John Barrowman (album)
| John Barrowman | ||||
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| Studio album by John Barrowman | ||||
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Publication |
March 1, 2010 |
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| Label (s) | Arista Records ( Sony BMG ) | |||
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Format (s) |
CD, MP3 download |
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Title (number) |
14th |
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running time |
52:12 |
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John Barrowman is the sixth solo album by the Scottish-US-American ( musical ) actor and entertainer John Barrowman MBE . The album rose to number 11 in the UK charts, reaching Barrowman's best-ever ranking.
It is Barrowman's third and final work under his Sony BMG contract. This was offered to him after he had achieved international fame as Captain Jack Harkness and this audience became aware of the musical beginnings of his career. For this reason, the album is often referred to as his third solo album. The previously released solo albums Aspects of Lloyd Webber (1997), Reflections from Broadway (2000) and JB Swings Cole Porter (2004) were explicitly aimed at passionate theater audiences, were made in front of the camera before his breakthrough and are therefore not always counted.
Track list
| No. | title | musical | Composers & lyricists | length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | When I Get My Name In Lights | The Boy from Oz | Peter Allen | 2:18 |
| 2. | One night only | Dream girls | Tom Eyen (lyrics), Henry Krieger (music) | 3:26 |
| 3. | Copacabana | Copacabana | Barry Manilow | 3:14 |
| 4th | I won't send roses | Mack & Mable | Jerry Herman | 3:25 |
| 5. | Memory | Cats |
Trevor Nunn (text based on TS Eliots Rhapsody on a Windy Night ), Andrew Lloyd Webber (music) |
5:22 |
| 6th | The Kid Inside | Is There Life After High School? | Craig Carnelia | 3:39 |
| 7th | My eyes adored you | Jersey boys | Bob Gaudio | 3:07 |
| 8th. | Don't cry out loud | The Boy from Oz | Peter Allen | 4:01 |
| 9. | So Close (duet with Jodie Prenger) | Enchanted | Stephen Schwartz (text), Alan Menken (music) | 3:44 |
| 10. | Unusual way | Nine | Maury Yeston | 4:16 |
| 11. | You'll Never Walk Alone | Carousel | Oscar Hammerstein II (text), Richard Rodgers (music) | 3:38 |
| 12. | The Winner Takes It All | Mamma Mia! | Benny Andersson , Björn Ulvaeus | 4:58 |
| 13. | Oh what a night | Jersey boys | Bob Gaudio | 2:53 |
| overall length | 48:06 | |||
- iTunes Bonus Tracks (UK only)
| No. | title | Songwriter | annotation | length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14th | The Doctor And I. |
Stephen Schwartz , John Barrowman |
Modification of "The Wizard and I" from Wicked . Describes Captain Jack's feelings towards the Doctor ( Doctor Who ). | 4:06 |
| overall length | 52:12 | |||
background
While many musicians are most likely to name their debut album after themselves, Barrowman only hereby resorted to his own name. He justifies this on his homepage by saying that the album is his most personal work to date and fulfills a long-cherished heart's desire; every single title chosen has a great personal meaning for him. WalesOnline, the portal of Media Wales, he gave a short reason for each title for the relevance of that title in his life (see # song selection ). In the liner notes of his album he writes:
“This album is titled John Barrowman , not because I couldn't come up with an alternative (I know that's what you're thinking) but because this mix of songs is more autobiographical than any I've recorded before. I adore all of these songs and many have a connection to my family or my roots as a performer. My eight year-old self, the 'Boy from Glasgow ,' would have belted out When I Get My Name in Lights and when that boy got a little older, he heard One Night Only at a dinner theater production of Dreamgirls . My mum asked me, 'Is this what you want to do?' Oh yes! The haunting Celtic arrangement of memory is for my mum, Marion, who taught me how to sing and always to remember. So Close is for my niece, Clare, who, like me, believes in 'famous happy endings' no matter what. I picked I Won't Send Roses because, well, I don't. The song is for Scott, my partner, because despite my love for him and for all things enchanted , I'm not very romantic. I fell in love with Unusual Way when my vocal coach , Roy Mote, introduced it to me. Only women sing it, he said, but he knew I was up for the challenge. I loved its lyrics. I'm now singing it for you. My Eyes Adored You returns me to my youth in Prestbury and my best friend, Laura Mickey. We'd often perform ABBA tunes [ The Winner Takes It All ] in her basement and although there was never any romance between us, she was the girl I adored while growing up. And what album of mine would be complete without a number from my friend and musical inspiration, Barry Manilow . Who doesn't love Lola ? […] Finally, the song that was toughest to record without a tear (if my mum greets [crying] I know it's good) is from Carousel . My Papa [Opa] Butler used to sing You'll Never Walk Alone to my mum who in turn sang it to me. Thanks to her and my dad, my family and Scott, I've never had to. "
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Barrowman began his professional career as a musical singer. He celebrated his breakthrough on the big international stages in 1989 in the final year of his university studies with Anything Goes in London's West End . In the 1990s and early 2000s he already recorded a number of studio albums, including both ensemble albums of individual theater pieces (e.g. Hair , Grease , Phantom of the Opera ) and solo albums with a compilation of various musical hits ( Reflections from Broadway , Aspects of Lloyd Webber , JB Swings Cole Porter ). He received an Olivier nomination for his leading role in Anything Goes . When he became known to an international audience with his role as Captain Jack Harkness in Doctor Who and received his own spin-off series with Torchwood , his professional focus increasingly switched to working in front of the camera in films, series and hosting various BBC television shows. The continued popularity of Captain Jack in radio plays, books and at international trade fairs such as Comic Con at the same time enabled him to turn his love of music and his talent for entertainment into a profession away from the theater and to fill concert halls in the United Kingdom.
As a result, he received a studio contract with Sony BMG and took on as part of his three solo albums: After Another Side (2007) and Music Music Music , which mainly (2008) Pop - and Country - Cover and Barrow Mans first single "What About Us ? ”(Written by Gary Barlow OBE ), he turned back to musicals with his third Sony album. This return to his roots was initiated by his leading role as Zaza or Albin in the West End revival of La Cage aux Folles (2009). The musical compilation album John Barrowman was finally released on March 1, 2010, production and marketing took place via the Sony Arista label . All arrangements of his cover songs come from Barrowman and his musical director (see music director ) Matt Brind.
The album was followed by a tour of 23 concerts, including 19 in England, two in Scotland ( Glasgow and Edinburgh ) and two in Wales ( Cardiff and Llandudno ).
review
“John Barrowman's new album shows him in top form. His powerful voice carried by solid vocal technique, an intelligent choice of songs and sensitive arrangements already guarantee the success of this new album. The sassy opener When I Get My Name in Lights comes from The Boy from Oz , Australia's first Broadway hit musical. At that time, Hugh Jackman won, among other things, the Tony Award for his portrayal of the singer-songwriter Peter Allen - a role that would also be tailored to the magnetizing Barrowman.
One Night Only is a real showpiece for the enviable ability of the singer to hold single notes impressively long, to let the voice slide gently into falsetto and to recreate the emotions of the story told by a song in his singing. Then the pace is increased and he is supported by an all-female background choir - a homage to the origin of the song in Dreamgirls , the film about the career of The Supremes. With Barrowman's cheeky performance, Copacabana appears new and lively again, piano and brass interludes accentuate the garish nightclub setting.
The pensive love song Unusual Way from Nine is implemented with great attention to detail, reinforced by a seamless vocal line and an arrangement in which the listener feels the breath of the singer and orchestra merge. The warm string successes recall the glorious days of the collaboration between arranger Gordon Jenkins and Nat King Cole. Barrowman's simple processing of two completely unflagged songs, My Eyes Adored You and Don't Cry Out Loud , is a feast for the ears, but he too can do The Kid Inside (from the show Is There Life After High School?, Which was only performed 14 times in 1982 on Broadway) did not save. Jodie Prenger sings a duet with Barrowman ( So Close , a song from the Disney film Enchanted ), but leaves no lasting impression.
And it is precisely in the all-too-familiar repertoire that Barrowman works wonders: the singer and orchestra relish the second powerful swell of You'll Never Walk Alone , but the presentation of the first refain in particular is simply beautiful and the end is exquisitely toned, like it written in the original vocal score for Carousel . I Won't Send Roses is another touching interpretation with a well-placed, entertaining climax and a dream of a long, soft note at the end. Memory carries you away with excellent phrasing, an intelligent reading of the words and an arrangement that adds color to its fresh interpretation.
The common thread of the excellent collaboration between the singer and arranger / conductor Matt Brind runs through the entire collection. Both of you must be congratulated on this work. "
Contributors
The following information is taken from the album's liner notes as summarized online by Barnes & Noble:
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Song choice
- 1. When I Get My Name In Lights (The Boy from Oz)
In the musical The Boy from Oz , this piece is sung in the first act by the young Peter Allen (then Peter Woolnough), who dreams of a career on stage in rural Australia. Afterwards, the now adult Peter sings the song again in a slightly modified version ( recapitulation )
Barrowman justified the choice in the interview as follows:
“I structured the album like a show, there is a common thread, a story is told and it affects me very personally. This song pretty well sums up how I felt when I was eight in the Midwest, south of Chicago, growing up knowing that I really want to dedicate my life to that calling. It wasn't so much about having my name in glowing letters, but I wanted to be part of something bigger than myself. And, look, getting recognition and being known is just part of the entertainment industry. I never understood why some people would want to deny it. "
- 2. One Night Only (Dreamgirls)
In the second act of the musical Dreamgirls , CC apologizes to Effie for the hindrance to her career and lets her record his song "One Night Only" in its original form as a soul ballad. The song climbed the charts and made Curtis jealous, who tried with bribes to make the disco version of the song by Deena and the Dreams performed immediately afterwards even more successful and to diminish Effie's victory. The song itself is about a looming love story that only has time for a one-night stand.
Barrowman justified the choice in the interview as follows:
“I associate this song with the moment when my mother really understood what I wanted to do with my life. We looked at Dreamgirls together and during the first break she turned to me and said, 'This is just the thing for you, isn't it? That's what you want. ' Of course that meant the world to me, I had never told her about my ambitions before, it was just a mother's intuition, one of those things you can't fool them about. And when you consider that I had a conversation with the school's career advisor the day before and he had basically laughed at me and my ambitions until I was out again, you can see how important this moment was for me. "
- 3. Copacabana (Copacabana)
The musical Copacabana was written by Barry Manilow in 1985 as a television film. The story is based on his 1978 song of the same name . This is about the young wannabe singer Lola, who works as an animation lady in the New York nightclub Copacabana . Her lover Tony, a bartender at the club, is murdered by a mafia boss with an amorous interest in Lola. 30 years later, she couldn't get over his death and the end of her career and lives entirely in the past.
Barrowman justified the choice in the interview as follows:
“Here I indulge a little. All of my albums so far have featured a Barry Manilow number, and this is perhaps his best one for the story it tells. It's such a compelling, almost epic narrative. Anyway, whenever I cover a song, I send it to the writers beforehand to see what they think of my version. I've known [Barry Manilow] like that for three years. We've played together now, at the Proms Festival in The Park, for example, and he's just great, has a bad sense of dry humor and a clever mind. And he said that this was perhaps the best version of one of his songs that he had ever heard. That gave me a boost, I can tell you. "
- 4. I Won't Send Roses (Mack and Mabel)
The musical Mack and Mabel tells the life story of an unequal pair of lovers, whereby the young supplier and would-be actress Mabel falls in love with silent film director Mack at an early age and makes advances to him again and again, but Mack does not care much for romance and long-term love relationships and is reluctant gets involved with them. He leaves her after the first night together and only admits his feelings after Mabel has already died of tuberculosis . As a filmmaker, Mack later devises a happy ending for her story.
Barrowman justified the choice in the interview as follows:
“Jerry Herman, who wrote this piece, is one of the greats in the history of musical theater. He was already the creative mind behind La Cage Aux Folles , in which I played in London and had a great time. So I knew that one of his songs would have to find its way onto this album. This title tells of a relationship between two very different partners; one very affectionate and romantic, the other shows his love in a different way, hence the title of the piece. In my own relationship, I'm the one who refuses to send roses. Scott [Gill; Barrowman's husband] is always in my ears and I can only say: 'After 16 years of relationship you can no longer doubt how much I love you, but I'm just not someone like that'. "
- 5. Memory (cats)
" Memory " is Andrew Lloyd Webber's most successful piece to date. The text was written by Trevor Nunn , based on TS Eliot's poem Rhapsody on a Windy Night . In her musical Cats , the song is sung by Grizabella, the former glamor cat who is now just a shadow of herself. The song is a nostalgic look back at her past and expresses her desire to start a new life. "Memory" is sung several times during the course of the action. Towards the end of the musical, it marks the turning point and climax of the plot.
Barrowman justified the choice in the interview as follows:
“I had my concerns about this song, because otherwise it's women who take on this number. Matt [Brind, Barrowman's music director] insisted we can make them ours, and he was right. I chose this song for the album because it resonates with a piece of advice my mother once gave me - it's important to always remember the people who have helped you in your life. I guess Matt is one of those people, he's been my music director for years now, on tours, in individual shows and in the studio too. "
- 6. The Kid Inside (Is There Life After High School?)
"The Kid Inside" opens the first act of the musical Is There Life After High School? , written in 1982 by Craig Carnelia based on the bestselling novel by Ralph Keyes ( The Post-Truth Era , 2004).
Barrowman justified the choice in the interview as follows:
“Well, as a man of almost 43 years of age, I hope that I will continue to be able to find the child in me. In all honesty, almost every day I feel like I'm still in school; I'm still curious to see what life has to offer me. You need this enthusiasm, because where else is the point in all this? I also think that taking a childlike approach to life is sometimes necessary and important to encourage us to take risks, both professionally and personally. Of course, one should not completely ignore one's own adult voice, the voice of reason that calls you to be careful. It's just as important. "
- 7. My Eyes Adored You (Jersey Boys)
In the musical Jersey Boys (about the story of the rock 'n' roll group The Four Seasons , written by their member Bob Gaudio ) Frankie Valli sings this song towards the end of the first act ( summer ) after his marriage to Mary for good because of his constant touring trips breaks and he says goodbye to his daughters.
Barrowman justified the choice in the interview as follows:
“When I was growing up in Illinois in the 1970s, I had a very close friend, Laura Mickey [she also taught him his American accent]. We never went out or anything like that, but we were close. I got up extra early so I could go to her house and we could get ready for school together, you know, comb each other's hair and just be there for each other. We adored one another. And then, after leaving home, I haven't seen her for about 20 years. We emailed each other and talked to each other, but we didn't meet again until I shot the BBC documentary Making of Me , it was a fantastic, emotional moment. She is now a mother of three and is still a great, wonderful person. "
- 8. Don't Cry Out Loud (The Boy From Oz)
In the musical The Boy from Oz , the dying Peter Allen remembers at the end of the second act how his mother Marion Woolnough sang this parable to him as a child. The grown-up Peter doesn't have the heart to tell her about his AIDS illness.
Barrowman justified the choice in the interview as follows:
“I always wanted to appear in The Boy From Oz but so far I haven't had an opportunity. It has always been a goal of mine for as long as I can remember. This song was a big hit in America, but it's not that popular here [in the UK / Europe]. I used to sing it at home when no one was around. I got my hands on a so-called track tape - it's an instrumental version of a song - I ran this cassette and sang along with it. One day, I thought, I was home alone and sang it until I couldn't anymore. When I was singing the last note for the last time, my mother came into the living room and said, 'That was pretty.' Damn it!"
- 9. So Close (Enchanted) - Duet with Jodie Prenger
" So Close " comes from the Disney - fairytale film Enchanted ( Enchanted ) of 2007. singer Jon McLaughlin occurs therein at a court ball and sings this song. Some verses are also sung by the main character Robert ( Patrick Dempsey ). The song is about two unhappy lovers and the hope for a happy ending .
Barrowman commented on his duet with Jodie Prenger as follows:
“Jodie, who I met during I'd Do Anything , plays a big part in my life in a way. I knew she had great potential, which is why I supported her so much on the show. Watching her blossom like this was a very rewarding experience. We have sung together before, but recording this song together in the studio and watching her unfold incredible power in her performance really impressed me. "
- 10. Unusual Way (Nine)
In the musical Nine , “Unusual Way” opens the second act. Claudia Nardi sings the love song when she says goodbye to Guido Contini, who cannot return her love.
Barrowman justified the choice in the interview as follows:
“I've been singing this song for a long time but never really performed it in public. When I was in drama school, my singing teacher Roy Mote and I worked long hours on this piece in the practice rooms. But because it comes from a woman’s role, nothing else came of it back then, something like that just didn't exist back then. It describes my feelings towards the people who are very important to me, who have my heart in their hand. "
- 11. You'll Never Walk Alone (Carousel)
The anthem " You'll Never Walk Alone ", which is mostly known today from football (especially from Liverpool FC ) , originally comes from the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical Carousel . She is sung by the main character Julie Jordan after she finds her stabbed husband Billy Bigelow. She regrets never confessing her love to him during her lifetime. To draw hope and regain strength, she begins this song, but the emotions overwhelm her and she cannot finish it. Her cousin Nettie takes over and pledges her affection and support with the song Julie.
Barrowman justified the choice in the interview as follows:
“I never met my grandfather, my mother's father. He sang this song to her to sleep, and she in turn sang it to me and my sister. It's that simple here. For me, this track is a way to reach out to someone I've never known and to celebrate my family and of course it's just a wonderful song - one that you can't listen to without your eyes wet to get."
- 12. The Winner Takes It All (Mamma Mia!)
With the ABBA hit " The Winner Takes It All ", the musical Mamma Mia! from the main character Donna at their unexpected reunion the desperation over the loss of their great love Sam 20 years ago.
Barrowman justified the choice in the interview as follows:
“I'm afraid I'll indulge a little more. This is a great, tremendous belt number at the climax of the album's parable, it's kind of its triumphant climax. It's the kind of composition that says, 'Look at us, we did it!' ”
- 13. Oh What A Night! (Jersey Boys)
In the musical Jersey Boys (about the story of the rock 'n' roll group The Four Seasons , written by their member Bob Gaudio ), in the second part of the first act ( summer ), Bob Crewe thinks back to the night in which he lost his virginity. The full title of the Four Seasons song is " December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night) ".
Barrowman justified the choice in the interview as follows:
“This piece sums up all of the elements of my performance that the audience of my shows seem to expect. It's pretty fun, a bit cheeky, a bit a winking performance. That's why I wanted to have this song with me; it's a taste of what people will experience when they come to one of my gigs. "
The Doctor and I.
While the songs of the main album exception arrangements of popular musical pieces, there was the bonus track of the iTunes release of the album still major changes: the "The Wizard and I" song ( the magician and I ) from Stephen Schwartz 'musical With Schwartze's assistance, Wicked was rewritten to fit Barrowman's character in the cult sci-fi series Doctor Who . Slight changes, the exchange of a few words, sufficed to adapt and adjust to the relationship between the doctor and Captain Jack . So were from the " Munchkins " the " oods " from "Elphaba" "Jack, my boy" , "de-Greenify" to "de-fabricate" and of course from the Wizard of doctor.
“I have to mention that there is an iTunes restricted bonus track that can be purchased by purchasing the album online. It is a rework of “The Wizard and I” that I worked on with the original composer, Stephen Schwartz, to reflect my time at Doctor Who . I commuted between London and Cardiff for the first season (before I finally bought my house in Sully) and heard Wicked's ensemble recording in the car . The CD ran through exactly twice from door to door and for this track I played with the lyrics and made it a story about me and the doctor. It's actually about how much this show has changed my life and how grateful I am to the fans for it. "
Individual evidence
- ^ John Barrowman Releases CD; Features Songs from CATS, JERSEY BOYS, NINE & DREAMGIRLS, 2/22 In: BroadwayWorld on February 22, 2010. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
- ↑ Note from Trevor Nunn on reallyuseful.com; Archived from the original on May 12, 2008. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
- ^ Album info on Barrowman's homepage. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
- ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Matt Thomas: As all-rounders go, you don't get much more so than John Barrowman. Now he's launched a new album. WalesOnline (Media Wales Ltd.) of February 26, 2010. Revised March 28, 2013. Accessed November 1, 2017.
- ↑ Entry in the online dictionary Scots → English : greet [grit] = sob, cry, weep, whimper; see. German (outdated):.
- ↑ BWW News Desk: John Barrowman Announces UK Album Tour Dates. BroadwayWorld.com on March 12, 2010. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
- ↑ John Barrowman Announces UK Album Tour Dates In: BroadwayWorld, March 12, 2010. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
- ^ Adrian Edwards: John Barrowman - John Barrowman (album, released 2010) - Review BBC Music - Reviews. March 1, 2010. Accessed February 16, 2018.
- ^ John Barrowman: John Barrowman (2010). Released 03/01/2010. Album info on the Barnes & Noble online presence. Retrieved November 1, 2017.
