Labbadia Sisters on Broadway.com

[BalletGirl85]

Posted: 8/3/04 at 1:27am

Did anyone read this week's stage notes and see something glorifying the Labbadia Sisters and their web site and their "amazing" belting?

Does anyone else feel they paid exhorbitant amounts of money for that publicity?

I forced myself to sit through all of "Defying Gravity" and I was horrified. Because it really wasn't good. And what is "Elphaba" doing? Directing traffic? She's waving her arms around like she's on fire. Stop, drop and roll, Elphie. Waving those arms is just going to cause the flames to GROW.

I know these girls are young...but they have a lot of improving to do before they can be considered "big Broadway belters."

http://www.labbadiasisters.com/media.htm

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 8/3/04 at 1:31am

thank god some1 else noticed this

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 8/3/04 at 1:32am

We went through a post of this already, here are different things people said:

There was too much hand movement.

The song was too mature for their voice.

They were very good for a young age.

-------------

Leave them alone. They are young, and I think there IS talent. How were you guys able to get your name on Broadway.com?

Updated On: 8/3/04 at 01:32 AM

[MyNameInLights]

Posted: 8/3/04 at 1:36am

Oh my God, are you aware that one of the sisters is a member of this site? Leave them alone!

[BalletGirl85]

Posted: 8/3/04 at 1:45am

Actually, my name has been on Broadway.com and I didn't have to bribe or pay anyone. I checked titles over the past 150 or so posts and none had anything to do with this, so I made a new post. I never read anything having to do with it before. Whoopsie Daisy. I also didn't know they were members of the board.

But this is my honest opinion...and if they're apparently all set to be in the business, they're gonna hear a lot worse than what I just said. If they're willing to have their names and web site on Broadway.com, they need to also be willing to handle any criticism and if they can't, then they don't belong in the business.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 8/3/04 at 1:57am

You probably didn't find a post because the post wasn't originally about them...it was about someone asking about a belt.

Anways, you're right. They are going to have to handle some serious criticisms. Take American Idol for example...Simon Cowell is one of the kings of criticism. He finds something wrong in a lot of performances, even in the people in the top 10. And as much as we want to punch, kick, or yell at him, most of the things he says just might be true. However, if you were in the top 10, you would have to take what he says like a man (or woman), don't get yourself down, and continue with a consistant performance the following week if you aren't voted off. Don't take things too personally...it is probably better that someone give an honest opinion so you can work on your weaknesses rather than continue making the same mistakes over and over again.

[Brodybaby03]

Posted: 8/3/04 at 9:28am

I've also been on Broadway.com....in Photo Op and for exchanges with Paul Wontoreck....I didn't pay anyone ....but I refuse to believe someone in the "Labbadia ...(I keep wanting to say Labotomy) Sisters "possy" (sp) didn't "work" very hard to get these kids on the site. From what I can tell....are they good singers? Yes...pretty good for that young age. But if they had an intelligent voice teacher she wouldn't push young undeveloped STILL changing voices to belt like that. "IN HIS EYES" was painful and at some parts half-a$$ed. I'm not being mean, I'm saying when your 11 and 15...or whatever they are you don't sing "IN HIS EYES" and making the honor roll is not a theatre credit so someone might want to get something more substantial to put on their website. I love Stage Notes usually every week but this just annoyed me. I felt like these were his sisters kids or something and we all had to watch their dance recital at dinner....It was just kinda...rude I guess.

[CJR]

Posted: 8/3/04 at 11:59am

I've avoided looking at these clips... but they butchered "In His Eyes"??? That's not cool... *sigh* Now this is going to be like a car accident on the side of the highway where you can't help but go look... alright, I'm looking now, but if my eyes or ears bleed I'm blaming you! lol

**Edited to add that the link to Defying Gravity was removed because it's 'pending approval.' Well DUH. lol Now I'm kinda wishing I'd caved and looked at this sooner lol

**edtied again to say:

Alright, they don't have bad voices for their ages... I think they just need to come into their own and stop trying to sing the people who initially sang the song. I just finished listening to In His Eyes and it was only slightly painful at times. Could have been a little faster and there were a few sour notes, but overall, not bad -- especially considering it was a 10 year old and a 13 year old singing it.

Updated On: 8/3/04 at 11:59 AM

[LadyGuenevere]

Posted: 8/3/04 at 12:09pm

I agree w/Brodybaby on the stuff with the honor roll.

Not to sound really mean, but I kept thinking "God, I wish that my mommy made ME a website featuring all my talents and every single good thing I've achieved."

I think that they have a lot of learning to do, and this is too early to be publicizing them like crazy because they're going to get more criticisms along the way.

[Kelliexo90]

Posted: 8/3/04 at 12:13pm

I was wondering, how did they get on Broadway.com?


I think the older ones name is Elphie6699, or something... on the Defying Defying Gravity post she posted(it was deleted?) that she was thankful for everyone who complimented her and those who gave her criticism and she would try to use it to her advantage. So I think she can take criticism pretty well, or at least make it look like she does.

I also noticed that they sound a lot better singing Broadway than the pop stuff.

Updated On: 8/3/04 at 12:13 PM

[CJR]

Posted: 8/3/04 at 12:18pm

Ahhhhh I recognize that user name (or something to that effect)...

I'm looking through their website -- they're from CT... interesting...

[Elphie6689]

Posted: 8/3/04 at 5:14pm

Ok let's just set the record straight... the constructive critism has been very helpful and I thank everyone for that the destructive critism has not been so nice..but hey everyone has their opinions and I can't hold that against anyone. And no we didn't bribe anyone to put the article on broadway.com. My friend saw the article and informed me that my sister and I were on it.. but for the record we don't know anyone at broadway.com and no money was involved. And the website has been out for about a year and it was never really intended to get this big.. it was only used for family purposes and somewhat for promoting us but we do still realize there is alot more work to be done on everything, but we are still young so there is time. So I am just setting the record straight here.

Updated On: 8/3/04 at 05:14 PM

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 8/3/04 at 5:15pm

I read the stage notes...... one has to wonder........

[shermanslave]

Posted: 8/3/04 at 6:15pm

you go Elpie666996! i wish I had as much enthusiasm when i was your age.

[Seany]

Posted: 8/3/04 at 6:29pm

I thought their In His Eyes was absolutely gorgeous.

I like these girls a lot and I think they are very talented.

[morosco]

Posted: 8/3/04 at 6:40pm

Anyone here old enough to remember the Sweeney Sisters on Saturday Night Live? Jan Hooks and Nora Dunn?

[Benzy92]

Posted: 8/3/04 at 6:45pm

Melissa's Strongest Suit is amazing for 15!

.. and Take me to the stars by Jess :) Updated On: 8/3/04 at 06:45 PM

[iflitifloat]

Posted: 8/3/04 at 7:00pm

My recollection of the day the link to that website surfaced, was that I found it on Elphie6669's own post...and roughly the same day she joined the site. It wasn't up long, but I'm almost certan it was there. My apologies if I am incorrect.

I watched most of the songs in the link, and I think they were fine for what they are...kids with nice voices. There is a great deal of potential, but whatever teacher approved Defying Gravity should be shot. That older kid is on the Polyp Express. But let me not beat *that* topic to death.

I think what we have here is a case of the big fish is a small pool. A lot of kids with talent have that happen to them. They are praised and documented and fawned over by family and friends like thy are the second coming of Judy Garland. They lose perspective, and then do something innocently unwise....like posting a link to their recital performance...expecting cries of "Oh, my god, I've never heard anything like it!!!" The problem is, it generally doesn't go over so well in a place like this where, more often than not, the next poster might be even more talented and more accomplished. Or where the next TEN posters are sure that they sing that very song EVEN BETTER! I'd also bet the bank that there is also a well-intentioned but over-zealous parent moving behind the scenes. Who knows. I could be wrong.

I don't buy into the "take it easy on them, they're just kids" philosophy, however. If you're going to put yourself out there and market yourself (not to mention put up a link that gives WAY TOO MUCH personal information about two young girls....anyone here think that a wacko would have a difficult time tracking them down???), you have to consider what you're putting out there and who the audience happens to be.

If it was, in fact, a case of someone just happening upon a website intended for family and friends and was publicized behind their backs, then I feel bad for them. But that scenario just doesn't ring quite true. Especially since I've heard about the Broadway.com exposure, too.

Updated On: 8/3/04 at 07:00 PM

[BalletGirl85]

Posted: 8/3/04 at 7:26pm

I agree with everything iflitifloat has to say on this matter. I'm almost 20 and my voice teacher doesn't want me singing "Defying Gravity" yet because my voice hasn't completely matured...and won't for another 10 years or so. I grew up with "Annie" and girls the age of these girls who belted the incredibly wrong way on songs like "Tomorrow" and "Hard Knock Life" now have incredibly shot vocal cords in their early 20's. These girls have okay voices, but they don't belt correctly and "Defying Gravity" was so incredibly strained at the end, it's only going to cause problems in the future.

Also if it was a site meant for family and friends, it shouldn't have been posted here. People are saying that they posted this site on this message board where HOW many people come and read every day? I have a web site with my resume and headshots and sound clips...but I wouldn't post it on a message board for the world to see. It's meant for professional purposes since it has personal info that I wouldn't want out in the public...it would be so easy for someone to track those girls down and it really isn't a smart idea to be putting that so out into the open.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 8/3/04 at 9:42pm

Whenever you make a website like that, it is never going to be "for family and friends" anymore, even if that was the intention. Once it is out there, people can find it, even some wacko (as iflitifloat said) can happen to stumble upon it through a search engine. I've learned the hard way. I made a website, called a "blog," and I made some mean comments about people, thinking, "Who's ever going to find this?" Well sure enough, months later, people found out, and they were talking behind my back to others about what happened. I felt so guilty, and I would never do that again. So just be careful when making websites - don't reveal too much about yourself.

[InTheMoney]

Posted: 8/4/04 at 7:21am

"I'm almost 20 and my voice teacher doesn't want me singing "Defying Gravity" yet because my voice hasn't completely matured...and won't for another 10 years or so"

I'm 21 and almost all of my repertoire is big show belters (inc. belting over an F - think ONLY HE from Starlight Express) and I find DEFYING GRAVITY INCREDIBLY hard to sing without feeling some strain in my throat. My singing teacher's letting me work on it because I'm so used to belters but I'm still not allowed to sing it through more than twice in a lesson and I'm not allowed to work on it at all outside of lessons because apart from anything else, the amount of high belting in the final verse means it's very easy to let your technique slip if you're not concentrating. I'm also not allowed to work on it if I feel under the weather.

It sounds wonderfully impressive, but unfortunately that's reflected in how difficult it is to sing properly and safely.