Question about Movie Musicals

[seaweedjstubbs]

Posted: 11/20/07 at 7:35pm

It's very entertaining to read the reviews of the Hairspray and Dreamgirls OBRCs on iTunes since the release of the movies. Many people call the OBCRs rip-offs and say things like "such-and-such is waaaaaaaaaayyyyyy better than such-and-such!" Do they not understand that without the original they wouldn't have the movie soundtracks? My question is, if people had heard the OBCRs before they ever heard of the movies, would they have the same reaction? Personally, as much as I love both movies and all the recordings, I find myself listening to the OBCRs more than the movie soundtracks. Maybe that's just because I've become comfortable with the voices on the OBCRs, and hearing someone different sing these songs took some getting used to. What do you think? (hope this makes sense!)

[Taka]

Posted: 11/20/07 at 7:37pm

I think it's the celebrity factor myself. If Jennifer Hudson was in the original cast of Dreamgirls, I'm pretty certain that they'd find Jennifer Holliday to be a rip off.

[alxscrz2]

Posted: 11/20/07 at 9:52pm

I would much rather listen to a OBCR than a movie soundtrack of a show. Lol plus most of the times movie actors can't sing.

[futurenala]

Posted: 11/20/07 at 10:22pm

I was just thinking about this the other day. I personally prefer listening to an OBCR than a movie soundtrack. But sometimes certain songs in the movie soundtrack sound better than the OBCR. I also hate how since the Hairspray movie came out. Hairspray OBC videos on youtube went from,"I love this song...love this musical!" To,"they sound horrible!...movie cast sounds so much better!"

[Pascal/Menzel/Bundy]

Posted: 11/20/07 at 10:43pm

Most of the time, I think it's just a matter of who you hear first because that's what you get comfortable with. Most people who saw hairspray on Boradway first like that cast better and those who saw the movie first prefer them.

And I totally agree with you on the youtube comments, futurenala. Why can't people just have their preferences AND except that their favorites aren't the only ones with talent? Every single RENT video is now some massive debate on Rosario vs. Daphne. It can get pretty ugly.

[outdamnwench]

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

I find that I usually prefer and are drawn to the cast that I heard first weather that's the original or movie (or revival etc.).

That being said, I also like the higher production quality (bigger band) of movie soundtracks. I much prefer "You Can't Stop the Beat" from the movie soundtrack simply because the music itself is a lot better (also, because I don't have Marissa Jaret Winokur screeching in my ear for five minutes straight).