Jay 37,368 Posted December 1, 2021 Author Share Posted December 1, 2021 Wow. Elgort's singing is awful. How did Spielberg let this happen, instead of having someone else provide his singing voice? Yikes! Here's the info on youtube Quote Balcony Scene (Tonight) · Rachel Zegler · Ansel Elgort Balcony Scene (Tonight) ℗ 2021 20th Century Studios Released on: 2021-12-01 Producer, Associated Performer, Recording Arranger: David Newman Producer, Executive Producer: Matt Sullivan Producer: Jeanine Tesori Studio Personnel, Recording Engineer, Mixer: Shawn Murphy Studio Personnel, Engineer: Lawrence Manchester Studio Personnel, Engineer: Ian Kagey Studio Personnel, Engineer: Josh Coleman Studio Personnel, Engineer: Angie Teo Studio Personnel, Engineer: Aki Nishimura Studio Personnel, Engineer: Ben Miller Studio Personnel, Engineer: Kevin Shaw Studio Personnel, Engineer: Erin Michael Rettig Studio Personnel, Engineer: Cary Clark Studio Personnel, Editor: Joe E. Rand Studio Personnel, Editor: Ramiro Belgardt Composer: Leonard Bernstein Author: Stephen Sondheim michael_grig and Tiburon 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheUlyssesian 2,478 Posted December 1, 2021 Share Posted December 1, 2021 He sounds okay but she shows him up. He isn't matching her. On his own he's okay but considerably inferior to her. Her voice is properly trained. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay 37,368 Posted December 1, 2021 Author Share Posted December 1, 2021 Yea, the gap between their skills is a chasm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Disco Stu 15,495 Posted December 1, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted December 1, 2021 11 minutes ago, Jay said: How did Spielberg let this happen Not to be too snarky, but I would assume the answer is because he doesn't agree? I'm currently agnostic on the question. My first impression was that he was neither awful nor amazing, therefore I could possibly just get used to it. The performance of the orchestra is wonderful, at the very least. Jurassic Shark, Taikomochi, The Illustrious Jerry and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheUlyssesian 2,478 Posted December 1, 2021 Share Posted December 1, 2021 Not to pre-judge before watching but a thought just occurred to me - why not Timothy Chalamet? He's an absolutely absolutely outstanding young actor and mega-talented and a proper bonafide A-list prestige star. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post TownerFan 4,983 Posted December 1, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted December 1, 2021 1 hour ago, SilverTrumpet said: First full track. I appreciate the lack of dialogue since in the original had it on the OST. Guy's awful though. WAIT! I spoke too soon! They have dialogue at the end only. Weird choice. He's not bad at all, but it sounds like she's really going to be a star. As in most musicals, the dialogue between singing verses is an essential part of the overall fabric, so it makes absolute sense to have it there on the album too, like a recitativo passage in an opera. Bernstein also had it in his own 1984 recording with Carreras and Kanawa, performed by his son and daughter, so he likely considered it really part of the score. I understand though the desire to hear some of that lovely scoring isolated. Btw, Newman's orchestration sounds like is very very faithful to the original Broadway score. Disco Stu, Will and The Illustrious Jerry 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay 37,368 Posted December 2, 2021 Author Share Posted December 2, 2021 Track times: 1 Prologue (5:54) 2 La Borinqueña (Sharks Version) (1:06) 3 Jet Song (2:11) 4 Something's Coming (2:30) 5 The Dance at the Gym: Blues, Promenade (2:11) 6 The Dance at the Gym: Mambo (3:19) 7 The Dance at the Gym: Cha-Cha, Meeting Scene, Jump (3:28) 8 Maria (3:05) 9 Balcony Scene (Tonight) (5:24) 10 Transition to Scherzo / Scherzo (2:14) 11 America (4:57) 12 Gee, Officer Krupke (4:20) 13 One Hand, One Heart (3:45) 14 Cool (4:03) 15 Tonight (Quintet) (3:28) 16 The Rumble (3:10) 17 I Feel Pretty (2:58) 18 Somewhere (3:10) 19 A Boy Like That / I Have a Love (5:25) 20 Finale (3:36) 21 End Credits (9:03) TOTAL TIME - 1:19:17 Tracks 1, 5-7, 10, 16, 20, 21 have no singing, though there's some dialogue in 6 and 16 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrbellamy 6,287 Posted December 2, 2021 Share Posted December 2, 2021 11 hours ago, TheUlyssesian said: He sounds okay but she shows him up. He isn't matching her. On his own he's okay but considerably inferior to her. Her voice is properly trained. Yeah exactly, he's got a decent voice. "Awful" is a very relative term. Compared to her, he just sounds kinda flat. It's just annoying when you know there are plenty of fellas out there who've got the goods to match her vocally, talented and good-looking, could probably suit a role like Tony and have chemistry with her. Doesn't seem like needle in a haystack casting, but what do I know. I'm not Spielberg, didn't see all his options. And haven't seen/heard Elgort's whole performance. Also there's just bad vibes around him so you wish he at least had an A++ voice like she does. As for dubbing him, it's just really not cool anymore, nobody's doing it. People like to know it's the actor singing for themselves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henry Sítrónu 494 Posted December 2, 2021 Share Posted December 2, 2021 I like what I hear (especially orchestra wise) Yavar Moradi 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MedigoScan 324 Posted December 3, 2021 Share Posted December 3, 2021 Its weird to hear some of the original stage lyrics after having seen the movie so many times Though I am glad they kept the better version of America. (just with a bit from the stage opening? Interesting choice.) Sounds overall great either way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrbellamy 6,287 Posted December 3, 2021 Share Posted December 3, 2021 It really is crazy how listening to Elgort's "Maria," I'm thinking, well, look, it's not bad. Not amazing but he's really okay, it's listenable. He's hitting those notes around 2:00, and there's a certain naive charm to the performance. It kinda works that he's not 100% nailing the song but sounds like a boy reaching for it... ...but as soon as "Tonight" starts and he sings after Zegler, I just feel embarrassed for him lmao. I do think it speaks a little more to how great she is, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,079 Posted December 3, 2021 Share Posted December 3, 2021 13 minutes ago, mrbellamy said: It really is crazy how listening to Elgort's "Maria," I'm thinking, well, look, it's not bad. Not amazing but he's really okay, it's listenable. He's hitting those notes around 2:00, and there's a certain naive charm to the performance. It kinda works that he's not 100% nailing the song but sounds like a boy reaching for it... There's a certain roughness, but he's better than a lot of musical singers, stage or film. mrbellamy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GerateWohl 4,370 Posted December 3, 2021 Share Posted December 3, 2021 2 hours ago, mrbellamy said: It really is crazy how listening to Elgort's "Maria," I'm thinking, well, look, it's not bad. Not amazing but he's really okay, it's listenable. He's hitting those notes around 2:00, and there's a certain naive charm to the performance. It kinda works that he's not 100% nailing the song but sounds like a boy reaching for it... ...but as soon as "Tonight" starts and he sings after Zegler, I just feel embarrassed for him lmao. I do think it speaks a little more to how great she is, though. I think, the issue with Elgort's Maria perormance is, you don't hear a passionate guy enflamed by love and expressing this, you hear a guy concentrated on hitting every note and making his voice sound pleasant. TheUlyssesian and Jurassic Shark 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,079 Posted December 3, 2021 Share Posted December 3, 2021 Yes! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Stu 15,495 Posted December 3, 2021 Share Posted December 3, 2021 As I've said many a time, "Maria" is one of my favorite pieces of music ever written, and I'm so used to the transcendent Carreras recording (I said it, wanna fight about it? he's perfect) but even then, Elgort's "Maria" could have had a great acting performance to make up for the lack of technical voice skill..... but it does not. Not a disaster by any means, and the orchestra is wonderful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,079 Posted December 3, 2021 Share Posted December 3, 2021 2 minutes ago, Disco Stu said: Elgort's "Maria" could have had a great acting performance to make up for the lack of technical voice skill..... but it does not. Have you seen the film? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Stu 15,495 Posted December 3, 2021 Share Posted December 3, 2021 I am speaking of the soundtrack recording only, naturally. I think the comparison can be made since there's no visual component for the Carreras either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,079 Posted December 3, 2021 Share Posted December 3, 2021 Perhaps his physical acting is brilliant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Stu 15,495 Posted December 3, 2021 Share Posted December 3, 2021 You never know! Until you do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crumbs 14,317 Posted December 3, 2021 Share Posted December 3, 2021 It's also possible the film vocals are different to the album vocals, which seems to be commonplace with musicals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,079 Posted December 3, 2021 Share Posted December 3, 2021 Yeah, it might be worse in the film. crumbs and GerateWohl 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Stu 15,495 Posted December 3, 2021 Share Posted December 3, 2021 I still predict this will join Spielberg's Young Man Casting Hall of Shame alongside Tye Sheridan in RP1, Justin Chatwin in WOTW, and Jeremy Irvine in War Horse. Spiely has a knack for picking young male actors that are as interesting to watch as rice pudding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,079 Posted December 3, 2021 Share Posted December 3, 2021 4 minutes ago, Disco Stu said: interesting to watch as rice pudding. I've never watched that. I'll check it out! Cerebral Cortex 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay 37,368 Posted December 3, 2021 Author Share Posted December 3, 2021 The kid who played Tad Lincoln wasn't very good either, maybe that's why a bunch of his scenes were cut Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Stu 15,495 Posted December 3, 2021 Share Posted December 3, 2021 What's really crazy to think about is that Ansel Elgort is the same age as Richard Dreyfuss was when Jaws was filmed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay 37,368 Posted December 3, 2021 Author Share Posted December 3, 2021 Woah. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrbellamy 6,287 Posted December 3, 2021 Share Posted December 3, 2021 7 hours ago, Disco Stu said: I still predict this will join Spielberg's Young Man Casting Hall of Shame alongside Tye Sheridan in RP1, Justin Chatwin in WOTW, and Jeremy Irvine in War Horse. Spiely has a knack for picking young male actors that are as interesting to watch as rice pudding. Sheridan, Irvine, and Elgort all look weirdly alike too. Same pursed lips and dirty blond wavy hair. Actually kinda reminds me of DiCaprio haha, maybe that's what he thinks he's looking at. The only really great pick Spielberg had for a pretty boy in his 20s, but of course he was already a superstar. Obviously Henry Thomas, Christian Bale, and Haley Joel Osment were exceptional, and he can claim the first two as discoveries. The girls are still usually good. Ruby Barnhill gave an appealing performance as Sophie in BFG, and Rachel Zegler seems to be dynamite. Holko 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Stu 15,495 Posted December 3, 2021 Share Posted December 3, 2021 19 minutes ago, mrbellamy said: Sheridan, Irvine, and Elgort all look weirdly alike too. We'll see how it goes with the teen he's cast in The Fabelmans, but he has that same kinda look.... mrbellamy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BB-8 3,478 Posted December 3, 2021 Share Posted December 3, 2021 Just catching up on this West Side Story thingy. Has it already been noted that music consultant and Hollywood legend JW has written the liner notes for the CD/vinyl release? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay 37,368 Posted December 3, 2021 Author Share Posted December 3, 2021 On 29/11/2021 at 1:05 PM, Jay said: According to Film Music Reporter, John Williams is providing liner notes for the physical CD edition of the OST album. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheUlyssesian 2,478 Posted December 3, 2021 Share Posted December 3, 2021 I was listening to a podcast and they said the exact same thing that people in this thread are saying. The podcasters LOVED the movie and they hated Ansel. They made the same point - the film is being sold on the name of Steven Speilberg, Tony Kushner and the pedigree and prestige of the original. The ENTIRE cast is newbies and fresh faces, from the musical theatre scene and ALL getting acclaim. The film is not being sold on Ansel's name at all. In fact they are almost hiding him. So why then did Speilberg hire Ansel? He could have literally had his pick from the rooster of the brilliant young talents on broadway. Like he could have gotten anybody. A guy who can sing and dance in a heartbeat. Why was the need to get Ansel in this part? Why? Yavar Moradi 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bespin 8,483 Posted December 3, 2021 Share Posted December 3, 2021 I love Ansel. He's so cuuute... and probably a closeted gay. After saying that... his actor skills... well... My guess is Tye Sheridan refused the role... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,079 Posted December 3, 2021 Share Posted December 3, 2021 24 minutes ago, TheUlyssesian said: Why was the need to get Ansel in this part? Why? There has to be at least one mediocre actor/singer that the audience can relate to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saulocf 79 Posted December 3, 2021 Share Posted December 3, 2021 9 hours ago, Disco Stu said: I still predict this will join Spielberg's Young Man Casting Hall of Shame alongside Tye Sheridan in RP1, Justin Chatwin in WOTW, and Jeremy Irvine in War Horse. Spiely has a knack for picking young male actors that are as interesting to watch as rice pudding. Tye Sheridan is a great young actor (watch Mud or Joe). He was badly directed in RPO - as we’re the other actors. In that film, it seemed that Spielberg was just in for the action scenes, which were great Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,079 Posted December 3, 2021 Share Posted December 3, 2021 18 minutes ago, saulocf said: In that film, it seemed that Spielberg was just in for the money Fixed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bespin 8,483 Posted December 3, 2021 Share Posted December 3, 2021 Spielberg alway had the flair to select his male leading actors since Henry Thomas in E.T... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saulocf 79 Posted December 3, 2021 Share Posted December 3, 2021 12 minutes ago, Jurassic Shark said: Fixed. True. Having said that, that car race scene is top tier Spielberg. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,079 Posted December 3, 2021 Share Posted December 3, 2021 If you say so. I haven't seen it yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrbellamy 6,287 Posted December 3, 2021 Share Posted December 3, 2021 43 minutes ago, saulocf said: Tye Sheridan is a great young actor (watch Mud or Joe). He was badly directed in RPO - as we’re the other actors. In that film, it seemed that Spielberg was just in for the action scenes, which were great It's not really a great part to begin with. I do remember liking him in Mud. I like Elgort in Baby Driver. Irvine I have no real opinion on, he's just corny in a corny movie. Honestly I don't even hate Chatwin lmao. Not like people online do. I don't hate most things like people online do.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bespin 8,483 Posted December 3, 2021 Share Posted December 3, 2021 I have to watch Baby Driver... but it's with this actor... this toxic actor... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
p0llux 398 Posted December 4, 2021 Share Posted December 4, 2021 Ansel Elgort has the weakest voice out of the entire cast. He has one of those untrained voices that happen to be capable of hitting notes. Reminds me of Ryan Gosling in La La Land where he literally just sings with his talking voice. Elgort, however, has Gosling beat thanks to his ability to handle the vocal ranges of the songs in West Side Story. With that being said, Elgort is not a bad singer. He just pales in comparison to the rest of the cast. This is most apparent in the duet of "Tonight" when Elgort sings "Today all day I had the feeling...", he just could not match the performance that was set by Rachel Zelger in the verse prior. Ariana DeBose and Rachel Zelger are A+ and A performances respectively. Awards may be in order for those two. mrbellamy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay 37,368 Posted December 10, 2021 Author Share Posted December 10, 2021 "Hi All Watch a new Film Music Live videocast this Tuesday, December 14th at 1 PM (4PM EST) as DAVID NEWMAN talks about going from the score-to-picture streets of Robert Wise's classic WEST SIDE STORY to arranging the music of Steven Spielberg’s critically acclaimed remake, where he puts a new spring into the steps and songs of Tony, Maria, The Jets and the Sharks for a musical gang that includes Gustavo Dudamel and John Williams. Special thanks to La-La Land Records for providing CD’s of David’s scores to Hoffa and Galaxy Quest for the first five live questions from U.S. viewers! Tune in at:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-IreuMDUDM Thanks as always for watching Film Music Live, the show where you get to ask the questions to today's top composers! Daniel Schweiger Host, Film Music Live" https://filmscoremonthly.com/board/posts.cfm?threadID=146142&forumID=1&archive=0 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Stu 15,495 Posted December 10, 2021 Share Posted December 10, 2021 Burlingame article on the score https://variety.com/2021/artisans/news/west-side-story-john-wiliams-leonard-bernstein-1235131071/ Will and Jay 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Stu 15,495 Posted December 11, 2021 Share Posted December 11, 2021 I wonder how much underscore there is not on the OST. It’s too bad there’s no longer any Oscar category for score adaptation because then we’d get an FYC for this Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnyD 1,223 Posted December 11, 2021 Share Posted December 11, 2021 9 hours ago, Jay said: "Hi All Watch a new Film Music Live videocast this Tuesday, December 14th at 1 PM (4PM EST) as DAVID NEWMAN talks about going from the score-to-picture streets of Robert Wise's classic WEST SIDE STORY to arranging the music of Steven Spielberg’s critically acclaimed remake, where he puts a new spring into the steps and songs of Tony, Maria, The Jets and the Sharks for a musical gang that includes Gustavo Dudamel and John Williams. Special thanks to La-La Land Records for providing CD’s of David’s scores to Hoffa and Galaxy Quest for the first five live questions from U.S. viewers! Tune in at:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-IreuMDUDM Thanks as always for watching Film Music Live, the show where you get to ask the questions to today's top composers! Daniel Schweiger Host, Film Music Live" https://filmscoremonthly.com/board/posts.cfm?threadID=146142&forumID=1&archive=0 I’m definitely going to check that out. 1 hour ago, Disco Stu said: Burlingame article on the score https://variety.com/2021/artisans/news/west-side-story-john-wiliams-leonard-bernstein-1235131071/ Excellent and insightful article. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post JohnnyD 1,223 Posted December 11, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted December 11, 2021 I just came back from seeing the film. I have to applaud Steven Spielberg and all involved with this adaptation. This was moving; I was in tears at the end. The production, the music, the acting, the choreography, everything. In my opinion, this in a lot of ways is better than the 1961 film. This adaptation of the 1957 Broadway musical captures the spirit of the original Broadway book while breathing new life into this story that is, while timeless, as relevant today as it was when it first came out, going back to its Shakespearean roots. This was very well done, and I cannot wait to get this when it comes out on 4K Blu-Ray; I want to see how this was made. I’m going to get the soundtrack too. Steven Spielberg and crew did a fantastic job. David Newman, Gustavo Dudamel, the NY Phil and LA Phil did a phenomenal job with the music and the songs were well done; the actors were really great with the singing and choreography. Kudos to Maestro John Williams as Music Consultant; while I would have LOVED the Maestro to have done the adaptation of the music and conducting, I respect his suggestion to Steven Spielberg, and am glad he was still involved with this. Very well done. crumbs, Taikomochi and Will 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MedigoScan 324 Posted December 12, 2021 Share Posted December 12, 2021 On 11/12/2021 at 1:12 AM, Disco Stu said: I wonder how much underscore there is not on the OST. It’s too bad there’s no longer any Oscar category for score adaptation because then we’d get an FYC for this If its anything like the 1961 movie with background music, we probably arent missing much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JNHFan2000 2,966 Posted December 12, 2021 Share Posted December 12, 2021 On 11/12/2021 at 1:12 AM, Disco Stu said: I wonder how much underscore there is not on the OST. It’s too bad there’s no longer any Oscar category for score adaptation because then we’d get an FYC for this I saw the film yesterday. I believe all the music is on the album except for a piece that is heared after The Rumble happens. It starts out pretty dark and than has a variation on Tonight I believe. I believe this was the only unreleased cue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bespin 8,483 Posted December 15, 2021 Share Posted December 15, 2021 I'm listening to the Dudamel recording. I must say I NEVER liked West Side Story. The arrangements are a bit more modern, great work from David Newman. And it sure have a more authenthic latino sound.... and well that's why Dudamel is conducting, right? But for me, the music is still stuck in the 60s. I'm not a fan of musicals, period. Sorry... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edmilson 7,462 Posted December 15, 2021 Share Posted December 15, 2021 Jon Broxton really liked it: https://moviemusicuk.us/2021/12/14/west-side-story-leonard-bernstein-and-stephen-sondheim/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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