For the past 54 years or so, the member nations of the EBU (European Broadcasting Union) send their best pop singers and songs to compete against each other to be declared the best. This competition known as Eurovision is the longest running tv show and is one of the most watched programs in Europe. Each year many countries send awesome songs but most are utter crap. For more information on the contest itself check out their site. This year the contest will be held in Düsseldorf Germany. In the final round of the competition 25 songs/singers/groups will compete. The winner doesn't receive a prize but their career is furthered by all of the publicity. This list is my top 11 acts for Eurovision
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Ensemble cast
I love musicals. I love the stage productions and sometimes the movie adaptations of musicals. The one flaw with large stage productions is the fact that they're always ensembles. Most of the time the casting is done right but of course there is always one or two that are off. For example, the 25th anniversary of Les Misérables. Nick Jonas, he is über distracting because he is not at the level of the other performers. He is a pop singer. Admittedly his performance wasn't bad, but put against the others he was definitely the weakest link. He has the least control, least training, and looked like he was in constant pain while he sang. Plus, he tried to have a British accent, which was hit and miss and dreadful. He did his best and it was obvious, so props to him. Still half the people in the chorus were better then he was. When he is singing towards the end and incredibly emotional song, "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables", it's the lyrics that grab you not the performance. *sigh* Oh well, moving on to bigger and better things.
The Broadway production of Hairspray the musical had a good ensemble; however, the original Tracy was not to my liking. She was a bit shrieky and just overall not that good. Nikki Blonsky in the movie production was much better.
Lets talk Phantom. The movie was pitiful. Sad, bad, horrible, and all around disappointing. Gerard Butler did a good job as Phantom, but he was no Micheal Crawford. Emmy Rossum was a good Christine, but again Sarah Brightman was way way better. Patrick Wilson as Raoul was, in my opinion, as good as the original. Worst, Minnie Driver as Carlotta. She didn't do any of her own singing and she was extremely distracting and detracted from the whole thing. She is a good actor, but her performance was weak and laughable. Jennifer Ellison as Meg was brilliant and Miranda Richardson as Mme. Giry was incredible; in fact, she may have been the best part of the movie.
The best ensemble cast in a movie ever, that I've seen, is the 1973 movie production of Jesus Christ Superstar. Not one of the best musicals of all time but not one of the worst either. Ever single person in that production was insanely good. Yvonne Elliman was an exceptional Mary Magdalene. See, I don't hate all ensemble cast. : p
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