Of all the incredible, talented female musical artists I've discussed since I started this blog, Idina Menzel is probably the one that means the most to me. I've looked up to her since I was thirteen years old and I heard the Wicked soundtrack for the first time, and time has only grown my admiration for her and her talent. She has an incredibly powerful voice, a strong personality, and if I ever got the chance to meet her there's a good chance it would be similar to Troy meeting Lavar Burton on Community. Whether she's singing as Elphaba, Elsa, or herself, I'm here for it all.
Fact Dump Time! (all info current as of September 2022):
-Birth name is Idina Kim Mentzel (she removed the "t"to have the spelling closer to her family's Americanized pronunciation)
-51 years old (she's a Gemini)
-Born in Manhattan, New York (about two and a half hours south of Albany, even though we all know about NYC)
-Actress/Singer/Songwriter
-Married actor/singer Aaron Lohr in 2017 and has one son with ex-husband Taye Diggs
-Has won 12 awards to date, including 1 Tony Award, 1 American Music Award, and 1 Billboard Music Award
-Has released 6 studio albums (4 regular and 2 Christmas)
As usual, I won't be discussing the holiday albums on this post. I also won't be discussing Menzel's sophomore album Here, which was self-released in 2004, as it is currently unavailable to stream. We do still have three full albums to discuss, so let's get to it!
Still I Can't Be Still (1998)
Menzel's debut pop rock album was released September 15th, 1998 by Hollywood Records when she was 27 years old. With a run time of 52:45, it produced one single: Minuet (10/98). The album was actually pulled out of print by the label for low sales, but was rereleased after Menzel originated the role of Elphaba in Wicked and, you know, won a Tony, but it had still only sold around 18,000 copies in the US as of 2014. To be frank, I did not enjoy Still I Can't Be Still very much. It feels very dated, and honestly that uber 90s new wave sound does not work with Menzel's voice at all in my opinion. Despite my feelings about the album as a whole, I was able to pick a Top 3:
Track 1: Minuet (written by D. McDonald)
This song feels like a musical time capsule to the late 90s in terms of instrumentation, but I do like the lyrics on this song. It's kind of a bop, and her vocals on this one are good. This song still has a more complicated instrumental track that can cover up Menzel's vocals at times, but it's not as crazy as some of the other songs on this album.
If we move in together, will I still be a slob/Will things get ordinary, will I piss you off/‘Cause I don't cook, I throw my clothes on the floor/And I mix the darks and whites, oh baby, your kisses are pure/And the sex lasts for hours, you want me more the less I shower/I’m a sight for sore eyes in your old tighty-whities/But you love me anyway, you love me anyway/I thank God for seeing the light/And not going out with some lawyer-type/‘Cause you're a poet, a Renaissance man/A little boy with really strong hands/So many things going through my mind /Sometimes it gets scary, but when you're by my side/The world may be chaotic and the skies may explode/But we'll be okay, baby, this much I know/And the minuet between the heart and the breath is my lullaby/And the minuet between the heart and the breath is gonna rock me every time/And the minuet between the heart and the breath will save my life/As I lay upon your chest, baby I'm satisfied
Track 9: Reach (written by C. Clayton, H. Clowney, S. Spencer, T. Douglas, T. Roberts, T. Hamlin, V. White, W. Davis)
There aren't a lot of ballads on this album, but this one is nice. Still very 90s, but it's a pretty song with simple but effective lyrics.
Slowly, softly, please serenade me/I'm here/Restless, reviving, river of life/You are here/Tell me you love me, tell me you see me/Show me your laughter, feed me/Tell me you love me, I’m the one you need/Raise your hand and reach for me
Track 11: Heart On My Sleeve (written by I. Menzel, M. Davis)
This is another nice ballad that shows off Menzel's incredible vocals. This one feels more theatrical than the others on this album, which she'd already been doing for a few years since landing the role of Maureen in Rent in 1996, but it's nice to hear on an otherwise not very dramatic album.
She will never be invincible, she will never be some Florence Nightingale/Her threshold's invisible but she'll hang on like hell/Yeah, she may be transparent, she's got no defenses to speak of/But she'll stand here before you with no pride or prejudice/Just steadfast and certain that she'll land on her own two feet/You'll, you’ll think you can break her/‘Cause you, you think that she's crazy and weak/But her power will defy you when she wears her heart on her sleeve/Heart on her sleeve
I Stand (2008)
Menzel's third pop album was released January 29th, 2008 by Warner Brothers/Reprise when she was 36 years old. With a run time of 38:29, it produced three singles: Defying Gravity (3/1/07), Brave (11/6/07), and Gorgeous (12/25/07). This album did better than Still I Can't Be Still, having sold around 80,000 copies in the US as of 2014, and it charted on the Billboard 200 where it debuted at #58. I enjoyed I Stand more than the last album for sure. The pop tone is more suited to Menzel's voice, but this album is still pretty mid-tier for me. I did have an easier time picking a Top 3:
Track 3: Brave (written by G. Ballard, I. Menzel)
I really enjoyed this song. I feel like this album finally started really showing what Menzel can do vocally, and Brave is a great example. It's got beautiful vocals, uplifting lyrics, and a lovely instrumental backing.
I don't know just where I'm going/And tomorrow, it's a little overwhelming/And the air is cold/And I'm not the same anymore/I’ve been running in your direction/For too long now, I’ve lost my own reflection/And I can't look down/If you're not there to catch me when I fall/If this is the moment I stand here on my own/If this is my rite of passage that somehow leads me home/I might be afraid, but it's my turn to be brave/If this is the last chance before we say goodbye/At least it's the first day of the rest of my life/I can't be afraid, 'cause it's my turn to be brave
Track 10: Perfume and Promises (written by I. Menzel, P. Veetese)
This song took me by surprise towards the end of the album. It's a lovely number helping to finish up the track list and while it's not as much of a showstopper as some of the other songs it's still definitely worth a listen.
A crack in the smile, but she's always in style while she waits/Waving goodbye, but she's too tired to cry and she's wasted/A letter he wrote, but it's far too exposed so he throws it away/The sound of regret as it's counting the steps back to safe/I don't want to leave you with perfume and promises/But we'll never know 'till we capture and bottle it/‘Cause wouldn't it be such a shame/If all was wasted
Track 12: Defying Gravity (written by S. Schwartz)
This, still to this day, is not only one of my favorite Idina Menzel songs but one of my favorite songs of all time. Originally performed by Menzel in Act 2 of Stephen Schwartz's hit musical Wicked, I wasn't sure I'd like a "popified" version of Defying Gravity, but it's definitely still wonderful.
Something has changed within me, something is not the same/I’m through with playing by the rules of someone else's game/Too late for second-guessing, too late to go back to sleep/It's time to trust my instincts, close my eyes and leap/It's time to try defying gravity/I think I'll try defying gravity/Kiss me goodbye, I’m defying gravity/And you won't bring me down
idina. (2016)
Menzel's fourth pop album was released September 23rd, 2016 by Warner Brothers when she was 45 years old. With a run time of 45:36, it produced four singles: I See You (8/5/16), Queen of Swords (8/12/16), Small World (9/9/16), and Perfect Story (9/16/16). The album charted on the Billboard 200 at #29. Now, this album I liked a lot. It's a cool blend of the pop sound she introduced on I Stand with a nod to the jewel of her musical crown: musical theatre. These are her best vocals out of these three albums, and I feel pretty solidly about my Top 3:
Track 1: Small World (written by G. Wells, R. Golan)
Menzel has a very strong start with Small World on this album, and it may be my favorite of the Top 3 here. It's a great mix of theatrical and pop, and it does a great job showing off her vocals.
I'm standing in the field, my feet lift off the ground/No one here will see me, no one will hurt me now/I’m brushing off the rain while climbing through the clouds/Nobody can see me, no one can hurt me now/Goodbye gravity, goodbye enemies/I’m going up to a place where the world is small/Where I can fly above it all, if I don't make it, sing my song/From here I'm weightless, no stars are famous/And the world is small, and the world is small
Track 3: Queen of Swords (written by F. Alqaisi, G. Wells, I. Menzel, S. Hudson)
This is a fun, powerful, uplifting song with a great beat. It's a great girl power anthem that'll make you want to dance, smile, and kick some ass.
You mistake my passion for anger/Should I sit polite in the silence/So quick in pointing the finger/I got sick of taking the blame/If there's a price to pay for your acceptance/A sacrifice for your judgment/I guess I have to learn a lesson/Now I'm not afraid to say/I can be like a raging storm/Don't got asking me for apologies/I’ll sing 'till you hear my song/This time you better believe that there’s/No way I'm holding back anymore/I’m slaying like the queen of swords/La la ly la la ly la la ly la la ly ly/I’m slaying like the queen of swords
Track 7: Last Time (written by E. Rosse, I. Menzel, S. Sloan)
This was another surprise find in the back half of an album, similar to Perfume and Promises. Last Time has beautiful vocals and thought provoking lyrics that will help to remind you about forgiveness, gentleness, and love.
I'm sorry if I wasn't there or acted like I didn't care/You were always there for me, seeing what I couldn't see/I’m sorry if you felt alone, I should've called, I should've known/There's nothing that I wouldn't do to get just one more day with you/So don't let the last time I hurt you be the last time I heard you/Don't let the last time I held you be the last time I felt you/Wouldn't let you get away if I had another day/Don't let the last time I saw you be the last time/Be the last time
As I'm sure you can tell, I think everyone should take the chance to listen to Idina because she is a talent truly worth celebrating. Happy listening, and see ya'll next week!
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