A guy singing Defying Gravity? — Page 2

If it's an audition, you HAVE to sing "Corner Of The Sky" from PIPPIN.

I NEVER hear that at an audition!



(sarcasam)

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Actually, I rarely ever heard Corner of the Sky at an audition. Guys always sang Anthem from Chess. Every audition.

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I'm a girl, and I can't pull off something like "Defying Gravity!" But I'm still in high school, so whatever. I think if you can, go for it! If it's something as... dynamic? or whatever as Defying Gravity, you really need to make it your b*tch. Y'know what I'm saying? I hope you kick ass at your audition.

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I would say not... but like others have said before, not because you're a guy but because the song is so overdone. I can tell you it's painful to be an auditor at an audition and hear the same song over and over again, especially when the cast recordings are still so new and everyone's likely to have heard it rather recently. Even in community theater.

That said, like it's also been said here, if you can sing the living daylights out of it and give it your own spin, and not just mimic Idina, then go for it. Because it's also important to sing a song you are very familiar with at an audition. Try to get an honest opinion about your version of the song from a voice teacher or someone else other than your friends.

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Don't do it. It's way overdone right now. I don't have any aversion to a man singing a song created by a female (or vice versa) but it would be the equivalent to a man going into an audition in 1980 and singing "Tomorrow" from ANNIE.

Save "Defying Gravity" for the karaoke bar...

but since it's so popular , you'd better bring something new to it and do it extremely well.

I was at an audition a few weeks ago, and a boy sang it. I know him, and he is VERY talented, but he sounded awful...I just don't think it is suited for men (with the exception of raul and marty)

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Updated On: 6/16/05 at 02:11 PM

The people at the audition probably couldn't care less about whether or not you 'should' sing the song. Just put it in a good key and sing it well. Really, they're not that concerned with song choice, as long as its right for your voice and right for the style of the show you're auditioning for.

There's nothing in the song that denotes that it is gender specific. If you can pull it off, do it. It's a great song.

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It's not about the song being gender-specific. At all.

The reasons why he should not do this song are as follows:

1. "Defying Gravity" is ONLY a good song when it's sung well. Most people cannot sing this song well. Most of THOSE people think that they CAN sing the song well.
2. "Defying Gravity" is a song suited for very specific voice types. The singer has to have an intense pop/rock belt, and most people who think that they do don't.
3. "Defying Gravity" is SO ridiculously popular right now that it IS a problem. People can huff all they want, "If you sing it good enough, it shouldn't matter," but it WILL matter. If I were the casting director, I'd take the singer less seriously from the moment I heard the song choice because it is an indicator that he is a "flavor of the month" theatre wannabe (even if he isn't), and it also indicates that he didn't spend any time researching the show to find a great song suited to the part for which he is auditioning. This is all on TOP of the fact that I've heard the song SO much that it's actually starting to irritate me (and I really liked it when I first heard it).
4. "Defying Gravity" is extremely difficult to "masculinize", which, in my opinion, is essential to a good male rendition of the song. And, in my experience, most boys who would deeply desire to do this song for an audition are more flaming than a pelican that just got sucked through a jet engine. If a guy performs it, he has to stylize it so that he isn't mimicking Idina... that's the pitfall that is going to determine whether the audition is laughable or unique.
5. I literally cannot think of any male part in musical theatre for which the song would be appropriate. Maybe Pippin. But, in that case, I can also think of a HUNDRED better songs to perform for the part.

In any case, I'll advise the potential singer to use his better judgement with this one. Don't kid yourself that you can sing this song if you can't. Try recording yourself. And break a leg at the audition regardless of what you choose to perform.

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Updated On: 6/16/05 at 03:08 PM

If you can sing Defying Gravity, good luck. I wouldn't imatate any of the stars that sing it...

Well, to tell you the truth, if you want to sing it, you have to be fantastic. Otherwise, you are just going to fit in with the other auditioners who sing Defying Gravity. I don't think there is anything wrong with it. Don't copy Idina though, everyone's right, that's what others will try to do.

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i actually dreamt last nite that i saw a young teenage boy in drag singing DEFYING GRAVITY. in the dream, i remember thinking it was terrific, considering the boy's age, but the "crowd" gave it a luke warm reception, at best. SO ... i wonder if this was a dream about ME or about YOU?

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