Elton John Album: “Aida”

I've seen Aida in its try-out period in Chicago, twice. I love the show and had to have the music. However, this concept CD is nothing like the music heard in the show. I enjoy the CD because it is the only way I can hear the music, but I can't wait for the cast soundtrack to come out. If I hadn't seen the show I probably would like the CD better than I do.

Aida was Elton John and Tim Rice's baby, providing a concept soundtrack album before even setting the stage on fire, the tracks are generally sweeping show ballads.

Elton teams up with several lovely and talented ladies, in LeAnn Rimes, Janet Jackson, and Lulu. "Written In The Stars" could be a vocal gladiator battle, the way LeAnn and Elton sing it. Janet and Lulu prove themselves as more mellow duet partners.

Kelly Price makes "The Gods Love Nubia" her own, the song is tied up in soul with her voice being smooth as silk. The far too short "Amneris' Letter" shows off Shania Twain's voice to perfection also. Pop culture phenomenon the Spice Girls turn "My Strongest Suit" into the most obvious pop stomper of this set. Another strong point is Heather Headley's solo "Elaborate Lives". A rich ballad, Headley recently embarked on an R&B singing career with the track "He Is". The legendary Tina Turner provides a fiery perfomance, her track being the powerful "Easy As Life" with Angelique Kidjo.

Duds are also present, Sting and Dru Hill's tracks are admitted stinkers. James Taylor, Boyz II Men, Sherie Scott, and Lenny Kravitz also deliver perfomances on the album. This album is well put together, with strong tunes and a short-list of superstars presenting them. A fun buy.

I love Elton John. I love Sting, I love Tina Turner, I love Leann Rimes. I love most of the artists on this album! But Atlanta (where Aida premiered) was better. Well, of course, you say. The live version is always better. It is. But I wished they had not butchered this amazing and beautiful and fun musical by turning it into stuff that sounds like everyone else's stuff. This was an amazing performance in Atlanta. I got chills every time I heard Heather Headley's voice. This CD was not amazing; it actually made me sad. The only good tracks were the ones with Heather Headley on them. I feel like the world has been cheated out of a good version of these songs. Oh, and Heather Headley is a goddess.

Based on the lyrics and the melodies, this album had such a potential for greatness. Unfortunately, this potential was only partially fufilled. I knew full well when I bought it that it was not the original cast recording, or even close to it. I was disappointed, however, to find just how bad some of the matchups between artist and song could be. Take as an example, "Amneris's Letter". I love Shania Twain as a singer, and I love the song itself. Together, however, I wince whenever I hear it. Her voice was simply NOT meant to go that high. There were some high points on the album, such as Sting's "Another Pyramid" and the haunting trio "A Step too Far", but there were also low points. I have a feeling that the original cast recording, when it comes out, will be better than this is.

Saw Aida twice during the Atlanta preview. The two female leads had absolutely incredible voices but are only on two songs that I counted on the CD. Those of you who loved "My Favorite Suit" would not believe how much better it was with the original performers. The musical has GREAT potential it is just missing a strong male lead. The male lead songs are wimpy and not memorable. The male lead should not sing like Elton John. There are also some songs in the live version that are such a cacophony that you can't understand a thing. There are some strong points to the CD, but I can't wait for the soundtrack. Until then, I'll just enjoy this one. P.S. I cannot believe how outraged are over the fact that this is an old story being retold in a different genre. For those of us who would never see the opera, this was wonderful!