Laura Bell Bundy and the Note- Page 8

[Grand Motel]

Posted: 12/18/07 at 1:20pm

Koren, it does seem you like to toss around the word "impressed" a bit much and it comes off as smug and judgmental. My 2 cents.

[Joshua488]

Posted: 12/18/07 at 1:40pm

I haven't the time, the energy, or the desire to read this entire thread, but to whomever asked why the C# isn't prerecorded, I have one thing to say:

Really?

[theminutepast]

Posted: 12/18/07 at 2:18pm

I can summarize it for you: It's been done before, most (in)famously with Christine's high note in Phantom because the actress could not consistently hit the note for eight performances a week. Some people think the same exception should be made for LBB with this note.

Not saying whether I agree or disagree, but that is what is being referenced.

[Joshua488]

Posted: 12/18/07 at 2:51pm

I know it's been done before, but there is an enormous difference between singing a soprano high E and belting a C#. Singing a high E actually requires some degree of serious vocal training, while any pop singer or American Idol wannabe on the street can probably belt a C#. Granted, the pop wannabes may not be able to sing the show eight times a week, but there are plenty of girls out there in the musical theatre world that could.

To even suggest that the final note in "So Much Better" should be prerecorded is appalling. With some better vocal training, I'm sure Laura Bell Bundy could do it just fine eight times a week; I'm not sure if she has the best technique right now.
Updated On: 12/18/07 at 02:51 PM

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 12/18/07 at 4:07pm

have you seen the guy she's dating? his insistence that she lovelace him on a regluar basis is having an expected outcome on her voice. but she loves him, doggone it!

[allofmylife]

Posted: 12/18/07 at 4:39pm

Can we all agree on one thing: in the minds of the producers and the director LBB was the one they wanted to originate the role on Broadway and I believe she delivered exactly what was asked of her. Well, at least 98% which is a very marketable talent. So she misses a few notes. When one looks back over the history of Broadway, few women in lead roles have been asked to bring so many talents to the theater each night for such a concentrated performance. I suppose Sutton Foster would be in the same league and Chita and Bebe, Gwen Verdon and, hey, that's about all of my list. That's a short list.

[EvanK]

Posted: 12/18/07 at 4:43pm

Here's laura in san francisco. This is when her shoe went in to the audience, and she recovered amazingly, and sang that note amazingly!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKgVT_qflwY&feature=related

Here's her after the strike, where she pretty much hit the note.. I think

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKV3EFxwOiw


She's great.

Here's Becky Gulsvig

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGf25NqV8Gs&feature=related

now who do you want?? Someone who can sing that note consistently... or someone who actually show's good emotion.. I'm going with Laura on this one.
Updated On: 12/18/07 at 04:43 PM

[maya5892]

Posted: 12/18/07 at 4:48pm

I'm really confused by the title of this vid...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQ0agI4Y76U&feature=related

[It's All Good]

Posted: 12/18/07 at 4:55pm

I don't think that LBB CANNOT hit the note. As has already been discussed, she consistently hits higher notes in the score. I think there is some kind of feedback issue going on where she either can't hear herself or she loses track of the pitch. I was watching a performance of her singing the song and she hit it and then immediately "corrected" herself and went very very flat. I suggest that the orchestra "give" her the note in some form, but it sounds as if the composers are not inclined to help her out in any way....

Posted: 12/18/07 at 11:33pm

I was impressed with Annaleigh Ashford's version of the song Legally Blonde. I like how it's actually different from Margot, from what I can hear.

And I think it's the fact that she has to hold the note and she goes flat... I don't think its the pitch itself either.

[nygrl23]

Posted: 12/19/07 at 12:22am

I agree, allofmylife. I think the demands are not healthy at all. How many breakdowns have I read that require belting, and belting high notes to boot? No one should be doing that 8 times a week.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 12/19/07 at 1:44am

I have spoken to several friends of mine, one is a vocal coach, the other a musical director and they both said "it's career suicide what these kids are doing." And I agree.

Just because you can squeeze it out on a synthesizer, doesn't mean you can squeeze it out of your body night-after-night.