Aretha
Aretha
nmartin
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/3/05
#2re: Aretha
Posted: 6/5/05 at 10:52pm
the entire time i was just thinking "honey no...."
i dont think she knew the words.
-annie
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#3re: Aretha
Posted: 6/5/05 at 10:53pmdouble post
-annie
http://www.livejournal.com/users/jadedoctober
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Updated On: 6/5/05 at 10:53 PM
morosco
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/10/04
TheatreDiva90016
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/10/04
#5re: Aretha
Posted: 6/5/05 at 11:00pm
She put out a beautiful rendition of "Somewhere" years ago.
She shouldn't have been paired with Hugh, it was like apples and oranges.
"TheatreDiva90016 - another good reason to frequent these boards less."<<>>
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#7re: Aretha
Posted: 6/5/05 at 11:05pm
That's a joke. I thought she was terrible. Hugh made HER look bad. Good for him for not backing down. She's notorious for trying to upstage anyone she sings with, either by hitting a higher note, holding something out longer...you know, the usual tricks. I could hear him MUCH more clearly, and he held his own...good for him...send her back to the grammy's, the bet awards, whatever...she's not needed here
-Vincent
#8re: Aretha
Posted: 6/5/05 at 11:06pm
Hugh and Aretha totally butchered the song! Why didn't they have Goulet perform?!?!
Updated On: 6/5/05 at 11:06 PM
#9re: Aretha
Posted: 6/5/05 at 11:06pmtheir voices are too different. they werent good together at all.
-annie
http://www.livejournal.com/users/jadedoctober
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#10re: Aretha
Posted: 6/5/05 at 11:06pmThey were so awkward together. That did not come off well at all.
"Do you know ChrisLovesShows?" "Yes. Why, yes he does!"
#11re: Aretha
Posted: 6/5/05 at 11:10pm
Did anyone fail to notice that the tribute to Stephen Sondheim was a song that he only wrote the lyrics for?
Secondly, Bernadette, anyone?
And finally, I was appalled by Aretha's performance (and dress). I'm not particularly a Hugh fan, but he did a great job.
Let the Broadway performers do their jobs! For a special tribute, such as Sondheim's, they should bring in the big guns.
"First up was Max who sang "Can You Feel the Love Tonight?" [...] I haven't seen that big of a reaction to a stair descent since Audra left the attic in Ragtime." --Seth Rudetsky
theatreboi11
Broadway Star Joined: 5/9/05
#12re: Aretha
Posted: 6/5/05 at 11:12pmThey were both god aweful! They should have cut that disaster, alogn with Hugh embarrassment of song and dance at the beginning and have made time for the things that the Tony's are about! For instance maybe presenting some technical awards on the telecast instead of making them be second rate and also...i dunno....giving the respect of presenting the life time achievement award! Lets hope that this is Hugh's last year. I think next year Billy Crystal or Megan Mullaly need to host!
(Martha Graham from a letter to Agnes de Mille) "There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening That is translated through you into action, And because there is only one of you in all time, This expression is unique. If you block it, It will never exist through any other medium And be lost. The world will never have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is, Nor how valuable it is, Nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours, clearly and directly, To keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep open and aware Directly to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open. No artist is pleased. There is no satisfaction whatever at any time. There is only a queer, divine dissatisfaction, A blessed unrest that keeps us marching And makes us more alive than others."
FosseBoi
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/30/04
#13re: Aretha
Posted: 6/5/05 at 11:13pmI TOTALLY agree with the up-stageing comment! OMG! What was with her singing the lyrics AFTER Hugh!?UGHHH!!!! Hugh should have done that by himself! Or have someone ELSE do it!
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DefyGravity23
Stand-by Joined: 3/28/05
#14re: Aretha
Posted: 6/5/05 at 11:14pmshe wasn't trying to work with him at all!! It was so terrible! I think Hugh was more embarrased that the song was being butchered. He was doing a fine job himself. It was Aretha that was doing all this funky stuff that did NOT work at all. Maybe if she was singing solo it would've been okay. But when people sing a duet they've gotta work together, (meaning not trying to upstage the other person!) or it won't work - which we witnessed tonight.
rent1988
Featured Actor Joined: 11/22/04
#15re: Aretha
Posted: 6/5/05 at 11:15pmthats EXACTLY what i thought...they were doing a tribute to stephen sondheim, arguably the greatest musical theater composer EVER who has written a number of amazing and award winning scores, and they choose that song? dont get me wrong, its a beautiful piece...but i wouldnt call it a sondheim song.
life is PANDEMONIUM.
#16re: Aretha
Posted: 6/5/05 at 11:18pm
"What was with her singing the lyrics AFTER Hugh!?UGHHH!!!!"
my guess is she was waiting for the words to sing, she didnt know what the hell was going on.
-annie
http://www.livejournal.com/users/jadedoctober
http://www.myspace.com/jadedoctober
#17re: Aretha
Posted: 6/5/05 at 11:21pm
I didn't like the whole deal with the swing drumbeat in the background, as well as Aretha's embellishments. The whole meaning of that song is taken away when you jazz it up. It needs to be sweet and simple to work.
I need to go listen to my Larry now.
HROK?
roquat
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/25/05
#18re: Aretha
Posted: 6/5/05 at 11:23pmShe's famous for inserting her own little lyrical riffs into songs...she did it a few years ago when she tried to sing "I Dreamed a Dream" from Les Miz and shouted, "What the hell is goin' on!" in the middle of the chorus. This was just the same--completely inappropriate
I ask in all honesty/What would life be?/Without a song and a dance, what are we?/So I say "Thank you for the music/For giving it to me."
nmartin
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/3/05
#19re: Aretha
Posted: 6/5/05 at 11:23pmTheatreboi11 is the only response on here that is worth reading.
#20re: Aretha
Posted: 6/5/05 at 11:25pmAgreed. I was cringing...then again, I hate when beautiful broadway songs are pop-ified (singing with no emotion, except maybe vanity, and doing all these vocal gymnastics.) If you're going to do a tribute, do a tribute.
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#21re: Aretha
Posted: 6/6/05 at 8:19amI have tickets to see Aretha at Harrahs on June 10. After hearing her last night (I was at the Tony's) I don't think I want to see her. She sounded absolutely awful! I was very suprised.
november
Featured Actor Joined: 5/17/05
#23re: Aretha
Posted: 6/6/05 at 8:41amI was there, it wsa definitely the lowlight for me. Should have had Idina sing with Hugh - both Tony winners from last year....
Corine2
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/14/03
#24R-E-S-P-E-C-T!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted: 6/6/05 at 8:48am
KIDS!!!!!
Aretha is the Queen of Soul. She is one of the greatest pop and soul singers of all time.
Can we please have some R-E-S-P-E-C-T.
I wish she could have sang something that fits her.
RESPECT or something from Hairspray.
They probably brought her there since I have heard she is a shoo in for the Hairspray movie.
Same reason Marissa was there. It is good PR.
ARETHA is incredible, but that song was wrong for her voice.
Oh and Ken, how much do you want for your ticket?
Updated On: 6/6/05 at 08:48 AM
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