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'Favorite' or 'Definitive' rendition of "Being Alive'
'Favorite' or 'Definitive' rendition of "Being Alive'
#1'Favorite' or 'Definitive' rendition of "Being Alive'
Posted: 6/23/11 at 12:19pm
Earlier this week I went to a screening of "Company" with a friend (both loved it). He asked me if there is a definitive recording of the song. I wasn't sure how to answer. Is the OCR considered definitive? - not sure it is for this song...
The first version I heard was Streisand's 'Broadway Album'. Favorite recording is Patti LuPone from "Sondheim: A Celebration", with Bernadette Peters rendition on "Sondheim, Etc." a distant, but notable second.
Wondering what other folks think.
But the world goes 'round
#2'Favorite' or 'Definitive' rendition of 'Being Alive'
Posted: 6/23/11 at 12:22pmNo matter how many times I listen to the CD- LuPones version on the Concert Sondheim has always been my favorite!
#2'Favorite' or 'Definitive' rendition of 'Being Alive'
Posted: 6/23/11 at 12:24pmI love the Stephen Bogardus version from the "Musicality of Sondheim" album
"All our dreams can come true -- if we have the courage to pursue them." -- Walt Disney
We must have different Gods. My God said "do to others what you would have them do to you". Your God seems to have said "My Way or the Highway".
blacktie
Understudy Joined: 6/7/10
#3'Favorite' or 'Definitive' rendition of 'Being Alive'
Posted: 6/23/11 at 12:25pmNorm Lewis from "Sondheim on Sondheim"
Understudy Joined: 12/31/69
#4'Favorite' or 'Definitive' rendition of 'Being Alive'
Posted: 6/23/11 at 12:26pmObviously, the original BeeGees version from Saturday Night Fever,
#6'Favorite' or 'Definitive' rendition of 'Being Alive'
Posted: 6/23/11 at 1:15pm
Larry Kert, from the 1972 Sondheim tribute (the Scrabble album):
http://youtu.be/1TvagUwpgGE
#7'Favorite' or 'Definitive' rendition of 'Being Alive'
Posted: 6/23/11 at 1:18pm
I guess I would go with Dean Jones for definitive.
But for favorite? Hands down Norm Lewis.
JP2
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/2/07
#9'Favorite' or 'Definitive' rendition of 'Being Alive'
Posted: 6/23/11 at 2:01pm
Dean Jones is definitive.
Personally, for some reason I haven't heard a rendition of this that I liked that was sung by a man. Love Streisand's, Peters', and LuPone's though. LuPone's is my favorite.
#10'Favorite' or 'Definitive' rendition of 'Being Alive'
Posted: 6/23/11 at 2:02pm
Favorite- Raul Esparza or Patti Lupone
Definitive- Dean Jones or Larry Kert
moljul
Broadway Star Joined: 5/28/03
#11'Favorite' or 'Definitive' rendition of 'Being Alive'
Posted: 6/23/11 at 2:04pm
Lupone's seems to suffer from her continual difficulties with diction. Of course I heard Bernadette's first so I was probably biased when I first heard Lupone's.
Updated On: 6/23/11 at 02:04 PM
#12'Favorite' or 'Definitive' rendition of 'Being Alive'
Posted: 6/23/11 at 4:12pm
I'm shocked that this hasn't already turned into a thread where people argue about Raul Esparza's performance.
Side note: Raul Esparza's performance is definitive.
#13'Favorite' or 'Definitive' rendition of 'Being Alive'
Posted: 6/23/11 at 4:14pmBernadette's is the definitive version for me. So moving.
"The sexual energy between the mother and son really concerns me!"-random woman behind me at Next to Normal
"I want to meet him after and bang him!"-random woman who exposed her breasts at Rock of Ages, referring to James Carpinello
#14'Favorite' or 'Definitive' rendition of 'Being Alive'
Posted: 6/23/11 at 4:18pm
Bernadette's version is absolutely my favorite - and I would say definitive too (outside of the context of the show).
Wait, what does definitive mean?
Beyoncé is not an ally. Actions speak louder than words, Mrs. Carter. #Dubai #$$$
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
#15'Favorite' or 'Definitive' rendition of 'Being Alive'
Posted: 6/23/11 at 5:36pm
Would be Raul's if I was on suicide watch.
Jones, or Kert's for the win.
#16'Favorite' or 'Definitive' rendition of 'Being Alive'
Posted: 6/23/11 at 7:29pm
Raul, though not just out of partiality to him, and I don't think it's objective so much as determinately personal; I think the first time you see something like that song, in context, performed, it does something to you that nothing can ever recreate. Raul's version tore me up in such a beautiful way, and every time I see or hear it sung, no matter how well, my mind always goes back to him.
Vocally, though, Stokes' version is also really beautiful.
danny10086
Chorus Member Joined: 7/12/05
#17'Favorite' or 'Definitive' rendition of 'Being Alive'
Posted: 6/23/11 at 7:30pmI've always loved Anthony Warlow's version from the On The Boards album. Original orchestrations and sung in full, minus the dialogue and. as always, impeccably sung.
#18'Favorite' or 'Definitive' rendition of 'Being Alive'
Posted: 6/23/11 at 7:38pmFor me, it's hands down Bernadettes version.
#19'Favorite' or 'Definitive' rendition of 'Being Alive'
Posted: 6/23/11 at 7:39pmDean Jones, followed by Patti LuPone.
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
#20'Favorite' or 'Definitive' rendition of 'Being Alive'
Posted: 6/23/11 at 9:08pm
Bernadette, hands down. More specifically, this performance:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iRkwhV3MAE
"I chose and my world was shaken--so what? The choice may have been mistaken, the choosing was not. You have to move on"
blaxx
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/28/05
#21'Favorite' or 'Definitive' rendition of 'Being Alive'
Posted: 6/23/11 at 9:38pmBernadette wins. Patti LuPone = Somebodone to hojhhgd too clojhseeee...
Listen, I don't take my clothes off for anyone, even if it is "artistic". - JANICE
egghumor
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/9/11
#22'Favorite' or 'Definitive' rendition of 'Being Alive'
Posted: 6/23/11 at 9:59pmAs OBCRs go, the original COMPANY just might be my favorite OBCR of all time. That being said, I have a particular fondness for Adrian Lester's performance of "Being Alive" on the far-from-wonderful 1996 OLCR. I assume most others here don't agree as Lester has not been mentioned previously in this discussion. As non-OCRs go, I'm in total agreement about the power of Bernadette's performance as well.
chewy5000
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/1/09
#23'Favorite' or 'Definitive' rendition of 'Being Alive'
Posted: 6/23/11 at 10:26pmCarol Channing's
#24'Favorite' or 'Definitive' rendition of 'Being Alive'
Posted: 6/23/11 at 10:29pmBernadette's is good, but boy does she strain to hit the notes at the end. Patti delivers a flawless vocal, despite some diction issues.
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