LaKisha Jones as Efiie?

[Unknown User]

Posted: 3/21/07 at 11:15pm

Does anyone else think she would be amazing as effie in that "proposed" revival of Dreamgirls?

[seaweedjstubbs]

Posted: 3/21/07 at 11:34pm

It's funny you mention that because where I live, a regional theatre wants to cast her in their upcoming production of Dreamgirls in January!

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 3/21/07 at 11:36pm

I would rather see Melinda. But they are both very good singers.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 3/21/07 at 11:44pm

I'm probably in the minority on this, but I thought Lakisha's "And I Am Telling You" was average at best. There was no real passion or emotion or fire in it -- she just sang the notes, something that I've heard literally over a hundred singers do in the past 25+ years. She just didn't impress me much at all and I've personally heard several dozen singers do the song a LOT better.

She also doesn't seem to have much personality which makes me wonder if she has any acting chops at all.

[jsg03jd]

Posted: 3/22/07 at 2:07am

I'm w/ you Margo. After I saw Lakisha's version, I was really surprised at the judges saying that her singing was in its own league apart from the other contestants. I thought she was adequate at best w/ her rendition of the AIATYING. There was nothing special about it, and her version certainly doesn't hold a candle to Lillias White's version, or the clip of Jennifer Hudson on "that site" singing the song live, which is pretty awesome. And of course everyone already knows about Jennifer Holliday's version.

[Virgo]

Posted: 3/22/07 at 2:42am

I think she'd be a great Effie, she certainly has the voice for it.

[Virgo]

Posted: 3/22/07 at 2:42am

I think she'd be a great Effie, she certainly has the voice for it.

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 3/22/07 at 8:29am

I totally agree her AIATY was average. I think it was a mistake to sing it, just because Jennifer did it.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 3/22/07 at 8:34am

For an amateur to do that song in the early stages of the competition and succeed is amazing. She's a talent.

I'd say Color Purple before Dreamgirls.

[soapguy17]

Posted: 3/22/07 at 9:34am

I'm probably in the minority on this, but I thought Lakisha's "And I Am Telling You" was average at best.
I agree 100% I've been arguing with my family since we saw the episode, it was not all that impressive to me.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 3/22/07 at 9:40am

I did not like her AITYING...not just for the reasons above, but I didnt think her vocals were as strong as they should be. I do like her, and thought her God Bless the Child was good.

It didnt surprise me, however, that the judges loved it. If someone makes it through that song, people are overly impressed. It's the song, not the singer.

[OrdinaryJukebox]

Posted: 3/22/07 at 9:42am

I don't really watch American Idol, but some friends told me there was this "amazing black chick who sang 'and i am telling you...' from 'dreamgirls'" and I had to check it out. So, I go to a website to catch a clip, and I watched and said, "What the hell is the big deal?" She has an average voice, and her song choices do nothing for her voice. What it does do is tell me that she thinks she's much better than she actually is, because she chooses very difficult songs, with high belts, and when she gets up there in her register, it starts to sound like a scream, with very little support, and very little weight. Her voice is okay, and her version of that song didn't do it for me. That Melinda girl is a far better singer.

-Vincent

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 3/22/07 at 10:18am

I'm not a fan, either. So many people adore her but I don't personally get it. She does have a very good voice but for this competition, in this season, she's out of her league. Jordin Sparks proved the other night that she might actually be the one to beat and her voice is all around so much better. And don't even get me started on Melinda. She's maybe one of the best voices in the shows history. But I doubt you'll ever see her do Effie because I don't really think she's an actress. Plus she's just too damn nice to play such a bitch! It would be like seeing Rachel Ray play Aileen Wournos.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 3/22/07 at 12:15pm

She's just another big black girl with a big voice. Nothing more; nothing less. You need an actress to play Effie Melody White. It is easily apparent that she is NOT an actress -- from how she carries herself, etc. No self-awareness, etc.

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 3/22/07 at 12:19pm

i would love to see her head on over to rent as the SOL soloist. It seems a good fit

[madbrian]

Posted: 3/22/07 at 12:19pm

Let's keep in mind that a few years ago Jennifer Hudson was just another Idol contestant. I think Lakisha's stock is falling for this season, but I wouldn't underestimate what a first-class director could do with a voice like hers.

[LoringsGuy]

Posted: 3/22/07 at 12:33pm

I knew it was only a matter of time before someone started this thread.

[Jmoss7602]

Posted: 3/22/07 at 12:43pm

She's Bomb...... but I wouldnt cast her as Effie!

[ozone20]

Posted: 3/22/07 at 12:47pm

can i just tell u that i would protest this with a march IN FRONT OF THE THEATER! lol. but seriously Lakisha gave a very "american idol-ish " performance of AIATY. it wasnt belty, lacked emotion and quite franky was luke warm at best. i really am not sure why people were raving over her rendition AT ALL.

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 3/22/07 at 12:49pm

I'm glad at least a few people agreed with me. I felt like I was taking crazy pills when all the judges raved about that performance. She's an emotionless performer and her voice sounds shallow and weak, especially when put next to someone like Melinda.

[Tom1071]

Posted: 3/22/07 at 1:18pm

And I Am Telling You that I was not that impressed either, Margo.

Why is it that anytime a full-figured African-American woman opens her mouth and this song comes out she is automatically labled a diva and fierce? Lakisha's performance was just average at best.

Sure she got through it and executed all the notes but there was nothing special about it. I like her on American Idol and I hope that she goes far and finds real success.

Updated On: 3/22/07 at 01:18 PM

[ozone20]

Posted: 3/22/07 at 1:19pm

and did someone acatually suggest Melinda as a candidate for EFFIE? are u effing kidding?

NEWSFLASH: every black girl heavy(Lakisha)or otherwise(Melinda) with a decent voice is NOT an automatic candidate for Effie White. talk about shallow thinking!

Updated On: 3/22/07 at 01:19 PM

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 3/22/07 at 2:47pm

I did not really think I was being shallow. If I had to pick between one of them to play Effie, it would be Melinda. I think she has better vocals.

I think Melinda in general could have a really good stage career if she chose that route. The woman has done two musical songs the last two weeks...I am guessing she has interest in theater.

[Sumofallthings]

Posted: 3/22/07 at 3:25pm

"You need an actress to play Effie Melody White."

Yes you're right...Ms. Holliday was an incredible "actress." Good call.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 3/22/07 at 3:59pm

I've always felt that the whole "Holliday can't act" thing was way overplayed. No, she's not Meryl Streep or, as far as Effies go, as nuanced as Lillias White or Julia McGirt, but by the time I saw her late in the original run, Bennett had somehow beaten a very convincing and real performance out of her. Her comic timing was quite solid early in the show ("I'm not nervous, I'm tired" got a huge laugh), she brought more than enough attitude and stature to the confrontation scenes and displayed a believeable vulnerability in her scenes where needed. One of the reasons her AIATY is such a classic is her ability to project such an intense level of pain and sorrow and emotional rawness into the song. That's not just singing, that's acting -- and that's what separates her version from the Lakishas of the world who can give you the notes, but not the meaning and feeling underneath.

Yes, Holliday would deliver the occasional stilted line reading and had a tendency to overemote like an opera diva, but there was more to her Effie than just her great voice. If there hadn't been, people wouldn't still be talking about that performance as one of the greatest they've ever seen over 25 years later.