JUST A REQUIREMENT

Seen as I'm a nasty old bitter show queen - well maybe less of the nasty and old and bitter tonight as it's Friday night and I'm having a protein shake and listening to music rather than getting my dance and drink on at the Polo. I made a semi serious commitment last Monday with my trainer that I would lay off the booze for a bit. So far it's worked but that's only because it's the first weekend night I've been tested - god knows what I will be like tomorrow night if I do go out. I might possibly give up the ghost but tonight I've diverted my attentions with a stunning curry (I'm allowed a break on the eating front at least once a week) watching some Prisoner Cell Block H and listening to some great showtunes. The following choices are just a requirement for you to download and listen to or Youtube the performance. They are all showy and definitely fabulous! In no particular order:-

1. SOMEONE ELSE'S STORY - Kerry Ellis - Chess in Concert 2009
Well the concert was 2008 at the Royal Albert Hall but the cd and dvd were released in the states a few weeks ago. Idina Menzel is just average as Florence but Kerry Ellis playing Svetlana is wonderful in her rendition of this song that wasn't in the London show but Judy Kuhn sang on Broadway and now the other female character sings it in this version. Kerry is divine in this. She is a beltress and I insist you listen to it and adore. She actually pisses all over Idina Menzel's performance in this recording and I love Idina!

2. AQUARIUS - Sasha Allen and the cast of Hair - HAIR - New Broadway Cast 2009
Sasha Allen is definitely Sasha Fierce as Dionne in the Broadway revival of HAIR that I managed to see twice on my recent trip to New York. This song is at the top of the show and is just wonderful. The band starts and some dim lights come up and lo and behold, Sasha and the tribe are generating their ideals of peace and love and freedom with Aquarius. I adored the film version, possibly because I saw Mistress Formika sing it at Wigstock in Wigstock The Movie. That was until this new recording which is number 1 on my iPod Top 25 Most Played songs!

3. LOVE CAN'T HAPPEN - David Carroll - Grand Hotel
David played a major part in the premiere production of Grand Hotel in the early 90s. Time went on and the show was never recorded for posterity. By the time the recording came about, David Carroll was dying and actually passed away in the recording studio. Unable to complete the recording, it now features David Carroll singing a live version of the great song, recorded a few months before he died. It gives me goosebumps. He nails it at the end and it's nothing short of phenomenal. Listen to it and weep. What a great song and performance.

4. I AM CHANGING - Darius Dahoff - Dreamgirls
In a twist, a male singer sings Effie's 2nd big number. This was a recording of Broadway Unplugged. A series that has singers perform in a Broadway theatre without the use of microphones so the audience are treated to a "true" performance. This song is sublime. He totally rips it up Jennifer Holliday style and the fact that he is completely live makes it even more fabulous. The audience get really into as the song peaks and it never fails to send shivers down my spine!

5. 9 TO 5 - The Cast - 9 to 5 The Musical
This is being released mid July but the official site has had this recording on for a few months. It's the song we all know and love but Dolly has added more lyrics and having seen it, it's a great opening number. Allison Janney is ok, Megan Hilty sounds like Dolly and Stephanie Block just wants to belt all the time. It's real good fun and when that typewriter starts pinging, you know you're in for a great time!