Threaded Order Chronological Order
| "Back In Business" | |
| Posted by: reed23 04:15 am EST 11/28/20 | |
| In reply to: Liza, Billy, Sondheim, Carnegie Hall - shocktheatre 05:05 pm EST 11/27/20 | |
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| Sondheim's "Back In Business" was sung in the "Dick Tracy" movie by Janis Siegel, of the Manhattan Transfer; backing her were Cheryl Bentyne, also of the Manhattan Transfer, and Lorraine Feather. Janis did the great vocal arrangement. Madonna recorded a completely different song, with the same title, on her "Dick Tracy" album (separate from the official movie soundtrack release). I wonder if there's a story there. I felt that Madonna was an ill fit for the Sondheim songs, and the Sondheim songs were an ill fit for the movie – with the exception of "Back In Business," with its high-octane period hot swing (which is how I prefer the song, as opposed to slow and slinky.) |
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| I'm surprised by a lot of these reactions | |
| Posted by: DistantDrumming 06:02 pm EST 11/28/20 | |
| In reply to: "Back In Business" - reed23 04:15 am EST 11/28/20 | |
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| I think Sooner or Later and More are both terrific late Sondheim works and Madonna, who is no great actress, was a perfect match on those two numbers. Her Oscars performance, while fun, was a bit overcooked, but her original performance for the soundtrack was fantastic. | |
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| MADONNA in EVITA | |
| Posted by: shocktheatre 12:44 pm EST 11/29/20 | |
| In reply to: I'm surprised by a lot of these reactions - DistantDrumming 06:02 pm EST 11/28/20 | |
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| No one's ever taken Madonna seriously as an actress, but you have to give her this one. She's great. | |
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| I agree, and in case anyone is looking for her album... | |
| Posted by: Quicheo 11:56 am EST 11/29/20 | |
| In reply to: I'm surprised by a lot of these reactions - DistantDrumming 06:02 pm EST 11/28/20 | |
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| ...it's called: "I'm Breathless" and features music "inspired by" the movie in addition to "Sooner or Later", "More", and "What Can You Lose"--and, of course, the career highlight "Vogue". Also, has anyone else wondered if she flubbed a lyric in "More" and they just kept it in? |
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| Which line in 'More' do you think was flubbed? (NMI) | |
| Posted by: DistantDrumming 04:07 pm EST 11/29/20 | |
| In reply to: I agree, and in case anyone is looking for her album... - Quicheo 11:56 am EST 11/29/20 | |
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| nm | |
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| re: I agree, and in case anyone is looking for her album... | |
| Last Edit: shocktheatre 12:41 pm EST 11/29/20 | |
| Posted by: shocktheatre 12:28 pm EST 11/29/20 | |
| In reply to: I agree, and in case anyone is looking for her album... - Quicheo 11:56 am EST 11/29/20 | |
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| It's all coming back to me....... This album also has "I'm Going Bananas", which I fondly remember for various reasons. "Vogue" is FROM this album? I'm remembering now it's on there and I wondered why. I knew I had it on "The Immaculate Collection," which I thought pre-dated DICK TRACY. Old age. Blah. |
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| re: I agree, and in case anyone is looking for her album... | |
| Posted by: DistantDrumming 04:06 pm EST 11/29/20 | |
| In reply to: re: I agree, and in case anyone is looking for her album... - shocktheatre 12:28 pm EST 11/29/20 | |
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| Yes, as I recall, Vogue was originally intended to be a B-side for one of the Like A Prayer singles, but when her record company heard it, they knew it was too good to be a B-side and insisted it be its own single, so it got 'tacked on' to I'm Breathless. Maybe this is revisionist history, but it always kinda worked for me -- perhaps because of that brilliant David Fincher-directed video which evokes classic 30s and 40s Hollywood glamour. | |
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| re: I agree, and in case anyone is looking for her album... | |
| Posted by: shocktheatre 04:46 pm EST 11/29/20 | |
| In reply to: re: I agree, and in case anyone is looking for her album... - DistantDrumming 04:06 pm EST 11/29/20 | |
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| For me, "Vogue" is the APOTHEOSIS of Madonna. She did many great things since on record, but..............Bette Davis, we love you. And there ya go. |
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| oh, 100% agreed... | |
| Posted by: DistantDrumming 07:47 pm EST 11/29/20 | |
| In reply to: re: I agree, and in case anyone is looking for her album... - shocktheatre 04:46 pm EST 11/29/20 | |
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| ...when I said that it "worked for me," I meant that I thought Vogue works in the context of the I'm Breathless album even though, as a house song, it is completely different than the pastiche 30s and 40s style numbers that make up the balance of the album, and, so, really should feel out of place. For some reason, it's never felt out of place to me. Its placement as the very last track probably helped, too. You'll get no debate from me about the song being the apotheosis of her career. |
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| re: oh, 100% agreed... | |
| Posted by: shocktheatre 06:24 pm EST 11/30/20 | |
| In reply to: oh, 100% agreed... - DistantDrumming 07:47 pm EST 11/29/20 | |
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| I do remember it was the last track, but I thought I'd heard it somewhere else before. The video is fantastic as well. One of her best. This medium she nailed regularly. I could watch HOURS of Madonna videos. |
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| re: "Back In Business" | |
| Last Edit: shocktheatre 10:28 am EST 11/28/20 | |
| Posted by: shocktheatre 10:21 am EST 11/28/20 | |
| In reply to: "Back In Business" - reed23 04:15 am EST 11/28/20 | |
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| Thanks for clarifying. I saw DICK TRACY only once and don't remember the film version of "Back in Business" at all. I mainly remember the film for its sets, costumes and the bizarre, tortured duet between Madonna and poor Mandy Patinkin. I'm a big fan of Manhattan Transfer and Ms. Siegel and am chagrined I didn't know this info. I had a CD "Madonna Sings Dick Tracy" at one time. I don't know why I purchased it, and I didn't play it often. I don't know where the thing is now either. I actually like a lot of Madonna, but her "rendition" of "Sooner or Later" on the Oscar telecast was not one of her better performances. I find it fascinating that both Sondheim and Webber won their only Oscars for songs written for Madonna. |
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| re: "Back In Business" | |
| Posted by: mikem 03:00 pm EST 11/28/20 | |
| In reply to: re: "Back In Business" - shocktheatre 10:21 am EST 11/28/20 | |
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| It's also weird to think that Madonna, whom even her biggest fans would say is not a particularly gifted singer, is one of the very few to introduce two Best Song Oscar winners. "Back in Business" is used as background music in a montage, so it's not really memorable in the film. There's another Sondheim song, "Live Alone and Like It," that is used similarly. I think "Sooner or Later" is just okay. I think "What Can You Lose" and "More" are much better songs. |
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| re: "Back In Business" | |
| Posted by: reed23 01:46 pm EST 11/28/20 | |
| In reply to: re: "Back In Business" - shocktheatre 10:21 am EST 11/28/20 | |
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| The original "Back In Business" is on YouTube. On top of the great song, Warren Beatty put together a terrific montage of visuals. | |
| Link | Back In Business – Janis Siegel |
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| DOROTHY LOUDON | |
| Last Edit: shocktheatre 10:57 am EST 11/28/20 | |
| Posted by: shocktheatre 10:42 am EST 11/28/20 | |
| In reply to: re: "Back In Business" - shocktheatre 10:21 am EST 11/28/20 | |
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| How did I leave this out of this conversation? "You Can Drive a Person Crazy"/"Losing My Mind" or "Losing My Mind"/"You Can Drive a Person Crazy" (It doesn't matter.) She is fantastic on the TV version and she transfers quite well on the CD, but I would have LOVED to have seen that performance live. The vibes must have been insane in the theatre. People probably got dates afterwards. Hilarious! We are also not mentioning Betty Buckley (yet). There's just so many in this show, it's "crazy, crazy, crazy". Or am I just being kind? |
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| Betty Buckley/Harlem Boys Choir | |
| Posted by: Roman 11:03 pm EST 11/28/20 | |
| In reply to: DOROTHY LOUDON - shocktheatre 10:42 am EST 11/28/20 | |
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| This medley is one of the most genuinely moving numbers I have ever heard — and it remains the highlight of this concert. These songs, on their own, are classics, of course. But here, the young men and Miss Buckley elevate them to hymns. I cannot say enough. | |
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| re: Betty Buckley/Harlem Boys Choir | |
| Posted by: Quicheo 11:54 am EST 11/29/20 | |
| In reply to: Betty Buckley/Harlem Boys Choir - Roman 11:03 pm EST 11/28/20 | |
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| And, a reminder, she was a last minute fill in. | |
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| re: Betty Buckley/Harlem Boys Choir | |
| Posted by: shocktheatre 12:29 pm EST 11/29/20 | |
| In reply to: re: Betty Buckley/Harlem Boys Choir - Quicheo 11:54 am EST 11/29/20 | |
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| Wow. Didn't know that. You'd certainly never know it. Who did she replace? |
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| re: DOROTHY LOUDON | |
| Posted by: PlazaBoy 12:58 pm EST 11/28/20 | |
| In reply to: DOROTHY LOUDON - shocktheatre 10:42 am EST 11/28/20 | |
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| Loudon expertly performed the material and seamlessly moved from serious to comdeic. However, the Sondheim purist in my had trouble adjusting to the mocking of Losing My Mind. Again, she did it perfectly and it was very funny, but I remember having a slightly uncomfortable feeling. I know I am in the miniority. Buckley was a highlight for sure. Her soaring voice combined with the chorus really packed an emotional punch. Not sure that the broadcast fully captures the power of the moment. I'd say it was in the top three numbers of the evening based on being there. I'd probably rate it lower on the list if I were only watching the broadacet. |
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| re: DOROTHY LOUDON | |
| Posted by: Roman 11:07 pm EST 11/28/20 | |
| In reply to: re: DOROTHY LOUDON - PlazaBoy 12:58 pm EST 11/28/20 | |
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| I’m a big London fan — and this is a complete misfire for me. Not a moment of it works for me. I completely concur with it being uncomfortable. I’d have rather her do Worst Pies, capturing her Lovett, if out of context. And then a separate Losing My Mind. I wasn’t there, but, brother, Buckley and the Harlem Boys Choir resonate so powerfully. It’s very difficult not to get choked up. |
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| HAROLYN BLACKWELL | |
| Last Edit: shocktheatre 04:41 pm EST 11/28/20 | |
| Posted by: shocktheatre 04:34 pm EST 11/28/20 | |
| In reply to: re: DOROTHY LOUDON - PlazaBoy 12:58 pm EST 11/28/20 | |
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| I'm revisiting. Here's Ms. Blackwell. i'd say this is kind of definitive. | |
| Link | Green Finch and Linnet Bird |
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| re: HAROLYN BLACKWELL | |
| Posted by: Alcindoro 09:13 pm EST 11/28/20 | |
| In reply to: HAROLYN BLACKWELL - shocktheatre 04:34 pm EST 11/28/20 | |
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| "I'd say this is kind of definitive." Kind of. She has no trill (on the "ahh" after "Teach me to be more adaptive") and I'm pretty sure there's one written. But some pretty big name operatic sopranos can't really trill and just fudge it. But this IS really beautiful, even if the trill is gone. |
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| re: HAROLYN BLACKWELL | |
| Posted by: pecansforall 10:48 pm EST 11/28/20 | |
| In reply to: re: HAROLYN BLACKWELL - Alcindoro 09:13 pm EST 11/28/20 | |
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| Blackwell's final note in her performance of "Green Finch" made me gasp with joy. Completely unexpected. Sublime. | |
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