You Have To Be There

So I know it's not a very well known musical but the English translation of Kristina från Duvemåla (known simply as Kristina) by Benny and Bjorn from ABBA was performed in concert version at Carnegie Hall in New York on the 23rd and 24th of September 2009.

There are some utterly fantastic reviews here but I am simply going to post a couple of youtube videos. I am in love with the song "Du måste finnas" or "You Have To Be There" in the English translation. I know listening to the same song more than once can be quite boring but I want to share these with you.

This first video is of Helen Sjöholm singing "You Have To Be There" in Carnegie Hall on the 24th of September. The video quality isn't amazing and sometimes the audio is hard to hear but you get the idea :D This performance received a standing ovation and I must say it deserves it.

My second video is of Kerry Ellis singing the same song in Hyde Park on the 13th of September 2009 at ABBA Thank You For The Music Tribute. I am a huge Kerry Ellis fan and I simply love her performance. I love it so much that it's my ring tone on my phone. And she looks stunning as always.

Lastly is Helen Sjöholm singing "Du måste finnas" with English subtitles. The melody is just as hypnotising but I find the lyrics better in the English translation. It's interesting to read the difference. I'd imagine if I understood Swedish it would all flow better since it would rhyme but just now it just feels like I'm reading a monologue. There's nothing wrong with it of course. If you ignore the direct translation and just listen to the words being sung in Swedish the song is beautiful and enchanting in it's original form.

I want to thank B&B for bringing this amazing musical to New York. Hopefully a Broadway production will arrive shortly and then maybe even a London one. Apparently a CD will be released of the Carnegie Hall concert which I await eagerly. I'm currently resisting the original Swedish soundtrack. From what I've heard on Youtube and read on the website it is a heartbreaking musical but a definite must see.

Seasons Of Love

Well I just purchased the new Rent dvd. Rent: Filmed LIVE on Broadway. I bought it last Monday actually but due to a postman apparently being unable to get access to my building I had to get driven to the sorting office today by my parents who were visiting (no car here) just to pick it up.

I am definitely impressed! I thought I wouldn't like it so much since I'm a huge fan of the movie but I was wrong. It's wonderful being able to see it on the stage since it's something I wasn't able to see.

The cast are all fantastic, especially Eden Espinosa as Maureen. I've never been too fond of her Elphaba but she makes a wonderful Maureen. Tracie Thoms was a great Joanne and really worked well with Eden. It was nice to see her back playing Joanne as I thought she was brilliant in the 2005 movie.

I think Adam Kantor and Will Chase are amazing as Mark and Roger and although I read a few comments slating her on IMDB I thought Renee Goldsberry made a lovely Mimi although she wasn't quite as good as Rosario Dawson who played Mimi in the 2005 movie.

Michael McElroy (Collins), Justin Johnstone (Angel) and Rodney Hicks (Benny) also gave an astounding performance and the whole main cast was supported by a very strong chorus of performers.

Some highlights are definitely Take Me or Leave Me, Rent and Santa Fe. Seasons of Love is wonderful as is Over the Moon. I loved being able to hear the songs that weren't used in the movie.

I recommend buying this to everyone :) It's a must have for a musical theatre fan!

Any thoughts?

Overture and All That Jazz.

I've just posted my first post on my class blog for university so I thought I might start up my own. Trying to give it a little musical theatre theme :) We'll see how that works out. I'll try and post reviews on shows I've seen and I'll post when I find good videos or recordings online.

How exciting is it that Kristin Chenoweth won an Emmy!? Don't you all just love Pushing Daisies (and Kristin of course)? I think it's fantastic. It's just so wierd and wonderful. I get so frustrated by the fact that Ned and Chuck can't touch. I love it when they play up the fact that KChen is only 4"11. I love Olive's obsession with Ned too. It's also such a colourful TV show. Everything is bright and cheery. Odd since it's about death. But then, it is actually a comedy about death. Funny how things happen.

It's also amazing whenever KChen gets to sing! Ohhh and how about when she duets with Ellen Greene! Actual legends there!

I hate that Pushing Daisies is finished now :( It makes me sad. I've not even seen all of Season 2 yet! Must get watching it soon.

But this post is about Kristin Chenoweth, not just Pushing Daisies :) Check out her recording of "Taylor the Latte Boy" :D It's wonderful. Desperately trying to embed a Youtube video here but it doesn't want to work. Also have a listen to "Girl in 14-G" :) Both are available to download on iTunes.

Her acceptance speech is just fantastic. It's also available on Youtube, I just wanted to give her a hug. She made me want to cry with her. Plus she looked gorgeous as always!

Why not follow Kristin on twitter?