Lora's Album Review - 12/8

[lora]

Chicago - The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
2002

This album review goes hand-in-hand with my Music at the Movies for this week, so be sure to check that out. Can you guess what movie I'm reviewing?

1. Overture/And All That Jazz
John Kander and Fred Ebb, bless their hearts, are musical genuises! These are some of the best-written songs I've ever heard in my entire life! And Catherine Zeta-Jones? Well, I wasn't a fan until this movie, honestly. I just figured she was like all those other Hollywood pretty girls and really didn't pay her that much attention. I was totally blown away by her talent...

2. Funny Honey
Renée Zellweger has a sort of smoky, breathy voice. Didn't know she could sing like this either! This song is quite funny too. Very good.

3. When You're Good To Mama
This is Queen Latifah's big solo. More great lyrics with that snappy Kander-Ebb edge to it.

4. Cell Block Tango
With all of Roxie's prison mates telling their story, this song is more like, well, a story song. Ha. One of the best songs on the soundtrack, IMO. I only have one problem with it. I wish I could translate that monologue in the middle of the song!

5. All I Care About
Who knew that Richard Gere could sing? Hell, who knew that he could tap dance?

6. We Both Reached For The Gun
Fun number with a little vocal assistance from the super talented Christine Baranski. This is one of the coolest musical sequences I've ever seen. Everyone in the number (except Richard Gere) is a marionette and in an ironic twist, Richard Gere is the puppet master. Hmm...

7. Roxie
Very good Renée Zellweger track. My favorite part of this song is the line "And Sophie Tucker'll sh!t, I know/To see her name get billed below/Roxie Hart." Hey, who was it in here that's related to Sophie Tucker. Was that H2?

8. I Can't Do It Alone
This song proved to be a very grueling screen adaptation for CZJ. The poor girl got bruises all up and down her thighs from dancing to this. Ouch.

9. Mister Cellophane
John C. Reilly got so much acclaim for his role in this film, and this song is a major reason for it. He did a wonderful, heartbreaking job. Just beautiful.

10. Razzle Dazzle
In the movie, this song is interwoven with court scenes, making it into a very cool sort of montage.

11. Class
This song was not included in the movie, and has been one of Kander and Ebb's most controversial songs ever since Chicago hit the stage in the '70s. I believe there was even an even more vulgar verse that was cut from Chicago when it was on Broadway. I think these lyrics are actually really great, and tragically true.

12. Nowadays (Roxie)
Very beautiful song that stands very well on its own out of the context of the film.

13. Nowadays/Hot Honey Rag
Zellweger and Zeta-Jones duet of Nowadays with a kickin' instrumental bridge.

14. I Move On
This new Kander and Ebb tune was written just for the movie. It's my favorite song on the entire soundtrack. Damn Eminem. This song should've won that Oscar!

15. After Midnight
Danny Elfman instrumental. Nice, but I usually skip the non-vocal songs.

16. Roxie's Suite
Another Danny Elfman orchestration.

17. Cell Block Tango (He Had It Comin')
Queen Latifah, Lil' Kim, and Macy Gray put a hip hop twist on this tune. Not a bad interpretation.

18. Love Is a Crime
Anastacia does a decent job with this song inspired by the movie.

[H2IZCOOL]

I have not seen the movie, Lora, but I have seen the play, and have the Original Cast CD, so I'm familiar with most of the music. I find most of the songs enjoyable to listen to (favorites are all in a row: Mr. Cellophane, Razzle Dazzle, and Class - the latter is my biggest fave).

Overall, however, from the Broadway standpoint, I didn't find the play "memorable" - compared, say, to Les Miz or Phantom. Ditto for the music. Enjoyable, but not memorable.

BTW, it's Railyn, not me, who's related to Sophie.

Fine review!

[lora]

H2IZCOOL said:

BTW, it's Railyn, not me, who's related to Sophie.

Okay, thanks! I couldn't remember.

[athompsen]

I've seen both the play and the movie. There are aspects about each that I like and dislike. This is a very good, solid, soundtrack. Everyone has strong voices, except for Macy Gray....how she got a record deal, I don't know. I liked the Danny Elfman songs, but I pretty much enjoy anything he does. The song "I Move On" sounds an aweful lot like "All That Jazz"...it's still a good song, but not worth all of the bravado. However, I would have much rather seen it win the oscar over Slim Shady...ten times over!

[SAT-I need more room!!]

5. Who knew he could ACT? LMAO!! No, he's ok....except for the whole gerbil thing.

Nice review. Did CZJ really get bruises from dancing??

[Dawn]

Very nice review, Lora!

Some very good talent on this soundtrack, although like Andrea, I'm not too fond of Macy Gray's voice. I didn't realize Richard Gere sang either! The 'We Both Reached for the Gun' sequence does sound very interesting.

[lora]

SAT-Sissy's said:

5. Who knew he could ACT? LMAO!! No, he's ok....except for the whole gerbil thing.

Nice review. Did CZJ really get bruises from dancing??

What gerbil thing?

Yes, she did get bruises. Like I'd make that up...

[lora]

Dawn said:

Very nice review, Lora!

Some very good talent on this soundtrack, although like Andrea, I'm not too fond of Macy Gray's voice. I didn't realize Richard Gere sang either! The 'We Both Reached for the Gun' sequence does sound very interesting.

Macy Gray doesn't do much singing. I barely noticed her.

[athompsen]

Lora said:

Macy Gray doesn't do much singing. I barely noticed her.

Macy Gray doesn't do much singing because she can't!

And Little Kim...I like her and dresses very interestingly...but she needs to stay away from ALL movie soundtracks.

[Laura--I wuv u all :)]

Love that movie! Haven't seen the stage version yet. I really love the "Cell Block Tango"--in fact, on one of the other boards, I was using "Pop!6!Squish!Uh-uh!" for my name extension for a while.

[lora]

Laura--the said:

Love that movie! Haven't seen the stage version yet. I really love the "Cell Block Tango"--in fact, on one of the other boards, I was using "Pop!6!Squish!Uh-uh!" for my name extension for a while.

LOL about the name extension. That sounds like something I would do!

[Laura--I wuv u all :)]

Lora said:

LOL about the name extension. That sounds like something I would do!

Yeah, one person asked me what it meant! Oh BTW, getting back on topic, I love the song "Mr. Cellophane" too, but they left out a verse in the movie! (I hate when they do that!) I know because I have the CD "And the World Goes Round" which is a revue of the composers' (Kander & Ebb) work, and that song is on it.