On Friday night, I went to the flicks with David. My mum and dad had been given cinema vouchers that she'd just remembered about from Christmas so I put them to good use and watched Dreamgirls. This thinly veiled story of the Supremes which ends happier than the actual story. The Dreamettes start out in Detroit as backing singers and pretty soon start selling records all over the world. The main singer is Efiie White but she's ousted by the less soulful but more commercial sounding Deena Jones. Effie gets pissed off and ends up being forced out of the Dreams and living a quiet life. After a few years, Deena Jones and The Dreams are a worldwide commodity, Deena has married manager Curtis Taylor ala Diana Ross and her affair with Berry Gordy Jr. In the end, the Dreams are reunited with Effie as a foursome.
The whole movie and show is based on the premise that we identify with Effie as original Supreme Florence Ballard who was replaces when she got lazy and bloated by the cute and sparkly Cindy Birdsong. Florence ended up on benefit like Effie but also died in poor conditions a few years later, in musicals, this can't happen so Effie makes a modest comeback. Deena Jones is told that she will take over lead vocals and is the reluctant leader but by all reports, Miss Ross clawed her way round Motown and cast a spell over Berry Gordy thus ensuring her future. In some sequences, the Dreams pose for photos and Beyonce is styled in the exact same poses and styles of Miss Ross as she adorns covers and albums. It's quite spooky to be honest.
I've never seen the musical but was hypnotised by Jennifer Holliday singing "And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going" as she has a voice which can knock the rafters out but she's been replaced in the movie with a girl who has just as great a voice and has been the real star of the show, outshining Jamie Foxx, Eddie Murphy and Miss Diva Beyonce Knowles - Jennifer Hudson as Effie. I loved the movie from start to finish, every musical number was like a music video - the clothes were great and the songs so memorable. Jennifer Hudson gave me goosebumps although Beyonce's disco verison of One Night Only really worked for me!
With all this Supreme musical madness, I discovered that Miss Diana Ross herself will be touring the UK in May so last night bought tickets for her "I Love You" tour. The last shows she did were brilliant and I hope she can live up to that great memory in May when she takes the stage to spellbind me again!
1 comment:
Glad you enjoyed the movie. I agree that Jennifer Hudson has an amazing voice, and the songs and costumes were a definite highlight.
Personally I had a problem with the storyline though, particularly the way it re-invented the whole Supremes thing. Beyonce was way too bland - why couldn't she be an out and out bitch like Diana is really meant to be? I just think the film was too much of a cop out. Once again it seems that Hollywood is too scared to provide anything other than a happy ending.
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