Shoshana 05.05.05- Page 2

[Joshua488]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 3:45pm

Does Shoshana still sustain the high F? ("I'm flying high, de-FYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY-ing gravity...") That always gave me chills. After always hearing Idina just scoop in and out of that note faster than the Secret Service during a terror threat, I was amazed at how she just nailed it and held it. Wow.
Updated On: 5/6/05 at 03:45 PM

[TheOneAndOnly]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 4:20pm

Joshua,

As far as I know, she does still hold out that note on de FYYYYYY ing gravity. And you are totally right about Idina. No one can deny that she was an excellent Elphaba, but (at least especially toward the end), she just didn't have the chops to give the songs justice.

Pretty much the only critique I'd have of Sho in gravity is the very last 'ahhhh'. Since Idina was always belting it or screaming it, she usually was able to hold it pretty solid. While Sho has improved greatly from back in October, she occassionally still has to slip into a strong vibrato to hold onto the note. In the beginning of her run, she would have the same problem on the long "bring me dowwwwwwwn" but now she's able to hold onto 'down' with a straight-tone belt. To her credit, she does always take that phrase up an additional note that Idina NEVER did. (Do-OW-own) instead of (Do-ownnnn).

Ok, enough from me!

[Joshua488]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 4:26pm

I like when Shoshana does the vibrato, though. I think Shoshana's vibrato adds color and pizzazz to those sustained notes.

And I do like how Shoshana sings the Elphie War Cry at the end of the song, as opposed to Idina Menzel, who made it an Elphie War Scream.

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 4:27pm

Actually, that last time I saw Idina in the role, she was sustaining the high notes longer, but that was the last week. Maybe she was running on the thought of leaving the show.

My favorite part of Shoshana's performance were her vocals in her high register. Sometimes the lower parts of her songs were a little iffy, as was her pronunciation (the "that's all to do with MEEE" in "The Wizard and I" was hard on the ears), but the high belting seemed so effortless, it was stunning. I love how she sustains a lot of the notes with vibrato...chilling.

[Joshua488]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 4:29pm

I love how Shoshana's e vowels are so piercing and sharp. It just shows how much power her voice has. So many people just throw away the e vowels, but she really sings it out and I think it sounds awesome.

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 4:34pm

Joshua, I know what you mean...but everytime I've heard Shoshana that wasn't the tone Shoshana had on that note. It was piercing as if you said "MEEEEEEE" as spread as you possibly can while squeezing the note. It was weird, because otherwise, she has great "e" vowels. But that note builds up to a lot, and it just sounded bad.

[OrdinaryJukebox1]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 4:49pm

Not to discredit Shoshana, but she's only been doing the show a few months. Idina held her notes this far into her run, as well. In another six months, we'll see if she's holding out those notes.

-Vincent

[andyf]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 5:30pm

Again I agree with OneandOnly. I saw Idina sporadically throughout her run and while she was good with the acting, she certainly wasn't doing the songs any favors...at any point.

Even if you don't like Shoshana's acting, which I know is a big problem a lot of people have with her, I still think it's nice to be able to sit through "Defying Gravity" and to actually get to enjoy it. It was a completely new experience, for the better, to be able to sit there and NOT have to worry if she was going to have time to clear her throat before the end or if she was going to attempt any of the F's.

Updated On: 5/6/05 at 05:30 PM

[andyf]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 7:02pm

Bump, because I just created the word "orgasmagorical" to describe her performance last night.

[Jwei123]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 7:12pm

emcee would describe her experience at chitty as "orgasmigorical"

Sho IS orgasmigorical!

[Thenardier]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 7:13pm

Jan 2 = Idina's best performance ever.

I still want to see Sho. I went and so Saycon - which was so totally worth it!

[ShuQ]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 7:14pm

Okay would someone please PM me w/ clips of Shoshana OR Saycon. or just e-mail me at [e-mail] or AIM JohnQJohnQJohnQ...
Updated On: 5/6/05 at 07:14 PM

[Thenardier]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 7:16pm

ur aim is long!

[Jwei123]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 7:20pm

JohnQ x3? creative!

[Thenardier]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 7:23pm

While watching the Di do it, it was amazing. I could listen to Saycon do it though forever!

Her voice is so smooth.

[Jwei123]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 7:26pm

Thenardier- i agree. saycon's voice is like butter. sho's is like margarine. idina's is like cheese, and then kristy and eden are the cheese grates.


does that make any sense? no? ok.

[Thenardier]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 7:29pm

sure.

But I would say Idina's voice is like Wasabi. It is powerful but yet leaves you wanting more. (well, in my case).

[andyf]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 7:35pm

OK, getting this back on track, yes, Josh, she still nails the "deFYing gravity".


You don't threadjack in andyf's church.

[andyf]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 8:03pm

OK, threadjack away, because I just brought back my old icon, and it is even sexier than before!!

[Jwei123]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 8:20pm

boy does eden look great there!

I love sho's riffs, and eden's faces!

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 8:27pm

"Jan 2 = Idina's best performance ever."

Well, close, but not quite. Acting-wise...best I've ever seen. However, Idina's vocals on opening night were "orgasmigorical."

And I think Idina sounds great singing "Defying Gravity," and to me, she's better than Shoshana in the sense that she can perform a song better. Shoshana definitely is more precise with vocal technique, and she sounds amazing, but she doesn't put across a song like Idina does.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 8:32pm

Orgasmagorical?! I LOVE IT.

[Chip1012]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 8:34pm

I look forward to the day when the Idina vs. Shoshana vs. everyone comparrisons can end. God forbid we just enjoy someone's performance and not compare it to "who is BEST?"

[Jwei123]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 8:35pm

i knew you would, emcee...see above!

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 8:38pm

wheee, I SAW!