Lea Salonga, Jodi Benson, Paige O'Hara, and Anika Noni Rose named 2011 Disney Legends!- Page 3

[pli1018]

Posted: 8/20/11 at 12:35pm

Here's video of the performances-

Paige O'Hara: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0Ycl3dtPyg&feature=player_embedded

Lea Salonga: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fREsDSnT_2A&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

Anika Noni Rose: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvxxkU-AscA&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

Jodi Benson: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cgsb87-X1Sc&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Biy-eJ2uwwE&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

[henryt]

Posted: 8/20/11 at 12:36pm

In case anyone is interested, here are videos of the performances.

Paige and Lea:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSBy4jgYTE0

Jodi and Anika:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeSc-B2jZzg

"A Dream is a Wish" (all four):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_r6bCC727HM


EDIT - ^ Beat me to it!


Updated On: 8/20/11 at 12:36 PM

[adamgreer]

Posted: 8/20/11 at 1:09pm

Good lord, what happened to Paige O'Hara's voice? That was awful.

The other three ladies, however, all sounded fantastic.

[beautywickedlover]

Posted: 8/20/11 at 1:25pm

^ I agree it was not her best performance at all. However, like Gaveston2 said Paige tries not to sound like a teenager anymore these days since she is over 50.

However, she can still sing. Listen to her in this clip from 4:58 to 5:43.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kwgQhEEqvc

Jodi was actually really scared about getting this honor at first because she thought she was going to lose her job.

http://www.disunplugged.com/2011/07/12/interview-with-jodi-benson-voice-of-ariel-barbie-and-now-legend/
Updated On: 8/20/11 at 01:25 PM

[adamgreer]

Posted: 8/20/11 at 1:31pm

In answer to the poster above, yes, Jodi Benson thanked God at the beginning of her remarks and ended by citing John 5:15; at one point she referred to her Disney work as her "ministry." But what the hell? It was her time and the references to her faith were sincere without being judgmental or condescending.

Good lord. The problem is, she has been rather judgmental before, particularly on the gay marriage issue. There's a reason (besides wanting to be home with her kids) she doesn't work on Broadway anymore.

However, like Gaveston2 said Paige tries not to sound like a teenager anymore these days since she is over 50.

Of the 4, the only one who still tries to do that is Benson.

[beautywickedlover]

Posted: 8/20/11 at 1:54pm

I wonder if they were singing "A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes" in honor of Ilene Woods who passed away last year. She was mentioned at the In Memoriam part of the ceremony.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/insidethemagic/6061153281/

http://www.insidethemagic.net/2011/08/disney-princesses-and-muppets-sing-at-2011-disney-d23-expo-legends-ceremony/

[Gaveston2]

Posted: 8/20/11 at 6:01pm

Thanks to beautywickedlover and best12bars for correcting my mistakes. (Best, I went back and corrected my unfortunate reference to the "death" of Robert Sherman. I was told he died by someone connected with the show yesterday. Thank God I didn't repeat the misinformation to his brother!)

And thanks for the video links, guys. It wouldn't have occurred to me to look for them so soon.

As for Paige's singing, I don't agree. I thought she sounded great, especially live. It's ironic that she's known for voice-over work because in many ways Paige is a throwback to the days when people sang without microphones.

But her arrangement was rewritten right up to the night before the show and she was the only woman singing songs not specifically written for her voice. So maybe she wasn't quite as sure of some of the notes in the transition to her upper register or maybe some don't like the BATB songs sung in that style.

I saw her in the Judy Garland musical linked above and she was amazing, singing in Garland's original keys.

[Gaveston2]

Posted: 8/20/11 at 6:17pm

adamgreer, I didn't know that about Benson's opposition to gay marriage.

Well, the lovely autograph she gave me was for the biological granddaughter of my gay husband. So the revolution is sometimes a guerrilla war and we fight it when and where we can. LOL.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 8/20/11 at 7:14pm

I didn't know that about Benson's opposition to gay marriage.

She doesn't talk about it in mainstream publications, but she discussed the importance of the "traditional family" led by "one man and one woman" in those Christian publications all the time. The first time I saw one, it was deeply upsetting. I do wonder if she realizes how many gay men love The Little Mermaid, LOL.

Well, the lovely autograph she gave me was for the biological granddaughter of my gay husband. So the revolution is sometimes a guerrilla war and we fight it when and where we can. LOL.

LOL! Nice!!!

[Gaveston2]

Posted: 8/20/11 at 8:16pm

A good portion of her thank you speech was devoted to remembering Howard Ashman, who "discovered" her and championed her for the role. If he were alive today, of course, Ashman might well be married to a man. Methinks Miss Benson might have some conflicts if she ever stops to think about her beliefs.

Updated On: 8/20/11 at 08:16 PM

[beautywickedlover]

Posted: 8/20/11 at 9:56pm

"As for Paige's singing, I don't agree. I thought she sounded great, especially live. It's ironic that she's known for voice-over work because in many ways Paige is a throwback to the days when people sang without microphones.

But her arrangement was rewritten right up to the night before the show and she was the only woman singing songs not specifically written for her voice. So maybe she wasn't quite as sure of some of the notes in the transition to her upper register or maybe some don't like the BATB songs sung in that style."


I re-watched Paige's performance and I actually liked it more that time around. My mom also thought she sounded very nice. I especially liked her "Be Our Guest."
Updated On: 8/20/11 at 09:56 PM

[Gaveston2]

Posted: 8/20/11 at 10:22pm

I too rewatched the clip without hearing a problem, beautywickedlover. As I said, I certainly didn't notice anything live. But I do know she had only run through that arrangement once and had the lyrics on a piece of paper, not because she doesn't know the songs, but because the way they were edited for the medley was new to her. Maybe the "newness" comes across to others in some way you and I aren't hearing.

As for the medley itself, in "Belle" all but a few lines that she sings are actually the choral part. The title song was butchered in the cutting IMO (not Paige's choice).

In person, it really was "Be Our Guest" that stopped the show. But I think the Disney people wanted more of "Belle" because they were emphasizing the princess angle. Updated On: 8/20/11 at 10:22 PM

[adamgreer]

Posted: 8/20/11 at 10:32pm

Sorry, you're not gonna convince me on that one!

I'll respectfully disagree that that was a good performance, but god bless her, she looked like she was having a blast.

[Gaveston2]

Posted: 8/21/11 at 1:42am

Fair enough, adam. There's no reason for us to argue when I readily admit I have a bias on this subject. :)

[gypsy4]

Posted: 8/21/11 at 2:18am

I think it's weird that Benson is Anti-Gay with her Close Friendship with Howard Ashman, employment with Disney and On Broadway and all. and the woman is still unaccepting? very sad.

[Gaveston2]

Posted: 8/21/11 at 6:44am

There are people who draw the line at gay marriage for religious reasons, but aren't "anti" gay people as individuals. I think they are dead wrong, of course.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 8/21/11 at 9:39am

She's Catholic, so she's not as fire and brimstone as some, but is of the "love the sinner, hate the sin" mentality.

[beautywickedlover]

Posted: 9/4/11 at 12:26pm

"But i really wish Judy Kuhn is included instead of Anika Noni Rose.

Guess Mulan beat up Pocahontas with her Karate!"

Either that or 'Mulan' and 'The Princess and the Frog' were better received by critics. 'Mulan' has a "Fresh" rating of 86% on Rotton Tomatoes and "The Princess and the Frog" has a "Fresh" rating of 84%. "Pocahontas" has a much lower rating than these two films. It has a rating of 56% and it has this general consensus, "Pocahontas means well, and has moments of startling beauty, but it's largely a bland, uninspired effort, with uneven plotting and an unfortunate lack of fun."

[Gaveston2]

Posted: 9/4/11 at 7:35pm

It's too bad we have to make them compete.

I loved Judy Kuhn in SUNSET BOULEVARD.

Miss Rose was quite wonderful singing "I'm Almost There" at the Legends ceremony and was an absolute doll at the luncheon later, even though she was rushing to leave early to get to an audition.

[beautywickedlover]

Posted: 9/4/11 at 8:37pm

"It's too bad we have to make them compete."

Maybe it's not a competiton after all. After much thinking I think Disney decided which women have made outstanding contributions to the company, and they chose Benson, O'Hara, Salonga, Rose, and Larkin. Maybe it just wasn't time for Ming-Na (speaking voice of "Mulan"), Irene Bedard (speaking voice of "Pocahonats"), or Kuhn to be honored yet. Maybe it will happen for them some day as it might happen for Mandy Moore. (Rapunzel from "Tangled")

[Gaveston2]

Posted: 9/4/11 at 10:25pm

I hope it didn't seem I was snarking at you, beautywickedlover, not after your very kind remarks about my friend.

I really have no insight into the selection process and it isn't my impression that Paige or the other nominees were told anything about it.

But there was quiet talk among people I didn't know that the selection of Rose may have been politically motivated.

My feeling is set forth in a post above: Rose is terrific in PRINCESS AND THE FROG and it isn't HER fault it took Disney half-a-century to write an African-American princess. If she hadn't got the award this year, she would have in a future year.

As for women I love such as Kuhn and Na, I assume their times will come (unless they have chosen to distance themselves from the company for some reason).

[beautywickedlover]

Posted: 9/5/11 at 12:19am

"I hope it didn't seem I was snarking at you, beautywickedlover, not after your very kind remarks about my friend."

Oh no not all. You've been very nice. I also appreciate you writing the review of the ceremony.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 9/5/11 at 6:09am

I'm sure one of the big factors in the decision was who could attend the ceremony and perform. Ming-Na and Irene Bodard wouldn't be able to do that, obviously. That doesn't explain the absence of Kuhn, however.

[Gaveston2]

Posted: 9/6/11 at 2:05am

I assume adamgreer is right that one selection factor is ability to attend the ceremony. Except for the posthumous awards, of course. Otherwise, every honoree was present. And in the case of posthumous winners, close family members were present to accept for them.