked him at all. his natural accent is very scottish. like i said earlier, his one knock on broadway could (and I emphasize could bc i haven't seen him yet) be him speaking with an american accent.

regardless, his vocal prowess isn't matched by many singers anywhere!
Updated On: 8/10/04 at 12:41 PM

[CJR]

Posted: 8/10/04 at 1:08pm

Please read my comments on the other Chicago discussion thread... I went into detail about the show.
CHICAGO -- Here we go again

[robusa]

Posted: 8/10/04 at 2:11pm

"His singing voice was fine, but nothing to write home about. He's got a weak belt and sometimes he sang SO softly that the ensemble mightily overpowered him. I do have to give him credit though -- he held the note at the end of Gun longer than any Billy"

singing voice was "fine" that's the best you can describe it?
weak belt? was it leather? because if you are referring to his voice, how does someone hold a "note at the end of Gun longer than any Billy" with a weak belt?
"softly" maybe the audio folks at the ambass not used to his "fine" voice? Updated On: 8/10/04 at 02:11 PM

[CJR]

Posted: 8/10/04 at 2:19pm

Holding a note and belting a note are two different things. Brent Barrett (who Marti couldn't hold a candle to in the singing department) belted the sh!t out of that note, but didn't hold it for 27 seconds.

Yes, his singing voice was fine. He wasn't the worst Billy I've seen (*cough*GeorgeHamilton*cough*) but he certainly wasn't the best. Like I said, he was nothing to write home about. And no, there was nothing wrong with the audio at the Ambassador -- I could understand you saying that if I was sitting in the Mezz or the back of the orchestra... but I was 4th row center orchestra.

[Plum]

Posted: 8/10/04 at 2:58pm

Agreed, agreed, and agreed, CJR.

[Moon55]

Posted: 8/10/04 at 3:56pm

Love the Comment about Marti's accent ROBUSA - Can you imagine him playing Billy with his glaswgian accent! He has to meodify his accent for the english to understand it so there is noway the americans would stand a chance.
If he canme across as slimey and you did not realise he was Scottish it sounds to me as if he was acting very well.