Your Christmas wish is granted as Adam Jacobs, star of Disney's Broadway smash hit Aladdin is set to release his debut album, Right Where I Belong, next week (December 13th)!
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly Adam said "The idea sort of hit me after working with Alan in Aladdin, which we started in 2010 and spent four years working on before it opened. I always wanted to record an album, and I was sort of in this position of, 'I don't know what I'm going to do, is it going to be a generic Broadway album? No, I want it to be something more'. And I thought, I've always loved Alan Menken and I love working with him in Aladdin, and I'm going to perform an album of his songs because they've spoken to me since I was a kid. The thing with Alan Menken is, I don't think he gets enough credit. He's obviously got multiple awards, but now much he's interwoven into the fabric of our culture, especially people my age, and how much he's affected people through his storytelling, is powerful. And I thought, 'I wanted to highlight that.'"
A whole album of Adam Jacobs singing Alan Menken! You can bet I'll be getting this the day it comes out!!
The album is set to be released digitally next Sunday on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify and Google Music with physical copies on sale at Aladdin's Broadway home, the New Amsterdam Theatre.
So what's the set list?
The complete line up is still a mystery but the EW article does mention a mix of tunes both famous and less well known;
"Go the Distance" (Hercules)
"Suddenly Seymour" (Little Shop of Horrors), a duet with sister Arielle Jacobs
"If I Never Knew You" (Pocahontas), a duet with wife Kelly Jacobs
"Santa Fe" (Newsies) which you can hear at Playbill now!
"Out There" (The Hunchback of Notre Dame)
"Sailing On" (I'll be honest, I have no idea where this is from and couldn't find it on Google either!)
"Proud of Your Boy" (Aladdin), a new acapella version created especially for this album
Adam also mentions some Hercules songs that didn't make it to the film so I'm excited to hear that!
In addition to the preview of "Santa Fe" at Playbill, you can find a fantastic sizzle reel at the end of the EW article! If you're sharp eyed you may even spot some of Adam's Aladdin cast mates with him in the recording studio! Yes, along with his real family, Adam's Aladdin family will also be featured on the CD, providing back up in some of the songs!
As for the title? Well Adam's theme is "hero songs, dreamer songs, underdog songs... because those are the ones that are always the most powerful to me ... The title, Right Where I Belong, is a lyric from "Go the Distance" but it's sort of indicative of where I am in my life and how I feel about staring on Broadway and raising on family. Our business is very ephemeral, it's here and then it's gone with each passing show. To have something to look back on, when I'm old and grey, to have for my kids... it's special. And this being my first album makes it that much more special."
Speaking with Playbill he elaborated more about his theme and Alan's work, "Every song on my album carries the power to transport the listener and take them on a hero's journey. Alan can make you laugh, cry, and jump for joy all in the same song. It's truly an honor to share some of my favorite tunes of this world-class composer - I hope they inspire people as much as they've inspired me, both professionally and personally."
This is definitely going to be something special!
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