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PEOPLE & ARTS Thursday 15 February 2018

Review: Kendrick Lamar-led

'Black Panther' album has power

By MELANIE SIMS en, we living again." Lamar ber "Seasons," which opens
Associated Press raps, establishing the con- with a verse from South Af-
At times, the Kendrick La- nection between himself rican rapper Sjava, whose
mar-curated "Black Pan- and the film, and perhaps bars need no translation
ther" album feels like a making Lamar fans feel a to be felt. Things get super
stand-alone set, only loose- little closer to the powerful impressive with "Bloody Wa-
ly related to the Marvel film figures they're set to see in ters," featuring Ab-Soul, in
for which it's named. But theaters. which Lamar has somehow
the album is a solid, enter- Lamar is reflective, too, married together the "Yes,
taining listen that, in places, rapping about struggles on Lawd!" high energy of An-
has its power. and off-screen, the natural derson .Paak with the mel- In this Aug. 27, 2017 file photo, Kendrick Lamar arrives at the
There's the opener and tragedies and the man- ancholy depth of English MTV Video Music Awards in Inglewood, Calif.
title track, in which Lamar made, on the poignant singer James Blake. Associated Press
seems to be speaking for "Pray for Me," featuring The easy transition from other jewel, “King’s Dead,” as just another star-stacked
himself, the Compton na- The Weeknd. "Who need one voice to the next is with Lamar, Jay Rock and compilation piece in-
tive, while also channeling a hero?/ You need a hero, thanks in no small part to Future. “The Ways” with stead of a masterful album
T'Challa, the Marvel char- look in the mirror, there go lead producer Sounwave, Khalid and a singing-Swae matching the intensity of
acter who reigns over the your hero," Lamar rhymes. whose shifting beats keep Lee is adorable, while “Re- the highly anticipated film.
fictional African nation of But neither Lamar, nor ears glued to the music. An demption,” which brings Certainly, the argument
Wakanda, and protects it his lyrics, are what make R&B opening gives way to together California singer could be made. But for
in his secret role as super- "Black Panther The Album" a tough West Coast vibe Zacari and South African the ones who are excited
hero Black Panther. "King of remarkable. Instead, it's all on “Paramedic!” featuring singer Babes Wodumo, is a about the film — its diver-
my city, king of my country, the layering — of artists, hip-hop collective SOB x dance-inducing, Afro-beat sity, symbolism, and vision
king of my homeland/King styles, sounds — and even RBE. gem.For some, “Black Pan- — they’ll find what they’re
of the filthy, king of the fall- language, like on the som- And Blake is back on an- ther The Album” will stand looking for.p

'Scorpion' actress Katharine McPhee heading to Broadway

By MARK KENNEDY group of misfit geniuses
NEW YORK (AP) — Actress combat high-tech threats.
Katharine McPhee has al- Her recording career in-
ready played someone cludes the 2015 album,
who stars in a Broadway "Hysteria," and she sings jazz
show. Now she's really go- standards on "I Fall in Love
ing to do it herself. Too Easily," which came out
The singer-actress told The last year. McPhee, who was
Associated Press that she is the runner-up to the 2006
stepping into the hit musi- "American Idol" crown,
cal "Waitress," marking the losing to Taylor Hicks, also
Broadway debut for the for- starred in "Smash," which
mer cast member of NBC's focused on the backstage
"Smash." She starts April 10 drama surrounding the cre-
and stars through June 17. ation of a Broadway musi-
"People come up to me all cal about Marilyn Monroe.
the time and say, 'You've McPhee played Karen
done Broadway, right?' Cartwright, a small-town girl
And I'm like, 'Nope, I've from Iowa who becomes a
never done it,'" McPhee serious contender for the ti-
said. "I did a show about it tle role, putting her in fierce
but I was never, in fact, on competition with seasoned
Broadway. So this is really Broadway trouper Ivy Linn,
my first moment." played by Megan Hilty. In this Feb. 12, 2017 file photo, singer and actress Katharine McPhee poses in the press room at the
McPhee, 33, can be seen "Waitress," the musical ad- Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.
on the CBS drama "Scor- aptation of the 2007 film Associated Press
pion," where she helps a with songs by pop star Sara day, to do a show that Sara imperfect people, which is concern is having the en-
Bareilles, tells the story of Bareilles wrote the music real and human. I'm look- ergy needed to perform
Jenna, a waitress and pie and lyrics to — I'm such a ing forward to portraying a eight times a week. "I'm not
maker trapped in a small- fan of hers — it's a real thrill woman that a lot of people afraid of the role. I'm not
town diner and a love- for me," McPhee said. can relate to — struggling, afraid of the nerves of do-
less marriage. The role has The musical is adapted wanting to have a better ing a show," she said. "I'm
been played by Jessie from a 2007 film starring life," McPhee said. "I can't more afraid of the stami-
Mueller, Betsy Wolfe — and Keri Russell. It offers unusual wait to have this to be my na." Bareilles and McPhee
Bareilles herself. ingredients for musical the- first show." With live TV un- huddled in her dressing
"Aside from being a big ater, like infidelity, spousal der her belt, as well as gru- room and broke the role
Broadway fan and want- abuse and lack of mater- eling shooting schedules, down. "I'm going to look to
ing to be on Broadway one nal instincts. "It's a group of McPhee said her chief her as a guiding light."q