Thursday, April 13, 2017

JULIE’S GREENROOM: A CD Review

Original Netflix Series Soundtrack – 2017 / Songs by Zina Goldrich & Marcy Heisler, Eli Bolin & Joey Mazzarino, Chris Jackson & Joet Mazzarino, Wayne & Karey Kirpatrick, Mike Himelstein, Bill Sherman & Joey Mazzarino, Shaina Taub
Starring: Giullian Yao Gioiello, Julie Andrews, John Tartaglia, Jennifer Barnhart, Frankie Cordero, Stephanie D’Abruzzo, Dorien Davies, Tyler Bunch, Alec Baldwin, Ellie Kemper, Tituss Burgess, David Hyde Pierce, Carol Burnett
Rate: 3 (from 1 to 10)

Review: The one and only Julie Andrews is back, this time with a Netflix series created by her, Emma Walton Hamilton and Judy Rothman Rofé. I confess I never heard of the series until this recording came to my attention (that’s what happens when you don’t live in the USA).

The name of Julie Andrews, one of my all-time favorite actresses, was reason enough for me to listen to it. We all know she can no longer sing as she used to, but it’s always a pleasure to hear her very British voice. Here she’s in good company (Carol Burnett, David Hyde Pierce), with a sweet voiced Giullian Yao Gioiello as her main co-star. 

Unfortunately, the material isn’t very interesting. The songs sound like they were written for AVENUE Q and the fact that some veterans of that show give voice to some of the characters make the connection even stronger. But the songs loose in comparison with that show, with none standing out from the rest. Only one of the songs catch my fancy, “Anything Can Happen in the Theatre”; and “You Gotta Bring the Wow” is enjoyable.

This series is aimed to a very young audience and I believe these simple songs will connect with kids. As for me, I was expecting more; well, maybe I'm too old for its charms.


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