Longest "Belt" by A Male or Female Broadway Performer?

#1

Longest "Belt" by A Male or Female Broadway Performer?

Posted: 7/21/06 at 2:07pm

Hello. Pardon if this thread has been introduced before or is similiar to the "highest belt" thread. I'm wondering what performers are able to "belt" the longest. For example, I've heard Linda Eder's "It's No Secret Anymore." There's the song "This Time Around" from "Havanna", where she stretches the word "mine",in an amazing way. Also, Davis Gaines is a phenomenal singer. I first heard him in the NY Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra recording of "Sweeney Todd". The way he belted"Johanna" is not to be believed. I also saw his perf, along with Miss Patti, in the San Francisco Symphony concert version of "Sweeney Tood" in 2001. Just wondering... from Roman in Austin, Texas...

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"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)

#2

re: Longest 'Belt' by A Male or Female Broadway Performer?

Posted: 7/21/06 at 2:12pm

Let us not forget the Merm's original 16-bar belt in I GOT RHYTHM, which started the whole thing.

#3

re: Longest 'Belt' by A Male or Female Broadway Performer?

Posted: 7/21/06 at 2:13pm

from whom I have heard: I would have to say the beltiest hahah person I have seen was Sherie Renee Scott. I mean she has the most amazing voice to me, and the best part is she does it so effortlessly. Many will disagree with me though

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I made a list of all your faults, it was quite detailed and lengthy too and when I read it through I missed you. Your like a classic Eagles song, you just cant help but sing along even though it sometimes gets annoying too. I just know I want to be wherever I can wake and see you there next to me. **High Fidelity** Love is what I do **The Wedding Singer** Xanadu - Best NEW Musical of the Season!

#4

re: Longest 'Belt' by A Male or Female Broadway Performer?

Posted: 7/21/06 at 2:19pm

La Streisand in the DOLLY movie at the end of
BEFORE THE PARADE PASSES BY.

#5

re: Longest 'Belt' by A Male or Female Broadway Performer?

Posted: 7/21/06 at 2:23pm

Ernie Sabella's belt is about 48 inches long.

#6

re: Longest 'Belt' by A Male or Female Broadway Performer?

Posted: 7/21/06 at 2:24pm

For men: James Naughton in Both Reached for the Gun (though the guy on the London revival MAY have him beat).

Anothony Warlow on the 2 CD concept of This is the Moment holds that note at the end forever.

For a woman, I would second Ethel Merman....

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Hi, Shirley Temple Pudding.

#7

re: Longest 'Belt' by A Male or Female Broadway Performer?

Posted: 7/21/06 at 4:01pm

A friend of mine saw "Aida" on Broadway and said that Heather Headley held the "Apart" belt until the end of the song, in "The Gods Love Nubia".

That's a long time, no?

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#8

re: Longest 'Belt' by A Male or Female Broadway Performer?

Posted: 7/21/06 at 4:12pm

I went to a musical theatre class with Schele Williams, who was the original Nehebhka(?) and understudied Aida, and we performed The Gods Love Nubia, and let me tell you, the girl held that note for so long that we all stopped singing to listen to her.

#9

re: Longest 'Belt' by A Male or Female Broadway Performer?

Posted: 7/21/06 at 4:17pm

Streisand in Dolly comes to mind, as I just watched that scene this afternoon.

Also, BSM does a CRAZY belt in Ragtime, can't think of when though. Any help?

OMG Jon :P

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Updated On: 7/22/06 at 04:17 PM

#10

re: Longest 'Belt' by A Male or Female Broadway Performer?

Posted: 7/21/06 at 4:23pm

WHAT is the obsession with belting? I don't. Get it.

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"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy." -Charlie Manson

#11

re: Longest 'Belt' by A Male or Female Broadway Performer?

Posted: 7/21/06 at 4:27pm

We like the way it sounds. It's very fierce and powerful.

The Scarlet Pimpernel has a long belt for the main guy at the very end. And in Spelling Bee Logan holds that note at the end of "Woe is Me" for a long time.

#12

re: Longest 'Belt' by A Male or Female Broadway Performer?

Posted: 7/21/06 at 4:28pm

But Doug Sills and Merman's belt is far different than the "belt" of Menzel, Espinoza, etc.

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"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy." -Charlie Manson

#13

re: Longest 'Belt' by A Male or Female Broadway Performer?

Posted: 7/21/06 at 4:30pm

Annie Get Your Gun!! "I Can Do Anything Better Than You" - The belt there goes on forever!

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#14

re: Longest 'Belt' by A Male or Female Broadway Performer?

Posted: 7/21/06 at 4:33pm

I believe that Streisand holds the last note in "A Piece of Sky" at the end of Yentl longer than "Before the Parade Passes By." By the way, at the time of the "Hello, Dolly" filming, the said last note in "Before the Parade" was the longest note held out on film up till that time.

An obsession with belting? Well, if it's done right--then it can be absolutely astounding. I personally enjoy a person holding out one note for a long time as opposed to someone riffing all over the place. That gets old quick fast for me.

Updated On: 7/21/06 at 04:33 PM

#15

re: Longest 'Belt' by A Male or Female Broadway Performer?

Posted: 7/21/06 at 4:34pm

"But Doug Sills and Merman's belt is far different than the "belt" of Menzel, Espinoza, etc."

But it's all a belt? I understand that there is a mix and a pure belt, but for the most part, it's a belt?

#16

re: Longest 'Belt' by A Male or Female Broadway Performer?

Posted: 7/21/06 at 4:36pm

Stephanie Mills at the end of home. It's not as long as some of the ones mentioned ,but for a 15 year old that was WONDERUL!

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#17

re: Longest 'Belt' by A Male or Female Broadway Performer?

Posted: 7/21/06 at 4:38pm

in the CHICAGO cast recording, at least for teh revival, Billy Flynn holds out a very long note near the end of 'Both Reach for the Gun'.

#18

re: Longest 'Belt' by A Male or Female Broadway Performer?

Posted: 7/21/06 at 4:39pm

Michael Crawford in DOTV has a nice one...

#19

re: Longest 'Belt' by A Male or Female Broadway Performer?

Posted: 7/21/06 at 4:46pm

Broadwayluva - you're about 10 posts late on that one.

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Hi, Shirley Temple Pudding.

#20

re: Longest 'Belt' by A Male or Female Broadway Performer?

Posted: 7/21/06 at 4:50pm

A lot of the belting that goes on today is a little too high for my comfort. It sounds uncomfortable for the singer and could possibly damage their chords. If you are belting right, it's actually a very safe way to sing.

Minnelli was a reckless belter and it wrecked her voice.

#21

re: Longest 'Belt' by A Male or Female Broadway Performer?

Posted: 7/21/06 at 5:24pm

The last "We loooooooooooooove you" in the title song of Company seems to go on forever. I counted once and i think it was 16 bars (if the song is in 4/4 time).

#22

re: Longest 'Belt' by A Male or Female Broadway Performer?

Posted: 7/21/06 at 6:15pm

Let's not forget the London cast recording of 'Crazy For You'. Polly (I forget who played her over there) holds the 'Ahhhhhhhh' in 'I Got Rhythm' for days.

Jodi Benson (LOVE HER) took a breath in the Broadway cast recording.

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#23

re: Longest 'Belt' by A Male or Female Broadway Performer?

Posted: 7/21/06 at 7:08pm

I concur about Sherie Rene Scott [listen to the last 15 or so seconds of Here I Am] and also Sarah Saltzberg's last note in Woe Is Me.

Sheryl Lee Ralph holds a note at the end of "Only In Ney York" on the TMM recording for an insane amount of time. If only she hadn't finished it off with an odd-sounding grunt...

#24

re: Longest 'Belt' by A Male or Female Broadway Performer?

Posted: 7/21/06 at 7:31pm

I've never heard anyone hold a note longer than Frenchie Davis in the West Coast tour of Dreamgirls when she held the a capella "aaaaaaaand I am telling youuuuuuu" that was held an insane amount of time. That girl's got some breath control.

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#25

re: Longest 'Belt' by A Male or Female Broadway Performer?

Posted: 7/21/06 at 8:28pm

One of my favorite male belts is the last note Jarrod Emick hits in "Goodbye Old Girl" on the revival cast recording of DAMN YANKEES. Not the longest belt by a performer but certainly one of the strongest ever recorded. He sings the SH*T out of it!!! Never fails to induce goosebumps.