Soundtracking: "Burlesque"
Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at 10:00AM by Chris Feil
Much as we love it, isn’t Burlesque one of our least distinct recent original musicals? The genre is no stranger to borrowing tropes that have worked in the past and Burlesque is no exception - dreams of stardom, vague romance, putting on a show to save the barn. The real culprit here the film’s mishmash assemblage of tunes, populated with high peaks and easily ignored plains.
But I should shut up because really: who cares? It’s Cher, bitch!
And oft repeated quotables aside, the presence of a singing and dancing Cher on screen is a now rare delight that shouldn’t be taken for granted (soak up those Mamma Mia! 2 rays of sunshine this July, kids). Some are quick to forget that Cher is always in on the joke, or that her lack of pretension makes opulence where more self-serious performers would be trapped in chintziness...
With Cher in the spotlight, splitting the silly hairs of this confection turns you into one of those blowhards that remind you that it's not actually champagne if it wasn't crafted in that region of France.
Persona is key to selling what Burlesque is doing musically. Cher’s club owner Tess initially restricts the show to tracks by legends, rendering her ensemble of performers into anonymous dancing cyphers, even Kristen Bell’s supposed star player. Tess is the closest musical authorial voice for us to grasp to despite seldom taking the stage, and perhaps it’s appropriate considering the star wattage at play. When Cher takes to the empty, smoky stage for “You Haven’t Seen the Last of Me”, the character arc and our perceptions of the artist become enmeshed to make the narrative go down all the more smoothly. As if Cher rocking a Diane Warren ballad didn’t already have the power to unseat despots.
But the film is also beholden to recent musical successes like Chicago and Moulin Rouge!, which themselves rely on a history of not only burlesque and musical theatre, but vaudeville and era-specific musical stylings. The influences here muddy the musical waters for a musical that feels half successful, and clumsy on its way to catchy. With so much less Cher than we bargained for on the soundtrack, it becomes a bit of a scattershot sound in search of a guiding voice.
It takes the emergence of Christina Aguilera’s Ali to cement the film’s musical identity into the sky high frenetic energy of contemporary pop R&B when she finally brandishes her vocals. Ali doesn’t just transform the club for narrative purpose but also provides a clarity of ideas for the film to tunnel its original songs through to more sturdy results. It’s Aguilera’s brand they lean into, instantly transposable from her “Back to Basics” era glam like a B-side concept visual album.
The spaces between Burlesque’s two divas using their charisma to maximum capacity may be a mixed bag, and one we’re willing to forgive. But when they get to let loose and take the reins of the film’s identity, the musical takes shape.
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Reader Comments (19)
This movie often feels like a 1930s Lloyd Bacon sort of affair thrown into a weird mid--2000s machine and then released five years later. I love it. And the soundtrack too!
Glenn -- that is a PERFECT description and I had just come to the comments to tell Chris how great his descriptions of where the movie flails and finds itself are. And
Chris -- you're absolutely spot on about Cher's persona. Perhaps YOU should have been coaching the queens on that Drag Race episode as to what Cher is all about.
okay. okay now the tunes are lodged in my brain again
Such an overlooked gem. It is such rewatchable movie and the soundtrack is a big part of that.
Still not over it not having at least 3 oscar noms. Original song, costume (I don't understand Michael Kaplan having zero nominations still) and make up should have been in the bag. And it should havbe won for song (they so pushed the wrong stuff for nominations).
Nathaniel - LOL I would nail that job interview
I also thought it was quite lovely Overall. I own the Soundtrack and I love listening to it.
That Cher got a Razzie nom was simply disgraceful. LMAO
I LOVE Show Me How to Burlesque. That song is scorching HOT.
My secret crush at workplace performed dance routine to this in a PG-Magic Mike Cowboy getup at Company's New Year's Party. I DIE right then and there.
I was at the UK premiere of this and Cher was there. A great night!
And I have a blast with this film. Yes, it's a mixed bag - but the highs are very high!
'Show Me How You Burlesque' is far from my favourite song, though. I love 'Welcome to Burlesque' (that's the one I'd want to sing!), 'You Haven't Seen the Last Of Me' (should've won over the Toy Story 3 song, and the underrated 'I'm Just a Good Girl', which is a great musical sequence in the film and a terrific performance by Christina.
Oh, and did we mention Stanley Tucci? He's adorable in this (part of a batch of adorable performances to go with The Devil Wears Prada and Julia & Julia). The bit where he calls to his one-night stand from his apartment is so sweet, especially when seen in context.
And remember, people: air rights!
I like this movie probably way more than I should. Of course, the movie is Cher's but Christina actually does a pretty decent job in my opinion. If she could have kept up her drive she had on this movie, I think she would have made a pretty good star turn on Broadway.
Jija -- agreeed on that song. It's my fav song in the movie.
V -- yeah, there was no excuse for stiffing this movie in ORIGINAL SONG.
I only this film were a little darker and R-Rated!
I saw this in the theater with my friend Sina and she insisted we dress formally. I only remember Cher's big number and Csm Gigandet.
That movie sucked. It tried to be a lot of things and it didn't connect with me. Plus, I'm not surprised it didn't do well considering that it's from a woman who is known for essentially creating a music group that was really a prostitution ring.
This movie is a favorite guilty pleasure - an idea candidate for bad movies we love
I love love LOVE Bound to You!
I saw this in the theater with my friend Sina and she insisted we dress formally. I only remember Cher's big number and Csm Gigandet.
Good Girl and You Haven"t Seen the Last of Me are my favorite songs in the movie.
Remember when there were only four nominees for Best Original Song that year and none of them were BURLESQUE. Outrageous.
Glenn Dunks, I remember that. And it seemed like an intentional diss.
there's a reason world of mario loves to listen to the soundtrack, it's amazing.