New Edition has always been one of my favorite musical groups of all time and I'm extremely happy with BET for making a movie about them to bring more awareness about true, good music. I'm pretty young but almost ALL the music I listen to are 'old school' music. I prefer the lyrics, I prefer the production styles, especially from the 80s. There's been an 80s 'trend' in music recently with better technology so I'm happy that good music is returning. Some songs of notable mention include "I Feel It Coming" by The Weeknd (80s Pop) or "24k Magic" by Bruno Mars (G-Funk). Or even this '80s remix' of Justin Bieber's smash hit (certified DIAMOND) "Baby"


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApLk3SLgofs

^^Seriously, listen to this. Its amazing.

For those of you who might not be familiar with New Edition, they're a Pop/RnB/Soul Group that rose to fame in the 70s, and gained immense popularity in the 80s. Their name, "New Edition" was coined by their first manager/choreographer "Brook Payne" who saw their potential to be the "New Edition" of the Jackson 5. Seriously, listen to this song:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jbtwQgqH5U

He damn straight sounds like a young version of Michael Jackson!!

New Edition is an American R&B group from the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts formed in 1978. The group reached its height of popularity in the 1980s. During the group's first experience with fame in 1983, its members were Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, Bobby Brown, Ronnie DeVoe and Ralph Tresvant. Early hits included "Candy Girl," "Cool It Now", and "Mr. Telephone Man". Brown was voted out of the group in 1985 and embarked on a solo career. The group continued for a time with its remaining four members, but eventually recruited singer Johnny Gill, who would be introduced on their 1988 album Heart Break. The group went on hiatus in 1990, while its various members worked on side projects, such as the group Bell Biv DeVoe. Gill and Tresvant also recorded successful solo albums.

[img]https://2.bp..com/-mEfrSHLtHS8/WI4ir3D9h6I/AAAAAAAAPIY/dzSnbLbu-2g7ocimfOMzXVw7tnmYuo_IACLcB/s640/new-edition-movie-.png[/img]

So in that picture above, we have all the members of New Edition along with the faces of the actors cast as them. What caught my eye was Bryshere Gray (Hakeem from Empire!!). I was wondering how he was going to play Mike Bivins without seeming making me remember Hakeem all the time but he played it perfectly. His voice even sounds like Mike's!!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xDpGw-K1dE

Bryshere Gray interview with Mike Bivins

So. . .the movie is split into three parts- the first part about their 'Jackson 5' era, the second part about when Bobby Brown went off to have an immensely successful solo career-


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0FKzPfsxA4

while New Edition found success with their 1988 "Heart Break" album including hits like "Can You Stand The Rain", "If It Isn't Love", "Boys To Men", N.E Heartbreak, and so on. Thanks to Lead Singer Ralph Tresvant shelving his own Solo album. When I watched that scene I really felt bad for him. . .he had been doing almost all the work and then the asshole, drug addict, self centred Bobby Brown leaves the group and becomes a super star. The movie showed how close they all were to breaking up (that scene was emotional as hell, great acting)but thanks to Ralph sticking with his friends they were able to make an even more successful album.

The third part showed Bobby and Whitney Houston, it revealed Ricky's drug problem, and their conflicts and reconciliation.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7flrKMGfwjw

Can You Stand The Rain. . .good thing Johnny G joined!!

Acting
The acting was awesome. Well, the child actors weren't SO exceptional but I guess I could cut them some slack. . .they don't have the same talent as the real deal. I was somewhat impressed by Jahi Winston (who played Ralph). The kid cast as Bobby Brown also had some 'swag' too lol. I love the way the first part showed how dirty and nasty the music industry could get. For all upcoming artists wishing to make it BIG there are a lot of hurdles to face before you get there, even when you get signed to a record label. Music execs could put some really nasty clauses in your contract, and you'd just sign, with the excitement of finally becoming a star. You could make millions but not get paid a dime by your label. The movie depicted all of that perfectly.
I also like Woody McClain (Bobby Brown). Dude was awesome!! He looks a little like Eddie Murphy to me and he really got Bobby's cockiness and 'high energy' well.

I give the acting 4.5 of 5 stars.

Singing
In the New Edition movie, they didn't play the original songs back. They actually made the actors re-record the songs. I have to say, Algee Smith (Adult Ralph Tresvant) was awesome. He sounded JUST LIKE RALPH. Luke James (Johnny Gill) was also pretty good.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i89sG_Kb9s8

The New Edition Cast performing "Can You Stand The Rain"!!!!! Compare it with the original version I added earlier in this post. They sounded great!

However, I was not impressed by the younger versions of New Edition. Well, I guess it takes a lot to be young and have the kind of talent N.E had. The younger ones didn't have 'clean' vocals, forcing the producers to oversaturate their voices with Autotune. But the I cam across a video of Jahi Winston singing with Ralph HIMSELF live on stage, and he wasn't bad at all! But, he proved my assertion. . .in the live performance he couldn't hit all the high notes Ralph used to hit.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4jmUIuEiTM

Lastly, I was UNHAPPY with the people they cast as Boyz II Men.



Its common knowledge that New Edition member Mike Bivins discovered Boyz II Men who would later go on to be the best selling RnB group of all time. After one of N.E's concerts, Boyz II Men stopped Mike and performed Can You Stand The Rain for them, ACAPELLA. Mike was impressed and signed them instantly.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-eKxC6BkBM

(Boyz II Men later recorded and acapella version for their 1997 album "Evolution". Seriously if I were rich and famous as Mike I would've signed them INSTANTLY as well!)

Unfortunately, the 'Boyz II MEn' in the movie gave Mike a subpar performance. Really. I was not impressed.

All in all, I give them 3 stars out of 5.


Dancing
The actors could all dance. No question about it. I really loved their performance of Poison by Bell Biv Devoe.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRSCwxGqRyo

"She's driving me out of my miiiiinnddd. . .that's why its hard for me to fiiinndd, can't get this girl out of m heeaaddd. . . ."
(sorry I couldn't find a better quality video )

Compare with a real BBD performance:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EP0Zb7KHVag


5 out of 5 stars.




[img]https://espntheundefeated.files./2017/01/new-edition-heartbreak-jimshea.jpg[/img]

FINAL VERDICT: Its a great movie. Go watch it!!

Okey-dokey

4kings:
Okey-dokey

Really , its a great movie, its soemthing you should see if you have the time. That is, if you're into this kind of music

AnonyNymous:

Really , its a great movie, its soemthing you should see if you have the time. That is, if you're into this kind of music

Will do.

@AnonyNymous I just started watching part 1.
Bobby Brown's pride though.

Make i continue jare.

@AnonyNymous Wow, part 1 was interesting.
Didn't know about the group(apart from Brown) before now.

4kings:
@AnonyNymous Wow, part 1 was interesting.
Didn't know about the group(apart from Brown) before now.

I'm glad you liked it!! I couldn't stop myself from checking the original songs out again whenever they performed them in the movie. And yeah, it really showed how much of an asshole Bobby Brown was he gets even worse in the second part lol

AnonyNymous:

I'm glad you liked it!! I couldn't stop myself from checking the original songs out again whenever they performed them in the movie. And yeah, it really showed how much of an asshole Bobby Brown was he gets even worse in the second part lol

I've seen part 2.
Hmm, the movie was very blunt, i had to search about it's accuracy.
It's kinda fascinating seeing that other side of Bobby Brown.

---

But i be small boy sha, i no know all these stories b4.

Damn AnonyNymous it was EPIC.
Wow.


Really hurts that i didn't know much about them before now.
Thanks for the movie recommendation.