Wicked on Broadway

in the world of musical theater, i have one that has been at the top of my list since it started in 1989 - Miss Saigon. to me, that is the epitome of a good musical : beautiful songs coupled with amazing actors/singers and a storyline that captures the hearts of the audience long after they have left the theaters. Miss Saigon had it. 

and then came Wicked which had everything Miss Saigon had and more.

i know it isn't fair to compare these two as they are as vastly different as day is to night but i can't NOT compare as i love both. Miss Saigon was romantic and sad and tragic while Wicked is light and comedic with a dash of seriousness here and there.  a difference, which i think gave Wicked a slight advantage  is the entertainment value and how each individual line was written with humor and wit. even when Glinda and Elphaba were saying goodbye for the last time, they still managed to inject a little bit of humor in the end. 

that moment when you see or hear something and then your goosebumps suddenly get out of control? i had that in Defying Gravity. literally. i had to physically shush my goossies to go away coz they just won't! 

Wicked is current and relatable. the audience left the theaters not in tears nor with heavy hearts but with smiles on their faces happily humming "Defying Gravity" and being sentimental over "For Good" and "I'm not that Girl" or trying to recall Ginda's one liners. i know i was! i remember eric and i doing Glinda's toss toss as we left the Gershwin Theater. 

it was that good. it's been days and i still can't get over it. i've seen some videos on Youtube with the original cast and all i can say is the cast last saturday was as just as talented and maybe a bit funnier?  it's like watching Glinda on crack! really hilarious! and Miss Elphaba gave me the awww moment of the night.

best musical ever. sorry Lea. Miss Saigon will always have a soft spot in my heart but for now, it's Elphaba and Glinda's turn. 

waiting for the show to start...yes, my eyes were twinkling in anticipation!

cocktails served in cool Wicked tumbler/sippy cup souvenirs is an ingenious marketing strategy! i had the glozmopolitan (cranberry vodka) and eric had the ozmopolitan (apple vodka)

thanks Eric for another Wickedly fun night

quite simply, it's the best money i've spent EVER and i wouldn't mind watching it again. 

time to meet the witches of OZ

this saturday,
at the Gerswhin Theater in New York

something will change within me

i will finally get to watch Wicked

here's to hoping i don't pee in my pants. seriously.

a christmas song like no other

everyone who knows me well, knows that Christmas songs don't actually give me the fuzzies.

i don't like them. except for a few that bring childhood memories when my dad would play tagalog songs early in the morning in time for the simbang gabi.

other songs i could care less.

this song, however, i find nice. really nice.
it's short, hopeful, meaningful and direct in a very catchy and not so christmassy melody. enjoy!

Maybe This Christmas - Rex Sexsmith

Rapunzel : A Tangled Tale

i have not enjoyed a single Disney animated film since The Little Mermaid. it did set the bar high after all and the ones that follow fell short. don't get me wrong, they're not bad. they're just not as good.

Rapunzel however, blew me away. the soundtrack was amazing. the colors are brilliant and the dialogues are hilarious. of course i am biased as Flynn Rider's voice was that of Zach Levi. it doesn't matter that the entire movie felt like hearing Chuck rant. no. it doesn't matter. at all.

here's what i'm singing in my head and i can't stop!!!

abril! watch it!!!!! you have to!

Terrified

i love this version...Zachary Levi is friggin hot!

him singing is just the icing on top :)

a lady named Susan Boyle

she is one living proof that one must never judge based on looks.

her talent is amazing.

her voice, unbelievable.

Pierce was right, no one is laughing now.

if you have yet to hear and watch her, click here for the full audition in youtube

American Idol 8 : Michael Jackson Night

Lil Rounds opened up the show with "The Way You Make Me Feel". while the judges loved it, i didn't. well, it was ok. just ok.

next was Scott MacIntyre who sang a not so popular MJ song, "Keep the Faith". the song may not have made it to the top charts but i loved Scott's performance nonetheless. there's something about the way he sings that makes you wanna listen to what he says.

going third was the ever so popular, totally pimped out AI contestant, Danny Gokey. he sang "PYT (Pretty Young Thing)" which is something i have never heard before but as always, Danny delivered.

Michael Sarver came next with his version of "You Are Not Alone". it was surprisingly good. his vocals were the best it has been since the first time i saw him. good job.

and then came Jasmine Murray with "I'll Be There". b-o-r-i-n-g! i think she'll be at the bottom 3.

Kris Allen sang next with his take on "Remember the Time". i have to admit, i was suprised that he made it to the top 13. tonight, however, made me rethink. he's good with his guitar. and contrary to what Simon said about bringing out the wife early in the competition, i think girls will still go gaga over him.

singing "Give in To Me", Allison Iraheta proved to be a powerhouse but i think she was way better when she did "Alone"

Anoop Desai, though uber energetic, didn't do justice to "Beat IT". that being said, however, i don't think he'll be in the bottom 3.

"Never Can Say Goodbye" proved to be a song too big for Jorge Nunez as he struggled with it the entire time. that could very well bring him to the bottom 3.

next is the uber adorable, i-want-to-pinch-her-cheeks, Megan Corkery singing an upbeat "Rockin Robin". i just love watching her perform. she's different, a breath of fresh air in a sea of over the top performers. i don't care what the judges said, i love her!

and then there's Adam Lambert with his version of "Black or White". fine, he nailed it. but i still think he oversings.

next is Michael Buble look alike Matt Giraud who sang "Human Nature". he doesn't just look like the popular crooner, he sounds a bit like him too. that and former AI contestant, Eliot Yamin which makes me like him too.

closing the show was Alexis Grace with "Dirty Diana". nothing really great about it. still, i know she will be safe tomorrow.

all in all, it was an OK night. nothing mindblowing uber memorable performance. hopefully, that changes next week.

*** complete performances can be viewed on rickey.org ***

==================

update as of 03/12/09

Jasmine and Jorge were sent home. my predictions were spot-on!

so long, FrancisM

i was browsing through my usual blog faves tonight and noticed that the normally angsty, funny, fab and witty ones didn't have their usual tone.

Francis Magalona is dead. and everyone who knew who he was felt the loss.

and then i realized, i too, am sad. the master rapper is gone and no one can ever replace him.

my prayers go to him and the family he left behind.

so long FrancisM. you will be missed.

air and simple gifts

arranged by John Williams, Air and Simple Gifts was the perfect accompaniment to Obama's inauguration.

i. loved. it.

for those who missed it, here's a clip:

santa, bring me love

this goes out to my fab single girlfriends. whether you've been good or bad, there is no better time to make that santa wish than now.

after all, santa isn't just for kids.

"Santa, bring me
Bring me love
Tell me the time has come
That there is someone waiting for me too"

Chris Brown and Rihanna's concert, the verdict

it. was. awesome.

the long wait was very well worth it and i couldn't ask for a better finale.

that being said, however, i don't think i will watch another concert in a free standing venue in a long time. unless of course it's an NKOTB reunion concert

lss ... ella ella

the eve of Chris Brown and Rihanna's concert

and all des and i can talk about is which outfit to wear and what bag to bring.

what's up with that?! hahahaha!

oh and for those who are watching, you are not allowed to bring pointed umbrella-ella-ella

American Idol 7 : David Cook Wins!

time to bring out the bubbly as my boo David Cook is the new American Idol. Hurray! Hurray!

Archuleta may have done better during performance night but the 12 million difference in votes proved otherwise. Albeit the not so good original songs, the cookies won over the angels and i couldn't be happier.

it wasn't a surprise though as iTunes, online polls and radio air plays show that Cook does have what it takes. watching and hearing him on stage is a treat each time, leaving you wanting for more. he will definitely make it big.

as his final song aptly says, indeed, he's more than a name or face in the crowd.

Season 7 has come to an end. a new idol has been proclaimed. the curtains have come down and the stage is at rest. a new season will soon begin and i can't wait.

all i can say is wow

from the moment i saw this, i knew i had to share it as it was simply amazing.

watch how Simon Cowell's jaw literally dropped as 13-yr old Andrew Johnston auditioned for Season 2 of Britain's Got Talent.

PS. you might wanna have a tissue nearby before watching

August Rush

August Rush

"An incredible journey moving at the speed of sound"

A story about a gifted child who used music in his search for his birth parents.

You will be taken to an extraordinary journey where music transcends words. Where faith comes over and beyond what one can possibly imagine. A fairy tale drama that is not for the cynics and unimaginative.

The music was brilliant. The fusion of classic and rock was simply awesome.

August Rush stars Freddie Highmore (August Rush), Kerri Russell (Lyla Novacek), Jonathan Rhys Meyers (Louis Connelly), Terrence Howard (Richard Jeffries) & Robin Williams (Wizard)

Watch with an open heart and prepare to get chills.

Here are a couple of songs from the movie:

lovin' Josh Verdes

no, he isn't the new man in my life. and no it's not that kind of love either. josh verdes is yet another youtube discovery i made while browsing thru HappySlip's videos.

i first heard of him thru HappySlip's Boypren post and after hearing the first few notes, i had to go and look for it right away.

here he is singin an original song, Save Me:

for more music, do checkout his websites:
official website
MySpace
YouTube

youtube star marie digby

i first heard about Marie (pronounced ma-ree-yey) a few months back when gail showed me a video of her version of Rihanna's Umbrella on YouTube. for someone who doesn't even like the original, i was completly blown away.

she's just so fun to watch and her voice is simply amazing. more than an eye candy, her voice is effortless yet full of soul. she does mostly cover songs but her originals are at par with the industry.

do check out her website and see for yourself.

my personal favorites are stupid love, an original song which has a very upbeat vibe to it and Joan Osborne's One of Us

but the one that made me a fan is her take on Linkin Park's What I've Done.

she just recently signed up with Hollywood Records and her album is scheduled to come out in February 2008.

a mighty fine deal for a girl who, a few months back, was just singing her heart out in the comforts of her living room.

partying on josh's concert

josh groban arrived yesterday for his scheduled concert this week.

i won't be able to watch it though as money, obviously, didn't grow on trees. besides, it's my bestfriend's BIG 30 bday bash on the same date and i'm sooo lookin forward to it.

themed Mini Mad Mod 60's, it sure is gonna be one for the books. all guests are to come in 60's fashion so we're all playing dress-up. imma be wearing this really cute 60's mini dress with a mod make-up to match.

and though there's a slim chance that josh will have another concert here in the future, i don't mind. after all, it's not everyday that my bestfriend will turn 30.

Happy Birthday bitchsis!

welcome to the fab world of 30-something women! cheers!

tickets for Avenue Q

i made ticket reservations last thursday and was supposed to pick them up the next day. however, since we were in the hospital til sunday, i failed to claim them hoping that i can still get tickets for the show on the 23rd.

so i called both ticketworld and Atlantis today and much to my utter disappointment, tickets are sold out on all the remaining shows. deng it!

Avenue Q

voted Best Musical in the 2004 Tony Awards, Avenue Q is a play where people and puppets share the stage. the story evolves around princeton, a college grad who went to New York in the hopes of making his dreams come true and the people who live in a neighborhood called Avenue Q.

i read about this musical thru bobby garcia's blog today and fell in love with it right away. i wanted to watch it so naturally, i went online to purchase tickets . however, since the venue is a bit small i found out that there are no more seats available on Ticketworld.

i'm keeping my fingers crossed that there will be seats left when i call Atlantis tomorrow (actually, i called tonight but it's past office hours hehehe!) as it only runs til the 23rd of Sept.

wish me luck!