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Hairspray
Original Soundtrack
New Line, 2007
REVIEW BY: Elizabeth Crowder
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 08/21/2007
Back in the days of Rodgers and Hammerstein, musicals were about fluff and happiness. The furthest extent the old school masterpieces went into politics and drama was
The Sound Of Music, which was still more a love story than a history lesson on Nazi Germany. While the past of musicals may have dabbled in politics, none have hit the level of
Hairspray, a 60s-era story of integration, breaking molds and going past appearances.
Based in Baltimore, Hairspray is a story of a girl (Tracy Turnblad) whose dream is to be on television on the Corny Collins show, dancing alongside Link, the cutest boy in school. Sounds simple, but woven in the age old tale is the risky measures Tracy takes to help her town through integration. The original 1988 film is the brain child of John Waters, whose other off-the-beaten-path movies include Cecil B. Demented and Cry-Baby.
The movie and soundtrack highlight new star Nikki Blonsky as Tracy, as well as John Travolta in the cross-dressing role of Edna Turnblad, Tracy's mother. Christopher Walken, Queen Latifah, Amanda Bynes, Elijah Kelley, Michelle Pfieffer and James Marsden lend their vocal talents, as well as Zac Efron (from High School Musical) and Brittany Snow. All the actors have strong vocals, which is part of the reason they can get away with some of the cheesier numbers on the soundtrack.
Honestly, it is difficult to listen to Cyclops from X-Men sing a song called "(It's) Hairspray" and even more insane to listen to Vinnie Barbarino sing a duet with Christopher Walken entitled "You're Timeless To Me" while singing like a woman who sounds like a man. Getting past those issues, though, the highlights of this album include "You Can't Stop The Beat," where the entire cast gets in on the finale, as well as Zac Efron's "It Takes Two." Elijah Kelley also shines in "Run And Tell That," as well as Marsden in "The Nicest Kids In Town."
My personal favorite track is "Without Love," which has Blonsky, Efron, Bynes and Kelley singing of how life would be without the love they have all found. Bynes plays Penny Pingleton, whose overbearing religious mother is completely against any change in society. Naturally, Penny falls hard for Seaweed, the African American dancer and singer Tracy befriends, and "Without Love" shows their true feelings. Penny sings "In my ivory tower / Life was just a Hostess snack / But now I've tasted chocolate / And I'm never going back!" The only way any musical can pull off lyrics like this is through a fantastic cast, who make the words come to life and help you see the heart behind the story line.
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