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Shoshana Bean's Vocals In Wicked.

Shoshana Bean's Vocals In Wicked.

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ljay889
#0Shoshana Bean's Vocals In Wicked.
Posted: 12/31/04 at 3:50pm

Please, don't murder me for making a Wicked thread. But I think this thread is actually useful, and not a waste.

Once we found out Shoshana Bean would be the Elphaba Stand by, and than the new Elphaba. I kept hearing her vocals will blow you away, she is amazing.

I have now had the privallge to hear many of her songs from when she wen't on as Elphaba. First off I must say, her voice is beautiful. She has a lovely voice. My problem is with her vocals, she gets too classical sounding at times for Elphie. She totally lacks the rock vibe Idina has. At times I think her vocals are too mature for Elphaba. Her Defying Gravity is good, but she had a big lackluster ending, her ending note has no power at all. She sounds absolutely beautiful on the ballad songs, "As Long As You're Mine", and "For Good". Now I have too say her "No Good Deed" is AMAZING. I mean incredible. It's definetly her high point of all the Elphie songs.

Now when it comes down to Idina VS Shoshana vocals, I have to say I prefer Idina. Elphaba, in my opinon needs the rock vibe & Shoshana lacks it. Now I must say Shoshana absolutely BLOWS AWAY Eden as Elphaba. I have heard Eden's "No Good Deed", and it's absolutely horrible, just not good at all.

So I just wanted to say, I think Shoshana has an amazing voice, but at times I think it sounds out of place for Elphaba. So does anyone else have an opinion on Shoshana's voice as Elphie? Or her vocals VS Idina, or Eden? Updated On: 12/31/04 at 03:50 PM

TGIF Profile Photo
TGIF
#1re: Shoshana Bean's Vocals In Wicked.
Posted: 12/31/04 at 3:55pm

I have heard some clips of her from the show and was not impressed at all. Maybe it was nerves or an off day. From all the praise I have heard about her, I was a bit disappointed.


I want to write music. I want to sit down right now at my piano and write a song that people will listen to and remember and do the same thing every morning...for the rest of my life. - Jonathan Larson. Tick, Tick...BOOM!

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ljay889
#2re: Shoshana Bean's Vocals In Wicked.
Posted: 12/31/04 at 3:58pm

TGIF, I have to say I agree. I will not take away from the fact she has a beautiful voice. Aside from the fact that her No Good Deed is amazing. I was all together dissapointed. I just don't think she has the right voice for Elphaba.

Ebonic_Singer
#3re: Shoshana Bean's Vocals In Wicked.
Posted: 12/31/04 at 3:59pm

"She totally lacks the rock vibe Idina has"

Are you high? She is completely rock/pop. Did you hear her in Hairspray when she would do her "Momma I'm a Big Girl Now" riff? It was amazing. She is awsome, and I cannot wait to see her as Elphaba.

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ljay889
#4re: Shoshana Bean's Vocals In Wicked.
Posted: 12/31/04 at 4:01pm

Okay Ebonic. Listen to Shoshana in Wicked, and tell me she has a rock voice. She is more pop/soul, with a classical touch. She has a pretty strong Vibrato, and I feel at times it just isn't right for Elphaba.

Please don't get me wrong. I think her voice is great! But I'm not feeling it as Wicked.

defy_gravity
#5re: Shoshana Bean's Vocals In Wicked.
Posted: 12/31/04 at 4:02pm

Meh... Shoshana's not BAD or anything, but I've heard both, and I prefer Idina's Elphaba. Well, I think Shoshana's voice is actually better overall than Idina's, but Idina has the exactly right voice for this part, and she has something... not necessarily the rock vibe, but something, that Shoshana is missing.


We can't all come and go by bubble...

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Lifeoftheparty2
#6re: Shoshana Bean's Vocals In Wicked.
Posted: 12/31/04 at 4:27pm

i prefer idina but i do love shoshana too. and youre right about the classical vibe. when i first heard her as elphie she kinda reminded me of alice ripley in some parts.


*Always be a first rate version of yourself, instead of a second rate version of someone else* -Judy Garland

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BroadwayGirl107
#7re: Shoshana Bean's Vocals In Wicked.
Posted: 12/31/04 at 4:29pm

Shoshana's power does not come off very well on those recordings. When you're in the house, it feels much different. I think Menzel's vocals are about ten times more powerful than both Eden and Shoshana's, but Shoshana's voice sounds really wonderful with the score. She has a very different interpretation of the role as well, and her vocals match it quite well. Eden's voice, I think, is great, but a little out of place for that role. I think Idina's Elphaba just works better than either of the other girls (I have not seen Eden, but have heard audio, and I can get a feel for her interpretation of the role, and I'm not crazy about it.); it's just darker all around.

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broadwaystar2b
#8re: Shoshana Bean's Vocals In Wicked.
Posted: 12/31/04 at 4:44pm

classical vibe???
Are you sure you were listening to Shoshana Bean?

ShoTime
#9re: Shoshana Bean's Vocals In Wicked.
Posted: 12/31/04 at 4:44pm

Before I start, I must say I'm partial to Shoshana in all things, so keep that in mind.

I have followed Shoshana Bean's career when I saw her in the National Tour of Leader of the Pack. When I heard her for the first time, I literally thought she was the greatest singer of my life.

Since then, I have heard recordings or clips of everything she has done and maintain that she is one of the greatest singers ever. She knows how to control her voice. I think it is very rare to hear a singer, especially a Broadway singer (versus opera) who can control their voice. My opinion is is that so much of Broadway singing is not emotional. If you don't see the performance, you don't understand the music. Now yes, as a fan of musical theater, I research shows, and listen to lyrics so I can get the gist of music.

But when I heard Shoshana's No Good Deed, at the moment where she's singing "Nessa, Dr. Dillamond, Fiyero, Fiyero" I knew exactly what she was thinking. Her first 'Fiyero" with the classical/legit voice you can like hear her remember everything she's gone through with him, and then when she belts the second one she's like "I've lost him." And that's just one particular moment of her singing.

I truly think Shoshana manuevers and controls her voice. She doesn't just scream or belch out the notes, she adds vibrato, takes it out, and changes the color of her voice in order to emote. For that reason, I think she is one of the greatest singers ever.

Yes, I'm partial to Shoshana. And I wouldn't say she's better than Idina, or Idina is better than her. I would say that I can hear everything Elphaba is going through when I hear Shoshana sing the role. I do not hear the same thing when Idina sings, even if her voice is more pop/rock, which I'm still a little unsure of, but will let it pass.

Mattio98
#10re: Shoshana Bean's Vocals In Wicked.
Posted: 12/31/04 at 4:46pm

It's the difference between singing a song and performing a song.

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BroadwayGirl107
#11re: Shoshana Bean's Vocals In Wicked.
Posted: 12/31/04 at 4:55pm

ShoTime, I agree...partially. In that section of "No Good Deed" in particular, Shoshana was perfect. It's just a mere four or five words, and it was unbelieveable. However, one of Menzel's greatest skills IS her ability to portray her emotion with her voice. Shoshana does not have the same emotional intensity present in her voice that Idina does...but maybe it's not a technical vocal quality...it's her acting choices. No doubt Shoshana is one of the greatest singers around, but I don't think that makes her a perfect fit for the role just yet...I think she needs to do more with her acting.

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Chip1012
#12re: Shoshana Bean's Vocals In Wicked.
Posted: 12/31/04 at 5:07pm

I have heard some clips of the show that the producers were at, Dec 8th, where she got the contract, and she absolutely blew me away.

do not PM me about this please. Updated On: 12/31/04 at 05:07 PM

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StephanietheStar
#13re: Shoshana Bean's Vocals In Wicked.
Posted: 12/31/04 at 5:09pm

I heard her sing "the wizard and I" on Sirius' Broadway's best live and she has a very similar voice to Idina...only as much as i love idina Shoshana doesn't sound like she's forcing anything.

I think both are ahh-mazing


and all that I could do because of you was talk of love...

jjdude2000
#14re: Shoshana Bean's Vocals In Wicked.
Posted: 12/31/04 at 5:12pm

is there anyway i can get a link to a clip? id love to hear no good deed. ive heard her sing the wizard and i and i really liked it


Grace: I just gave a quarter to a homeless man. I think it was Johnny Depp.

BSoBW2
#15re: Shoshana Bean's Vocals In Wicked.
Posted: 12/31/04 at 5:14pm

I don't want anymore PMs sorry Updated On: 12/31/04 at 05:14 PM

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ljay889
#16re: Shoshana Bean's Vocals In Wicked.
Posted: 12/31/04 at 5:30pm

See, Shoshana is an excellent singer. She just has a different interpretation than Idina, and I think I am just somewhat partial to Idina's interpretation.

And I am not dumb, Shoshana has a classical vibe to her voice at times, and her vibrato really gives the classical vibe. Her voice is mainly pop/soul, but I can't help to think her vibrato makes her sound semi-classical. I am not saying everything she sings sounds classical, but at times you can her a slight classical vibe. I can hear her singing some nice standards.

IdinaFan34
#17re: Shoshana Bean's Vocals In Wicked.
Posted: 12/31/04 at 5:31pm

Hey all iam BRAND spankin new to this board but i love broadway and iam seeing Wicked for the 3rd time january 5th and i REALLY hope Idina is outstanding because iam bringing three of my friends and i have been RAVING about her and her singing for the longest time i hope she can get over her sickness and show my friends what i love about Idina.

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broadwaystar2b
#18re: Shoshana Bean's Vocals In Wicked.
Posted: 12/31/04 at 5:34pm

I never once implied that you were dumb
I am aware that the "classical vibe" assessment has been put on the 2nd Elphaba Cover Christie Cate and myself being familiar with much of Ms.Bean's earlier work (Godspell, Hairspray) I merely find it difficult to believe that you could be talking about the same person
My apologies if you found my comment offensive, for it was truly not meant to be taken as such at all

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Broadway_Bound_Star
#19re: Shoshana Bean's Vocals In Wicked.
Posted: 12/31/04 at 5:47pm

People are just gonna have to get used to the different vocals and stuff, I'm sure people didn't think JLT could pull off G(a)linda and she did. She you will just have to wait and see

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wicked4life51
#20re: Shoshana Bean's Vocals In Wicked.
Posted: 12/31/04 at 5:51pm

BUT UNDERSTAND PEOPLE IT ALL STARTS OFF WITH THE CLASSICAL TRAINING EDEN ESPINOSA IS A MIXER AND TRAINED IN CLASSICAL,IDINA MENZEL IS , SHOSHANA BEAN IS u always start out classical u cant just go straight into pop or jazz and such it all starts out with the classical sounds , and thats where u work in the mix and the top range and even the belt but correctly without harming your voice, thats how all these people do shows 8 times a week , cause they sing right so it all starts out with the classical and then you work in the modern and more contemporary sound


"what? what is it? do i have something in my teeth? ok lets get this over with : no im not seasick,yes ive always been green, and no i didnt chew grass as a child "

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wicked4life51
#21re: Shoshana Bean's Vocals In Wicked.
Posted: 12/31/04 at 5:53pm

and listen idina and shoshana have diffrent voiuces and sounds, but people everyone is diffrent we cant all sound like idina or eden or shoshana everyone has their own tone and sound , were not all the same sounding


"what? what is it? do i have something in my teeth? ok lets get this over with : no im not seasick,yes ive always been green, and no i didnt chew grass as a child "

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edenespinosalover
#22re: Shoshana Bean's Vocals In Wicked.
Posted: 12/31/04 at 5:57pm

I don't think I find the classical vibe in her voice. I find a somewhat jazz type of quality with the way she uses her vibrato. Kristy Cates has been said to sound "classical" as Elphaba and Kristy and Shoshana both graduated from CCM, so it might just be from what they learned at CCM. CCM is known more for their students with amazing voices than amazing acting abilities.

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ljay889
#23re: Shoshana Bean's Vocals In Wicked.
Posted: 12/31/04 at 6:00pm

Wicked4life, I understand. As I said before, It all comes down to the singers interpretation of the song. I come from a family of music, and I am very involved with singing at school, I am not stupid when it comes to singing.

I think Idina and Shosh both have great voices! I am just more partial to Idina's interpretation as of now. I think they both make good Elphies. And Eden, I was VERY dissapointed with her No Good Deed I have. But her Defying Gravity is decent.

I also think people are misinterpretating me when I say she has a classical vibe. Not everything she sings sounds classical. Her main vibe in my opinion is more pop/soul/theater sounding, than there are little times in the Wicked songs I hear a classical vibe, especially in No Good Deed, when she breaks out into the vibrato, I hear classical. Especially when she says "Fiyero". Updated On: 12/31/04 at 06:00 PM

ShoTime
#24re: Shoshana Bean's Vocals In Wicked.
Posted: 12/31/04 at 6:04pm

"It all starts with classical training"

I find this difficult to believe. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but Eden has made it clear that she has very little training and learned mostly at theme parks.

Broadway.com says, "Fun Fact: Espinosa's only formal training is a few voice lessons in high school."

Idina, she says she studied classically, I don't hear it.

And Shoshana's own website doesn't mention anything that I can see about classical training. I don't think that most Broadway singers learn to sing classically first, and if they do, they must have forgotten a lot of what they learned.


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