Manic LuPone

#1

Manic LuPone

Posted: 5/30/13 at 4:41pm

Listen to this recording of Rainbow High from Patti's final Evita performance. It goes at lightning speed. Musicians, how do you account for the sped up tempo here? Is the orchestra doing that, or are they just keeping up with Patti?

BTW she is absolutely fantastic here. She IS Evita. A demented insane wonderful Evita!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7XFmgypyLE

Updated On: 5/30/13 at 04:41 PM

#2

Manic LuPone

Posted: 5/30/13 at 4:45pm

Sounds to me like she can't wait to get the f outta there.

#3

Manic LuPone

Posted: 5/30/13 at 4:48pm

Well, yeah, that's what puzzles me. I can see her speeding though performances in the middle of the run, but I would think for your final show you'd want to savor it. I'm sure there were friends and luminaries in the audience too.

That said, it's still a fantastic performance. She manages to cut 20 seconds off it, from the other recordings of her doing it.

#4

Manic LuPone

Posted: 5/30/13 at 4:51pm

There's also a youtube of her singing it on Merv Griffin and she sang it just as fast there. I don't like that tempo but she apparently did.

#5

Manic LuPone

Posted: 5/30/13 at 4:54pm

I've seen that but she doesn't sing it this fast. It's shorter because there is no "Hair, makeup, Diamonds, excitement, imagine" chorus parts.

#6

Manic LuPone

Posted: 5/30/13 at 5:03pm

It's not her fault the tempo was too fast. She fought with the music guy all the time about how fast the songs were. But HOLY MOTHER OF GOD she is freaking AMAZING in this clip. I honestly can't think of another broadway performer who reaches the star quality and sheer powerfullness of THE LUPONE. Okay Liza and her are tied...

#7

Manic LuPone

Posted: 5/30/13 at 5:04pm

It's not THE LUPONE....it's La LuPone or Pattikins.

#8

Manic LuPone

Posted: 5/30/13 at 5:09pm

The Lupone..

#9

Manic LuPone

Posted: 5/30/13 at 5:11pm

Blah, blah, blah...

Updated On: 5/30/13 at 05:11 PM

#10

Manic LuPone

Posted: 5/30/13 at 5:12pm

It's not her fault the tempo was too fast. She fought with the music guy all the time about how fast the songs were. But HOLY MOTHER OF GOD she is freaking AMAZING in this clip. I honestly can't think of another broadway performer who reaches the star quality and sheer powerfullness of THE LUPONE. Okay Liza and her are tied...

Actually, it WAS her fault the tempo was too fast. She and Paul Gemignani wanted to take the entire score faster than ALW and Hal Prince did. I think she takes it too fast here, but she was smart in realizing that the whole show (but especially Rainbow High) needs to have a lot of energy and pop to it. Most other versions of Rainbow High are far too slow and don't capture the frenzy of Eva dressing and getting ready for her European tour.

---

When I see the phrase "the ____ estate", I imagine a vast mansion in the country full of monocled men and high-collared women receiving letters about productions across the country and doing spit-takes at whatever they contain. -Kad

#11

Manic LuPone

Posted: 5/30/13 at 5:14pm

This is why I can't listen to the OBC. It makes me so damn nervous I want to climb the walls.

#12

Manic LuPone

Posted: 5/30/13 at 5:15pm

"Actually, it WAS her fault the tempo was too fast. She and Paul Gemignani wanted to take the entire score faster than ALW and Hal Prince did. I think she takes it too fast here, but she was smart in realizing that the whole show (but especially Rainbow High) needs to have a lot of energy and pop to it. Most other versions of Rainbow High are far too slow and don't capture the frenzy of Eva dressing and getting ready for her European tour."

I don't really think you can call it anyone's fault when you see a performance like that. I loved this tempo for the song it was exhilarating!

#13

Manic LuPone

Posted: 5/30/13 at 5:23pm

It's friggin' annoying...the tempo is off, she's off...she sounds like she's rushing through it because she has to run to the toilet.

#14

Manic LuPone

Posted: 5/30/13 at 5:28pm

I'm still not convinced that the audio hasn't simply been sped up over time. I can't imagine her being able to get dressed so quickly and do everything she was required to do in that number with the tempo being that fast. And if it was that fast then the only person to blame, in my opinion, is the conductor. It's his responsibility to set tempos and keep the singers and orchestra in sync with each other.

#15

Manic LuPone

Posted: 5/30/13 at 5:28pm

I guess I've heard that toward the end of the run she upped the tempo to several songs and cut parts of other ones in an effort to get out earlier.

I hear Barbara Streisand did the same thing toward the end of her Broadway Funny Girl run.

Even speeded up, it's a fantastic performance. Here it is at the "normal" speed:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epg3PzY0gzM

#16

Manic LuPone

Posted: 5/30/13 at 5:29pm

The audio has NOT been sped up. There are other recordings from later in run where they do it as the same tempo. And eyewitness accounts confirm this.

#17

Manic LuPone

Posted: 5/30/13 at 5:30pm

How is that a "fantastic performance"? Just because it's Patti LuPone? It's an annoying sped-up-to-get-the-fvck-out-of-the-theater performance. Just because you like someone doesn't mean they ALWAYS give fantastic performances.

#18

Manic LuPone

Posted: 5/30/13 at 5:33pm

"It's friggin' annoying...the tempo is off, she's off...she sounds like she's rushing through it because she has to run to the toilet"

Are you freaking deaf? Its not annoying at all and she is completely on. Yeah it seems a bit rushed but i honestly could care less because its so exhilarating and the passion shines through at this speed. Its honestly remarkable

#19

Manic LuPone

Posted: 5/30/13 at 5:35pm

LOL. Remarkable. Sure.

#20

Manic LuPone

Posted: 5/30/13 at 5:35pm

I think it's a fantastic performance because I have ears. Listen- the audience begins to applaud about 20 seconds before the song even ends. At the "DRESSED UP somewhere to go" part. The woman is TOTALLY in the zone here.

I ADORE this lady.

Updated On: 5/30/13 at 05:35 PM

#21

Manic LuPone

Posted: 5/30/13 at 5:35pm

Check out La Paige doing it. I love her, but it's waaaaaaay too slow.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfNL-32o9Rk

Updated On: 5/30/13 at 05:35 PM

#22

Manic LuPone

Posted: 5/30/13 at 5:40pm

Pshh watevs jordan this performance is freakin amazing. The woman is giving it everything she has and she is completely in the zone. The audience is eating it up and you can feel the electricity in this clip! If you Can't hear how Incredible she is then that is your problem, fool.

Updated On: 5/30/13 at 05:40 PM

#23

Manic LuPone

Posted: 5/30/13 at 5:40pm

broadway guy, you go!

#24

Manic LuPone

Posted: 5/30/13 at 5:43pm

mhmm :) The Lupone dominates once again!

#25

Manic LuPone

Posted: 5/30/13 at 5:44pm