Customer Reviews

Hairspray (2002 Original Broadway Cast)

5 star:		(107)
4 star:		(26)
3 star:		(13)
2 star:		(15)
1 star:		(32)

 

 

The disclaimer is that this is a review of the cd, not the score, which is wonderful. The problem with the recording is that it was produced by the composer, Marc Shaiman, who has mostly worked with incidental film music. This score needed a producer familiar with theatrical sound because the score is easily the best thing about seeing the show live. What we get in this recording in a slickly produced (overproduced) pop record that favors the lead vocals while treating the accompanying music and vocals as background (in the truest sense of the word). The urgency and fun of the music is lost here, and this recording lands with a hefty thud when it should have sparkled to life. Oh, and the percussion is really loud, too, perhaps to try to give the recording a Wall of Sound-like quality. It just ends up being distracting and overwhelming. Hopefully, the show will be recorded live, or it will eventually be remastered. For now it's a lame souvenir of a theatrically vibrant score.

"Hairspray" is a terrific modern musical. It could be this generation's "Grease", only with a better plot. In fact, if you like "Grease" AND you enjoy "Little Shop of Horrors", this is a guaranteed future favorite for you.
The story, such that it is, involves Tracy Turnblad, a chunky but peppy white female who aches to dance on a local "American Bandstand"-type show in Baltimore circa the early 60's. Not only does she not fit the "typical" teenager on the show, but she finds it astonishing that blacks cannot dance on the show with whites.
Her mother, played by the inimitable Harvey Fierstein, naturally underestimates her daughter's tenacity. She believes that Tracy will never get on the show, and doesn't want to see her crushed by unattainable goals.
As you'd expect, she gets on the show, and dancing integration is achieved, but the music used to get you there is flat-out, full-blown, grin-from-ear-to-ear FUN.
It is brilliantly derivative of pre-British invasion rock music, melding rockabilly with Detroit soul. It sounds like EVERY song you can remember. Seriously. They're all here.
In the same way that a fond memory tends to get better with time, the score distills the best parts of that era's music, and pretty much puts it ALL on the stage. Spector-ish epics, raucous Motown, steamy Stax, teen idol Presley...I could spend days counting off the references. There should be an index.
The voices are above-average Broadway fare...WAY above-average in parts, and suit their characters just dandy.
Perhaps the musical would be better served if the entire score was presented, as people who have not yet seen the show are missing out on some great stuff that happens between these tunes.
Having just seen the show on Broadway, listening to the CD brings back the terrific time I had in the theater, but I think even the most jaded, uninitiated listener will cave into the unbridled enthusiasm of this project, notably the finale, "You Can't Stop The Beat." There's enough energy in that song to power the entire Tri-state area for a week.
I loved this show.

An effective feel-good show: music has a good beat and the costumes and choreography are second only to the dazzling attires and complex movements of the very charming Flower Drum Song revival.

A must-see on Broadway and a must-buy soundtrack for amazon.com customers!

For all the praise and awards that this show has garnered, I was expecting something-ANYTHING better than this! Over-produced, and under-talented, I found this as the biggest waste of my money and it went straight to a used CD store!

I understand it's supposed to be the anti-musical musical, but there is something to be said for occasionally hitting the right notes-maybe not all the time, but at least once a song-is that asking too much for a Broadway smash?

Bottom Line:The story's a shmaltzy feel-good parading around like a serious matter, and that's not too bad-but the music-your money would be better spent buying ANYTHING else!

OK, OK, I get it! She's trying to sound like the Ronnettes, right? Yikes, is that "Oh, Oh, Oh," nasality annoying! The show is no Bat Boy or even Lint! The Musical for that matter. On the first listen, you'll know where each song is going because it's a total ripoff (not an homage) to a song from the 60's. So much potential, so little return.

Not bad -- in fact, very entertaining. But awards-wise, NOT deserving of the Grammy and certainly not the Tony. There are other musicals out there that should receive these awards.

If you just want to have fun, though, this CD is worth checking out.

Upbeat songs, fun musical overall -- and yes, overrated (not Tony-caliber: one can list many actors and productions that were way better than Hairspray's during the 2002-03 season). But the musical is enjoyable and certainly worth watching!

But I must agree with many reviewers: it IS overrated (very overrated, I must say). I enjoyed watching it, but I couldn't believe it won over the many excellent musicals the 2002-03 Broadway season offered.

But do get the album or see the show if you get the chance. You'll be on your feet dancing in no time!

Well, I guess I was expecting too much of the music I heard on the movie soundtrack. This was ok but not as good as the movie soundtrack.

Not bad at all. Given that many critics were supposedly wowed by this show, however, I was expecting more -- not really much more: just some substance and REAL singing. Good for laughs, but certainly not for awards.