Question about 'New Ways to Dream' from 'Sunset Blvd'

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Question about 'New Ways to Dream' from 'Sunset Blvd'

Posted: 6/23/19 at 10:26pm

I have always loved the original version of 'New Ways to Dream' sung by Patti Lupone from 'Sunset Boulevard' in 1993. The music, her vocals, and the way the song ends with her beautifully singing 'They can't see where the future lies...they don't recognize a star...' It gives Norma Desmond such depth in that scene, the audience can't help but empathize with her and connect to her emotionally. Such a powerful song with it's original arrangement and lyrics (and Lupone's vocals).

So why did ALW change it in LA (and future productions) - changed the music, dropped the lyrics at the end, and substituted 'We taught the world new ways to dream...everyone needs new ways to dream...' ? It comes off as a little too frivolous, and there's no empathy for the character. All connections to her emotionally are completely cut off.

Am I the only one who preferred the original London version from 1993?

Question about 'New Ways to Dream' from 'Sunset Blvd'

Posted: 6/24/19 at 12:18am

I prefer the changes for the reasons you cited. I feel she is cut off and the lyric almost becomes a murmuring. She is entranced, delusional, "a sleep walker" as Joe calls her. If she sings the original line it definitely makes her sound more lucid in my opinion. At the end of the song she wanders off still in her dream. If she makes a declarative statement about being a star, then she is the fierce headstrong Norma and not the fragile faded star. Just my opinion.

"The sexual energy between the mother and son really concerns me!"-random woman behind me at Next to Normal "I want to meet him after and bang him!"-random woman who exposed her breasts at Rock of Ages, referring to James Carpinello

Question about 'New Ways to Dream' from 'Sunset Blvd'

Posted: 6/24/19 at 12:36am

I think the majority of the changes were for the better. They mostly just fixed a lot of what sounded like first draft lyrics.

Question about 'New Ways to Dream' from 'Sunset Blvd'

Posted: 6/24/19 at 11:11am

Bettyboy72 said: "I prefer the changes for the reasons you cited. I feel she is cut off and the lyric almost becomes a murmuring. She is entranced, delusional, "a sleep walker" as Joe calls her. If she sings the original line it definitely makes her sound more lucid in my opinion. At the end of the song she wanders off still in her dream. If she makes a declarative statement about being a star, then she is the fierce headstrong Norma and not the fragile faded star. Just my opinion."

Thanks for this response. I've never seen it this way before, but now it makes so much sense.

Interesting to see how a whole character and project can change direction with just a few changes to the lyrics of a song.

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