Best Riffing of a Sondheim Song...

It takes GUTS to riff a Sondheim song.

But the winner clearly is

Emily Skinner - Good Thing Going (act 2 opener of Merrily) at the Kennedy Center.

Wow! Should have been recorded (officially).

Updated On: 4/13/09 at 06:30 PM

Riffing 'Last Midnight' is totally uncalled for.

But 'Good Thing Going' was a perfect opportunity for Skinner to show off her riffs.

Updated On: 4/13/09 at 06:33 PM

How do you riff a rap??

Sondheim riffs are NOT needed.

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Why do some people think riffing=great vocals? Not every song has to have a riff or vocal run added to it; that does not a great vocalist make. Sometimes it can be impressive and fun, but, sparingly!

It's everywhere! While watching American Idol (I still don't quite know why I watch) it seems like the more they riff, the better the comments from the "judges." It just makes no kind of sense.

Renee Goldsberry on The Miller's Son.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdZWl2dw9-0

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I don't think Ripley's final note in GETTING MARRIED TODAY is considered a riff.

To know what I mean, you really need to hear Skinner's 'Good Thing Going.'

OK, I just have to ask, why the HELL did they let Kendra Kassebaum butcher "Miller's Son" in the gala, when Renee Goldsberry sang a fantastic rendition? Honestly, I thought the "riff" worked there.

B3-
I think it comes from the fact that a lot of riffing has become more of a "LOOKATME!" than a "Look, watch me augment a score and make it my own, while not being too showy."

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you guys DO realize that "riffing" is not a new concept. even riffing is used in Opera, obviously not "Beyonce" style riffing, but operatic riffing, mainly called "runs" where sometimes the composer would take, let's say an 8 measure phrase, and instructed the singer to do whatever he/she (mostly she) wanted to do in that passage. The singer is vocally inmprovising. It shows artistic integrity and creativity, and when appropriate, can be used to great affect.

So, no one should be knocking riffing, or thinking that it does not belong in the theater, because it certainly has been a staple of it for the past 200 years. It just sounds a little different nowadays.

When Riffing is inappropriate:
1}if your character wouldn't riff, then you better not. I don't want to hear Jack's mother riff her way through "Jack, Jack, Jack, head in a sack"

2)when it takes away to much focus from the lyric. you may be riffing the hell out of a line, but If I am only listening to you and completely missed the point of the lyric, you didn't do it right.

When Riffing can be appropriate:

1) when the character in the show is giving a performace for the audience a'la "Move" from Dreamgirls, and yes, "Act 1 Opening" of Merrily we Roll Along when Gussie turns around and performs "Good Thing Going"

But it's a slippery slope about riffing when the performer is performing within the show. I don't need to hear riffing during "I Am what I am" -ever totally inappropriate time and choice, and frankly, it just comes down to vocal masturbation, where you just want the audience to see how many notes you can fit in a measure, showing no regard to the lyric.


so, Riffing= good, but the performer has to be tasteful, choose where the riffs will be most effective, and keep them few and far between.

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Updated On: 4/14/09 at 11:04 AM

I don't think of the Gussie/Merrily example of riffing--at least, not in the way we're talking about. The "riffing" is fully within the context of the musical, in service of the storyline, and not just a way for the actor to say "look at me!" to the audience by removing all of the attention away from the lyrics and music and fully onto her vocal acrobatics.

I object to "riffing" when it tears away the integrity and meaning of song and, I gotta say, most contemporary riffing completely ruins the uniqueness of any song.