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Is West Side Story the best musical ever?

99 replies

EachandEveryone · 02/09/2018 15:41

I just switched the telly on as it was starting. I’m sniffing already! I was listening to Elaine Paige this morning when she played a song from Blood Brothers and I was it bits doing my ironing!!! I haven’t seen many but I just adore West Side Story and B.B’s comes second.

OP posts:
LittleTartsTheyLoveIt · 02/09/2018 19:37

Omg I forgot singing in the rain!
And Anchors Aweigh!!!!
The king who couldn't dance (?) (gene kelly and Jerry mouse) best song hands down ever!

HappyEverIftar · 02/09/2018 19:38

WSS is the best. The end.

I had a major crush on Tony as a youngster. The songs are sublime. I was reminded last week when I listened to Aretha Franklin and Hugh Jackman singing "Somewhere" .

Originalsaltedpeanuts · 02/09/2018 19:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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HeronLanyon · 02/09/2018 19:59

’settling the score’ another great podcast analysing the AFI top scores.

Jamboree05 · 02/09/2018 20:02

Another vote for Hamilton.

I also love the music in wicked and think the stories very clever.

Personal opinion but when it comes to Bernstein, I think Candide trumps WSS...

PolkadotsAndMoonbeams · 02/09/2018 20:16

There was a Bernstein musical (On the Town I think) as one of the Proms this year. John Wilson conducting the LSO. I've taped it, but haven't watched it yet.

cariadlet · 02/09/2018 20:26

@HeronLanyon thanks for that. I've just subscribed - looks good.

Millie2013 · 02/09/2018 21:05

Love WSS, I chose a version of “somewhere” for the entrance music for my dad’s funeral 😢
I think Miss Saigon is my fave, closely followed by blood brothers
6yo me would have chosen The sound of music, then Mary Poppins. Then maybe bedknobs and broomsticks :)

EachandEveryone · 02/09/2018 21:22

It’s Bernstein’s 100th birthday year. I want to read the daughter’s book that’s just come out. Shame they had to change the leads for the film after all the work they’d put in.

Anyone curious about the Lady GaGa remake of A Star is Born?

OP posts:
crazylikesundaymorning · 02/09/2018 21:30

It's in my top 5 .... think currently

  1. Guys and Dolls
  2. Joseph and his technicolor dreamcoat (1st musical I ever saw - started a life long love)
  3. Jesus Christ Superstar
  4. WSS
  5. Hamilton

but they swap around depending on my mood!
I'm going to see Blood Brothers next month on tour so good to see positives about that one.

RomanyRoots · 02/09/2018 21:37

PolkaDot

Wooah you're in for a treat. didn't think I was going to enjoy it and it's the best thing (quality wise) I've heard in a long time.
I'm not so struck on modern musicals my favourites purely for the "musical aspect "

The Sound of Music
Carousel
My Fair Lady
oliver

PawneeParksDept · 02/09/2018 21:44

It's not even in my Top 10 I'll be honest!

Hamilton
Wicked
Lion King
Sound Of Music
Les Mis
Mary Poppins
Oliver!
Sunny Afternoon
Chicago
Annie

I did like the cover versions that Glee did during its run, but I'm not a fan of the acting or general feel of the film

DID YOU KNOW?

Spielberg is remaking it

I hope Lin Manuel Miranda will be involved

TheVanguardSix · 02/09/2018 21:51

God I love a musical! Aren’t they all brilliant?

Follies... I saw it last year at the NT and it was amazing!

Oliver!

Hello, Dolly!

MrsPatmore · 02/09/2018 22:00

I'd forgotten about Oliver - another great musical score. I'd never seen Follies before but loved it on stage. I know it's not a musical but I also love Carmen.

PolkadotsAndMoonbeams · 02/09/2018 22:08

Completely different feel, but I saw The Producers when it was touring and it was great! I don't mind 'fluffy' musicals either — I really enjoyed Legally Blonde. Blush

I do think the music is generally better in the old ones though, especially the underscoring in the films.

Belletower · 03/09/2018 07:32

Oops, forgot to share the clip!

ShatnersWig · 03/09/2018 07:59

WSS isn't even Bernstein's best score, although it's his most popular show by a huge chalk because it's the best constructed of his shows with a simple story. The film isn't a great adaptation either. But that goes for most films of musicals.

Mind you, I generally find the most popular musicals like WSS, Les Mis, anything by Lloyd Webber, vastly overrated. Many flop shows have far better scores than some of the big hits and it was the scripts or ideas that let them down.

My iPod tells me my most listened to musicals at present are Follies, Sweeney Todd, Hamilton, Avenue Q, Book of Mormon. WSS is on there but rarely listened to (in fact, I've got all of Bernstein's shows on there - even a version of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue which lasted a week - and all of them get listened to far more than WSS).

AnnabelleLecter · 03/09/2018 08:10

My top musicals
Grease
Chitty chitty bang bang
Oliver
Chicago
Sound of music
Beauty and the beast

Morethanthisprovincallife · 03/09/2018 09:04

I'd love someone to explain why it's often put at no 1.

I like it but it's never blown me away.

Les miserable is just stunning, all the lyrics tunes story... You can't better it. EvitA amazing as well.

Caberet. High society.... Fabulous... Guys n dolls... I just can't see wws at the top of that tree

HeronLanyon · 03/09/2018 09:31

Pretty sure you can’t explain in a way which would mean much to someone whose ‘taste’ is simply different. I could say (do say!) choreography score lyrics and design are all what makes it no 1 for me but none of that would make sense to someone who doesn’t agree and for whom other musicals provide similar levels of pure joy. This thread has reminded me of great musicals not seen for ages. Thanks all !!

InezGraves · 03/09/2018 10:04

It's not my absolute favourite, but it's hard to deny it's got a brilliantly inventive but also completely accessible score and choreography, with Sondheim lyrics, and I don't think there's a dud song in it. Even the ones I don't personally care for are incredibly well-crafted (and incredibly challenging to sing), and it's got pathos and tragedy and soulful solos and duets and mass dance-offs and teenage aggression, and murder and silliness and ethnic gang hatred and meditations on being an immigrant, but it's also very, very funny -- I love 'America' and 'Gee, Officer Krupke'.

I find Les Mes a bit ponderous (hardly surprising, given the subject matter), Evita I don't really know, Cabaret I like, but it's a bit thin on songs, and there are an awful lot of reprises, plus you're stuck with the fact that Sally Bowles is supposed to be crap! I'm never sure it stands up as a stage musical, rather than the Liza Minnelli film version.

I adore High Society, but in some ways, that's barely a musical for me, or at least not in the way WSS is. You could take out the musical numbers and still have a coherent film, though I do love 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire?' (Celeste Holm is so underrated) and 'Did you Evah?' Also, Bing Crosby looks like he's sleep-walking. When they did a Broadway stage version in the 1990s, they had to put in a load of other Cole Porter songs from elsewhere to bulk out the music.

InezGraves · 03/09/2018 10:04

Sorry, that essay was in reply to morethan!

Amaaboutthis · 03/09/2018 10:09

Les Mis by a country mile is the best

happymummy12345 · 03/09/2018 10:12

No. Grease is my favourite film and therefore favourite musical. Know it almost line for line. Seen it on stage twice and the film more times than any person should watch the same film, but I love it so.

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