30 Days of Star Wars: Day 19

A Character You Didn't Like In The Series

Again, from 78 Reasons To Hate Episode 1

General Grievous was one of my biggest problems with Episode III before seeing the movie, and after seeing it that hasn't changed. Pictures of General Grievous led me to believe that he was a hell-demon of pure evil. Two seconds after seeing him onscreen in the theater showed that he was just a big, dumb idiot.

Nearly any possible potential fear of Grievous is eliminated as soon as he doubles over to begin hacking and wheezing. It is already relatively difficult to be scared of a robot with emphysema, but any remaining potential for fear is removed when he begins talking.

To further weaken Grievous's character, he is a tremendous coward: a scheming, double-crossing bad guy who would be better suited as the nemesis of a cartoon rabbit than the Jedi order. It is also worthy of noting how bizarre it is that Grievous coughs as much as he does, considering he doesn't appear to have any lungs.

(my thoughts)

People have argued that Grievous has this incredible backstory that explains the coughing, and why he has an actual heart.  That's wonderful. However, when I sit in the theatre to watch the movie for the first time, I DON'T HAVE THAT KNOWLEDGE UNLESS IT'S GIVEN TO ME! Since this was never explained in Revenge of The Sith, the audience is left wondering what is wrong with this character, and why any of the Jedi even care about his existence since he's not scary at all.

Love Never Dies....But Maybe it Should

How many of you are aware that there is a sequel to The Phantom of the Opera?  I had NO IDEA about this until recently.  If you haven't seen it, or plan on seeing it, I'm about to give the entire story away in this review, so you've been warned!

The following is from the Love Never Dies musical page on Wikipedia:

Act I

In a brief prelude, Madame Giry walks along an abandoned pier recalling Phantasma, Coney Island's 'City of Wonders' ("Prologue"). She is then confronted by Fleck, a freak who once worked with her there, who reminds her of 'the good old days' and blames her for 'what happened.' The audience is transported back in time through "The Coney Island Waltz."

It is now ten years after the events at the Paris Opera House, in 1907--admittedly a chronology inconsistent with the first show, and the setting is at Phantasma on Coney Island in New York. An excited group of vacationers arrive overwhelmed at everything that Phantasma has to offer, and speculate about its reclusive, masked owner - known only as Mr. Y ("Heaven by the Sea"). Meg Giry, Christine Daae's friend from the Opera, is now a headlining performer at Phantasma with Madame Giry, her mother and the Opera's ballet mistress, at her side.

As Meg prepares for her performance, she wonders what the boss will think and states she will be performing "Only for Him." She wins the crowd over with her performance of "Only for You," and learns afterward that Madame Giry has arranged for her to "meet" an important client.

In "The Aerie," it is confirmed that the Phantom is Mr. Y, the mysterious creator and owner of Phantasma. In a dark, private lair in a tower high above the park, he interacts with an automaton that resembles Christine. In spite of the ten years that have passed and his many successes, he still longs to be reunited with her ("Til I Hear You Sing"). Meg intrudes and presses the Phantom to give feedback on her performance, but he dismisses her as an annoyance.

Madame Giry is irritated that the Phantom is still longing to be with Christine after all the help she has given him over the years ("Giry Confronts the Phantom/Til I Hear You Sing - Reprise"). She reveals that she and Meg helped smuggle him out of Paris and to a ship departing from Calais, where he made his escape to America. Ignoring Giry, the Phantom summons Fleck, who appears with two other freaks, Squelch and Gangle. The Phantom has them send a letter to Christine inviting her to come and perform at Phantasma.

(Fleck, Squelch, and Gangle; the Phantoms "freaks")

Three months later, Christine, Raoul and their son, Gustave, arrive in New York to crowds of paparazzi ("Christine Disembarks"). It is revealed that Christine is no longer performing and that Raoul has spent much of their fortune on drinking and gambling. They are greeted by the freaks who arrive by a strange mechanical horse and carriage and take them to Coney Island ("Arrival of the Trio/Are You Ready to Begin?").

Raoul is angry at the way they have been greeted by the freaks and upsets Gustave by not playing with him ("What a Dreadful Town!"). In spite of Christine's pleas, Raoul leaves to go drinking as Christine tells Gustave to "Look With Your Heart" to try and help him understand his father’s behavior.

After Gustave leaves to go to bed, the Phantom enters and reveals that it was he who summoned her to sing at Phantasma. In "Beneath a Moonless Sky," the Phantom and Christine recall the night of passion they shared the day before her wedding. Early the next morning, Christine awoke prepared to abandon Raoul for the Phantom, but found that the Phantom had left her. He admits that he left because he was too afraid of being rejected by her again.

They recall that "Once Upon Another Time," they thought their love had a chance of succeeding, although current situations prevent that from happening. Gustave wakes up screaming from a nightmare and meets the Phantom for the first time as Mr. Y ("Mother Please, I'm Scared!"). The Phantom promises to show Gustave more of Phantasma the next day.




In the rehearsal studio for Phantasma, Meg unexpectedly reunites with Christine, and is surprised and jealous to learn she will be singing there. Raoul runs into Madame Giry and discovers it is the Phantom who has invited Christine to sing there ("Dear Old Friend"). Christine becomes concerned when Gustave goes missing. The freaks bring Gustave to the Aerie where he is greeted by the Phantom.

Gustave plays a haunting melody on the piano, which leads the Phantom to have a revelation that he could be Gustave's father ("Beautiful"). The Phantom questions Gustave about his feelings and musical abilities, finding that they are kindred spirits. He unmasks himself, believing Gustave will accept him ("The Beauty Underneath"). Gustave is horrified and screams.



Christine enters to comfort a terrified Gustave. When the Phantom presses her about Gustave, Christine confesses to the Phantom that Gustave is his son ("The Phantom Confronts Christine"). The Phantom declares that everything he owns will go to him. A furious Madame Giry overhears this and fears all of her work over the years for the Phantom has been for nothing.


Act II

Following the ("Entr'acte") we see Raoul sitting alone in a bar contemplating his relationship with Christine ("Why Does She Love Me?"). He is joined by Meg who suggests that he should leave that night with Christine and Gustave.

Raoul refuses, saying he is not afraid of the Phantom, who has since appeared behind the bar. The Phantom makes a bet with a drunken Raoul: if Christine sings Raoul must leave alone; if she doesn't then all their debts will be wiped away. He also makes Raoul question his paternity of Gustave ("Devil 
Take the Hindmost")

  

At the beach, it is the last day of the season and the holiday makers are enjoying the experience ("Heaven By The Sea - Reprise"). A balloon then lands on the beach and the freaks advertise that night's performance ("Ladies...Gents!/The Coney Island Waltz - Reprise"). That night, they present Meg, who performs a strip-tease routine about her choice of swimming costume ("Bathing Beauty").

Backstage, Madame Giry tells Meg that the Phantom had not been there to watch the performance, and it had all been for nothing ("Mother, Did You Watch?").

("Before the Performance"), Raoul asks Christine to reconsider her decision to sing, asks her to leave at once if she loves him. As Raoul leaves, the Phantom enters and tells Christine that Raoul knows his love is not enough and that she must sing for him once more.

Alone in her dressing room, Christine recalls the Paris Opera House where she had to make the difficult decision between Raoul and the Phantom. Backstage, Madame Giry, Raoul and the Phantom are wondering whether or not Christine will sing and who will win the bet.

As Christine prepares to perform, Meg makes a hurried exit ("Devil Take The Hindmost - Reprise"). Christine then walks on stage and performs an aria for the crowd ("Love Never Dies") while Raoul and the Phantom watch from the wings.

 .

The Phantom greets an overwhelmed Christine following her triumphant performance. Christine finds a letter from Raoul stating that he has left for good. Christine realizes that Gustave is missing and becomes worried. Fleck reveals she had discovered Meg's dressing room smashed up and seen her with a small figure. Madame Giry believes she knows where she has taken him.

On a pier, a distraught Meg is preparing to drown Gustave when she is confronted by the others. She holds up a gun to them so that the Phantom will listen as she reveals the truth: the resources that Madame Giry has afforded him all these years have mainly come from Meg being forced to work secretly as a prostitute to supporters of Phantasma. The Phantom tries to get the gun from her but in the confusion Meg accidentally shoots Christine.

The Phantom rushes to a mortally wounded Christine as Meg watches, horrified by what she has done. Christine reveals to Gustave that the Phantom is his father. Her final words tell the Phantom that her love for him will never die. They have one final kiss, and she dies in his arms. The Phantom hands the body of Christine to Raoul and he comforts Gustave who unmasks him as the curtain falls.

Love Never Dies Finale

The musical was not received well by critics or fans.  It opened in London in 2010.  There were plans for it to make its way to Broadway, but reviews were mixed to bad and it closed without ever making it there.

A revised version, with additional work from "Phantom" lyricist Charles Hart, book rewrites by Frederick Forsyth, and new staging by Simon Philips ("Priscilla Queen of the Desert"), opened in Melbourne, Australia, in 2011.  Lloyd Webber preferred it to the London edition and authorized it to be filmed for broadcast to cinemas worldwide.  This Australia performance is the one that I've shown clips of in this post.  While it features lovely tunes and impressive performances, "Love" lacks the bite, charm, and romanticism of Phantom of the Opera.

The song "Beauty Underneath" tries to be the catchy, rock opera song of the show, like the song "Phantom of the Opera" was in that musical.  Watching the song is difficult because everything going on around them is distracting.  I understand that Phantom runs a "freak" vaudeville show, but that doesn't mean I want to see a man with fingernails that go down to his ankles....even though I know they are fake.  

I completely enjoyed the song "Devil Take the Hindmost".  It's definitely my favorite song of the musical.  I LOVE the tango feel, even though it's a stretch to believe that Raoul would ever make a bet like that with the Phantom.

They tried to put suspense in, but there was never any doubt that Christine would take the stage and sing....duh.  And at first I was surprised to learn that she went back to him the night before she and Raoul were to be married.  At the end of most versions of The Phantom of the Opera, Christine is sad, but has no problem leaving the Phantom there.

There's no laughter in Love Never Dies, like there is in Phantom.  Carlotta and the theatre owners are greatly missed to bring that comedic part to life.  They showcase the freaks and vaudeville acts at Coney Island to attempt humor, but they are not fun to watch; I fast forward those songs when I watch this.

Overall, it's no Phantom of the Opera.  I did enjoy seeing an idea of where everyone was 10 years later.    

Movie Versus Musical Version

I've been on a musicals kick lately.  I've always loved them, grew up watching them, singing them.  Two of my favorites have always been The Phantom of the Opera and Les Miserables.

I discovered the 25th anniversary LIVE version of The Phantom of the Opera that is on Netflix, which is absolutely incredible.  Brandon is singing the song "The Phantom of the Opera" around the house, I LOVE IT!  I also just received the Les Mis 10th anniversary special for Christmas.

Friday night I saw the movie version of the musical Les Miserables for the first time.  I wasn't interested in seeing it when it came out in the theaters, but after all the hype it got last year about how they sang live on the set, and the Emmy award wins, I thought that if I ever had the chance to watch it I would.

Needless to say, that's 2 hours and 33 minutes of my life that I can never get back.  Why does Hollywood continue to make movie versions of the most successful Broadway musicals of all time?  In my opinion, Movie to Broadway, or Broadway to Movie worked back in the 1950's - 1970's, but it just doesn't seem to be working the same way today.  Guys and Dolls, Hello Dolly, and Funny Girl are three of my all time favorites, and I actually enjoy the MOVIE versions better.  West Side Story, Mary Poppins, and Grease are other musicals that have been done both ways successfully.

Something just seems to be lacking today.  "Back in the day", it seemed more important that you could sing BEFORE you were cast in a role that actually required singing.  (Marlon Brando is the exception.  He did his best in Guys and Dolls, and luckily only had one big number to sing, "Luck be a Lady".  He was surrounded by men who COULD sing, and since he was a great Sky Masterson, I can overlook his singing ability).  Now it seems that Hollywood is more interested in casting an actor/actress that will bring people to the theatre BEFORE they think about whether or not they can sing.  Barbara Streisand, Julie Andrews, Natalie Wood, and Frank Sinatra can sing!

However, when you take on two the most FAMOUS BROADWAY PRODUCTIONS OF ALL TIME, you'd better really be ready, because no matter what you do, there will be fans who hate it.

Ready to hear some music?  I'm going to show you clips from the most popular song from both the movie and Broadway versions of Les Mis, and The Phantom of the Opera, and you can decide which you think is better.

First we'll start with Les Miserables:

Ms. Hathaway does a fantastic job of selling Fantine's desperate situation.  She looks like garbage, since the character of Fantine was a prostitute,  and the raw emotion is convincing.  What bothers me here is that it's almost overdone.  Is it just me, or does she seem to cry her way through a lot of this song?  And why did everyone make a big deal about her cutting her hair for the movie?  If I was getting her salary for making a movie, I'd cut my hair too!  It does grow back people!




Ms. Henshall busts out her singing chops, and I feel the emotion all WHILE SHE'S STANDING AT A MICROPHONE!  While I believe that Ms. Henshall sang the best version, I appreciate the emotion that Ms. Hathaway brought to the song.  But let's face it:  I'm NOT going to listen to Ms. Hathaway's version over and over again.

Movie Version: 0
Broadway Version: 1




Mr. Armstrong, and Ms. Hallway, as Thenardier the Innkeeper, and his wife, simply steal the show.  Not only is it fun to watch the two of them sing it, but everyone around them gets into it, bringing even more fun to the song.




First of all, I can't stand Sasha Baron Cohen.  And I'm not a real big fan of Helen Bonham Carter.  That being said, I think that they were a good choice for these roles.  They are both flamboyant, over-the-top actors who sell it.  I ended up hating these two characters, which might have been the point.  If it was, then they did their job.  My problem with this song is that it lacks the "pizazz" that the version from the musical has.  "Master of the House" is one of the show-stopping numbers.  The crowd during the live show goes WILD when this song comes on.  The song is funny in the broadway version.  This version is slower, andy I found no humor in it.  I listened to about 3 minutes of it and couldn't handle it anymore.  There's no doubt which version of this song I'd rather listen too.

Movie Version:  0
Broadway Version:  2




Absolutely PERFECT!  Again, they are only standing at a microphone and I can feel the emotions.  Marius is devastated since he's just discovered that his childhood friend loves him, and now she's died.  Eponine is finally where she has always wanted to be; in Marius's arms.  I cry every time I watch this clip.




I have many problems with this version.  I understand that after being shot in the stomach you wouldn't have the strength to belt out a song; you are dying after all.  However, whispering the lyrics of a song doesn't count as singing in any way, shape, or form... in my opinion.  One of the elements that draws people to the Lea Salgona/Michael Ball version, is the emotion.  Marius is truly sad to see her die.  In this version, I don't feel any of that.  Eponine dies, Marius hardly sheds a tear, and then she's gone.

Movie Version:  0
Broadway Version:  3




Considering this is one of the most well known songs of all time, and has been covered by some powerhouse singers, Hugh Jackman had HUGE shoes to fill.  I don't think there was anything Jackman could have done to make this work.  I would've been having panic attacks if I was him!  The last note is cringe-worthy, but otherwise I feel the emotion.



Colm Wilkinson, the man who originated the character of Jean ValJean, has a voice of gold, plain and simple.  I want this man singing at my funeral, which means pulling out recordings since he will probably go before I do!!

Movie Version:  0
Broadway Version:  4

Russell Crowe played the character of Javert, the police officer who hunts ValJean.  I will never understand why he was chosen for this role.  And because I thought his acting, and more importantly, his singing was HORRIBLE, I'm not going to even post it here.  If you want to hear it, look it up on YouTube.  I am going to give the Broadway version points though because Russell was so awful!

Movie Version:  0
Broadway Version:  5

The best part of this movie came, when 30 minutes in, Colm Wilkinson showed up playing the Bishop!!  I was so excited, I started jumping up and down!  I loved that they gave him a "shout out", and it was five minutes of pure joy; the only pure joy in the entire movie.



Movie Version:  1
Broadway Version:  5

As you can see, I believe that the movie version is AWFUL and the Broadway version is far superior.  However, I did learn a few things about the musical from watching the movie.  The movie helped fill in the gaps of the story since I've only seen the version where they are standing in front of the microphone and singing.  However, that's all I gained from the over 2 hour movie that I watched.

And now on to my favorite musical of all:  The Phantom of the Opera

I'll be comparing the live version from the 25th anniversary at the Albert Hall (currently on Netflix), starring Sierra Boggess and Ramin Karminloo to the 2004 movie starring Gerard Butler and Emmy Rossum.

We begin with the songs "The Phantom of the Opera", and "Music of the Night" from the movie.






Is it just me, or does Emmy Rossum's voice sound like that of a 10 year old girl?  It sounds very nasal-like to me, and it's annoying.  Christine's voice is supposed to be mind-blowing, amazing.  They missed the mark here.  One of the biggest differences between this movie and the Les Mis movie is that the tracks were pre-recorded for Phantom.  You would think that this would allow the actors to focus more on their acting and put more emotion into their characters.  Apparently they all missed that memo.  Gerard Butler doesn't sound that bad.  He sounds like a guy who doesn't sing for a living who was asked to sing in a movie.  But again, there's no passion, which is what the character of The Phantom is full of.  These two songs set the stage for the relationship between The Phantom and Christine.  She is entranced by him, she can't say no to him.  I don't feel that here at all.




Can you feel the passion of the characters here?  Holy cow, they are DRIPPING in it!  Their faces, movements, SINGING, everything draws you into their relationship.  I feel each of their struggles, and emotions.  It is oozing off of them.  And I don't know about you, but I've never found The Phantom a "sexy" character.....until now.  Ramin Karminloo does a fabulous job of making me see this character in a way I've never seen him before.

Movie Version:  0
Musical Version:  2



This was never one of my favorite songs from the musical but OMG...Sierra pulls me into this every single time.  The emotions on her face make it impossible to not find yourself getting caught up in the moment; her feelings are POURING out of her.  The first time I watched this I found myself yelling at her through the television to realize that her father wasn't singing to her!



I love the setting of this scene, but I can't help coming back to the fact that this was a pre-recorded song, giving the actress nothing else to worry about but selling it to us.  Why can't she give more emotion?  She's hardly moving her lips, so it looks like she isn't even singing to begin with.  If she looked like she was actually in character and paying attention to what she was supposed to be doing, I would've really liked this song.  I give more emotion to this song when I attempt to belt it out in the privacy of my own home!  It's very disappointing.

Movie Version:  0
Broadway Version:  3

The last song is "The Final Lair".  I had to put it in 3 parts to show you the movie version.







Does anyone else think that The Phantom isn't ugly enough in this movie?  Throughout the entire movie/play we are left wondering what he really looks like beneath the mask.  The movie was a big let down in that area.  Raoul is obnoxious; or maybe it's his hair that bothers me, I can't quite tell.  The Phantom displays emotion, but still nothing from Christine.  This Emmy Rossum person can't act!

I couldn't embed the Broadway version, so here's the link for their version.

Phantom of the Opera; The Final Lair

Holy cow.  Simply FAB.U.LOUS.  I can feel the Phantom's pain.  In this version I'm not feeling like Christine is kissing the Phantom to simply free Raoul.  Here, she wants the Phantom to know that she really does care.  The look on the Phantom's face at 6:55 says it all.  His hands are shaking, eyes wide open.  He can't believe what is happening.  It is pure love, and intoxicating.  His face is very disfigured, but I would've kissed him too!!  Ramin makes me feel sorry for the Phantom.  He makes me root for him to win Christine!  When he nods to Christine to go, she almost doesn't go.  I love that part.  If Raoul hadn't come back, the story could've ended differently.  One of my favorite sequences in the entire play.

Movie Version:  0
Broadway Version:  4

Bottom line:  The movie versions of these two movies were beyond horrible.  I'm grateful for the internet that gives us the ability to constantly watch the versions we prefer, and leave the rest of the garbage behind!

My Guilty Pleasure

For those who have known me since I was a teenager, this will come as no surprise to you.....as for the rest of you, this should give you a GREAT laugh!

I am a huge fan, to this day, of New Kids On The Block.  They were "my" boy band growing up.  I know the words to almost every song, I had their posters all over the walls in my bedroom, the pins that would go onto my clothing, every album, t-shirt, and concert I could find was mine.  I watched the Saturday morning cartoon.  It sucked, but I am a "blockhead" through and through, so I watched it.

I was soooo excited when I heard they had come back together in 2008 and released another album.  The album was pretty good, nothing to write home about, but I enjoyed a few of the songs quite a bit.

Fast forward to two weeks ago.  They've released another album, and it's a very different sound for them.  I watched the first video from the album, and completely fell in love with the song.  I bought the album last weekend, and I have to say I really enjoy it.

The funny thing is that Brandon really likes the song too,  So much, in fact, that last weekend when my mom was babysitting, he turned on youtube, found the video, and showed it to my mom!  And what's even better.....MY MOM WATCHED IT WITH HIM!!  What a grandma!

Laugh all you want, they are my boy band, and I will love them until I'm dead!  This song speaks to the chubby girl in me!

Enjoy my guilty pleasure:  New Kids On The Block.  I'm so bummed that they aren't touring near where I live, I would be there in a heartbeat!

ThePianoGuys

It's been a long time since I've found something that I thought was truly awesome.  That has all changed.

A few weeks ago, I posted about a Star Wars parody called "Cello Wars".  If you didn't catch it, click here to watch the video.

(I'm now assuming that you have either previously watched the video, or just watched it.)

After watching that, I "liked" their Facebook page, and that's when I was opened up to the world of ThePianoGuys.  They live in St. George, Utah, and all of their videos are made in different parts of the state.  Each week they post new videos to YouTube, sharing their INCREDIBLE talents with the world.

I'm a huge music fan, and this group is simply AMAZING!  They write their own arrangements of songs that most people have heard of before, but add their own flare.  The following is a wonderful example:

Their video for this week popped up on Facebook a few days ago.  It's the song "Paradise" by Coldplay.  I must admit, I'm not up to date with popular music today.  I think most of it sucks anyway.  However, when I heard ThePianoGuys version of this song, I had to find the original.  With over 24 million views of the actual music video, I'm guessing this must be a popular song.  Here is the original.




Ok, now ThePianoGuys version


Seriously?  Are you kidding me?  How absolutely mind blowing is this cover?!?  The piano, cello, the amazing singer....the location!  Holy moly!

Since I'm so in love with these guys, here's another clip.



Don't even get me started on how incredible THIS video is!!!  Using only the instruments and objects in the room, they created this amazing piece.  I am beyond jealous of their talent, but so excited that they share it with us!

Anyway, needless to say, I'll be purchasing their album in the very near future.  I've been glued to YouTube for the past two days, watching all their videos and learning all about them.  Even Brandon and Nick enjoy them.  Their videos are so fun to watch, but even without them, the music stands on its own and is breathtaking.

Thank goodness there are people in the world who still create incredible music!

Star Wars Saturday.....on Sunday

Wow, I haven't done this in so long, I've almost forgotton how blogging works!

This morning, on Facebook, my cousin's son, (my first cousin?) posted this to his account.  We ALL know what a huge fan I am of Star Wars, so how could I resist?  I HAD to post this!




Okay, why do I think this is blog worthy?  First of all, hearing just the cello play The Imperial March (Darth Vader's Theme), The Star Wars Main Title, and Duel of The Fates was a wonderful twist to the usual versions.  There were some nice added rhythms that made it fun to listen to.

But let's face it:  what a unique idea!  And for once, the Darth Vader costume looked real.  Most of the time on a YouTube video the costume looks like someone made it; this one, not so much. 

For me, the video just didn't look stupid.  Parodies often are.  I thought everything that was done added to the cleverness.  And what a fun way to promote learning how to play a musical instrument!  But that is just my opinion, and I am, after all, obssessed with Star Wars!

What did you think?

A Night With Rascal Flatts

Back in June, I bought tickets for me and my sis to see Rascal Flatts at the USANA Amphitheatre, last Friday, the 9th, in West Valley City, Utah.  I was beyond excited since I love this group, and I hadn't been to a concert (besides Ernie Haase and Signature Sound) since I saw Clay Aiken and Kelly Clarkson six or seven year ago...and I also attended that with my sister!

Neither of us had been to USANA before, so we relied on Google Maps for directions.  There's a standing joke in our family that MapQuest often takes you the wrong direction and Google Maps are more accurate.....that will be important in a minute.

The concert was an outdoor event, rain or shine.  Unfortunately, it began to rain before we left.  I didn't think about it, but my sis brought an umbrella.  The entire time we drove there, we were listening to the radio to hear the weather report and praying that the storm would swing another direction.  We were lucky....the storm hit and was gone by the time we arrived.

The concert was to begin at 7pm, so we left at 6pm, giving us plenty of time to get there....so we thought.  The directions from Google Maps took us to a residential area, and if it wasn't for my sister's great sense of direction (and eventually the line of cars we saw), we would've been lost.  So much for the accuracy of Google Maps!

Entering USANA, people naturally had umbrellas in their hands.  At the gate we were told that no umbrellas were allowed inside.  We were to simply drop them in the growing pile of umbrellas and hope that it was still there when the concert was over.  With reluctance, my sis dropped her umbrella, never expecting to see it again.

The opening act began around 7pm.  His name was Justin Moore and let me just say this:  Rascal Flatts need to screen their acts better.  The job of the opening act is to get the crowd excited; this guy believed we were all there to see him.....whatever!  He would try to get us screaming and when we wouldn't, he resorted to basically yelling and cursing at us because we wouldn't get off our butts.  And if that wasn't enough, he was on stage for almost an hour!  My sis and I were beyond ready for him to be gone....he was terrrible! 

Once he finally left, the crew began setting up for Sarah Evans, the second opening act.  This was different.  I was always under the impression there was one opening act; guess times have changed.

It took 30 minutes of waiting, then Sarah Evans came on.  The time was now 8:30pm.  She came onstage and was much more enjoyable to listen to.  However, she also outstayed her welcome as it was almost 9:15pm before she was finished.  By this point, I was getting beyond anxious, and a little tired of waiting to see the group I'd paid so much money to see!

While the crew came back out to prepare for Rascal Flatts, my sis and I became familiar with the four people sitting in front of us.  Two couples, one younger than the other, with one man who was very obnoxious, and intoxicated before he got to USANA and began drinking!  (and he drank A LOT while he was there!)  We couldn't figure out why he went to the concert; all he did while both Justin and Sarah performed was scream at them that he wanted them gone.  We shared the sentiment, but he was very loud.  We discovered while the crew was getting Sarah off stage that he was quite funny, and if he hadn't been so loveable, my sis and I would've died!  A few people sitting in front of them actually got up and changed seats.....yep, he was that loud!

So now it's 9:30pm.  We'd been there since 7pm and endured rain, one wretched opening act that went forever, and another decent act that also went too long.  Just when we began to wonder if Rascal Flatts would ever come onstage, the lights went down and the fun began!

USANA Amphitheatre

We were in section 304, row L, seats 13 and 14; we were right in the center of the action!

This guys head just wouldn't get out of the way of my pictures!

My sis and I had decided that when we knew the concert was near its end, we would head out early and try to avoid the massive crowd of people.  Around 10:30pm, Rascal Flatts began talking like the concert was over.  We were very confused.  They'd only been onstage for barely an hour....weren't they just going to intermission and coming back?

They left the stage and we were still confused.  The crowd continued to scream, and suddenly they came back.  However, it quickly became clear that this was their encore......seriously?  My sis and I left once we were certain that this was in fact the end of the concert, but half the amphitheatre had the same idea.

Power walking as fast as we possibly could, my sis was able to find her umbrella and we headed to the poorly marked parking lot.  This was one time I wished my car had an automatic lock....I could've pushed it so the horn would go off to help us find my car!  Surprisingly, I found it quickly, but it was too late:  we were blocked in because the people to the left, right, and front of us had decided to stick around and wait for the crowd to leave; and we couldn't back up at all....we were completely stuck.

It was now 11:00pm.  Since we weren't going anywhere anytime soon, my sis and I started reflecting on the concert....and I was not happy at all.  We waited over two hours to see Rascal Flatts, and they were only onstage for about an hour.  During that time they probably talked to the crowd for 20 minutes total, sang four or five songs that weren't theirs, and only sang two songs off their latest album.  I paid a pretty penny for those tickets, and that was all we were going to get?  SERIOUSLY?!?  When I go to a concert, especially one from a group of this caliber, I expect to get what I paid for...and be entertained by THEM, singing THEIR songs!  I guess I paid to also be entertained by the boring opening acts too.

When my family goes to an Ernie Haase concert, it's almost three hours long, and with tickets only costing $25, we get WAY more than what we paid for.  I suppose this is another way times have changed.

Back in the parking lot from hell, the clock continued to tick away.  An hour, then 90 minutes pass, and before we knew it, the time was midnight and we had barely moved an inch!  By this time my sis and I had been sitting in my car longer than Rascal Flatts were onstage!!  Thanks to the cars blocking us in, we were one of the last cars out.  We finally started moving a little after midnight and made our way home.  I walked through the door of my house at 1am!  

Now, the concert wasn't all bad.  Yes, I was BEYOND disappointed, and no, I will NEVER pay that much for tickets to their concert again.  However, the time they were onstage was great.  The crowd screamed, I screamed (I wanted to loose my voice, but they weren't there long enough!!), everyone was clearly enjoying themselves.  Unfortuntately, there were just too many cons to this experience.

Live and learn. 

Musicals Monday

Years ago, when I was attending BYU-Idaho (Ricks College), my roommate and I were in love with the Beatles movie Help!  At the time the movie was released, the group didn't like the movie at all.  They've since commented that they were stoned out of their minds through most of the production....which is one of the reasons it is SO FUNNY.  It is goofy, and full of music.

Here's a brief summary of the movie:

An Eastern cult discovers that the sacrificial ring is missing. Ringo, drummer of The Beatles band has it; sent by the girl (who's to be sacrificed) as a gift. Clang, Ahme, Bhuta and several cult members leave for London to retrieve the ring. After several failed attempts to steal the ring, they confront him in an Indian restaurant. Ringo learns that if he does not return the ring soon, he will become the next sacrifice. Ringo then discovers that the ring is stuck on his finger. Its a race against time; John, Paul, and George try to protect their friend while they're all being chased not only by Clang and his minions, but also by two mad scientists and the chief inspector of Scotland yard. Will Ringo be saved, or will he be sacrificed?

The following clip shows five failed attempts to steal the ring.  Number four is by far the best, followed by the fifth attempt that shows the song, You're Gonna Loose That Girl. 

For Musicals Monday, the Beatles Help!

Who Sings It Better?

It's back to the 1980s today, to a song that I've always enjoyed.  Crowded House had a very popular song titled Don't Dream It's Over. 

First up, the version by Crowded House:

Next up, a version by a group called Sixpence None The Richer.  The group sounds familiar, but I've never heard their music before....sorry.





Which version do I prefer?  I actually really like both, which surprised me.  But in the end, the harmonies on the chorus of Crowded House's version win for me.  When they sing, "to build a wall between us"....chills, every time!

So, who sings it better?

Musicals Monday

Brandon was reading the story Dumbo out of a Disney book the other night, and I was reminded of one of the greatest, sweetest, sadest songs in Disney history.

Mrs. Jumbo (Dumbo's mother) has been labelled a "mad elephant" because she attacked people at the circus who were being cruel to Dumbo.  Separated from her mom, Timothy the Mouse takes Dumbo to see her.

For your Musicals Monday, Baby Mine.  I DARE you not to cry, or get even a little verklempt (as Linda Richman aka Mike Myers would say on Coffee Talk!) 



Musicals Monday

Let's face it:  this is becoming a difficult page for me to keep up with!  I love musicals, but I can only write about so many of them before it starts getting simply....well, repetitive and old.

So I've decided to add another element to my Musicals Monday page.  If it has to do with music, it now counts!  Music videos, music I like, anything.

Rascal Flatts is my favorite group.  I love that they are three clean, family men who sing clean, fantastic music.  I was introduced to them years ago while I was attending BYU-Idaho, but really got back into them about a year ago.  If I'm in the car, I'm listening to Rascal Flatts.  If I'm at home doing housework, Rascal Flatts can be heard in the background.  They are so awesome that even Brandon now loves them.  He knows the words to all the songs I listen to, and proudly sings them with me!

One of my favorite songs by Rascal Flatts is their newest single from their album Nothing Like This.  The song is titled Easy, and is a duet with Natasha Bedingfield.  I love this song; the music, the lyrics, everything!  And when Brandon and I sing it, he insists that he sing the "guy" part, and I sing the "girl" part....too cute!  

I also really enjoy the video to this song.  The ending is especially sweet, but I'm all for a good romance.

For your Musicals Monday:

Musicals Monday

Inspector Gadget isn't a musical, it's actually a REALLY CORNY cartoon that was popular in the 1980s.  He was a bumbling inspector who was always unknowingly saved by his niece, Penny, and dog, Brain from the danger he often found himself in.

This morning I watched Brandon as he sang along to the theme song.  I couldn't help but laugh as the "whoo hoo", and "Go Gadget Go" parts came and he sang it perfectly.  And when he started dancing, that was it for me:  I could hardly stop laughing.

For your Musicals Monday, an unconventional direction.  Brandon singing, and dancing to the Inspector Gadget theme.

Who Sings It Better?

Popular in the 1980s, Christopher Cross sang the theme song for the movie Arthur, (The Best That You Can Be), along with the following song, Sailing.

This has always been one of my favorite songs, but it was released in 1986, before I really knew anything about music.  Years later, it took me a long time to discover who sang this.  I was SO excited when I did!







Next up, a version by NSYNC.  This video is completely cheesy, so try to listen to the song and block out the fact that they're flying through the air!






When I went searching for a cover of this song, I didn't expect to find one that I actually LIKE! 

Which version do I prefer?  This is actually a tough call.  I would probably like the NSYNC version better if they weren't flying through the air, and just singing the song.  JC does a fantastic job singing this song.  (Oh, and the only reason I know his name is because of the comments on YouTube!  This boy band was a little past my time!)  That being said, it's a great cover!

However, Christopher Cross will win for me, every single time!

So, who sings it better?

Musicals Monday

Phineas and Ferb is the funniest cartoon on television.  The series follow Phineas Flynn and his English stepbrother Ferb Fletcher on summer vacation.  Every day the boys embark on some grand new project, which annoys their controlling sister, Candace, who tries to bust them.  Every episode almost always features Perry the Platypus (Agent P), acting as a secret agent to fight an evil scientist named Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz.  The two plots intersect at the end to erase all traces of the boys' project just before Candace can show it to their mother.  This usually leaves Candace very frustrated.  The series is also known for its musical numbers, which have appeared in almost every episode since the first-season.

The music is the reason Phineas and Ferb is appearing today.  The writers took the first episode of the show, tweeked it,  and turned it into a musical.  The following is a clip from that episode where Phineas and Ferb parody well-known musicals, including:

Cats
The Phantom Of The Opera
Oklahoma!
Singin' In The Rain
Fiddler on The Roof
West Side Story
The Music Man
Les Miserables
The King and I
Chicago
Cabaret

For your Musicals Monday, Phineas Flynn singing, Hey Ferb

Who Sings It Better?

Another song that has been done many times (because it's such a wonderful song!), is You Raise Me Up.  I have two versions today.

First up, a group called Westlife.  They showed up here a few weeks ago singing a song with Mariah Carey. 

Do you think the lead singer sounds a lot like Josh Groban, or is it just me?

Speaking of Josh Groban, his version is next.

The two songs are so ridiculously similar, which is boring.  And like I said earlier, Westlife sounds so much like Josh Groban, it's crazy. 

So, which do I prefer?  Josh Groban edges out Westlife.  There's something magical about Josh's voice.  He wins for me.

Who sings it better?

Who Sings It Better?

I'm going to go a very different musical direction today.  Usually I present soft rock/pop songs.  Believe it or not, there are quite a few heavy metal songs that I like.

Today I have two versions of the Guns N' Roses song November Rain.  I LOVED this song when it was first released.  I don't understand the video AT ALL, but LOVE the song.  Guns N' Roses version is up first.

Next up is a version by an artist I've never heard of before:  Anakelly.





First of all, are these really the same songs?  I don't know who this Anakelly person is, but holy cow, did she ever change this song!  I was STUNNED when I heard it.  I almost couldn't remember the Guns N' Roses version after listening to it.  Wow.  Usually cover songs are just lame remakes, where nothing is really different.  Not here.  This lady takes this song and COMPLETELY changes it around.  I am very impressed.

Which version do I prefer?  Well, the Anakelly version is good, but I don't know if I would find myself listening to it.  The Guns N' Roses version, however:  I blast that song all the time.  Guns N' Roses wins for me, but I give MAJOR credit to Anakelly for taking such a popular song and making it almost unrecognizable.  That's the way cover songs are supposed to be!

So, who sings it better?