Jesse L. Martin's performance
Jesse L. Martin's performance
#0Jesse L. Martin's performance
Posted: 6/6/05 at 12:01amOk, I love Jesse L. Martin to death, but what do they give him to sing? Razzle Dazzle? That so doesn't fit his voice. Plus he was way off-key. Ouch. Oy, I felt so bad for him.
"Winning a Tony this year is like winning Best Attendance in third grade: no one will care but the winner and their mom."
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
#1re: Jesse L. Martin's performance
Posted: 6/6/05 at 12:02amIt wasn't that bad, and wasn't the worst song that night, but I was thinking "been there, done that"
BEKA531
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/4/04
#2re: Jesse L. Martin's performance
Posted: 6/6/05 at 12:04amhe wasn't terrible... and the song was REALLY short, anyway.
broadwaystar2b
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/28/04
#3re: Jesse L. Martin's performance
Posted: 6/6/05 at 12:04amI'm sure he must have been quite emotional considering he sang a song originated by Jerry Orbach, who he has been close with for years during his time at Law & Order
#4re: Jesse L. Martin's performance
Posted: 6/6/05 at 12:05amIt was quite short...
"If I have something to say, the whole world (BroadwayWorld) should hear it." - Thenardier
CJR
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/14/03
#5re: Jesse L. Martin's performance
Posted: 6/6/05 at 12:06am
He was only off key for a moment on the very last note. Trust me, if anyone knows the keys of Chicago songs (and more importantly, when someone screws them up) it's me. It was probably due to emotions.
I thought he was fab and as Ive said on another thread, I was quite surprised to see the ensemble from Chicago there. I think I see our next Billy in Jesse.....
At least I hope so.
"You're every gay man's wet dream!" ~ MA
If in Heaven you don't excel, you can always party down in hell...
theatreisnice
Swing Joined: 6/6/05
#6re: Jesse L. Martin's performance
Posted: 6/6/05 at 12:17amJesse would make a wonderful Billy. that's all i've got to say about that. short or no, rough last note or no, he was a delight.
CJR
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/14/03
#7re: Jesse L. Martin's performance
Posted: 6/6/05 at 12:20am
He's pretty too.....
And single. 
"You're every gay man's wet dream!" ~ MA
If in Heaven you don't excel, you can always party down in hell...
Plum
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/4/04
#8re: Jesse L. Martin's performance
Posted: 6/6/05 at 12:21amLove his voice, but it definitely wasn't shown off to its full advantage tonight.
CJR
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/14/03
#9re: Jesse L. Martin's performance
Posted: 6/6/05 at 12:22am
His voice oozes pure sex.
I love that man like it's my JOB.
"You're every gay man's wet dream!" ~ MA
If in Heaven you don't excel, you can always party down in hell...
#11re: Jesse L. Martin's performance
Posted: 6/6/05 at 12:55pmI am biased I know, but I wish Taye Diggs had done the number instead. Jesse Martin was great I thought, but Taye Diggs did do the film version. But like I said I am biased for the Diggs man.
#12re: Jesse L. Martin's performance
Posted: 6/6/05 at 12:56pmBut Taye has not emotional contact with Jerry...
DTBG2
Featured Actor Joined: 3/15/05
#13re: Jesse L. Martin's performance
Posted: 6/6/05 at 1:03pm
I thought it was one of the best performances of last night...besides it was kinda a tribute to Jerry Orbach (whose picture was on the screen behind Jesse) C'mon, they were on Law and Order together and stuff..remember?
I loved it.
#14re: Jesse L. Martin's performance
Posted: 6/6/05 at 1:27pmI would rather tham have turned "Razzle Dazzle" into more of a ballad. Or a different song.
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
--Aristotle
ConvinceMe2
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/7/05
#15re: Jesse L. Martin's performance
Posted: 6/6/05 at 2:15pmI already said on another thread that I don't like his voice. Never heard him sing anything that I liked.
ConvinceMe2 is dead. Long live BrendanStryker!
apdarcey
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/10/04
#16re: Jesse L. Martin's performance
Posted: 6/6/05 at 2:18pm
he was only off for a second on the last note. the rest was good. it was a tribute to a dear friend that he lost this year who was a broadway great. give it up.
cm2-you don't like the i'll cover you reprise in rent? i don't know what to say.
ConvinceMe2
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/7/05
#17re: Jesse L. Martin's performance
Posted: 6/6/05 at 2:21pmNope. Don't like the sound of his voice, at all. If it were up to me, I'd advise him to never sing again. I've only seen him in 3 things - Rent; A Christmas Carol: The Musical; and last night's Tonys. I didn't like his singing in those 3 things. Obviously, I am in a minority here. I just don't get what's to like about his voice. It's extremely weak in my opinion.
ConvinceMe2 is dead. Long live BrendanStryker!
CJR
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/14/03
#18re: Jesse L. Martin's performance
Posted: 6/6/05 at 2:39pm
Ooooooooooooooooh get your hearing checked....... He could make a woman orgasm by reading the phone book...... *swoon* 
"You're every gay man's wet dream!" ~ MA
If in Heaven you don't excel, you can always party down in hell...
Elizabeth_DeBris
Broadway Star Joined: 1/29/05
#19re: Jesse L. Martin's performance
Posted: 6/6/05 at 3:15pmFor some reason, I just wasn't comfortable with "Razzle Dazzle" (a song stating that you can cover a lack of talent with spectacle) being performed to commemorate the death of truly gifted people. I mean it does tie in with Fred Ebb and Jerry Orbach, of course, but...
#20re: Jesse L. Martin's performance
Posted: 6/6/05 at 3:54pmI like Jesse too and was somewhat disappointed by his performance
"I want to tell you that Elvis would be proud." I said: "Priscilla, if I get 100 bad reviews, it won't matter because of what you said."
QueenMuppet
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/29/04
#21re: Jesse L. Martin's performance
Posted: 6/6/05 at 4:09pm
I'll never get over the fact how different opinions can be. 
Like others, I think Jesse has an amazing voice and I'm surprised how someone can dislike his I'll Cover You. Every time I listen to him sing that number it kills me. He has such a rich voice, full of emotion. Fair enough, last night wasn't his best performance but it must have been really tough for him.
QM
'He really wasn't good as Fieyro. Is it just me or does he sort of come across as a pimp? Just...the hand motions I've seen him do and the attitude..not that Taye is a pimp.' - SallyBrown on Taye Diggs as Fiyero
#22re: Jesse L. Martin's performance
Posted: 6/6/05 at 4:17pm
I don't know if anyone has mentioned this before... but he definitely sang that song to dedicate it to his late friend Jerry Orbach. He was even on the red carpet with Jerry's wife for a while, I'm not sure if they came together.
All in all, I honestly didn't like his performance either. I like Jesse and I'm excited for his part in RENT, but his performance was sharp a lot, and the ending was a little funny
~kangaroo
NIL MAGNUM NISI BONUM "No greatness without goodness."
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#23re: Jesse L. Martin's performance
Posted: 6/6/05 at 4:24pmI think that it was appropriate to do that song, it was a song that was originated by Jerry who was a dear friend of Jesse's. I also know that Jesse had a cold last night and wasn't at the top of his game, plus he had to be dealing with some pretty strong emotions last night. I think all in all it was a great tribute.
"All the while making faces like a baby platypus who forget to take some Beano before eating a chimichanga." FindingNamo in reference to Jessica Simpson's singing.
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