For every fan of the John Waters’s original film Hairspray, I have one recommendation: buy the soundtrack to the 2007 movie musical version and listen. Listen closely. The slight subtle subversion is there. I mean there’s a song called "Miss Baltimore Crabs." Use your imagination.
But the soundtrack to Hairspray, an Adam Shankman-directed adaptation of the Broadway musical adapted from the 1988 film, is definitely a musical soundtrack. The opening song "Good Morning Baltimore" is a showtune through and through, with the big (blonde?) and beautiful voice of Nikki Blonsky leaving no room for argument.
The incompatibility of John Waters’s irreverence and Broadway’s shine are ever apparent. Yet, against the odds, these songs, the quirky lyrics and the quirkier performances, are defiantly great. The shear joy aroused by Christopher Walken and John Travlota (Mr. and Mrs. Turnblad, respectively) singing "Timeless" is enough to get me in the theater.
Throw in Michelle Pfieffer’s devilish number "Miss Baltimore Crabs," where she sings about her days as the femme fatale of the teen dance scene, and you have what may be the best movie musical soundtrack since Chicago. Oh, and did I mention Queen Latifah is at the top of her game as Motormouth Maybelle?
Fans of the Broadway musical (which I never saw) may be disappointed by the new songs "Ladies' Choice" with Zac Efron and "The New Girl in Town" with Brittany Snow. They aren’t nearly as fun as the original Broadway songs. In fact, the song "Cooties," written for Snow’s character Amber, is performed by someone else on the soundtrack and doesn’t appear in the feature film. The replacement songs also target the PG-audience with their lighter tone.
Thankfully, those songs don’t last long and will likely show up in the film with choreographer/director Shankman’s dances making up for the less interesting music. The soundtrack is best when it relies on the veteran performers or Blonsky and not High School Musical alum Efron. Amanda Bynes and Elijah Kelly have a few good moments as well, with Kelly singing "Run and Tell That" and the pair singing in "Without Love."
"Without Love" is, in fact, the best song from the younger players, Efron included. But I must credit Marc Shaiman’s music with the overall success and not just the performers. Shaiman, along with lyricist Scott Whitman, manages to get me to focus on the uber-fun, slightly offbeat 2007 film without thinking to hard about the 1988 original. The music of Hairspray gives a film version the momentum to be 2007’s Grease.
Article comments
1 - Marc
While Googleing myself this morning (hey, I only do it every OTHER hour) I came across your blog.
I am thrilled you enjoyed yourself, truly, I am!
But I do find it humorous that you state that our new songs target the PC audience, since Radio Disney wouldn't play the film lyrics to one of our new song LADIES CHOICE because of it's...innuendo
how are these lyrics (sung by a teenager boy to a teenage girl) targeting the PC crowd, I ask you!!
“LADY’S CHOICE”
verse #1
HEY LITTLE GIRL WITH THE CASH TO BURN
I’M SELLIN’ SOMETHING YOU WON’T RETURN
HEY LITTLE GIRL TAKE ME OFF THE SHELF
CAUSE IT’S HARD HAVING FUN PLAYING WITH YOURSELF
ONCE YOU’VE BROWSED THROUGH THE WHOLE SELECTION
SHAKE YOUR HIPS IN MY DIRECTION
chorus #1
A PRETTIER PACKAGE YOU NEVER DID SEE
TAKE ME HOME AND THEN UNWRAP ME
SHOP AROUND BUT LITTLE DARLIN’ I’VE GOT TO BE
THE LADY’S CHOICE
verse #1
HEY LITTLE GIRL LOOKING FOR A SALE
TEST DRIVE THIS AMERICAN MALE
IT’S GONNA TAKE CASH TO FILL MY TANK
SO LET’S CRACK OPEN YOUR PIGGY BANK
HEY LITTLE GIRL GOING WINDOW SHOPPING
I GOT SOMETHING THAT’S TRAFFIC STOPPING
chorus #2
HEY, LITTLE GIRL ON A SPENDING SPREE
I DON’T COME CHEAP BUT THE KISSES COME FREE
ON CLOSER INSPECTION I’M SURE THAT YOU’LL AGREE
I’M THE LADY’S CHOICE
chorus #3
HEY, LITTLE GIRL ON A SPENDING SPREE
I DON’T COME CHEAP BUT THE KISSES COME FREE
ON CLOSER INSPECTION I’M SURE THAT YOU’LL AGREE
HEY LITTLE GIRL, LISTEN TO MY PLEA
I COME WITH A LIFETIME GUARANTEE
AND ONE DAY MAYBE WE’LL FIND THAT BABY MAKES THREE
IT’S THE LADY’S CHOICE
If you have even a slightly dirty mind (which I am SURE you don't!) these lyrics could bring up images of male prostitution, masturbation, and the taking of virginity.
PC my ass!
:-)
Anyway, thanks for the review. I am sincerely glad you enjoyed "most" of it!
Marc Shaiman
2 - fhbug
Ha! I totally agree about the subversive genius of Ladies Choice (thanks Marc!) Don't know about the radio, but they do have a Karaoke version at Disney's go.com with those hilarious lyrics front and center!
3 - Dan
It's great to see Marc Shaiman commenting on the blog. Thanks!
Lighter tone was referring more to Efron and Snow's deliveries than to the actually lyrics. PG-audiences do need more Efron. :)
I agree, just as I said, "The slight, subtle subversion is there."
Great stuff.
4 - Bill Sherman
Gotta admit I'm a major fan of the original Waters movie, so I've had my qualms about this project from the get-go - I'm ready to give it a shot, however. Nikki Blonsky definitely looks like an apt Tracy Turnblad . . .
5 - Austin
And that is why I love Marc Shaiman!
6 - tirion
i went 2 see hairspray 2day it is the best film i seen in ages i luv it really good music good drama
7 - Jamie
Zac Effron did such a good job in hairspray. He is so hot. I wish i could have been tracy at the end of the movie. Great job to the whole cast!
8 - Samantha
We all wish we were Tracy :P
9 - tttttttt
i loooooooooveeeeeee it!
10 - lilk
this is the best movie ever
i can't wait till it comes out on DVD i am soooooooooooooooo gonna buy it
11 - okie poks
i wish i was tracey when she and link kissed