Much like the film and original soundtrack, ‘The Greatest Showman: Reimagined’ is a crowd-pleasing compilation album comprised of today’s biggest pop artists.

The power of a crowd-pleasing musical can’t be overstated – understatement. Everybody and his brother (and/or sister) went ‘gaga’ with the arrival of The Greatest Showman in 2017.  Not only was the film immensely popular, but so was the accompanying soundtrack, which peaked at no. 1 on the Billboard 200. Unsurprisingly, The Greatest Showman is a prime example of ‘the gift that keeps on giving,’ with a pop artist compilation of its songs arriving in Fall 2018, The Greatest Showman: Reimagined.  All in all, the results are enjoyable, matching the ‘crowd-pleasing’ nature of the film and the original soundtrack.

“The Greatest Show”

Panic! At the Disco fittingly kicks off The Greatest Showman: Reimagined with the energetic ✓ “The Greatest Show.” As always, Brendon Urie brings his beastly vocals and an incredibly energetic, over-the-top performance.  In Panic’s ‘theatrical’ hands, “The Greatest Show” sounds as if it could appear on any of the band’s studio albums.  Further down the track list (track 11 to be precise), Pentatonix also tackles “The Greatest Show” with solid, enjoyable results.

P!nk follows, fittingly slackening the pace and bring down the energy on ✓ “A Million Dreams.” Expectedly, she blesses the record with her radiant pipes, giving a complete, nuanced vocal performance.  Sure, “A Million Dreams” doesn’t capture the same theatric sentiment of the opener, but P!nk brings the firepower as always. Her daughter, Willow Sage Hart, follows with a 0:49 reprise – how sweet.

“Come Alive”

British musicians Years & Years and Jess Glynne join forces on an infectious, groovy, electro-pop take on ✓ “Come Alive.” The Years & Years frontman Olly Alexander brings his ‘A’ game, blending well with the electrifying Glynne.  Another British musician, Craig David, provides his own, solid take of “Come Alive” as the 12^th and penultimate track of the compilation. One of the more interesting, unlikely collaborations follows with New York pop standout, MAX, and incredibly versatile Cali hip-hop standout, Ty Dolla $ign. “The Other Side” ends up being a wild ride, but certainly an intriguing and unique one.  Sure, Ty Dolla $ign remains an ‘acquired taste’ for some, but I think he works out well here. The harmonized portion on the chorus is one of the pleasant surprises for sure.

Kelly Clarkson is always good for a terrific performance, and her turn on “Never Enough” is no different.  “Never Enough” arrives in similar vein to Clarkson’s magnificent, soaring take on “It’s Quiet Uptown” (The Hamilton Mixtape).  The big-time hit from The Greatest Showman arrives next in remixed form – “This is Me (The Reimagined Remix)” featuring Keala Settle, Kesha, and surprisingly, Missy Elliott.  Given the spoken word and rap contributions by Elliott, this ‘reimagined remix’ also manages to capture the theatrical spirit of a musical, putting it into a pop-context.  Traditionalists will likely favor the closing, less radical version of ✓ “This is Me,” performed only by Kesha.  Regardless, both versions feature electrifying, high-flying vocals.

“Rewrite the Stars” 

A James Arthur song or performance always seems to garner plenty of attention.  Here, on “Rewrite the Stars,” he’s paired with fellow English artist, “FRIENDS” hit-maker Anne-Marie. Like the majority of The Greatest Showman: Reimagined, the results are respectable, particularly the most dynamic moments when they join forces vocally. Sara Bareilles plays ‘true to self’ on a lovely rendition of “Tightrope.” Her gentle, smooth, airy upper register really shine here. Prior to the three aforementioned ‘bonus’ tracks, Zac Brown Band adds some country flair with “From Now On.” While the performance provides stark contrast, arguably, appearing so deep in the album, it actually feels a bit out of place. Nonetheless, Brown sings well with plenty of punch, and the power of the rhythm of the banjo and acoustic guitar is undeniable.

Final Thoughts

All in all, The Greatest Showman: Reimagined is an enjoyable compilation – an extension upon the original.  It checks off the boxes that it’s supposed to check off. No, it’s NOT ‘the second coming,’ but there’s plenty to like about this effort.  If you are a die-hard fan of the musical or musicals in general, this will definitely be a welcome addition to your collection.  If you’re more of a casual musical fan, you may be a bit more underwhelmed.

✓ Gems: “The Greatest Show,” “A Million Dreams,” “Come Alive,” “Never Enough” & “This Is Me”

Various Artists » The Greatest Showman: Reimagined » Atlantic » Release: 11.16.18

Photo Credit: Atlantic