Helena Bonham Carter singing. Good or Bad ?
Helena Bonham Carter singing. Good or Bad ?
#1Helena Bonham Carter singing. Good or Bad ?
Posted: 12/8/07 at 10:08pm
I heard her sing the worst pies in london on the sweeney site and I hated it . Omg was her voice bad and she sang it as if she were speaking. What do you guys think of it ?
Updated On: 12/9/07 at 10:08 PM
#2re: Helena Bondham Carter as Lovett
Posted: 12/8/07 at 10:18pmyes Ive heard it. I think everyone's heard it. Her singing isnt good but what she brings to the character is amazing and it doesnt matter that she cant sing- she does the role justice.
#2re: Helena Bondham Carter as Lovett
Posted: 12/8/07 at 10:28pmI thought she was amazing.
"Writing is like prostitution. First, you do it for love, then you do it for a few friends, and finally you do it for money." ~ Moliere
#3re: Helena Bondham Carter as Lovett
Posted: 12/8/07 at 10:42pm
Bonham Carter.
Worst Pies in London.
Sang it as if she were speaking.
BrodyFosse123
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/27/06
#4re: Helena Bondham Carter as Lovett
Posted: 12/8/07 at 11:04pm
Oy. How I pity those who can't distinguish the difference between film and stage.
One is an intimate medium and the other needs to be 'larger'.
I bet you don't know which is which. 
Double-oy!
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
#5re: Helena Bondham Carter as Lovett
Posted: 12/8/07 at 11:11pmI think Helena is wonderful, for the most part.
#6re: Helena Bondham Carter as Lovett
Posted: 12/8/07 at 11:33pm
I have to say something: As much as I respect Carter as an Actress I think everyone involved in the production of Sweeney forgot this is a MUSICAL, so there must be singing not just acting... Right? If Helena wanted to make justice to Mrs. Lovett character, she could work in a Sweeney film that is not musical.
By the way, I HATE Johnny Depp lol
#7re: Helena Bondham Carter as Lovett
Posted: 12/8/07 at 11:40pm
Just because it is a musical does not mean the singing needs to be Broadway caliber. Patti Lupone belting out the Worst Pies in London, while fabulous on stage, is not suited to the medium of film.
From the clips I've seen and heard, Helena is going to be amazing in this role. I personally can not wait until Dec. 21.
"I'm afraid that the children that the two of you would spawn would come out in costume, off book and belting Merman."
#8re: Helena Bondham Carter as Lovett
Posted: 12/9/07 at 1:31amI'm waiting to see it in the Theatres before I judge it too harshly. Some singers can get away with only mediocre voices if they can perform the songs well enough.
#9re: Helena Bondham Carter as Lovett
Posted: 12/9/07 at 7:05amI agree that on screen many people with less than great voices can often pull it off. However, I'm still disappointed with what I've heard of Carter's Lovett. I'm going to wait until I see it for final judgment though.
Pathymo
Swing Joined: 7/18/07
#10re: Helena Bondham Carter as Lovett
Posted: 12/9/07 at 8:03am
It has been stated that they wanted to "Take the Broadway out" of this movie, and Helena herself has said that it isn't something for all the die-hard fans of the stage musical to rush and see because it is completely reimagined.
Also, I believe (and someone please correct me if I am wrong) that Sondheim has been quoted as saying he prefers an actor who can carry a tune than a singer who can't act.
And lastly, to everyone who is complaining that "this is a musical!1!!!1!@" and "its Sondheim and one of his hardest scorez!!1!!@#$!", may I remind you of Dame Judy Dench in A Little Night Music? Or maybe Elaine Stritch in..... ANYTHING?
You don't need to be an impecable singer when doing Sondheim----one of the great things about his music is that it is so like dialogue that much of it can be "speak-singing" and it isn't an issue.
I think she's wonderful :P
#11re: Helena Bondham Carter as Lovett
Posted: 12/9/07 at 11:05am
I agree. I'd much rather have an actor who can carry a tune. I'd also like to add that there's more to singing Sondheim than "belting out the songs." Look at the CRAZY rhythms in "By the Sea" - it's the unbreathable song - I listened to the demo of Carter singing it - she did it wonderfully! Try teaching those rhythms to someone who's never sung before.
The main issue I have with her singing is that it sounds tenative, but she's SUCH a good actress that I really don't mind that much. It's nothing to make a huge issue about. This is how THIS Mrs. Lovett sounds. Angela Landsbury's Lovett sounds different.
Madame Morrible: "So you take the chicken, now it must be a white chicken. The corpse can be any color. And that is the spell for lost luggage!" - The Yellow Brick Road Not Taken
#12re: Helena Bondham Carter as Lovett
Posted: 12/9/07 at 11:27am
This was covered ad nauseum after I posted MTV's "A Little Priest" clip the other day.
https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.cfm?thread=951165#3361861
The general consensus was that if you are not 100% in love with HBC's vocals, you are obviously pathologically hung up on Lansbury/LaPone -- and you murdered Santa Claus.
(how far back can one roll their eyes?)
#13re: Helena Bondham Carter as Lovett
Posted: 12/9/07 at 11:57amHA HA HA! Brilliant!
Madame Morrible: "So you take the chicken, now it must be a white chicken. The corpse can be any color. And that is the spell for lost luggage!" - The Yellow Brick Road Not Taken
keen on kean
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/1/06
#14re: Helena Bondham Carter as Lovett
Posted: 12/9/07 at 8:13pmThink I will wait to see the movie before I voice an opinion (pun intended).
Videos