And I'm Telling You...
In another life, I'd have been on Broadway singing my guts out in musicals...
Last night Chris and I watched Dreamgirls. It's the film version of the musical which parallels/is loosely based on/is strangely similar to the rise of the Supremes.
Jamie Foxx was back in fine voice, but Eddie Murphy's character (a James Brownesque type) and vocals were fantastic. Beyonce did a fine job as Deena Jones (the Diana Ross character). But Jennifer Hudson - an American Idol finalist was unstoppable as Effie White.
Alongside the fab costumes and amazing vocals, Dreamgirls touches on the cost for black artists trying to make it in the mainstream in the 60's and 70's.So that they could be heard, (instead of their songs being covered by white musicians) artists needed to look a certain way, slimmer, paler, with straighter hair. Sound certain way - calmer, more accessible. They needed to write a certain kind of song - non political. Yet somewhere along the line, the cost of breaking through, of crossing into the promised land as it were, cost some of them something of their soul...
Curtis starts out with noble ambitions that eventually consumes him and his integrity. The "Thunder" is used as a stepping stone, and never gets to sing the songs that truly reflect him, and eventually presses his own self destruct button. Deena finds fame and stardom, but loses her self. And after many setbacks and trials Effie finally manages to "make it" on the terms that she always believed she should - with her Afro, dark skin, shapely figure and the full bodied voice of a DIVA.
It's just a film, with a multi- talented ensemble cast, but it certainly got me thinking of the cost of success, of pioneering something new, of crossing over into the promised land...It's not black and white...it's tough, ruthless sometimes, definitely sacrificial, not for the faint-hearted.
Amazing soundtrack, though.
Last night Chris and I watched Dreamgirls. It's the film version of the musical which parallels/is loosely based on/is strangely similar to the rise of the Supremes.
Jamie Foxx was back in fine voice, but Eddie Murphy's character (a James Brownesque type) and vocals were fantastic. Beyonce did a fine job as Deena Jones (the Diana Ross character). But Jennifer Hudson - an American Idol finalist was unstoppable as Effie White.
Alongside the fab costumes and amazing vocals, Dreamgirls touches on the cost for black artists trying to make it in the mainstream in the 60's and 70's.So that they could be heard, (instead of their songs being covered by white musicians) artists needed to look a certain way, slimmer, paler, with straighter hair. Sound certain way - calmer, more accessible. They needed to write a certain kind of song - non political. Yet somewhere along the line, the cost of breaking through, of crossing into the promised land as it were, cost some of them something of their soul...
Curtis starts out with noble ambitions that eventually consumes him and his integrity. The "Thunder" is used as a stepping stone, and never gets to sing the songs that truly reflect him, and eventually presses his own self destruct button. Deena finds fame and stardom, but loses her self. And after many setbacks and trials Effie finally manages to "make it" on the terms that she always believed she should - with her Afro, dark skin, shapely figure and the full bodied voice of a DIVA.
It's just a film, with a multi- talented ensemble cast, but it certainly got me thinking of the cost of success, of pioneering something new, of crossing over into the promised land...It's not black and white...it's tough, ruthless sometimes, definitely sacrificial, not for the faint-hearted.
Amazing soundtrack, though.
Labels: films
posted by Jo Saxton @ 11:19 PM
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