SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2015

Review ‘On Your Feet!’ is an infectious, earnest musical f you aren’t humming a Gloria including an improbable number Estefan hit when you leave the when everyone taps in sandals. Book IMarquis Theatre on Broadway, it writer Alexander Dinelaris, who might be time to check your pulse. penned the “Birdman” screenplay, The infectious, earnest musical “On has a knack for pulling everything Your Feet!” initially stutters out the down a notch when it seems to get gate and ends somewhat awkwardly, too overblown, as he does by repeat- but has a fun, percussive middle, edly mocking Emilio’s heavy accent. even as it skates perilously close to There are some winning scenes, as melodrama. It’s saved by its genuine when the couple first starts to have heart - and a list of great tunes, ones feelings for each other. The crowd that nicely make the transition from around them melts to leave only radio to stage. The musical about Villafane singing to Segarra the tune Estefan and her husband, Emilio, is a “Anything For You.” love story that uses their hits like “Turn the Beat Around” and “Conga” Classic Broadway A handout computer generated image released by Gangnam District Office yesterday shows a to tell how the budding singer and ‘The bus crash is handled quite metal sculpture consisted of two giant fists overlapped at the wrist in the style of the horse producer met, battled for crossover understatedly, followed by Segarra dance, outside the COEX shopping and exhibition Centre in Seoul. — AFP success, handled interfamily squab- singing a nifty “Don’t Want to Lose Seoul district to erect ‘Gangnam Style’ statue statue dedicated to South Korean singer Psy’s “Thanks to the music video, Gangnam became global music video hit “Gangnam Style” is to known throughout the world. We hope this will Abe erected in the eponymous, upscale Seoul become a landmark for our district”, said Gangnam district made famous by the song. Gangnam district tourism director Park Hee-Soo. “Tourists can take pic- council said yesterday that the statue-modeled after tures under the statue and the song will play auto- Psy’s signature horse-riding dance move-would be matically when you stand there,” Park told AFP. unveiled next month outside the COEX shopping “Gangnam Style” remains the most-watched video of and exhibition Centre, where the first part of the all time on YouTube with more than 2.4 billion views. video was shot. The metal sculpture will consist of But Psy’s next two singles-”Gentleman” and two giant fists overlapped at the wrist in the style of “Hangover”-received a relatively lukewarm response the dance from the 2012 video that was imitated from fans. The 37-year-old is set to release his first across the world. album for more than three years next month. —AFP Bad Blood: Katy Review: Tim McGraw’s ‘Damn Perry still outearns Country Music’ is darn good This image released by Vivacity Media Group shows Ana Villafane, Taylor Swift center, as Gloria Estefan in the musical “On Your Feet!” — AP bles and overcame a bus crash that You” and the lovely duet “If I Never he “bad blood” between Taylor Swift nearly claimed Gloria’s life. Get to Tell You,” an original song and Katy Perry may be about to get This CD cover Ana Villafane stars as Gloria, and with lyrics by Gloria and music by the Tworse. Even though Swift has domi- image released by it’s uncanny how she sounds and couple’s daughter, Emily. Perhaps nated the pop scene of late, Perry has bested Big Machine moves like the real pop star. Josh the show’s best moment is when the her in a new list of top-earning women in Records shows Segarra plays Emilio and while his couple is trying to gain traction for music. Forbes magazine in its annual list said “Damn Country voice sometimes isn’t as strong, his their budding hit “Conga,” and they that Perry earned $135 million to be the Music,” the latest acting is fearsome. What they have perform it at a bar mitzvah, a wed- highest-earning woman in music, well above Swift’s $80 million. But Perry’s dominance is release by Tim onstage is pure chemistry. “On Your ding and a Shriner’s convention, a partly a quirk of the calendar, as Forbes McGraw. — AP Feet!” which opened Thursday, is a zany sequence that harkens back to looked at pre-tax income for the year ending fine addition to the ranks of jukebox classic Broadway. There are also on June 1. Swift enjoyed massive success ew veteran artists straddle contemporary and traditional musicals. It resembles “Motown: The some odd moments, as when Gloria with her album “1989,” which in October last country music styles as well, and as entertainingly, as Tim Musical” in its look at the struggles is singing to her dying father who is year scored the biggest US debut in more FMcGraw. On his new album, “Damn Country Music,” minority musicians face and the clearly a puppet head. And a scene than a decade, but she did not begin her McGraw includes tunes George Jones would have felt comfort- show “Beautiful” in the way it cele- when fan letters come to life to cheer tour until May, weeks before the end of able performing, while others push country music into new brates songwriting. It’s also the story her up is a little self-serving. Forbes’ reporting period. territory. On the traditional side, the cheating song “Don’t of two immigrants who are fighting But while the show may need a lit- The wealth magazine said Swift was on Make Me Feel At Home” conjures up the sort of psychological for their culture and music to be tle more editing, “On Your Feet!” is track to top the list next year as she was earn- dilemma found in classic country works by singers like Johnny accepted. Segarra gets perhaps one charming. It’s got a grandmother Paycheck. “Here Tonight,” with harmony vocals by daughter ing some $4 million in each city she performs, of the loudest applauses by telling a (Alma Cuervo) who almost steals the about twice the $2 million that Perry grossed Gracie McGraw, draws on upbeat Celtic sounds with the time- less, celebratory feel of early Dixie Chicks. nervous record executive: “This is show, and a dancing boy (Eduardo on each stop of her year-and-a-half global what an American looks like.” Hernandez) who pretty much does. tour that ended last month in Costa Rica. On the moody country-rocker “Losin’ You,” McGraw and longtime producer Byron Gallimore mix atmospheric and dra- “Kinky Boots” director Jerry It’s taken far too long to have Latin Perry and Swift have long hinted at animosity, Mitchell keeps the action going with rhythms - and a Latin cast - dominate with Swift’s song “Bad Blood” widely seen as matic touches to great effect. The melodic, sunny pop of “California,” which features country duo Big & Rich, is the aural a fearless optimism. (Like “Kinky a Broadway show, not just operate as addressed to her pop rival. Other young pop Boots,” the new show deals with rec- comic asides or dance breaks. Even divas including Lady Gaga and Beyonce made equivalent of the ocean breezes and palm trees that, in the onciliation with parents.) “Memphis” the usual turn-off-your-cellphone the Forbes list, but the number three rank lyrics, prove so alluring to a woman the singer loves. To went to the veteran rock outfit Fleetwood McGraw’s credit, “Damn Country Music” shows that old and choreographer Sergio Trujillo mixes warning was welcome this time - it Mac, which features Stevie Nicks. —AFP new sounds can work together - especially when the emphasis hectic group numbers with pizazz, was partly in Spanish. — AP is on originality rather than following trends. — AP