Bobby's High Notes in Company
Bobby's High Notes in Company
#1Bobby's High Notes in Company
Posted: 2/20/07 at 11:19pm
Does anyone know what the highest note is that Bobby sings in Company? I would assume it would be in either "Being Alive' or "Marry me a Little"
I tried a search and found nothing, and believe it or not, google wasn't much help either.
Thanks everyone!
#2re: Bobby's High Notes in Company
Posted: 2/20/07 at 11:22pmWhat about the falsetto in Someone is Waiting? I'm not sure, but that sounds like it might be higher.
iluvtheatertrash
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/9/04
#2re: Bobby's High Notes in Company
Posted: 2/20/07 at 11:23pmBeing Alive goes to a G#. Marry Me A Little is an F#, I believe. I actually, don't think he sings higher than A...
"I know now that theatre saved my life." - Susan Stroman
#3re: Bobby's High Notes in Company
Posted: 2/20/07 at 11:25pm
Sorry Emcee, I don't know why, but I phrased that question 100% wrong.
What I should have said was: What are Bobby's Highest notes in "Being Alive" and "Marry me A Little"
thanks again, sorry for the confusion
EDIT: iLuv-you must have bee reading my mind!
Updated On: 2/20/07 at 11:25 PM
sidjones09
Leading Actor Joined: 1/4/07
#4re: Bobby's High Notes in Company
Posted: 2/21/07 at 2:07amQuick question on this topic: Does Raul Esparza sing Bobby's songs in the original keys they were written? and if so were the keys for some of Bobby's songs lowered for Boyd Gaines in the '95/'96 revival? It just seems to me after listening to both cast recordings that Raul is singing higher. Anyone know if this is true, or are my ears playing tricks on me?
"If you've got something to say, say it, and think well of yourself while you're learning to say it better." - David Mamet
iluvtheatertrash
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/9/04
#5re: Bobby's High Notes in Company
Posted: 2/21/07 at 9:28am
I'm not sure about Boyd Gaines. I never listen to that recording. If I listen to this show, it's the OBC or the current revival.
But yes, I'm almost positive BEING ALIVE is a G# and MARRY ME A LITTLE is an F#. I think MARRY ME hits that note on the "SOMEone". Not positive though.
"I know now that theatre saved my life." - Susan Stroman
gumbo2
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/21/05
#6re: Bobby's High Notes in Company
Posted: 2/21/07 at 9:41amWhat about "That's what it's all about isn't it? That's what it's really about, really aBOOOOOOUT" in the opening? That sounds really high, I always sort of assumed that was an A or B flat...It sounds very high on the OBC as well, anyone know what that note is?
#7re: Bobby's High Notes in Company
Posted: 2/21/07 at 9:43amKinda off-topic, but emcee, Raul sang that falsetto note in "Someone Is Waiting" in full voice last night. Absolutely amazing.
#8re: Bobby's High Notes in Company
Posted: 2/21/07 at 9:44am
!!!!!!
I want to hear. I didn't know he could do that!
gumbo2
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/21/05
#9re: Bobby's High Notes in Company
Posted: 2/21/07 at 9:46amWhaa that would be crazy! I'm trying to hear it in my mind now...
#10re: Bobby's High Notes in Company
Posted: 2/21/07 at 9:46amIt was my first time seeing the show (not my first time seeing Raul, however), sitting second row dead center. And um, wow. There are NO words.
#11re: Bobby's High Notes in Company
Posted: 2/21/07 at 9:49am
Many people are going to argue this one with me, but does anyone else NOT like Raul's voice on this recording. I mean there is something about it that I can not stand. Which was funny because when I saw the show live, I loved his voice, and I love his voice in Taboo and Tick...Tick ...Boom...but for some reason I can not listen to the new recording, to me he sounds like he was standing oh his toes a lot to reach those high notes into the mic and almsot everynote and there is a vibrato at one time or another to almost every lyrci and I just cant not listen to Being Alive. It just bugs me. Maybe it is beacause of those high notes he trys to reach, that are maybe not really in his range. Bravo for doing it anyway.
The one version of Being Alive which acturally surprised me was John Barrowman's verision of it in his album called "Reflections From Broadway". His version of Being Alive, is for some reason
the one I can not stop listening too, it is amazing.
"Now the best way to learn the theater, always, is to be a stage manager"
-Stephen Sondheim
#12re: Bobby's High Notes in Company
Posted: 2/21/07 at 10:02am
!!!!!!!! (still)
I hope that's something he'll do more often because I want to seeee. That's ridiculous. My first reaction was ".... are you sure?!" heh.
I agree with you that his voice sounds very different on Company than it does on any of his previous recordings, but I like it. I think it's matured a lot. There are moments where the vibrato is so insane that it even gets to me, but not to the point of "wow, I cannot listen to this." 
#13re: Bobby's High Notes in Company
Posted: 2/21/07 at 10:32amluvthemcee...thanks for everything btw. Yeah, but for some reason I just cant listen to it. It has matured and I am so proud of him...but I just can't listen to it, it bothers my ears so bad, I feel bad but my ears feel worse when hearing it. His MARRY ME A LITTLE I like a lot and other stuff to, but BEING ALIVE was hard for me and it is one of my favorite songs. Maybe I just need to listen to it more and get over it.
"Now the best way to learn the theater, always, is to be a stage manager"
-Stephen Sondheim
shesamarshmallow
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/23/06
#14re: Bobby's High Notes in Company
Posted: 2/21/07 at 10:56am
I love every single thing about Raul on that recording... except the split second growl at the very end of Being Alive. Bugs the crap outta me!
John Barrowman sounds too sweet as Bobby, I think.
broadwayunderstudies.com - most underrated performers on broadway
#15re: Bobby's High Notes in Company
Posted: 2/21/07 at 5:11pm
You are right, John is too sweet as Bobby, but just love the way he sings it better.
"Now the best way to learn the theater, always, is to be a stage manager"
-Stephen Sondheim
#16re: Bobby's High Notes in Company
Posted: 2/21/07 at 5:11pm
You are right, John is too sweet as Bobby, but just love the way he sings it better.
"Now the best way to learn the theater, always, is to be a stage manager"
-Stephen Sondheim
Craww
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/13/06
#17re: Bobby's High Notes in Company
Posted: 2/21/07 at 5:17pm
I love every single thing about Raul on that recording... except the split second growl at the very end of Being Alive.
I notice that every time. I still haven't decided if I love it or hate it. I think I'd unquestionably love it if it didn't seem to stick out so much.
#18re: Bobby's High Notes in Company
Posted: 2/21/07 at 5:22pm
I agree with you, Jovie. Raul just doesn't sound right somehow on the recording. His vibratto is fluttery and uncontrolled, and he tends to sing through his nose. He's powerful and big on the high notes, but I got that gut feeling of "he's reaching" as well. It's not in the "I can't listen to this" vein, but there were many times I was taken out of the score when listening to him.
And actually, I really like his growl in Being Alive. There's nothing better than hearing an actor ACT in a recording.
#19re: Bobby's High Notes in Company
Posted: 2/21/07 at 5:27pm
I looooove John Barrowman's Being Alive. It might not work so well in the context of the show, but as a stand-alone track in a shuffled playlist, it's wonderful. I've got quite a collection of Being Alives, and his is definitely my favourite. :3
#20re: Bobby's High Notes in Company
Posted: 2/21/07 at 5:31pmAt first I didn't like it, and was honestly kind of curious as to why it wouldn't have been edited out, or something. I loved the entire song, except that growl at the end, and it really bothered me. A few listens later, I was considering how wonderful it is that the recording ends with Being Alive, rather than the final scene -- what a perfect way to end such a beautiful recording, with all of that visceral power -- when I realized that even if it's not quite an enjoyable noise to hear, it fits for that reason. It's a really powerful ending. Maybe I was just looking for a reason to justify its presence, though, and I still sort of do have a love/hate relationship with it. At the very least, it's been a while since I've heard another recording on which a performer acts quite so much, and that's something I really like.
#21re: Bobby's High Notes in Company
Posted: 2/21/07 at 5:32pmHe's brilliant in his dialogue on the recording though, unquestionably.
#22re: Bobby's High Notes in Company
Posted: 2/21/07 at 5:35pmI am so glad I'm not the only person with a collection of Being Alives. I agree about Barrowman; I found him boring in context, but he certainly sounds very pretty.
#23re: Bobby's High Notes in Company
Posted: 2/21/07 at 5:38pm
This is probably sacriledge in this thread, but my favorite Being Alive is Patti LuPone's...which I'm sure has everything to do with the fact that her performance of it at the Carnegie Hall Sondheim celebration not only introduced me to the song, but to her as well.
As for men, my favorite is Dean Jones from the OBC. He has one of the brassiest, Merman-esque belts I've heard on a man, and I always find it thrilling. I imagine Hugh Jackman could come pretty close to that, if given the chance.
#24re: Bobby's High Notes in Company
Posted: 2/21/07 at 5:42pm
I've never heard a female rendition, and I need to do something about that. I have like twelve versions in my iTunes library, but they're allll male.
I think I need not state my favorite. 
I also really like Stokes' version, though.
Latest Posts
Videos