Why does nobody like Wildhorn?

[Mr.Tenor]

Posted: 8/6/09 at 3:41pm

Its true that I have only listened to Jekyll and Hyde, but is Wildhorn really that bad? From what iv'e read and heard about him, it seems the whole world is against him. So is everything else he did awfully horrible or what?

- Mr.Tenor

[Roscoe]

Posted: 8/6/09 at 3:50pm

Yes. He is that bad. The occasional serviceable ballad does not excuse the overall lameness of the majority of his scores.

On the other hand, you may like Wildhorn. If you got through the JEKYLL AND HYDE score without wanting seeing what everybody hates about Wildhorn, he may just be your cup of tea. No shame there, there are lots of folks who like his music.

There are lots of folks who voted for George W. Bush, too. Twice.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 8/6/09 at 3:53pm

After enormous buzz of J&H for years, plus the success of some of its songs, the much-delayed Broadway production was a massive disappointment (having been tinkered to death and resembling little of the original production or subsequent tryouts). Since then, there's much negative bias towards him, especially since his shows have proven to be more popular abroad than in the US. I agree that Civil War was terrible, but I adored The Scarlet Pimpernel. But hating Wildhorn is a fad embraced by those hoping to impress their peers. Sort of like claiming Lloyd Webber is a hack or that Disney ruined Broadway. The fact that J&H continues to thrive internationally without the benefit of a hit Broadway production only infuriates them further.

In reality, a lot of people do like Wildhorn whether they know who he is or not. It's just not cool to admit it.

[Pgenre]

Posted: 8/6/09 at 3:53pm

VICTOR/VICTORIA. JEYLL&HYDE. SCARLET PIMPERNEL. CIVIL WAR. DRACULA.

That pretty much says it all.

P

[AlgonquinProd2]

Posted: 8/6/09 at 3:57pm

I actually like "Scarlet Pimpernel" overall better than Jekyll, although there are songs in "Jekyll" I love, including 'This is the Moment', 'In His Eyes' and 'Dangerous Games'. But I didn't like "Civil War" at all. I'd give him another shot, though. His tunes aren't overly complicated, but he's written some pretty songs.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 8/6/09 at 3:58pm

VICTOR/VICTORIA. JEYLL&HYDE. SCARLET PIMPERNEL. CIVIL WAR. DRACULA.

That pretty much says it all.

Why stop there? You forgot Camille Claudel, Rudolf, Carmen, Svengali, Never Say Goodbye and Waiting for the Moon.

I don't like everything he's written, but I do like several of his scores.

Updated On: 8/6/09 at 03:58 PM

[Pgenre]

Posted: 8/6/09 at 4:01pm

I stopped there because those are the only scores of his heard on Broadway (some only a few times!).

And I like CAMILLE CLAUDEL, SVENGALI and parts of HAVANA.

P

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 8/6/09 at 4:08pm

His music is a guilty pleasure of mine, but I think the biggest problem, aside from having too many power ballads, is that he changes his shows around too much. Many of these changes are often not for the better, as well.

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/6/09 at 4:10pm

I liked Scarlet Pimpernel quite a bit.

The rest, not so much.

[philly03]

Posted: 8/6/09 at 4:16pm

I love Wildhorn, .. he's only done one thing that I can see as actually fine for th hate, but most people don't mention it (DRACULA, the musical B'way debacle) - only the material, which is just dumb. I think A LOT of his problem is the people who write the lyrics - people like Jack Murphy seem to listen to a song by X and use synonyms or parts of it in his own songs (like many claimed Jill Santoriello did with Tale of Two Cities). Nan Knighton is a great lyricist, which is no surprise why people like SP a lot. Briscusse, with J&H, well .. some GREAT ones and then some huge clunkers.

Scores I enjoy the most: Camille Claudel, Scarlet Pimpernel, J&H.

BTW, I just got my Wonderland call just now. Whoooo.

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 8/6/09 at 4:49pm

I think the music to CIVIL WAR is amazing. I cried a few times just listening to it.

Jekyll and Hyde (recording with Warlow) is eons better than the Bway one.

Scarlet Pimpernel - "Where's the Girl" is GORGEOUS

He has his good and bad points. No way the worst ever but not the best either.

I agree with Mister Matt. A lot of people don't like him because it is not "cool" to. He is an easy target like Webber.

[Dre2387]

Posted: 8/6/09 at 4:49pm

There are certain songs in his musicals that I like. Some in Scarlet Pimpernel, some in others. I have to say, James Barbour singing "Loving You Keeps Me Alive" from Dracula is one of my favorite love songs ever. It may not be the greatest for some, but it is for me.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 8/6/09 at 4:59pm

I've been enjoying much of Count of Monte Cristo and the song "Walk Like a Woman" from Carmen is one of my current faves. It's insanely catchy and makes you want to get up and dance, especially the demo version performed by the deliciously fabulous Cheryl Freeman. What I wouldn't give to see her in Tommy once more.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 8/6/09 at 6:17pm

I like him, but I do think he's become quite a joke.

That said, Jekyll and Hyde was one of the best scores of the 90s, IMO, and I quite like Victor/Victoria and Dracula.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 8/6/09 at 6:30pm

"But hating Wildhorn is a fad embraced by those hoping to impress their peers. Sort of like claiming Lloyd Webber is a hack or that Disney ruined Broadway. The fact that J&H continues to thrive internationally without the benefit of a hit Broadway production only infuriates them further."

Maybe in future group therapy sessions you can practice just speaking for yourself, Mr. Matt. That way you might leave room for the possibility that many people come to the conclusion that they don't think Wildhorn is any good all on their own. However, if you must lump everybody who disagrees with you about this hack as mere faddists, perhaps you and Roxy can start a support group about the issue.

Updated On: 8/6/09 at 06:30 PM

[CMoore]

Posted: 8/6/09 at 6:41pm

I myself am grateful for Frank Wildhorn and the music he has written for Linda Eder. She is one of the greatest singers I've ever heard live and he played a large role in her career.

[GoSmileLaughCryClap]

Posted: 8/6/09 at 6:49pm

There are birthday cakes in grocery stores. They're big and round and have lots of sugar roses spread around the top with an empty space in the middle. The grocery baker writes whatever "Happy Birthday" message the desperate buyer requests.

The music of Frank Wildhorn is like the vegetable oil based red #2 colored rose that sits upon every miserable grocery store cake in the world.

It aspires to prettiness. It suggests that it will be memorable. It is undeniably sweet.

It is also cheap and depressing.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROBERT!

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 8/6/09 at 6:59pm

I like all of his shows with Jekyll & Hyde, The Scarlet Pimpernel and Dracula being favorites. I also think the songs that he wrote for Victor/Victoria are three of the best in the show. Especially "Trust Me" and "Living in the Shadows". I'm excited for Bonnie and Clyde too.

[PB ENT.]

Posted: 8/6/09 at 8:46pm

Frank has worked with a number of excellent performers from Linda Eder, Robert Cucciolo, Robert Evan, Douglas Sills, Lauren Kennedy, Terry Mann, Tom Hewitt, Christine Andreas, Chuck Wagner just to name a few, who have benefitted from his employment- some extensively. His dealings with these folks is no one's concern but theirs.

As long a people are willing to invest in Frank's projects, he will be there writing music. The more theatrical projects written and picked up, the more actors work. He may not be Broadway's favorite but he still writes for theater.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 8/6/09 at 9:25pm

Kudos to GoSmileLaughCryClap, a mere "faddist" wouldn't come up with something so devastatingly perfect and original as that!

[Soliantu]

Posted: 8/6/09 at 9:36pm

I like him, I just dont like how he changed his shows so often. like, how Pimpernel has changed so many times.. and Dracula. otherwise I love him, and I know philly does too. haha

[philly03]

Posted: 8/6/09 at 9:59pm

Yes I do Soliantu.

In my opinion, DRACULA, the musical as of now - the 2008 Graz/Austrian production is as good as it will be. Likewise, Pimpernel 1.0 was terrible and boring, minus the songs. SP 2.0 and onward were much more entertaining to watch. Obviously, this one could have been fixed with an out of town try-out, but a las...!

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 8/6/09 at 10:10pm

Ehh. I still think Dracula was at it's best at the La Jolla Playhouse. I'm not a huge fan of "Solitary Man", "Over Whitby Bay" and "Forever Young" in comparison to their La Jolla counterparts.

[BroadwayBaby6]

Posted: 8/6/09 at 11:22pm

Sondheim is to Wildhorn as Le Cirque is to McDonald's. While most people love a fast food burger, gourmands prefer a fine French meal.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 8/6/09 at 11:47pm

Even gourmands might want a fast food meal once in a while. Just not all of the time, I agree, but liking Wildhorn doesn't necessarily mean one lacks finer taste.