C'mon now, Heather Headley singing ANYTHING in Aida. No question.
Leading Actor Joined: 5/28/03
Eder, Holliday, Merman and Lupone are my favs.
Patti Lupone
Betty Buckly
Elaine Paige
all belting "With One Look" from Sunset Boulevard
Swing Joined: 5/19/04
Linda Eder.... singing just about anything.
LuPone and Buckley -- the two best belters -- no question!
I'd also add a "runner-up" to Liz Callaway
Idina Menzel - Life of the Party from Wild Party and Defying Gravity and Wizard and I from Wicked is pretty amazing imo.
Susan Egan - Sooner or Later from her CD So Far.. is awesome, same with the end of The Story Goes On
Sutton Foster
Bernadette Peters
"Gimme Gimme" - Thoroughly Modern Millie
"If You Got It, Flaunt It" - (towards the end) The Producers
"No Good Deed"/"The Wizard and I" - Wicked
"Rose's Turn" - Gypsy
"My Strongest Suit" - Aida
"Being Alive" - Bernadette Peters (the very end of that song on Sondheim, etc... wowowowowow)
Anything by Barbra Streisand.
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/14/04
am I the ONLY person who doesn't really think Ethel Merman had a good voice?
I think so Shesings....
I don't particularly care for her voice.
Whether it's good or not is a whole nother thing.
Shesings...I hate Ethel Merman's voice. HATE it. That doesn't mean she can't sing well...I just cannot stand hearing her. If that makes ANY sense.
she was a powerhouse..If you don't like her voice, that is one thing, but if you disrespect her as a performer, you are in your own league. she could belt and do anything back in the day.
Mandy Gonzalez singing "Braver Than We Are." That girl should sooo be the next Elphaba!
Broadway Star Joined: 5/22/03
i love how patti lupone belts the crap out of "being alive" on the sondhiem(sp) cd!!!!
I love Idina Menzel in anything but I epecially love Defying Gravity, No Good Deed, (i wouldn't realy call the wizard and i a belty song)but i love it anyway and take me or leave me.
Swing Joined: 9/3/04
Orfeh singing the hell out of "Maybe This Time" and "My Strongest Suit." Actually, Orfeh singing *ANYTHING* does it for me. Anyone see her in "Love,Janis" and remember her "Summertime"? ::sigh::
-Eric
I love Patti's "Being Alive" too, Musicaltheatreman. It is simply chilling.
Linda Eder is my favorite belter, though. She has a natural talent that I envy so much.
Broadway Star Joined: 5/22/03
i have never heard orfeh sing, but i always here good things aobut her!!! i want to her this woman sing to what al the hype is about!!! what recordings can i here her on??? thanks :)
Am I the only person who think Patti is aweful? I mean the woman is a witch and doesn't care about her fans!
Linda, Sutton, and Bernadette are by far the best belters!
I've got a few...
Patti Lupone
Sutton Foster
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/4/04
I don't care for LuPone, but as I've stated way too many times in the past few days, her "Being Alive" is stunning. (See? Sondheim can write big belting songs as well as the next guy.)
I don't know if Bernadette Peters can be considered a traditional belter, but I love her sound in Sunday in the Park With George, as well as the vulnerability she brings to "Not a Day Goes By."
Of course, Ethel Merman is the belter. I have to give her kudos for sheer power, if not for modulation. Jennifer Holliday is a pretty obvious choice as well.
I'm going to stay away from Idina Menzel. I think I've made my feelings on her and her "belting" pretty clear. If we must take someone from Rent, take a "Seasons of Love" soloist.
D. Jamin-Bartlett sounds great in "The Miller's Son." Tonya Pinkins definitely has a big-time voice to have done the role of Caroline for as long as she did. Roz Ryan shows a tremendous belt in "When You're Good to Mama." Then, of course, there's Ann Harada in "The More You Ruv Someone." :P
Featured Actor Joined: 2/22/04
I know exactly what you mean about Merman broadwaygirl107, I never liked to listen to her. And Julia Murney's voice kinda sounds like a lamb to me. I mean she has an amazing range but she just doesn't do it for me. My fav is Linda Eder. If you haven't heard her sing Gold, wow, thats a song that gives you the chills.
Sutton. Hands down. Can't wait for the OCR of Little Women!
No mention for Ellen Greene yet? She's got a quality to her belt that is just so unique.
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