Album review: Gretel Scarlett "Hopelessly Devoted"

It's always exciting when one of your favourite musical theatre stars get their own album... or a cast recording... basically anything where you can hear them singing in your living room. 

Gretel and I at stage door after Grease.

So I was supremely thrilled when Gretel Scarlett announced her debut album. I love Gretel, she's so talented and one of my favourite people to talk to at stage door because she's so lovely and warm (and she's a Delta Goodrem fan, so she gets points for that!). 

And it's been so cool to watch her go from Melena (Witch's Mother) in Wicked, where even though she only has a few lines, she has totally defined the character for me in my head (maybe that sounds weird, but it's true. I really miss her as Melena!); to her first lead role as Sandy in Grease, which is the most fun show I've ever been to. 

So anyway, Gretel's album, Hopelessly Devoted came out on Monday, September 15 2014; which I immediately bought once I woke up and remained the highlight of my day (long story). And it's just beautiful, it's majority piano, vocal and strings, which is pretty much my favourite thing (although I am a sucker for a complete orchestra, which I think is because my dad's a brass band musician). 

When a musical theatre person releases an album, my friend and I put it through a simple test- if we had no idea who that person was and had just stumbled across it on iTunes (which I do quite a bit, namely when I find a song I love and go looking for other versions of it), would I buy it?

The answer is usually "Yes", "a few songs from it" or "probably not".

And the answer for Hopelessly Devoted is YES. 

It's taken me a day of listening to decide on a favourite track, and even then I've ended up with three:

1. Hopelessly Devoted to You- Gretel does an amazing job of this in Grease (as can be heard either by going to see the show- its back in Melbourne in December- or on the cast soundtrack via iTunes. Or in the video below); but with pretty much just piano and vocals it's even more hauntingly beautiful. 

2. Let it Go- It's been 9 months since Frozen came out in Australia, and I'm still not over this song (although since the If/Then OBC was released, that is getting more play on my iPod I think. Just). I knew Gretel would do an amazing job of this song since she first hinted it would be on the album (she was understudy Elphaba in Wicked, so she can do an Idina song justice); but I still wasn't mentally prepared for just how amazing it is.

Album hint. Sandy meets Elsa.

3. No One but You (Only the Good Die Young)- I wasn't really familiar with this song until now, (confession) I'm not a huge Queen fan. I know, it's sacrilege. I like some of their songs, I just don't really... I don't know. But I usually have loved any song of theirs that is covered by someone I do like, and this is no exception. Gretel's rendition gave me chills when I first heard it, and it's been the song on the album I've played most in the last day since I bought it.

The album also features a duet of Katy Perry's Firework with Gretel's BFF and my #2 Glinda (after Megan Hilty) Suzie Mathers; and a duet of Say Something with Rob Mills (Danny in Grease and former Fiyero). There's also a beautifully slow rendition of We Found Love, which just missed out on making my top 3 tracks.

I definitely recommend this album!