Spontaneous Musings

While it's a vast improvement having stories that focus on Mercedes and Mike Change, the show is still a bit on the whiny side.


This week I wanted to slap Mercedes and Kurt. Mercedes and her diva complex. Seriously, Rachel had been going on about being Maria for weeks, it was clearly important to her - you only jumped in because of your boyfriend and your issues with Rachel getting all the solo numbers in the Glee club (which isn't really Rachel's fault, that's Mr. Shue's). And Maria requires a bit of dancing, which you can't be bothered to even work at.

That said? I rather liked the odd number from Dreamgirls - with the whole group but Rachel. Also adored Mike Chang's "Be Cool" number - which Riff sings in the theater version, but is sung by someone completely different in the movie version.

The theater and movie versions of West Side Story are very different in some respects.

For example - in the theater version - Anita and the other girls sing "America", in the film version Anita, the other girls, and Bernando and the Sharks sing America. Bernado really doesn't do much singing in the theatrical version - it's almost all dancing. In the film version - he does sing. Another example? Riff does less singing numbers in the film version, no idea why. But Be Cool was switched from before Riff's death to after, and Office Krumpke was switched from after Riff's death to before. I think because Tamblyn was an excellent comedian and could pull off the Krumpke number better than "Be Cool", while the guy who sang Be Cool in the film was better at it than Tamblyn.

Not everyone can sing the same song effectively as the above explanation demonstrates - they switched the songs around to fit the actors cast in the roles in the film version of West Side Story. (I adore the film version - own the anniversary box set on DVD. Natalie Wood and Richard Beymer didn't bug me that much - I had George Chakiris and Rita Morena and Russ Tamblyn to focus on. Plus Wood and Beymer were dubbed and pretty, so who cares.)

Mercedes has a deep voice, while Rachel is a soprano, her voice is higher. Maria is a soprano part - as is demonstrated by the songs "Somewhere", "I Feel Pretty", and "One Love". She shouldn't have a lower voice than Tony's. Also, the actress singing Mercedes doesn't have the vocal range that Lea Michele does - as demonstrated in Out There on My Own - I honestly thought they were equal. She's not as accomplished a singer - I'm tone death and I can tell. A song like Out There On My Own - sure she hits out of the park, but she wouldn't be able to sing "I Feel Pretty" or dance it - which should have been obvious when they said it was "too easy for Rachel" and didn't work to both their strengths. Mercedes in both auditions did not choose any songs from West Side Story - instead she sang two pop numbers - neither from a stage musical. Reminded me of Kurt who did the same thing. Normally, you do have to sing a song from the actual musical in a call-back, it demonstrates familarity with the musical and an ability to pull off the role. Notably everyone cast sang songs from West Side Story - Blaine did, Mike Change did, and Rachel did (Somewhere), Kurt and Mercedes who pulled a diva - did pop songs (okay and a Barbara Striesand) - neither of which fit the roles really.

For the sing-off? It made no sense whatsoever that they picked a song off book, that had zip to do with the musical and Maria wouldn't sing - for the sing-off. The writers clearly knew if the two characters sang I Feel Pretty, Mercedes would bomb. She can't dance - it's a dance number. And she can't sing the soprano high notes. It's too high pitched a song. Kurt could sing it, Mercedes can't. Similar to why Kurt can't sing Tony and Blaine can, Kurt's voice is too high. This was unrealistic and poorly written - and clearly contrived so that Mercedes and Rachel would go head to head like Kurt and Blaine did. And we are supposed to feel sorry for Mercedes and think ill of Rachel? But I was just annoyed. Also it was a bit out of character for Mercedes to "suddenly" get interested in the musical. While clearly not being interested in dancing or performing in a group. She has stated in various episodes that all she wants to do is stand there and sing a solo. Musicals aren't like that - they are collaborations. They could have done the plot arc of her leaving the Glee Club for Shelby's rival club (which also makes no sense, but we'll shrug that off), without the whole musical rivalry bit. Also, double-casting??? Please. Understudy, yes. Double-casting - is just more work for everyone. No school does that.

This is my problem with Ryan Murphy - had the same issues with Nip/Tuck - he will often manipulate and have characters do things that feel a bit out of character or unrealistic to the story either to further a joke, theme, agenda or plot. There's such a thing as suspension of disbelief but this is pushing it.

Once again? Loved the dance and show numbers, and we had a lot more this week - so it was far more enjoyable. Also, they are letting the people who have talent sing and dance more. (Apparently someone figured out that the actor playing Finn isn't that good a singer or dancer - finally?) I only watch for the musical numbers. The plots? Either cliche or hackneyed. And the characters? Increasingly whiny. The only bit that worked for me was Emma Pillsbury's parents - which was classic Ryan Murphy satire. But, Shuester's closing number was odd - a bit too high-pitched in tone, I think?

The best musical numbers were Mike Change's, Mercedes and Rachel Berry in that order. Although Britney's was fun. I'm rooting for Britney to win class President. Kurt and Rachel are getting on my nerves.