Re: Fantasia part in Dreamgirls- Page 4

[Ezelle]

Posted: 7/17/05 at 11:42pm

I saw this show in January of 1982 at the Imperial Theatre in New York City and I sat in the front row center orchestra section.
The show was Spectacular, especially Ms. Jennifer Holliday!

Any movie made would have it tough to compete with the original show.
In my opinion it would have been great if the Original Broadway Cast was allowed to pick the movie Cast.

Remember ACT I SCENE 1 takes place in the Early Sixties at New York City's World Famous Apollo Theatre.

The Actors Chosen should reflect that!

In other words, What performer/singer today would a 1960 NYC Apollo Audience give standing ovations to?

What artists today can recreate the look and sound of the soul singers of the sixties?
In this era there was Diana Ross and the Supremes, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, Barbara Mason, Ruby and the Romantics, Mary Wells, Otis Redding, The Impressions, The Marvelettes, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Jackie Wilson, James Brown, The Toys, The Temptations, Eddie Holman, Percy Sledge, Jerry Butler, Sam & Dave, Wilson Pickett, Clyde McPhatter, Aaron Neville

Fantasia does look like she came from that era. If she wore her old hair style and someone snapped a black & white photo, it could be added to an old Apollo Motortown Revue lineup photo and blend right in.

Vocally all you have to do is ask Lamont Dozier or any Motown songwriter of the period who they would choose.

Updated On: 7/17/05 at 11:42 PM

[Thetruth]

Posted: 7/18/05 at 1:20am

Now, some sense is bein' talked!

Also, Fantasia does well singing in a group. She started out singing with her family and she's able to create that special bond with anybody else she's performing with. Cases in point...




Updated On: 7/18/05 at 01:20 AM

[neomystyk29]

Posted: 7/18/05 at 1:31am

Fantasia is terrible, should not be allowed within 50 miles of the movie.

[Thetruth]

Posted: 7/18/05 at 1:31am

Updated On: 7/18/05 at 01:31 AM

[Thetruth]

Posted: 7/18/05 at 2:30am

[Thetruth]

Posted: 7/18/05 at 2:35am

OK. Now, I need to get somewhere and sit down. Updated On: 7/18/05 at 02:35 AM

[Jenoa2]

Posted: 7/18/05 at 8:03am

"OK. Now, I need to get somewhere and sit down."

No you don't. You're showing/telling it like it is. I only wish you could post a link to her Kennedy Center Honors performance where she serenaded Elton John. No yeah yeah yeahs or "churchy" histrionics involved (which I love}. The only way to describe it is... Breathtaking! Fantasia can sing just about anything you you give her. How about her "Summertime" performance where she sang it jazzy style on the Larry King show, and it was done LIVE! Blew me away! I didn't know she could sing like that! It was another spectacular moment. I think Fantasia deserves a shot in Dreamgirls.

Editing to add not many yeah, yeah, yeahs were involved, lol!

Updated On: 7/18/05 at 08:03 AM

[dreamboy2004]

Posted: 7/18/05 at 1:46pm

I think people like Lamont Dozier and all those associated with Motown need to be kept away from Dreamgirls. Being as though most people alredy kinda consider this just a run down of The Supremes story,which is something the creators of Dreamgirls and Diana Ross deny. The creators of Dreamgirls have said that Dreamgirls is not just a carbon copy of motown but more a homage to all of the music of the sixties. From Motown to Hal David and Burt Bachrac, to the Drifters, The shirells, Dionne Warwick, Arethea Franklin, and James Brown.

[Thetruth]

Posted: 7/18/05 at 5:51pm

I wish they would hurry up and announce what part she got (if she indeed got a part) I can't take the suspense!

Somebody asked who would make a good Michelle. My vote goes to Sasha Allen (she would've also made a great Deena.) I really want them to include more musical theater performers in the cast.

[dreamboy2004]

Posted: 7/18/05 at 8:02pm

I have heard alot of Sasha Allen but I have no idea who she is . This isn't the first time I've heard someone say she should be in Dreamgirls. Where can I hear her sing?

[Thetruth]

Posted: 7/18/05 at 9:29pm

Rent the movie Camp. I believe she's the first person shown on screen.

[silent]

Posted: 7/18/05 at 10:12pm

Sasha killed "Ain't No Way" on VH1's Born To Diva competition...thankfully I was lucky enough to get that performance on tape. She was great in CAMP too.

[modifiedcontent]

Posted: 7/20/05 at 1:06pm

I noticed that Sasha Allen is pushed for a role on several sites/boards. Has she even auditioned?

Anyway, I thought this thread was about Fantasia, who actually has auditioned and is rumored to be in negotiations for a role. Updated On: 7/20/05 at 01:06 PM

[Thetruth]

Posted: 7/20/05 at 2:48pm

Things always get off track here. Welcome to Broadwayworld.


Maybe we need to start a Michelle post.

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/20/05 at 2:55pm

This to a poster a couple pages back..

Tamia, Faith Evans, Vivian Green, Mary J Blige, Monica - ALL give Fantasia a run for her money. And they are well established and successful R&B Artists - Fantasia is still a baby in this game. I know you probally haven't heard of some of those artists I listed - but just because they aren't "mainstream" dosen't mean they can't give Fantasia a run for her money. Saying Fantasia is the best in her game right now is not a smart thing to say - when you most likely don't know a lot of the amazing R&B females - who aren't very well known. Fantasia is just trying to do what Mary J Blige has been doing for 15 years - and there is no way in hell that Fantasia can top the emotion Mary J brings on stage.
Updated On: 7/20/05 at 02:55 PM

[Thenardier]

Posted: 7/20/05 at 2:56pm

LaToya London!

[modifiedcontent]

Posted: 7/20/05 at 3:34pm

ljay889, Fantasia may be 'a baby in the game', but Faith Evans, Mary J Blige and even Monica are all probably too old already for the Effie or Lorell parts.

That Fantasia is (one of) 'the best in her game' at the moment has been confirmed by greats like Patti Labelle and Aretha Franklin.

Or this quote from Smokey Robinson: 'Normally at this stage in her career we'd call her an up an coming artist, but clearly she has arrived.'

Have you heard some of Fantasia's recent performances?

Mary J Blige is an original, but Fantasia has more range. Fantasia is not trying to emulate MJB; they have their church backgrounds in common.

Faith Evans and Monica are nothing special, although they got a lot better on their last albums.

Vivian Green is pretty good. I don't know Tamia (she looks cute and petite on her website; not suitable for the Effie role).

Updated On: 7/20/05 at 03:34 PM

[dreamboy2004]

Posted: 7/20/05 at 3:35pm

Well said ljay889 all of thoses sistah's can sang not to mention the wonderful Laurn Hill and powerful vocalist Kelly Price but anyway. I really wish they would hurry up and announce who they casted as the other Dreams. I really hope they beef up the role of Michelle for this film also I wonder if Fantasia is casted what will they do about her braces. I read somewhere she said she had to wear them for a year.

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/20/05 at 3:36pm

I'm glad some of you see my points.

I wasn't saying those ladies I listed earlier should get the part in DG. I meant they give Fantasia a run for her money - talent wise.

[modifiedcontent]

Posted: 7/20/05 at 3:39pm

Here's are some recent Fantasia performances (temporary links):

http://www.modifiedcontent.com/lordisblessingme.mp3

http://www.modifiedcontent.com/alwaysonmymind.mp3

(sorry for the ugly links: this CMS sucks!) Updated On: 7/20/05 at 03:39 PM

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/20/05 at 4:11pm

I listened. But her voice is just my style. She sings too much from her throat. She is def. going to get nodes - or she might already have them - if she continues singing like that. I just don't enjoy singing voices like hers. I like my R&B ladies - they have smooth but very soulful, and very powerful voices. This also goes for the R&b ladie who will always have my heart - the late Aaliyah.

Gospel/Christian wise - I ususally listen to groups. Mary Mary, Out Of Eden, Trinitee 5:7. They are all wonderful - and none of them scream like Fantasia does.
Updated On: 7/20/05 at 04:11 PM

[Thetruth]

Posted: 7/20/05 at 4:51pm

I just had this MJB vs Fantasia debate with my friend last night. Performance wise they have a similar style, but they are very diffrent. It's not really a fair comparison, because MJB has been out for a while and she has a special place in my heart because of nostalgia. Singing wise...Fantasia will sing Mary under the table. Fantasia will do a little squall and "scream", because of the emotions of the song. Mary seems to be doing it to cover up the fact that she's not that great of a singer. She's even admitted that she's not that great in an interview I read with her last year. She said something to the effect that she will never be as good as Faith or Mariah, vocally (I'll see if I can find the link)...And if Fantasia has nodes then MJB should really have 'em.


Mary Mary, Trinitee, etc are all great groups but they have a more modern style. Fantasia is old skool gospel!


Fantasia and her competition...Fantasia just turned 21. She's lightyears ahead of her peers in her age group (Ciara, Joss Stone,etc). I think she can certainly compete with those older than her, but Faith, Tamia, and that group are on their 4th and 5th CD's. They are all R&B so they are all competing with each other, but some are further along in their careers and have had more experience.

[Thetruth]

Posted: 7/20/05 at 4:56pm

It won't let me copy past what Mary said, but I've provided a link. Just scroll down a little less than halfway.

Mary interview

[dreamboy2004]

Posted: 7/20/05 at 5:59pm

I think that fantasia has more range than Mary J Blige ,but I think Mary J has more of hood like grit to her. It's like Mary just pours it all into her performance. I remember seeing Mary J Blige talking to Sarah from making Da Band and she told her not to bring to the stage , the hair, makeup, the press, or the fame just bring her soul. To me that's what Mary does when she performs, she bares her soul. But hey this is about Fantasi and her potentinal involvement in Dreamgirls. Did I mention that Terrence Howard hass audtioned for Dreamgirls.

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/20/05 at 6:19pm

I agree that Fantasia is obviously more talented than her competition such as Ciara. That I must give her.. . Brooke Valentine isn't THAT bad - but she isn't going to be as popular as Fantasia.

And I agree with what is being said about Mary J. There is no doubt that Faith blows her away vocally - but Faith just dosen't have the performance skills MJB has. Their duet - remake of "Love Dont Live Here Anymore" is quite wonderful.