Why Idina?- Page 2

[allofmylife]

Posted: 6/8/06 at 12:41am

All that being said, what the hell is that Tarzan call about at the end of "Defying Gravity?"

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 6/8/06 at 2:27am

I think it's just an improvised thing that the singers do at the end because all of the Elphabas end it differently.

I don't see what's wrong with her. I think she's great. She's got such a mystery to her and she's got a very interesting look. I think the reason why people don't latch themselves to Sutton is because she comes off as being rather perfect. She has such great placement with her voice and it's so perfect, where as Idina's voice can be pitchy and it goes all over the place. Idina just seems more "real." Someone that I could hang out with and talk to rather than some of the other Broadway Divas. Not to mention she's been the leading lady in a lot of "hip" plays for younger generations.

[scooter38432]

Posted: 6/8/06 at 7:43am

OK. Not much of an Idina fan here.

She has proven that she can sing reasonably well, provided she doesn't yell her head off. (But she continues to do just that.)


To call her an "actress" -- and the fact that she has a "Best Actress" Tony Award is really pushing the envelope. Come on. Did you see her in WICKED? Not too much acting going on there on her part. Her line deliveries were painful. I couldn't even get through the film of RENT -- especially when watching her.

Regarding the posting commenting on her Tarzan yell at the end of 'Defying Gravity'... THANK YOU! The end of that song is so painful to listen to! Every time I hear it, I always think "I'll bet she regrets screeching like that during the recording session." However, upon seeing her do the role, I was hoping that she had come up with a better choice, vocally and creatively, to end the number. No luck. It was even worse in person. (And on the Tonys that year.) Ouch! It hurts to listen to it.

She's an entertainer. She's attractive. She gets lots of work. She's got a hot husband. That'll make her popular in the eyes of American teenagers. Enough said.

Updated On: 6/8/06 at 07:43 AM

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 6/8/06 at 8:23am

Very well said, Scooter. I have never been a fan either (having seen her in the original company of Rent). She has a unique singing voice, one in which I don't particularly care for. That being said, I felt her performance on the Today show last week, was probably one of the better times I have heard her sing. After seeing Stephanie Block's wonderful interpretation of Elphaba in the touring company of Wicked, I, too, asked myself, "Why Idina?"

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 6/8/06 at 8:27am

Idina is talented, fun and young. She inspires. I love her. WICKED AND AIDA have inspired me. Not a big fan of Maureen but I love RENT itself.

People just see talent and hard work and are drawn to it.

[smiles]

Posted: 6/8/06 at 8:29am

I think she's good just not as great. I love wicked.....but it has nothing to do with her. I think there are better perormers out there. I love rent..... and I think Idina did a good job as Maureen......but she's the performer I like least (out of the

[AnnaFabulous]

Posted: 6/8/06 at 10:34am

Okay......here's my take.

Idina sounds pretty on a cd, and looks good on TV making her very appealing so that when her young fan base sees her it's like they're starstruck and it doesn't matter if she sucks or not. Not true for the whole fanbase, but definitely a majority.

My opinion, although she's a nice goodhearted person, she has difficulty staying on pitch (kinda difficult in rehearsals) in rehearsals and many live performances (Tony's anyone?), and as an actress can be equated to Acting Lite, meaning she gives you the basics and some good moments, but never really digs in. *sigh*

[Marlene]

Posted: 6/8/06 at 11:32am

You’re all making Idina sound like Britney Spears circa…1999. Her fan base when compared to the likes of tween icons during the 90s and of today—I imagine, is really negligible. (Maybe I’m just not really giving her the credit she deserves, but when Idina is mentioned, for longest time [prior to RENT becoming a movie] most people who actually have heard her name before knew who she was due to the death threats she received while performing at Gershwin.)

To be honest I can’t think of at least some minute way in which one cannot identify with the characters Ms. Menzel has played, especially Elphaba, which adds in the whole “Wicked factor.” (That this board loves scorn.) Moreover, her vulnerability and honesty in character and from what I garner from her off stage and off screen appearances adds to her appeal. She just has this sense of reality that one may not find from other larger than life icons.

I for one was not acquainted with her work prior to Wicked, and I guess it didn’t help that having no context of RENT, around 4 of 5 years ago, someone just decided to play Over the Moon to me. Regardless, I just didn’t think very much of Ms. Menzel at the time, just as some eyebrow raising, Broadway type that had nothing on Britney Spears. (Okay, I think I was over Britney by the 4th grade, but you get the idea.)

Personally, even though it might be at Idina’s expense, I much rather see these young individuals be interested in someone like Idina and her work, over what I was interested in when I was 13 (which honestly I’m just a several years shy of).

I see Idina as a talented individual that just has this presence that I can’t really explain. Plus points for her since she is attractive and she can sing. I have the utmost respect for her, considering all the situations she has been through, that I’m privy to knowing. I definately like the fact that Idina doesn't scream perfect, in her roles and in life. And I guess I can partially thank Idina for expanding my knowledge of theater. For I’m willing to admit, I was exposed to the works of composers like Michael John LaChiusa before for interest in Ms. Menzel’s work.

Though negligible, I guess you can consider that as compared to other celebrities Idina is more assessable than others. Which is true for anyone on Broadway—the stage door, which will excite some fans to bring large bulky posters, and wardrobe choices that attest their errrrm, fascination with her. (*reminisces over those boyband, spice girls, and britney t’s*)

I really don’t think I should speak of this topic anymore, and just live a closeted Idina Menzel love, so I’m not attacked by flagrant remarks. Psssyche. I have to have my occasional moments of *SQUEEEE OMFG, it’s EYE-dina MEN-ZEEEEEEL!!!* It’s “healthy.”

This whole blurb I wrote still doesn’t really explain “WHY IDINA?” But honestly, can explain anything that goes through the head of a pre-teen? Good luck if you think you can. Updated On: 6/8/06 at 11:32 AM

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 6/8/06 at 11:40am

AnnaFabulous, it's hard to sing at the Tonys. You're in a bigger theater, you haven't really performed the song all that much, and it's just a different atmosphere. Not mention it's an award show being watched by millions of people. Also, Tonya Pinkins performance at the Tonys was reportedly "pitchy" - but I don't think any of us would call her a bad singer or bad actress based on that performance.

I think she's a great singer. Obviously the "yelling" thing works for her, but obviously it's not yelling because if it were, she couldn't do it 8x a week for two years. Her vocal cords would be shot.

I think a lot of older people don't like her because she's not for them. She's for the younger generation. She doesn't have a legit soparano voice. She'll never be in Sunday in the Park With George or Sweeney Todd. People look up to her, I don't see why you have to knock someone's role model for whatever reasons.

[peggyandvelma]

Posted: 6/8/06 at 11:54am

If you go outside the theatre world, this question will become "Idina Who??" I don't think the Idina craze is as big as your making it out to be. Maybe it's just me, I don't know.

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 6/8/06 at 12:03pm

"To call her an "actress" -- and the fact that she has a "Best Actress" Tony Award is really pushing the envelope. Come on. Did you see her in WICKED? Not too much acting going on there on her part. Her line deliveries were painful. I couldn't even get through the film of RENT -- especially when watching her."

Oh, but, you see...I beg to differ. Being an actress myself, I cringe at the criticism of "line deliveries" to begin with, because I think it shows a lack of understanding for the overall picture and the layers and "subext" of one's acting choices, but I assure you there certainly WAS a whole LOT of acting going on there on her part.

As for RENT, I've made it no secret that I think the movie is a disgrace and that I really REALLY did NOT like her "Over the Moon" in the film, but besides those few minutes, I think she was the best thing about the film.

I really think it's a taste thing. I dare say she is undeniably talented, but she's certainly NOT for everyone. And since she is so raw and contemporary, obviously she appeals more to a youger crowd than an older crowd. Pile on top of that the fact that she comes from RENT, Wicked, Aida, and Lippa's Wild Party--it's pretty obvious she's coming from shows not necessarily loved or respected by "elitists" and loved by younger fans.

But I don't think that negates the talent she actually has.
Updated On: 6/8/06 at 12:03 PM

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 6/8/06 at 12:10pm

Well said BroadwayGirl107.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 6/8/06 at 12:19pm

Everything was fine until you used the word "elitist".

[Becoz_i_knew_you21]

Posted: 6/8/06 at 1:05pm

I'm going with what RENTBOY said about Idina being "real".

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 6/8/06 at 1:48pm

Dottie, the word was used in quotations because I personally don't like it, and couldn't really put another word in it's place off the top of my head (I was writing on my way out the door). Perhaps I should have just said that she has made her name in from a school of theatre that isn't necessarily made up of the deepest, most meaningful, or classic shows around with the finest construction. They're influenced by contemporary pop music more than standard Broadway tunes or classical music, and they are fluffy, cartoonish tellings of darker stories. I think the fact that she has made her name in such shows that fall short of certain standards, it causes some people to turn their heads away.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 6/8/06 at 2:29pm

No problem, BWgirl. Your post was very insiteful. I just don't consider myself "elitist" because I don't happen to care for Idina.

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 6/8/06 at 2:49pm

Well said, BroadwayGirl107 Thank you and I totally agree.

[OddExoticCreature]

Posted: 6/8/06 at 4:48pm

"Oh, right, That's Buffy." aaahahahahaha

I agree with everyone. Yay. (hypocrite? no, I just feel like being easy-going today.)

[fiyerosfirstlove]

Posted: 6/9/06 at 10:42pm

If you look at when Idina's Popularity really came about, it was with Wicked. Now, I personally am a huge Idina Menzel fan, but that is for very personal reasons that have nothing to do with her talent or any of the characters she has played, certainly not Elphaba, I'm more of a Glinda myself. I think teenage girls go to see Wicked and see themselves as the character of Elphaba, which they then in turn relate to Idina Menzel. I think she's a very impressive performer with a lot of power, but as far as my inspiration, Bernadette Peters all the way.

[WhenURScrap]

Posted: 6/9/06 at 10:48pm

She was in AIDA?

[Fiction Writer]

Posted: 6/9/06 at 10:50pm

I heard some of her solo stuff on barnesandnoble.com, and I was shocked. It's so grungy and weird. I didn't like it.

She played the Egyptian princess.. Amneris, or something. I think "My Strongest Suit" is well suited for her voice.

[jimnysf]

Posted: 6/9/06 at 10:51pm

Idina who?

Updated On: 6/9/06 at 10:51 PM

Posted: 6/9/06 at 10:52pm

She did indeed play Amneris in Aida, from September 2001 to January 2002. I'm not a fan of her My Strongest Suit, but she put a nice spin on I Know the Truth.

[Fiction Writer]

Posted: 6/9/06 at 10:56pm

I knew the character name, but didn't know how to spell it. I didn't see the production, and unless she's on the OBC, I haven't heard her in it.

That woman reminds me of Cha Cha, or whatever her name is. Choo-Choo... The scary latino woman who was on Hollywood Squares.

Posted: 6/9/06 at 11:00pm

I wasn't correcting you (you did in fact spell it correctly), just giving confirmation. :)