Michelle Pfeiffer : Evita

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 1/21/08 at 7:14am

Heard the two songs that Michelle recorded tonite when her name was thrown around for the film role of Evita. I think she would have worked wonderfully in the film and while both tracks are raw, i liked her voice.

Anyone else heard these or does anyone else think ahe might have been a better choice than the wooden lifeless performance that Maddona gave?

[wiggum2]

Posted: 1/21/08 at 8:56am

Where did you hear her singing?

[DrTheatre]

Posted: 1/21/08 at 3:32pm

Anyone know where to get it?

[sondheimgeek]

Posted: 1/21/08 at 3:35pm

She sounds better on Buenos Aires, than she does on I'd Be Surprisingly Good for You. I think she would've been a good choice for the film.

Updated On: 1/21/08 at 03:35 PM

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 1/21/08 at 3:41pm

Actually, Michelle Pfeiffer was originally cast in the Alan Parker film and had already gone thru costume fittings and make-up and wig tests when she bowed out of the film, thus prompting Madonna to write that infamous hand-written plea to Alan Parker which is how she ended-up in the film.

Originally the film was slated to be shot on Los Angeles soundstages and some exteriors in Mexico but then Alan Parker received permission to shoot in Argentina and Budapest, which Pfeiffer wasn't keen on doing since she was a new mom, etc. She would only do the film if it remained close to home for her.

Those recordings were done early in her casting.

[deadparrot]

Posted: 1/21/08 at 3:42pm

Someone posted it on the LJ community musical_traders.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 1/21/08 at 3:45pm

I think she sounds pretty great, considering that these are raw tracks and without the digital sweetening that would inevitably been used in the recording studio.

And I could be wrong, but she sounds like she's singing in the original (or close to the original) keys.

[DrTheatre]

Posted: 1/21/08 at 3:46pm

What is the LJ Community Musical_Traders?

[Pianist3912]

Posted: 1/21/08 at 4:09pm

I honestly don't like how she sounds in those two clips. Still, someone other than Madonna should've been cast IMO.

[RyToast1]

Posted: 1/21/08 at 4:29pm

She doesn't sound awful, especially considering the quality of the recording and the fact that it's the raw material, no touch ups.

I like it.

[mc1227]

Posted: 1/21/08 at 4:39pm

Not sure if it was her real voice, but she was wonderful in Fabulous Baker Boys movie.

[Wildcard]

Posted: 1/21/08 at 4:39pm

Don't know the original source but here was an old article on Pfeiffer & Evita:

"Over the years, Michelle has turned down several high-profile parts – in “Basic Instinct,” “Silence of the Lambs,” and “Evita” - for the sake of her children. Although she doesn’t regret her choices, she wishes she could have played Eva Peron, a part that eventually went to Madonna.

“I wish that I could have done ‘Evita,’ but not doing it was the right choice at the time,” she says. “I finished ‘Dangerous Minds’ when I was seven months pregnant, then I started doing demos for Oliver Stone, who was set to direct ‘Evita,’ but then I had my son and discovered that it would be made in England. The timing was so wrong…Actually, I liked the version that Madonna did, which was different from what Oliver had in mind, and I thought she did a great job.”

Nevertheless, floating around the Hollywood screening room circuit, there’s a tape of Michelle Pfeiffer singing “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina.”

“Ah, don’t talk about it,” she cringes. ”The strange thing this is, my son doesn’t like me to sing, and I think it was because I sang all those ‘Evita’ songs when he was in my belly. I think I was trying to hit those notes, and he was in there going, ‘Arrrgh!’"

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 1/21/08 at 5:14pm

So how come everyone has listened to these? I wanna hear too.
I didn't know Madonna wrote a plea to Parker, was anyone else considered for HIS version.
I know Streep campaigned heavily to play the role but I thought she was being considered for another director's take not Parker's. There's something odd about Madonna getting a role that Streep wanted.
I didn't know Oliver Stone wanted to do the film, wonder what he would have done with it.

[nealb1]

Posted: 1/21/08 at 5:19pm

Let's not forget that before Pfeiffer, Streep was signed and recorded her songs for the soundtrack. Oliver Stone was going to direct and Paula Abdul was going to choer (sp?). This was back in the late 80's. Ultimately, it kept getting postponed, people had other committments and it never came to be.

Would have been interesting to see how Streep or Pfeiffer would have done it.

Anything would have been better than Madonna. She was completely miscast. The film itself was visually stunning......art direction, costumes, cinematography, etc. J Pryce and A Banderas were wonderful. But, Madonna just wasn't good.
Updated On: 1/21/08 at 05:19 PM

[Muhlethaler]

Posted: 1/21/08 at 5:48pm

Updated On: 7/20/18 at 05:48 PM

[perfectliar]

Posted: 1/21/08 at 5:49pm

I don't understand how everyone can say that Madonna was completely miscast; I thought she was absolutely perfect. Sure, she's no Patti... but who is?

[sally1112]

Posted: 1/21/08 at 5:54pm

^^ I agree. As I was reading these I was for someone other than me who liked Madonna in this role.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 1/21/08 at 6:09pm

I liked Madonna in the role as well but come on, if it's a choice between Meryl Streep and Madonna...Streep gets my vote. Just the thought of hearing her sing those songs and sink her teeth into this massive role...wow.
I had no clue Streep said that, at least she was more professional and sophisticated than LuPone.

[Rypm25]

Posted: 1/21/08 at 6:24pm

Just to add one more interesting Meryl/Madonna connection...
when Madonna left 50 violins, which then became "Music Of My Heart," Meryl stepped in, and went on to yet another Best Actress Oscar nomination for the role.
:)

[nealb1]

Posted: 1/21/08 at 6:45pm

We do love Meryl!

[roquat]

Posted: 1/21/08 at 6:52pm

EVITA was incredibly long in development--it looked like Streep was a go, then it languished until she was too old, etc., but MANY stars tried out for it at different times. At one point Ken Russell was supposed to do it, and Liza Minnelli auditioned for him in a blonde wig!

[wiggum2]

Posted: 1/21/08 at 7:04pm

ok I found the live journal site but I can't seem to find the clips, Can anyone help out?

Thanks

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 1/21/08 at 7:08pm

Wiggum2,

Just sent you the link

:)

[deadparrot]

Posted: 1/21/08 at 7:10pm

It's on the first page: December 21st, 2007.

[purpleprince101]

Posted: 1/21/08 at 8:14pm

Would love to hear the clips also! =)

I can't find them on the website.