Rock of Ages vs Rock of Ages - Part 1 the Soundtracks
Rock of Ages vs Rock of Ages - Part 1 the Soundtracks
I had the chance to see the Rock of Ages Broadway show when it came to Pittsburgh a couple years ago. I thought it was an extremely funny and entertaining show. Excellent integration of classic 80's hair rock with an engaging story and characters.
I've been extremely excited about the film version, though I've had my reservations given that Tom Cruise is playing Stacee Jaxx and that there are many changes to the story. I'm not sure what prompted these changes, but we'll see how the film plays out soon enough.
As for now, it's time to review the two albums.
Rock of Ages - Broadway cast
01. Just Like Paradise / Nothin' But A Good Time (Rock Of Ages Full Company)
02. Sister Christian (James Carpinello, Michele Mais, Constantine Maroulis, Amy Spanger & The Rock Of Ages Cast)
03. We Built This City / Too Much Time On My Hands (Paul Schoeffler, Lauren Molina, Wesley Taylor, Andre Ward, Adam Dannheisser, Mitchell Jarvis, Constantine Maroulis, James Carpinello & The Rock Of Ages Cast)
04. I Wanna Rock (Constantine Maroulis, Amy Spanger & Ensemble)
05. We're Not Gonna Take It (Lauren Molina, Jeremy Wood, Savannah Wise & Ensemble)
06. Heaven / More Than Words / To Be With You (Amy Spanger, Constantine Maroulis, Savannah Wise & The Rock Of Ages Cast)
07. Waiting For A Girl Like You (Constantine Maroulis, Amy Spanger, James Carpinello & The Rock Of Ages Cast)
08. Wanted Dead Or Alive (James Carpinello, Amy Spanger & Ensemble)
09. I Want To Know What Love Is (James Carpinello, Amy Spanger, Constantine Maroulis & The Rock Of Ages Cast)
10. Cum On Feel The Noize / We're Not Gonna Take It - Reprise (James Carpinello, Constantine Maroulis, Adam Dannheiser, Amy Spanger, Mitchell Jarvis, Lauren Molina, Andre Ward & The Rock Of Ages Cast)
11. Harden My Heart / Shadows Of The Night (Amy Spanger, Michael Mais, Mitchell Jarvis & Ensemble)
12. Here I Go Again (Rock Of Ages Full Company)
13. The Final Countdown (Paul Schoeffler, Wesley Taylor, Adam Dannheisser, Mitchell Jarvis, Lauren Molina & Ensemble)
14. Any Way You Want It / I Wanna Rock - Reprise (Michele Mais, Constantine Maroulis, Amy Spanger, Andre Ward, Mitchell Jarvis, Adam Dannheisser & Ensemble)
15. High Enough (Constantine Maroulis, Amy Spanger & The Rock Of Ages Cast)
16. I Hate Myself For Loving You / Heat Of The Moment (Amy Spanger, James Carpinello, Constantine Maroulis & Ensemble)
17. Hit Me With Your Best Shot (Wesley Taylor, Lauren Molina, Paul Schoeffler & Ensemble)
18. Can't Fight This Feeling (Adam Dannheisser, Mitchell Jarvis & Ensemble)
19. Every Rose Has Its Thorn (Michele Mais, Amy Spanger, Constantine Maroulis, Wesley Taylor, Paul Schoeffler, James Carpinello & The Rock Of Ages Cast)
20. Oh Sherrie (Constantine Maroulis, Amy Spanger & The Rock Of Ages Cast)
21. The Search Is Over (Constantine Maroulis, Amy Spanger & The Rock Of Ages Cast)
22. Don't Stop Believin' (Rock Of Ages Full Company)
This Broadway cast is fantastic! They bring power and epic rock to these classic songs. In addition to the music, there are snippets of dialog from the show which are so funny.
Personal favorite is the mash up of I Hate Myself For Loving You / Heat Of The Moment. I also absolutely love the scene where Dennis convinces Stacee to do his final show with Arsenal at the Bourbon Room at the end of track 3. "Remember that time with the baby llama and the cool whip?"
I really hope I get to see this show again someday.
Rock of Ages - Film Cast
01. Paradise City (Tom Cruise)
02. Sister Christian/Just Like Paradise/Nothin' But A Good Time (Julianne Hough, Diego Boneta, Russell Brand & Alec Baldwin)
03. Juke Box Hero/I Love Rock 'N' Roll (Diego Boneta, Alec Baldwin, Russell Brand & Julianne Hough)
04. Hit Me With Your Best Shot (Catherine Zeta-Jones)
05. Waiting For A Girl Like You (Diego Boneta & Julianne Hough)
06. More Than Words/Heaven (Julianne Hough & Diego Boneta)
07. Wanted Dead Or Alive (Tom Cruise & Julianne Hough)
08. I Want To Know What Love Is (Tom Cruise & Malin Akerman)
09. I Wanna Rock (Diego Boneta)
10. Pour Some Sugar On Me (Tom Cruise)
11. Harden My Heart (Julianne Hough & Mary J. Blige)
12. Shadows Of The Night/Harden My Heart (Mary J. Blige & Julianne Hough)
13. Here I Go Again (Diego Boneta, Paul Giamatti, Julianne Hough, Mary J. Blige & Tom Cruise)
14. Can't Fight This Feeling (Russell Brand & Alec Baldwin)
15. Any Way You Want It (Mary J. Blige, Constantine Maroulis & Julianne Hough)
16. Undercover Love (Diego Boneta)
17. Every Rose Has Its Thorn (Julianne Hough, Diego Boneta, Tom Cruise & Mary J. Blige)
18. Rock You Like A Hurricane (Julianne Hough & Tom Cruise)
19. We Built This City/We're Not Gonna Take It (Russell Brand & Catherine Zeta-Jones)
20. Don't Stop Believin' (Julianne Hough, Diego Boneta, Tom Cruise, Alec Baldwin, Russell Brand & Mary J. Blige)
From the track list alone you can tell there's been some major changes. Tom Cruise/Stacee Jaxx has significantly more solos. Many songs have been removed entirely including my personal favorite I Hate Myself For Loving You / Heat Of The Moment where Sherrie confronts Stacee at the "Gentleman's club." Also missing are the fun bits of dialog making this a cover album rather than scenes right out of the film.
I'm also wondering if these songs are out of order. I get extremely frustrated when a film soundtrack is released and the songs are not in the order that they were in the film. That's right, I'm talking to you Twilight! *points*
Much to my surprise Tom Cruise is very good technically, but lacks that power punch of the original artists. I like that he committed to months of vocal training and learned the guitar for this performance. Russell Brand and Alec Baldwin also do a good job with their songs especially Can't Fight This Feeling.
At the end of the day, I prefer the Broadway version, but I can't fully judge the film until I see it.
I had the chance to see the Rock of Ages Broadway show when it came to Pittsburgh a couple years ago. I thought it was an extremely funny and entertaining show. Excellent integration of classic 80's hair rock with an engaging story and characters.
I've been extremely excited about the film version, though I've had my reservations given that Tom Cruise is playing Stacee Jaxx and that there are many changes to the story. I'm not sure what prompted these changes, but we'll see how the film plays out soon enough.
As for now, it's time to review the two albums.
Rock of Ages - Broadway cast
01. Just Like Paradise / Nothin' But A Good Time (Rock Of Ages Full Company)
02. Sister Christian (James Carpinello, Michele Mais, Constantine Maroulis, Amy Spanger & The Rock Of Ages Cast)
03. We Built This City / Too Much Time On My Hands (Paul Schoeffler, Lauren Molina, Wesley Taylor, Andre Ward, Adam Dannheisser, Mitchell Jarvis, Constantine Maroulis, James Carpinello & The Rock Of Ages Cast)
04. I Wanna Rock (Constantine Maroulis, Amy Spanger & Ensemble)
05. We're Not Gonna Take It (Lauren Molina, Jeremy Wood, Savannah Wise & Ensemble)
06. Heaven / More Than Words / To Be With You (Amy Spanger, Constantine Maroulis, Savannah Wise & The Rock Of Ages Cast)
07. Waiting For A Girl Like You (Constantine Maroulis, Amy Spanger, James Carpinello & The Rock Of Ages Cast)
08. Wanted Dead Or Alive (James Carpinello, Amy Spanger & Ensemble)
09. I Want To Know What Love Is (James Carpinello, Amy Spanger, Constantine Maroulis & The Rock Of Ages Cast)
10. Cum On Feel The Noize / We're Not Gonna Take It - Reprise (James Carpinello, Constantine Maroulis, Adam Dannheiser, Amy Spanger, Mitchell Jarvis, Lauren Molina, Andre Ward & The Rock Of Ages Cast)
11. Harden My Heart / Shadows Of The Night (Amy Spanger, Michael Mais, Mitchell Jarvis & Ensemble)
12. Here I Go Again (Rock Of Ages Full Company)
13. The Final Countdown (Paul Schoeffler, Wesley Taylor, Adam Dannheisser, Mitchell Jarvis, Lauren Molina & Ensemble)
14. Any Way You Want It / I Wanna Rock - Reprise (Michele Mais, Constantine Maroulis, Amy Spanger, Andre Ward, Mitchell Jarvis, Adam Dannheisser & Ensemble)
15. High Enough (Constantine Maroulis, Amy Spanger & The Rock Of Ages Cast)
16. I Hate Myself For Loving You / Heat Of The Moment (Amy Spanger, James Carpinello, Constantine Maroulis & Ensemble)
17. Hit Me With Your Best Shot (Wesley Taylor, Lauren Molina, Paul Schoeffler & Ensemble)
18. Can't Fight This Feeling (Adam Dannheisser, Mitchell Jarvis & Ensemble)
19. Every Rose Has Its Thorn (Michele Mais, Amy Spanger, Constantine Maroulis, Wesley Taylor, Paul Schoeffler, James Carpinello & The Rock Of Ages Cast)
20. Oh Sherrie (Constantine Maroulis, Amy Spanger & The Rock Of Ages Cast)
21. The Search Is Over (Constantine Maroulis, Amy Spanger & The Rock Of Ages Cast)
22. Don't Stop Believin' (Rock Of Ages Full Company)
This Broadway cast is fantastic! They bring power and epic rock to these classic songs. In addition to the music, there are snippets of dialog from the show which are so funny.
Personal favorite is the mash up of I Hate Myself For Loving You / Heat Of The Moment. I also absolutely love the scene where Dennis convinces Stacee to do his final show with Arsenal at the Bourbon Room at the end of track 3. "Remember that time with the baby llama and the cool whip?"
I really hope I get to see this show again someday.
Rock of Ages - Film Cast
01. Paradise City (Tom Cruise)
02. Sister Christian/Just Like Paradise/Nothin' But A Good Time (Julianne Hough, Diego Boneta, Russell Brand & Alec Baldwin)
03. Juke Box Hero/I Love Rock 'N' Roll (Diego Boneta, Alec Baldwin, Russell Brand & Julianne Hough)
04. Hit Me With Your Best Shot (Catherine Zeta-Jones)
05. Waiting For A Girl Like You (Diego Boneta & Julianne Hough)
06. More Than Words/Heaven (Julianne Hough & Diego Boneta)
07. Wanted Dead Or Alive (Tom Cruise & Julianne Hough)
08. I Want To Know What Love Is (Tom Cruise & Malin Akerman)
09. I Wanna Rock (Diego Boneta)
10. Pour Some Sugar On Me (Tom Cruise)
11. Harden My Heart (Julianne Hough & Mary J. Blige)
12. Shadows Of The Night/Harden My Heart (Mary J. Blige & Julianne Hough)
13. Here I Go Again (Diego Boneta, Paul Giamatti, Julianne Hough, Mary J. Blige & Tom Cruise)
14. Can't Fight This Feeling (Russell Brand & Alec Baldwin)
15. Any Way You Want It (Mary J. Blige, Constantine Maroulis & Julianne Hough)
16. Undercover Love (Diego Boneta)
17. Every Rose Has Its Thorn (Julianne Hough, Diego Boneta, Tom Cruise & Mary J. Blige)
18. Rock You Like A Hurricane (Julianne Hough & Tom Cruise)
19. We Built This City/We're Not Gonna Take It (Russell Brand & Catherine Zeta-Jones)
20. Don't Stop Believin' (Julianne Hough, Diego Boneta, Tom Cruise, Alec Baldwin, Russell Brand & Mary J. Blige)
From the track list alone you can tell there's been some major changes. Tom Cruise/Stacee Jaxx has significantly more solos. Many songs have been removed entirely including my personal favorite I Hate Myself For Loving You / Heat Of The Moment where Sherrie confronts Stacee at the "Gentleman's club." Also missing are the fun bits of dialog making this a cover album rather than scenes right out of the film.
I'm also wondering if these songs are out of order. I get extremely frustrated when a film soundtrack is released and the songs are not in the order that they were in the film. That's right, I'm talking to you Twilight! *points*
Much to my surprise Tom Cruise is very good technically, but lacks that power punch of the original artists. I like that he committed to months of vocal training and learned the guitar for this performance. Russell Brand and Alec Baldwin also do a good job with their songs especially Can't Fight This Feeling.
At the end of the day, I prefer the Broadway version, but I can't fully judge the film until I see it.