I got to see Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again on Monday. As far as a review, I don’t want to give anything away but the casting of the younger characters was spot-on (if it came out that Jessica Keenan Wynn was actually Christine Baranski’s secret daughter, I wouldn’t be surprised), there were quite a few of ABBA’s “deep tracks” and there wasn’t nearly enough Cher. Oh, and if you enjoy post-credit scenes, there is a cute, quick one at the end of the film.
Minor spoilers for Mama Mia
I originally reported that the Oscar-winning actress and singer was performing two songs in the movie. She did, sort of. She performed the ABBA hit “Fernando” with co-star Andy Garcia and led off the big finale number, singing part of a verse before being joined by the film’s entire cast, just like in the original (as I am not going to spoil anything, I’m not saying what song, but it was definitely a recognizable and beloved ABBA hit.) So, basically, I felt owed.
Thankfully, the 72-year-old diva will be blessing our ears with more ABBA covers, as she announced on Tuesday’s Today Show that she was planning on releasing a full album of songs. In an interview with Kathie Lee Gifford, Cher revealed, “After I did ‘Fernando’ [in the movie] I thought it would really be fun to do an album of ABBA songs, so I did.” She added that she is putting her own spin on the tunes, explaining, “It’s not what you would think of when you think of ABBA, ’cause I did it in a different way.”
Cher isn’t a stranger to covers. Her take on the 1964’s “The Shoop Shoop Song (It’s in His Kiss)” from the Mermaids soundtrack was a huge hit and her cover of Marc Cohn’s “Walking in Memphis” was the standout from her 1995 album It’s a Man’s World, where she also covered “Not Enough Love in the World” by Don Henley and James Brown’s “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World.”
In the interview, Cher also talked about making MM2, calling it “one of the most extraordinary adventures of my life.” She admitted she was a fan coming into the project, confessing, “I was a huge fan, I saw the musical on Broadway three times and was dancing in the aisles with everybody.” When asked why she hasn’t been on the screen in a while, she said that “I believe what belongs to you, comes to you and I would have never thought that this belonged to me, but obviously, it did.”
I am so excited to hear Cher take on more ABBA tunes. I am also taking a picture of her from MM2 to my hairdresser because that hairdo is everything (and yes, I know it’s a wig, but the cut and color is fabulous). And for my last word on the new movie, if you liked the first one, go see this. It was a fun 90 minutes, as long as you take it for the fun, fluffy popcorn movie it is. Colin Firth is still adorable, Julie Walters is still hilarious and Pierce Brosnan hardly sings!
Photos: Getty Images, WENN.com
Oh I would totally buy this album!
Maybe it’s because I’m not American but I don’t understand the cult of Cher.
I don’t understand the cult of Cher either, and I live here!
In the first picture she looks so scary! I hate that she ruined her face with bad plastic surgery.
I don’t get it either. Even with all of her surgeries, I don’t think she’s growing old gracefully! She looks horrid in the first picture.
She is quite scary looking to me (worse in motion) indeed. It surprises me that her obvious need to be adored (from the interview) and her troubling surgeries get such an enthusiastic pass from everyone.
Urgh. Seeing the thumbnail pic my first thought was she is well on her way to look like Jocelyn Wildenstein’s lost sister…
And I would say she is not aging gracefully *because* of all the tinkering with her face. She had (allegedly) various plastic surgery done over the years, but for the most part managed to look like herself. Not anymore.
I sometimes really really wonder who these celebs listen to, who makes them believe this looks good… I mean there are so many examples now that make you cringe and people totally have destroyed their own face, you would think more would stop at least somewhat before it gets ugly (in the truest sense). Maybe it’s a mix between huge pressure from society/the film industry and listening to doctors who want to make money, combined with not accepting aging and/or having a wrong sense of self (e.g. like people with an eating disorder who see themselves as too fat when looking in the mirror even though they are way too thin)?
Whatever it is, the result in many cases is tragic and sad. Embrace your face, it is unique and it is your very own.
I grew up watching the Sonny and Cher show and after the divorce just the Cher show. I spent my time geeking out over every costume she wore. When I finally did see her in concert (on one of her many farewell tours LOL) I was amazed how well her voice held up because some singer’s are not that lucky. I was always fascinated by her life. But mostly for me it was the fashion in addition to her singing of course. Sigh, those Bob Mackie designs…
I think her voice held up because she doesn’t perform that often. She’s not out on the road constantly like many other performers. Her voice has held up really well. Her face? Not so much, which is sad because she’s always had a very unique and beautiful look.
I cannot wait to see this. My BFF called me last night to firm up plans to go see it with our mothers.
I love, love, love Mamma Mia. I’ve seen the stage show three times and the movie dozens of times.
And I love Cher. I’ll buy this and sing along like nobody’s listening!
I love Cher and can’t wait to see this movie.
Cher is a legend mainly because she never gave two F’s about what anyone ever said or thought about her. I remember her saying, “If I want to put my tits on my back, it’s no one’s business but my own.”
Cher is basically one of the MOST HONEST” celebrities out there. She has said often that she isn’t comfortable with getting older.