A good point about Adam Pascal on Rent soundtrack...

[Steeler Jim]

Posted: 9/29/05 at 4:55pm

From what I've gathered from reading everyone's opinions about the new Rent soundtrack CD, one thing everyone seems to be in agreement about is the huge change in Adam Pascal's voice since the OBC recording. Some say he's lost it, some say it's just different.

Someone on an Amazon.com review made a very good point about this. Here it is:

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"Think about it. Roger has AIDS. He's so depressed about that, as well as the suicide of his girlfriend, April, that he barely leaves his apartment. Now, acting for the stage is VERY different than for film. So - onstage, he had to be powerful, almost to the point of anger, to convey what he's feeling to the back of the house.

Film, however, is obviously much more intimate, so Pascal has to pull back that anger and make it true DEPRESSION for it to read correctly. The fact that people are complaining that his voice seems "weak" are mearly confirming that Pascal is actually an ACTOR. I'll bet dollars to donuts that we'll see that his vocal choices are perfect for the more intimate film setting."
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I tend to agree with this, now that I think about it. Especially after listening to "Your Eyes" again on the new soundtrack - proof that Pascal has DEFINITELY not "lost it."

I guess November 23 will be the proof in the pudding, so to speak....

Updated On: 9/29/05 at 04:55 PM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 9/29/05 at 5:02pm

I think that's a good observation. Definitely. Not to say that his voice hasn't changed and matured, but I don't think it's the only thing that's coming into play. And I think on a wider scope, it's about the fact that he's learned to ACT over the past ten years. I get the impression that when he did RENT on stage, a lot of what he gave to the character was on instinct. Based on what I've been able to hear about the performance, it would seem like as a non-actor, he just did what felt right, and what felt natural. This time around, stretching his new-found acting chops, he has to and he is able to better make conscious choices about his performance. I know we won't be able to say for sure until we can match up these new vocals with the new performance, but I think his fans are going to be so proud of him for it.

[iwearshoes]

Posted: 9/29/05 at 5:02pm

Thats a really good point that I agree with. No one has thought of him as a hard-core actor, but i think he is trying to change that and this is the step he needs to take. And we shall see on the 23rd!

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 9/29/05 at 5:03pm

It's a good point, but I wouldn't say that at any point in a MUSICAL should quality of voice be sacrificed for anything. At the very least, it does the score a giant disservice.

[letthesunshinein]

Posted: 9/29/05 at 5:06pm

I read an interview with him on playbill.com and he said that when he did Rent in '96, he acted on instinct. He didn't try and be an actor, if a song made him cry, he'd cry. It was totally genuine. Now he's definitely learned a lot more about musical theater, so I'm guessing he's refined his acting techniques. We'll see on November 23rd though...

[Marquise]

Posted: 9/29/05 at 5:07pm

I agree with the reviewer over at Amazon and emcee. It definitely was something that crossed my mind because it has been done before. This is not to say that Adam sounds bad. He doesn't. He's just giving a different performance. People can't lose sight that film and theatre are two different mediums and what can be done in one can't neccesarily be done in the other.

[Love4Cheno]

Posted: 9/29/05 at 5:08pm

Well, it could also be directly related to the blend they needed while recording. Rosario is not a strong singer, and there needs to be some balance in those duets.

There are probably a lot of reasons why he sounds the way he does. I think it's reductuive to say he's simply a better actor.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 9/29/05 at 5:10pm

I think the likelihood of this is very small, but I'll be totally heartbroken if his newfound technique backfires... in a way that makes him look like he's trying too hard. Being that the instinctual acting worked, hopefully the new approach won't be overboard on the new-ness, or feel less genuine than the natural approach did.

[Steeler Jim]

Posted: 9/29/05 at 5:11pm

I wouldn't say Rosario is not a strong singer - in fact, I think she's a very good singer. But - being paired with someone with a voice as powerful as Adam Pascal has can make anyone seem "not strong", so your point is well-taken.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 9/29/05 at 5:13pm

Well, Daphne certainly held her own. But those are two TOTALLY unique voices.

[PerforMeg]

Posted: 9/29/05 at 5:13pm

"I read an interview with him on playbill.com and he said that when he did Rent in '96, he acted on instinct. He didn't try and be an actor, if a song made him cry, he'd cry. It was totally genuine."

Many would tell you that is good acting.

He sounds fabulous on the "Hair" benefit recording, so my guess is he was putting it on for the film. We'll see if he pulls that off too. Genuine is definitely something I look for in any performance on stage or screen.

[Love4Cheno]

Posted: 9/29/05 at 5:13pm

I still hold to the opinion that Rosario is NOT a strong singer, at all.

My opinion.

[ElphabaRose]

Posted: 9/29/05 at 5:14pm

The man can ACT! I saw him in Aida and then later in Cabaret...what a difference. He's come a long way since Rent and I think that we're in for a treat when this movie comes out.

[Steeler Jim]

Posted: 9/29/05 at 5:18pm

That's cool, Cheno. We're all entitled to our opinions, at least until Republicans try take that right from us.

[LariTheLoud]

Posted: 9/29/05 at 6:16pm

I agree. I don't think Adam's voice is weak at all... on the contrary. Your Eyes is completely gorgeous on the soundtrack.

I'm in the camp thinking that it's Adam's acting. I said the same thing in my review on Amazon, actually--that the performance for the movie CERTAINLY can't be the same as Broadway singing.

[Bdwyguy30]

Posted: 9/29/05 at 6:20pm

Just so everyone on this board knows. When an actor records for an original cast broadway album it is VERY different from recording an original soundtrack. The biggest difference is that when you record the album as part of an OBC you are singing to be sure that you sound great invoking character as well but you are basically giving the impression that the listner is there watching the show. But you are also giving them a false impression because everything is sung extremely clean and pretty much exactly how the composer wants it to be heard and nine times out of ten when you see the show it doesn't sound like that. Just listen to your OBC and then see the shows. As far as OMS goes you are recording those through the character. You have to because of the medium you are dealing with. What we the listener hears is exactly what we are seeing on the screen and it is through performance and character and that is what the actor is giving on the screen. So all of this stuff about Adam Pascal not sounding strong, etc. is nonsense. The man can still sing and hasn't "lost" it etc. I guarantee when you see the film you will understand. And personally I think he sounds amazing in all of his songs. Open your ears and realize that a movie and broadway are two completely different mediums. STOP TRYING TO COMPARE AND JUDGE! If you love Rent as much as you say I am sure the people making the Film and those who are in it love it just as much if not more, and they certainly have much more at stake than you do watching it. JUST TRUST IT WILL BE GOOD!

[adamized88]

Posted: 9/29/05 at 6:51pm

i'm gonna make it short - i think it's gorgeous - i don't think he's lost it - either he found a great way to turn that signature raspy sound off or they edited it out in the studio


but i do miss the rasp....

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 9/29/05 at 6:54pm

Every time I argue with people over the merits of Adam's voice (my mother thinks he sounds like nails on a chalkboard, so we duke it out a lot over this), I have to wonder if that raspy, growly sound is intentional, or if it's only present on certain notes, or certain parts of his range, or WHAT. It doesn't sound like he has as much control over it as say.... Raul Esparza sounds like he does. It sounds like a much more natural part of his voice. And, the fact that in any given song, it's almost always in the same place makes me curious, too.

Not that I expect anyone to have an answer, but I'm just sharing.

I just finished listening to the new Glory again -- I think it's still there!

[LariTheLoud]

Posted: 9/29/05 at 7:00pm

Emcee--

On the word "On another EEEEEEMPTY..." Right there.

Well, everywhere. I think he sounds like himself. *shrug*

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 9/29/05 at 7:02pm

Yesssssss. Right there! Love.

Anyway, it's not like an alien took over his body, people.

[cudramacat]

Posted: 9/29/05 at 7:03pm

That's a really good point. I said in another post that originally I thought his voice sounded weak but after listening to soundtrack several times, I don't think it's weak at all. I really agree with the review at the top....it makes a lot of sense

[LariTheLoud]

Posted: 9/29/05 at 7:08pm

Seriously. I didn't think Adam sounded different at all!

Well, from the Adam I know from recent years.

And people have also been asking where "Adam's Vibrato" went. I dunno, I still hear it in places.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 9/29/05 at 7:11pm

It apparated.

I don't know.

[LariTheLoud]

Posted: 9/29/05 at 8:44pm

Well, I thought I still heard it.

I might be delusional. XD

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 9/29/05 at 9:04pm

I don't buy it. He doesn't sound weak to me at all. He sounds like he can't sing anymore. They're very different things. In fact he sounds louder and harsher at certain points, and sounds like he has trouble singing anything "weak."

But I JUST saw him in the Hair concert no more than a year ago, and he sounded amazing, as he did at Chess the year before. I'd find it hard to believe he went 8 or so years with his voice getting even better, and then suddenly it goes, so I'm not sure I think he's "lost it." I just think it sounds that way on the soundtrack. It really doesn't sound like an acting choice to me at all, though. Just...a bad sound on this recording.