Matilda had better songs than Wicked Much Better
Matilda had better songs than Wicked Much Better
Bunes
Swing Joined: 11/27/13
#2Matilda had better songs than Wicked Much Better
Posted: 11/30/13 at 3:50amThis is coming from the man who wrote some of the worst musical theatre songs ever for The Wizard of Oz... He's not helping his cause by writing music that is trash.
#2Matilda had better songs than Wicked Much Better
Posted: 11/30/13 at 3:51am
I agree. However, not just Matilda. There have been countless musicals with "great songs" that have been written since Wicked, that have scores that are superior to Wicked's. Like, I know we're not living in the golden age of Broadway music anymore but for god's sake Wicked was not by any stretch of the imagination the last musical with a great score.
Not like ALW knows what good music is anyway, so I don't know why I'm surprised that he said something like that.
#3Matilda had better songs than Wicked Much Better
Posted: 11/30/13 at 4:07amAnd if Wicked is the standard he setting for the music he writes... Yikes. And this is coming from someone how thoroughly enjoys some of his work.
charliebrown5
Understudy Joined: 8/1/13
#4Matilda had better songs than Wicked Much Better
Posted: 11/30/13 at 4:08am
I have to say that Wicked was one of the last musicals where I liked the music before I saw the show. Given its album sales, I think many would agree. It isn't necessary to see the show to enjoy the music.
Growing up I bought and loved a lot of OBCRs of shows I hadn't seen. That's not often true anymore. I've regretted purchases of many recent hit shows I haven't seen. (I don't live in NYC, you do what you can.) I'm sure the songs work in the context of the show, but they don't really stand alone all that well.
I haven't seen Matilda and have only heard great things, but none of the songs I've heard have motivated me to download the album.
Updated On: 11/30/13 at 04:08 AM
#5Matilda had better songs than Wicked Much Better
Posted: 11/30/13 at 4:24am
"they don't really stand alone all that well."
They weren't written to stand alone. They were literally written to be within the context of the show. If a musical theatre composer is writing with the purpose of creating songs that are able to stand alone, then they are absolutely focusing on the wrong thing.
#6Matilda had better songs than Wicked Much Better
Posted: 11/30/13 at 4:28amAnd I mean like, if a score is able to stand on its own outside of the context of the show, that's not a BAD thing, but that's not how a score should EVER be judged in my opinion.
#7Matilda had better songs than Wicked Much Better
Posted: 11/30/13 at 4:44amNext To Normal would like a word with Webber.
charliebrown5
Understudy Joined: 8/1/13
#8Matilda had better songs than Wicked Much Better
Posted: 11/30/13 at 5:14am
"They weren't written to stand alone. They were literally written to be within the context of the show."
Very true. But a great song is a great song. And most, if not all, classic musical theatre songs work both within the context of the show and on their own.
#9Matilda had better songs than Wicked Much Better
Posted: 11/30/13 at 6:11am
ALW opens mouth; effluent spouts forth. Recently he declared a 3rd year drama students was the best Evita ever. I wonder how EP, PL or ER to name just a few felt about that?
Maybe he is competing with Boris Johnson for biggest oaf in Britain?
Bunes
Swing Joined: 11/27/13
#10Matilda had better songs than Wicked Much Better
Posted: 11/30/13 at 6:13amDear ALW this a list of musicals that had better songs than Wicked
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#11Matilda had better songs than Wicked Much Better
Posted: 11/30/13 at 7:12am
My, what an interesting list.
While I don't agree with him, he's entitled to his opinion -- even about a student performance. Instead of assuming that was an insult to the professional performers, maybe it was just an incredible compliment to the student.
#12Matilda had better songs than Wicked Much Better
Posted: 11/30/13 at 7:15am
"Recently he declared a 3rd year drama students was the best Evita ever."
Source?
indytallguy
Broadway Star Joined: 7/13/08
#13Matilda had better songs than Wicked Much Better
Posted: 11/30/13 at 7:29am
Source?
I Googled that for you:
http://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/11-2013/lloyd-webber-hails-arts-ed-student-best-eva-peron-_32651.html
#14Matilda had better songs than Wicked Much Better
Posted: 11/30/13 at 11:43am
He can pay compliments but should
a) try to be tactful
b) stop talking in hyperbole- it makes him seem like a foolish old man
Mattbrain
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/23/05
#15Matilda had better songs than Wicked Much Better
Posted: 11/30/13 at 11:54amOk, folks, let's think about this…he cast the composer of Matilda, Tim Minchin, as Judas in that arena production of JCS. Tim openly voiced his outrage that they autotuned him on the DVD and now Andrew Lloyd Webber has openly put down his score among others. I imagine the old boy will be mighty pissed now.
Videos