Sondheim-Favorite Artist Song Performances — Page 2

Judi Dench- Send in the Clowns

Meryl Streep- Last Midnight 

Bernadette Peters- Not A Day Goes By

Mandy Patinkin- Finishing the Hat

Patti Lupone- By the Sea

Donna Murphy- Losing my Mind

Elaine Stritch- I'm Still Here

Audra Mcdonald- The Glamorous Life

icecreambenjamin said: "Judi Dench- Send in the Clowns

Meryl Streep- Last Midnight 

Bernadette Peters- Not A Day Goes By

Mandy Patinkin- Finishing the Hat

Patti Lupone- By the Sea

Donna Murphy- Losing my Mind

Elaine Stritch- I'm Still Here

Audra Mcdonald- The Glamorous Life

 

"

4 of those choices are actors singing a song from a role they were cast in. The whole point of this thread is to explore song choices from roles actors weren't cast in.

I'm no purist- I love Tom Waits's rendition of "Somewhere" as a jazz ballad. His voice was never rougher than there, but his tender bleeding heart was never more evident either.

 

For a guiltier pleasure, in terms of crooners and vocal stylists who have covered "Send In the Clowns" devoid of context, I think Tom Jones gets more than anyone that the song is about both the twilight of a relationship and the twilight of a performing career. (Although the Prince of Wales has managed the knack of reinventing himself successfully in a way that his ancestor Sinatra never fully pulled off.)

icecreambenjamin said: "qolbinau said: "icecreambenjamin said: "Judi Dench- Send in the Clowns

Meryl Streep- Last Midnight 

Bernadette Peters- Not A Day Goes By

Mandy Patinkin- Finishing the Hat

Patti Lupone- By the Sea

Donna Murphy- Losing my Mind

Elaine Stritch- I'm Still Here

Audra Mcdonald- The Glamorous Life

 

"

4 of those choices are actors singing a song from a role they were cast in. The whole point of this thread is to explore song choices from roles actors weren't cast in.

 

"

I shared my favorite Sondheim song performances.  I'll post what I want.

 

"

I mean, yes you will - but what I am suggesting is that 1. It makes you look a little stupid that you couldn't follow the topic of the thread and, 2. It makes it boring for others (or at least, me) if you were to follow your more general criteria because I pretty much know every Sondheim cast recording, so I was hoping that people's responses could direct me to things I might not have heard (e.g., Rannels Being Alive - I didn't know he had sung it). 

If you want to continue being annoying about it, feel free. It's only making you look bad. 
 

 

Updated On: 8/13/16 at 09:30 PM

I suppose that seems true :), apologies.

FlySkyHigh said: "Too Many Mornings - Nathan Gunn & Audra McDonald 

 

Side note: Regarding the OP's 'criteria' for this thread; as I understood it, they preferred not mandated the performances be out of context. They even went as far as to say "happy to hear any and all favorites." Sure, it's great to see/hear other interpretations of great songs but sometimes the original version is truly the best.

 

"

Exactly.  qolbinau, your initial response was extremely rude and uncalled for. 

 

I think my follow up response was somewhat rude and probably uncalled for, but the initial one wasn't that rude and still remains mostly true. 

However, to acknowledge my error and if it makes you feel better perhaps I can record myself singing the Judge's Johanna (Mea Culpa) and see if it worthy to make any of the lists in this thread :P.

I enjoy both of these performances of Marry Me a Little.

Michael Cerveris

Gregg Edelman

broadwaysfguy said: "Appreciate all the posts, and shared a link myself to Raul Esparza's Being Alive (well known of course for his lead role in the 2006 revival of Company) during the tonys because I had not heard before and it was just stunning"

I think that is my favorite version of all the ones I've heard. It absolutely trumps, for me, the Original Cast version. 

 

flyskyhigh

thanks for audra and nathans too many mornings-first time hearing that and it is wonderful!

agree with you that often the original version is the best and many on this board seem to agree especially when it comes to sondheim. i think another poster on another sondheim thread went so far as to say the Original cast version of every sondheim song was the best, period! 

thats what makes threads like this fun, is finding those gems where other artists, whether not associated with a show or through revivals took something already great and found something new or fresh or more in a song....

 

Updated On: 8/15/16 at 12:42 PM

Harry Nilsson's psychedelic version of "Marry Me a Little" is fun too.

Adding another one. I really love "Poems" sung by Mandy Patinkin and Michael Yukon Grody on Patinkin's "Oscar & Steve" album.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9GBLp4ptDg