Billy Elliot is the heartwarming story of a young boy from a working-class family who discovers a passion that will change his life forever. Eleven-year-old miner's son Billy Elliot is on his way to boxing lessons when he stumbles upon a ballet class. Billy secretly joins the class, knowing that his blue-collar family would never understand. Under the guidance of his teacher Mrs. Wilkinson, Billy's raw talent takes flight. But when his father discovers his son's ambition, Billy must fight for his dreams and his destiny.
Based on the 2000 film about a young British boy who tries to escape a future as coalminer by training in ballet, Billy Elliot--The Musical feels like an exemplary screen-to-stage adaptation, making the best use of composer Elton John's melodic resourcefulness. Fans of John's regular output need to be warned that this album is show tunes all the way and that they'd be hard-pressed to recognize the songs as usual fare by the author of "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" and "Your Song." Still, they really should give the CD a chance. Fans of musical theater, on the other hand, will need no prodding. They are likely to be enchanted by this recording, which shows that John has thoroughly absorbed the genre's classic strain. The show is very catchy, with well-structured, dramatic songs and some genuine tearjerkers ("The Letter"). Sir Elton even proves he's listened to great "jazz hands" classics (some by Kander and Ebb, perhaps) on "Shine," which even requests some "ol' razzle dazzle." Teaming up not with usual lyricist Bernie Taupin but with the film's screenwriter, Lee Hall (and its director, Stephen Daldry), John has written a lovely stage score, as evidenced on this recording of the London cast. Note that John himself performs three songs from the show on a bonus CD. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Customer Rating:
Summary: Dunce music for dance musical
Comment: I greatly admire Sir Elton John's immense talent and extraordinary body of work. Always been a fan. Also been a Broadway musical buff since I was a wee lad. We saw the movie, and greatly enjoyed it, like almost anyone else who saw it, and now have tix to see Billy Elliot on Bway in late February, when my college freshman-who-dances daughter is on break.

So I got the cast recording and, after one listen, am deeply disappointed. I appreciate these strictly are book songs, with no meaningful context outside the mounted production, but they betray a seeming laziness, certainly by the neophyte lyricist Lee Hall. In sum and substance, they are simple to a fault, with little evidence of a rigorous imagination and intellect at work. Then again, Sondheim has spoiled us forever. He makes it seem as if anybody can do it, yet hardly anybody can do it well, as recent Broadway efforts painfully underscore.

Similarly, as much as I enjoyed seeing "Spring Awakening," the cast album doesn't fare particularly well on its own because the score is too much of a parasite to the book to exist outside the show's visual language. By contrast, as richly mounted as are shows like "Rent" and "Les Miserables," their scores are unfailingly sensual even after countless listens.

In both cases, SA and BE, melodic lines are minimal. The lyrics are serviceable at best in BE, a notch or three below the Jerry Herman school of surface slickness that sacrifices substance.

I'm hoping BE is one of those scores that improves with progressive listens and that the music will rise to the occasion of seeing the show. Perhaps after that, I'll appreciate the album experience more, as often is the case.

If not, I may well regret spurning my spouse's original suggestion of seeing "In the Heights" instead. There are precious few examples of Hollywood providing quality grist for the Broadway mill. I'm curious to see if Billy Elliot is an exception that proves the rule, or the rule that proves me a fool.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Wonderful CD
Comment: I thoroughly enjoy listening to the Billy Elliot CD. I can't wait to go to New York and see it

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Customer Rating:
Summary: This is not the Broadway Cast Recording
Comment: I typed "Billy Elliot Broadway Cast Recording" into Amazon's search field, and this album was the one that came up. But this is not the Broadway, but the London Original Cast. The cast list and the reviews going back to 2006 confirm it. Unless the product has been changed, and this IS the Broadway Cast Recording (and it's unusual for one to come out so quickly after a show opens), and something as odd as Amazon just using the London recording's descriptions and reviews is going on. I love this show, but would like it if buyers knew what they were getting. (Amazon should make it clear in the description.)

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Billy Elliot London Cast Soundtrack
Comment: It's bloody brilliant. I'm about to see the NY staging and I wanted to get a taste for the music. Elton John's songs tell the narrative in a powerful and believable way and do a great job of setting the stage for what I hope are incredible dance sequences. Haydn Gwynne is a standout as Mrs. Wilkinson and Ann Emery almost steals the show in one number, "Grandma's Song." Other favorites include "Electricity," performed by the titular character and the deeply moving, "He Could be a Star." Definitely recommend the soundtrack.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Billy Elliot CD
Comment: I saw the play in London while I was on vacation two years ago and it was fantastic. The film is great but the music from the play is complely different. If you enjoyed the soundtrack from the film you must hear the cast soundtrack.

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