Jennifer Hudson's version of "And I Am Telling You" released!- Page 2

[touchmeinthemorning]

Posted: 10/9/06 at 12:16am

If anyone is using a pitch pipe, that is a belted high Bb at the end of the bridge.

Yeah.

Girl can sang. I'm wet with anticipation.

[timote316]

Posted: 10/9/06 at 1:03am

Wow. I told myself I wasn't going to listen to the soundtrack beforehand, this song especially. I'm weak.

Incredible.

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 10/9/06 at 1:07am

She sure sounds like she can act on It's All Over to me, Tag.

[luvliza89]

Posted: 10/9/06 at 1:11am

Yeah, ever heard of acting while you sing? It's called Musical Theatre :)

[WhatDoINeedWithLove?]

Posted: 10/9/06 at 1:15am

holy crap.

[WhatDoINeedWithLove?]

Posted: 10/9/06 at 1:17am

anyone else still wondering how the hell fantasia won?

[Broadway Matt]

Posted: 10/9/06 at 1:25am

Well, I definitely feel better about this movie being made. There have just been so many mediocre-to-bad film adaptations the last few years, I've been scared to death of anyone allowing this sacred piece of musical theatre to endure a less-than-perfect retelling. But at the very least I can sleep well knowing that Ms. Hudson does an admirable job with such an important song. The orchestration is a bit anemic, but the vocals are rock solid for the most part- and that bridge is excellent. So maybe the film won't be a travesty, which brings up another potential problem. What if it's a major hit, and we have to deal with the next few years of every girl in community theatre land butchering this song in place of Defying Gravity or whatever tune from RENT they are currently indulging themselves with? I tell ya, DREAMGIRLS deserves all the fame and adoration in the world, but there are already too many white gals and gay men doing this song! And when is Anika gonna get her due? I have yet to see her name even mentioned in most of the press for the film.

Updated On: 10/9/06 at 01:25 AM

[Tag]

Posted: 10/9/06 at 1:28am

This is a film it is not a musical theatre performance.
Acting on stage is completely different then acting on film.

[luvliza89]

Posted: 10/9/06 at 1:35am

No one said it was a "musical theatre performace". Obviously though when you hear a song like "It's All Over" which isn't a performance in the show (example: Dreamgirls, Move You're Steppin' On My Heart) but a plot driving number, then acting is indeed involved. So is the case with AIATYIG. These songs are either plot driven or character driven (or both) and obviously they show the acting or lack there of, which eve way you feel. Either on stage or on film doesn't change the acting that is shown (heard) in the song.

[Casey3]

Posted: 10/9/06 at 10:59am

I'll tell why Jennifer didn't win: because those damn Idol producers and judges kept pushing her to tone things down. She wasn't "safe" enough. She was too powerful and they couldn't handle it. Sound familiar?

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 10/9/06 at 11:13am

She didn't win because she didn't look like an American Idol. That is the truth.

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 10/9/06 at 11:14am

Well Ruben Studdard doesn't look like an American Idol either. Could it be a double standard?

[sweetestsiren]

Posted: 10/9/06 at 11:18am

The thing that I really like about this recording is that it's still totally powerhouse, but it doesn't seem so heavy that it'll be too much for film. It walks a fine line in that sense. I'm really looking forward to seeing it on screen.

I also agree that Jennifer should've been more successful on American Idol (that was the only season that I watched). She wasn't commercial enough, looks-wise or vocally... which, yeah, makes her kind of perfect for Effie, doesn't it? I'm so happy that she got this part, especially if it was between her and Fantasia. Updated On: 10/9/06 at 11:18 AM

[algy]

Posted: 10/9/06 at 1:08pm

I'm not that familiar with Dreamgirls (plot only really) but I just listened to this and it gave me the shivers. I was already looking forward to seeing the film whenever we get it, but now I can't wait.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 10/9/06 at 1:14pm

Of course there is a double standard for women - you have to ask that?

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 10/9/06 at 1:39pm

I think she is brilliant. I follow Oscar races closely and many prognosticators say she's the frontrunner for at least a nomination. This is proof of why she deserves that and maybe even more. Wow.

~Steven

[catstagestud]

Posted: 10/9/06 at 2:41pm

I tried to hold off; I really did but curiosity got the best of me and wow! I've been a huge fan of Jennifer since Idol; her "Imagine" was something else not to mention "Cirlce of Life" and "Weekend in New England." I hope she gets all the amazing credit she deserves; at least vocally I'm sure she will. Gotta make a new countdown on my myspace for days until the release of the film.

Cheers,

Christopher

[touchmeinthemorning]

Posted: 10/9/06 at 2:51pm

No, Tag. This is the film of a musical theatre show. i.e. it will be larger than life. Also, this song is one of the highest stakes written in musical theatre. To make this song "small" for the camera is a huge mistake. The song demands it to be big.

[aspiringactress]

Posted: 10/9/06 at 3:15pm

Ummmmm. Oh my god...................

That was brilliant. Brilliant.

Wow. I can't wait.

[Wildcard]

Posted: 10/9/06 at 3:25pm

The song needs to fit in with the realism of film. Everyone seems to be comparing Holiday's version with Hudson's but I don't think it's a fair comparison. These versions were recorded for different media. Holiday's AITYING needs to be over-the-top for the stage. Her performance has to reach the very last seats of the theater without the use of close-ups or other filmic tools. People are also more likely to suspend disbelief in live theater and accept an over-the-top performance. On film however, she needs to tone down the performance a bit to show her anguish. That is when her acting comes in, something which not a lot of us here have seen. Her tears together with that song will make it even more powerful than it already sounds.

[javero]

Posted: 10/9/06 at 3:39pm

I'm as anxious as the next person to see the screen adaptation but I really wanna see this young lady on Broadway in a musical soon. When I get my first glimpse of her on AI, I instantly had visions of her helming 'Aida'. I saw her perform a 2-song set in DC a few months back and concluded that her voice was made for musical theatre. Her range is impressive; she has a nice tone; and she possesses clear diction given the material. Does anyone know if she has any background in theatre?

[atlsuperstar]

Posted: 10/9/06 at 4:08pm

I don't think she has a background in theater. The closet thing she has to performing in a musical is on the Royal Caribbean Cruise ship. She was the lead muse for the hercules show. Now on to this amazing recording. I have to say that it almost sounds like she raised the key a little, I'm not sure I have to listen to this again. She gives Holliday a run for her money, this is the closet that anyone has ever come. She has range beyond what anybody has ever tried on this song, and her power just keeps going and going. I think that a star is born. Anyone that don't know her, this movie is about to make her a star and singing this song everywhere.

[javero]

Posted: 10/9/06 at 4:23pm

I'm comfortable claiming that this is the 2nd best version ever recorded followed by Shirley Murdock's. I don't particularly care for some of the others that came in the wake of the original including the attempt by Miss Houston at an awards show years back. The two Jens nailed it!

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 10/9/06 at 4:42pm

Still . . . must . . . not . . . give . . . in

[Casey3]

Posted: 10/9/06 at 7:37pm

Not so much small as more intimate. Still big and booming and overwhelming, just more intimate.