In defense of the new Over the Moon
In defense of the new Over the Moon
Rentaholic2
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/14/04
#0In defense of the new Over the Moon
Posted: 10/5/05 at 10:51pm
It was the one I had to get used to, but once I did, I am in love with it! I've read so much about how people don't like it, and I just wanted to justify why I do...just my 2 cents, take it or leave it. :)
I know it is toned down a lot and seems to lack some of the 'oomph' of the OBCR, but just picture it in the movie...for one, the over the top nature of the OBCR would play a lot better for a live audience. But, in the movie, Maureen can get her passionate artistic plea across with much more subtlety. One may argue that Maureen isn't subtle, she's over the top. But she's also an overdramatic artist--I felt like, where in the OBCR, she protest by screaming and making a spectical (not dissing the OBCR version, i still love it too!), in the new version, she creates the dramatic tension by being much more intense, you may even say more realistic (i know, i know...breaking out into song isn't realistic). Maybe this was just a new interpretation from an Idina Menzel with 10 more years of life experience...maybe they told her to tone it down, I don't know--but either way, I feel like she has a much deeper understanding of what she is actually saying, she LISTENS to herself (ie, when "Elsie whispers to me", she actually lowers her voice, instead of singing at full volume).
And honestly, I laughed harder listening to this version than I ever did to the old one...every time she does the 'Gotta gotta' part and then pauses and keeps going, I always understimate what that really exasperated 'gotta' sounds like. And the added 'moo' at the end kills me. Also, the backup vocals and the instrumentations are far superior, imo...I LOVE how once she starts the mooing, the 'Leap of Faith's keep going, it adds so much to the dramatic triumph of the mooing.
I guess, where I could listen to the OBCR and just be blown away by the range and raw power of Idina's voice, in the movie recording, I actually listen to OTM picturing the crowd, hanging on her every word, such a beautiful picture...and the story she is telling just builds and builds and builds until the entire crowd is mooing at the top of their lungs with a moving 'leap of faith' underscore.
And as far as the heavy sighs go, in the movie we will get to see her face up close, and I find it very nature that she would take a couple of deep breathes during a speech/demonstration in front of a big crowd, one that has a lot of potential to go wrong.
Whatever, just wanted to throw that out there. :) Does anyone agree or have anything to add?
Updated On: 10/5/05 at 10:51 PM
FindingNamo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
#1re: In defense of the new Over the Moon
Posted: 10/5/05 at 10:53pmI like the new Over the Moon. I have a feeling it's going to be hilarious in the movie.
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C is for Company
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/16/05
timote316
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/20/04
#3re: In defense of the new Over the Moon
Posted: 10/5/05 at 10:59pmIdina said in a blog entry that that number was done live... and the one on the soundtrack doesn't sound live. However, I do agree that it will be hilarious on film.
BroadwayGirl107
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/26/03
#4re: In defense of the new Over the Moon
Posted: 10/5/05 at 11:10pm
I think it'll be great. There are a couple of lines here and there that I'm a little iffy about, but we'll see when the movie comes out. I love the new direction she took it in.
And C, she didn't forget how to moo. It just sounds like a really bad attempt at trying to imitate an actual cow. And it's hilarious.
BSoBW2
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/8/04
bwayfan3
Broadway Star Joined: 10/11/04
#6re: In defense of the new Over the Moon
Posted: 10/5/05 at 11:11pm
I posted numerous times on various threads about how I thought the version on the soundtrack was not the one we would hear in the film (although it would be pretty close)because it didn't sound "live". However, I am starting to think that it is indeed the film version.
That being said, while initially I wasn't too fond of it, after listening to the sountrack repeatedly, I really am starting to appreciate it more and more. I do think it has the potential to be a really memorable part of the film...
C is for Company
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/16/05
#7re: In defense of the new Over the Moon
Posted: 10/5/05 at 11:13pm
...no, no absolutely not Broadwaygirl thats just completely wrong. lol I now regret speaking of such vacancies in available positions at your new job. P.S. when you run into your new co-workers candice and monique there tell them Chris said hi and loves them very much 
OK back to the discussion now
BroadwayGirl107
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/26/03
#9re: In defense of the new Over the Moon
Posted: 10/5/05 at 11:20pmIt's not her energy or acting I questioned, it was her shrieking and inability to stay on pitch that bothers me.
"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy."
-Charlie Manson
#10re: In defense of the new Over the Moon
Posted: 10/5/05 at 11:22pmthere is no oo on her moo!
Pretty pretty please don't you ever ever feel like you're less than f**ckin' perfect!
C is for Company
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/16/05
#11re: In defense of the new Over the Moon
Posted: 10/5/05 at 11:25pmits "mer" instead of moo, but these changes compel me to see the movie and observe the many changes it seems happened between broadway and the screen version
Millie42
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/19/04
#12re: In defense of the new Over the Moon
Posted: 10/5/05 at 11:31pm
Well, we've come a long way.
A little over year ago we were worried about whether or not the movie would be a disaster and disgrace the show and Larson's memory...
Now, we debate the caliber of Idina's mooing.
I love it.
"My friends have made the story of my life."
-Helen Keller
#13re: In defense of the new Over the Moon
Posted: 10/5/05 at 11:34pmi say take a cd player go stand next to a bunch of cows and see if they like it. there's a farm down the road from me, so maybe i'll try it tomorrow. i just hope it doesnt get them too excited!
wickedwitchofthechest
Leading Actor Joined: 8/13/04
#14re: In defense of the new Over the Moon
Posted: 10/5/05 at 11:37pm
What do you mean, breaking out into song isn't realistic? Something must be seriously abnormal about my life, then.
*breaks out into song*
"Is this real life?"
Backup: "Real life..."
"Wilkins, after all these years, are you trying to be funny?"
defying_gravity2
Broadway Star Joined: 9/4/05
#15re: In defense of the new Over the Moon
Posted: 10/5/05 at 11:38pmI love it. Idina rocks!!! I think her moo's sound more "cow like" now. They're more realistic. I don't know if that makes any sense. She just cracks me up. I can't wait to see it in the movie <3
Pillowpants. 'Nuff said.
#16re: In defense of the new Over the Moon
Posted: 10/5/05 at 11:49pm
As I have said before, this is growing on me the more times I listen to it.
And, the guy who screams "moo" at the very end, after the fact, always makes me laugh.
I think it will probably seem fine in the context of the film, and to scale of an actual live peformance. If she was going nuts on the film, like she is on the OBCR, it would not seem like performance art, which is what it is supposed to be, but instead, like some crazy person.
BTW - the more I listen to Light My Candle, the more that it is growing on me as well. It just sounds like folks are acting/singing, rather than just singing.
None of the songs, except TMOLM are as balls out as the OBCR is, but then for a film, it shouldn't be.
TMOLM - absolutely wonderful.
Updated On: 10/5/05 at 11:49 PM
Rentaholic2
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/14/04
#17re: In defense of the new Over the Moon
Posted: 10/6/05 at 12:15am
Amen Millie42, Amen.
Yeah, I though it sounded more like a quack at first too, but the more I listen to it, the more it sounds like an attempt at impersonating a real cow...either way, I bet Idina is doing something really funny with her actions.
"think it will probably seem fine in the context of the film, and to scale of an actual live peformance. If she was going nuts on the film, like she is on the OBCR, it would not seem like performance art, which is what it is supposed to be, but instead, like some crazy person. "
I guess that's pretty much the point I was trying to make, so I concur
ashley0139
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/3/05
#18re: In defense of the new Over the Moon
Posted: 10/6/05 at 7:08amI actually always liked the new version of OTM. It's hysterical. She has me from the very beginning when she does that big breath intake. It cracks me up.
"This table, he is over one hundred years old. If I could, I would take an old gramophone needle and run it along the surface of the wood. To hear the music of the voices. All that was said." - Doug Wright, I Am My Own Wife
#19re: In defense of the new Over the Moon
Posted: 10/6/05 at 7:55am
She's so SERIOUS! You just KNOW Maureen thinks this is so important. A matter of life and death. And she thinks she's so good at it, which makes it even funnier, because she only comes off as sounding RIDICULOUS.
I love it. I love the "mer"s, the recovering of breath in between the "gotta"s, how flipping angry she sounds when talking about Benny . . . the whole thing is genius.
I agree with ashley, I was sold from the first second.
Rentaholic2
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/14/04
#20re: In defense of the new Over the Moon
Posted: 10/6/05 at 2:54pmGood points that I hadn't thought of, freeadmission. Thanks for everyone's inputs!
BSoBW2
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/8/04
#21re: In defense of the new Over the Moon
Posted: 10/6/05 at 2:56pmIdina could moo, quack, meow, bark, chirp, hiss, or bleat...she's still hot.
Miki
Swing Joined: 9/13/05
#22re: In defense of the new Over the Moon
Posted: 10/6/05 at 3:39pmIt's funny cuz the day the soundtrack came out I read a bunch of complaints that it was too over-the-top. Now it's too toned down. I don't find it to be either actually. I think it's the perfect medium (you don't have to be huge for film like you do w/ theater) Regardless I'm not certain who does it but that last random "moo" kills me every time.
Musical Reviews & Profiles: www.girlcentric.com
#23re: In defense of the new Over the Moon
Posted: 10/6/05 at 4:13pmYou KNOW that random moo is gonna be some drunkard in the back of the crowd who really doesn't know where he is anyway. :P
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