Search - Idina Menzel :: I Stand

Menzel Stands Tall

Rudy Palma | NJ | 01/30/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Famous for creating the role of bisexual performance artist Maureen Johnson in "Rent" as well as for her Tony Award winning triumph in "Wicked," Idina Menzel has been principally known as a performer of the stage and screen. However, she has been active as a singer/songwriter since those early "Rent" days and has three albums of her own material. "I Stand," however, provides her first real chance of gaining vast exposure as a solo artist. The album debuted at #58 on the Billboard top 200 albums chart.



Those who cherish Menzel for her glass-shattering vocal range will find much to appreciate here with the chugging, widescreen title track, replete with powerful lyrics and a life-affirming message, or "Better To Have Loved," a passionate ode to lack of regret in an unpredictable world. Producer and co-writer Glen Ballard, best known for helping Alanis Morissette unleash her inner warrior woman on 1995's landmark "Jagged Little Pill," however, hands Menzel a double-edged sword - her sound here is sweetened and ripe for mainstream audiences, but some of her unique, quirky personality that informed 1998's "Still I Can't Be Still" and 2004's lo-fi "Here" EP is lost in the shuffle. Granted, the former album had some oddball lyrics and embarrassingly dated production for a late '90s effort, but Menzel sounded like herself and no one else. Nevertheless, that album made no dent in the marketplace, so it's hard to fault Ballard for helping Menzel channel her creativity in a more marketable fashion, and the results, if not revolutionary, are rich, vibrant and entertaining.



"Gorgeous" yields a joyous, effervescent melody and pearls of wisdom in its philosophic sentiments, and "Brave," like the title track, is wholly inspiring without stooping to hackneyed, maudlin sentiments. James Blunt contributes the stirring "Don't Let Me Down," while the bittersweet "Forever," by far one of the album's strongest moments, was written entirely by Menzel. She also digs deep to unearth inner torment in the haunting "My Own Worst Enemy."



With "I Stand" Menzel succeeds in proving she is just as viable a singer/songwriter as musical performer. It's not every day that someone with such a dynamic vocal talent is also a gifted writer, making the results particularly impressive. Admirers of her stage work will agree."

The album that will make Idina Menzel a household name

Danielle | Illinois | 01/31/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have been an Idina Menzel fan for a while now and I've been eagerly awaiting the release of "I stand". I was not disappointed. "I stand" includes some of Idina's best work yet. There is not one really bad track on this cd. Here are my thoughts on the cd:



1.I stand-5/5 I fell in love with this song when Idina premiered it on the "Wake up with Whoopi" radio show towards the end oflast year. It's a great kind of anthem song and very well written



2.Better to have loved- 5/5 My favorite song on the album. I love the beginning of this song and the chorus. It's a great song to blare very loudly on your stereo



3.Brave- 4/5 It's a great song but I don't think I connected with it as much as other people have. It's still a good song and one for when you're afraid to do something. "I might be afraid but it's my turn to be brave".



4.Gorgeous- 5/5 A great song about not caring what others think of your relationship. It's a great song about Taye Diggs and Idina because I know that their relationship has come under attack in the past.



5.Where do I begin-4/5 It's a beautiful song and it's written about Taye. I liked the song when she sang it early in 2007 at a Josh Groban concert. But I think that on this album it kind of gets overshadowed by the other songs.



6.Don't let me down-5/5 Another great song. It's got a great beat and great lyrics co-written by James Blunt



7.I feel everything- 5/5 Fantastic song! Idina recently talked about how she wrote this song after her and Taye had a fight and it became this big thing of "I feel everything". I love the lyrics "Like a prima ballerina, I tiptoe, tiptoe around you constantly.



8. Forever- 4/5 A great kind of break-up song about a relationship that was thought to last doesn't. I still think it's a good song but it's not my favorite.



9.My own worst enemy- 5/5 I love this song. Along with "Better to have loved", it's one of my favorite tracks on this cd. The first chorus is fantastic. I love that Idina really opened up for this track and let her fears and feelings show. The end result is breath-taking



10. Perfume and Promises- 5/5 I think this song growes on me more and more each time I listen to the cd. It's a slow song and it has a waltz-like quality. You know, how ballroom dancers waltz to songs that has this kind of rise and fall quality to it? This is that kind of song. It's beautifully written. Especially this part: "Stay for another morning/Study the curves of my face/Stay even when we are 'unknowing'/Stay till they tear you away".





So overall, I am totally in love with this cd. I think Idina really has done her best work here and I would love for it to be a big success and that Idina can get the recognition she deserves."

An Amazing CD

S. J. Martin | 01/29/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've been a fan of Idina since she starred in "Rent" back in the 90's. Loved her in "Wicked", and found her delightful in "Enchanted". When I heard she was releasing a new album, I had to check it out. The preview I heard was wonderful, but it doesn't even compare to the full product.



"I Stand" is an amazing collection of truly gorgeous songs. After the first 30 seconds of the title track, I was hooked. That is quickly followed by my other personal favorite, "Better to Have Loved", where the spectacular quality of her voice only adds to the truth of the words. (Haven't we all felt that way at one point in our lives?) The first single, "Brave" is heartfelt and inspirational.



I recommend this cd for all the Idina fans out there, as well as anyone who wants a superb music experience."