The Glamorous Life

[esparza 333]

Posted: 12/22/10 at 10:01pm

Am I the only one who is obsessed with this song!! Every since hearing Audra's performance of it during the Sondheim Birthday Concert, It has always been in my head. Her version is so wonderful and it is most certainly Audra at her best. In addition to this particular performance I love how witty and clever and layered the lyrics are. Even after a long time worshipping Sondheim his lyrics still strike a chord with me especially this song. I am sorry this is a random thread but I am sick of all these Spidey threads and I thought a thread about such a song, artist and composer would get our minds of that show.

[SondheimFan23]

Posted: 12/22/10 at 10:06pm

I love this song too! I've been listening to it on repeat.! I almost like it better than the original..

[Scarlett212]

Posted: 12/22/10 at 11:55pm

Loved Audra voice as always one of the highlights of the concert. she explores every emotion this is in that song.

[ljay889]

Posted: 12/22/10 at 11:57pm

It's a lovely song, but I prefer the original show version.

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 12/23/10 at 12:13am

I love both versions, but I only wish there were some way to integrate them both into the show (assuming what they did in that London version with the movie song was replace the original).

[ljay889]

Posted: 12/23/10 at 12:15am

London did combine them. It's on the Dench recording. It's a bit of a disaster. Sondheim was supposedly extremely unhappy that they did it.

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 12/23/10 at 12:17am

Oh wow. I'll have to try to get my hands on this recording. But wasn't it taken out of print because Sondheim was unhappy?

[ljay889]

Posted: 12/23/10 at 12:24am

No, I think the record label quickly shut down or something.

[uncageg]

Posted: 12/23/10 at 12:25am

I enjoyed Audra's performance of the song more in her Lincoln Center concert. I burned the concert to CD and listen to it a lot. However, my favorite song from the show is "A Weekend in the Country".

[hottieho13]

Posted: 12/23/10 at 3:09am

I really love this song and how she sounds so rich!but why are there two versions of this song?i like the version that Audra sings the best.

[newintown]

Posted: 12/23/10 at 9:46am

I really fond of the London mash-up of the two - the meter shifts are really fun, and there's a terrific sense of inexorable momentum. I do wish the London Fredrika's voice weren't so mature - which is the same reason I'm not crazy about Audra's rendition. It should be sung by a girl with a rather pure, young, clear tone (in my opinion).

The London version also gave Frederika a small but significant bit of extra attention, making her a slightly more important part of the Armfeldt family (she's very easy to overlook). It was a wonderful production.

[jv92]

Posted: 12/23/10 at 1:24pm

I happen to enjoy both songs very much.

[Boq101]

Posted: 12/23/10 at 1:31pm

can anyone put up the lyrics to the mashed version so those of us who can't hear it can at least sort of figure out how it was done?

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 12/23/10 at 2:03pm

I like it when she bounces the drumstick on the floor and it bounces right back into her hand...and when she kicks the cymbal and the glitter flies everywhere.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 12/23/10 at 4:25pm

I have watched Audra's performance of this song over and over and I am awed by the way Sondheim creates the girl's character by the lies she tells herself.

I am also awed by Audra's ability to portray every nuance of his writing.

[GlindatheGood22]

Posted: 12/23/10 at 5:53pm

I don't think Fredrika's really lying to herself. She probably genuinely believes that Desiree is going to come see her, which of course she eventually does.

She's idealizing Desiree's life, but she was very young when they toured together. She probably doesn't remember much of the grit of it all. Anyway, she's only fourteen. Of course she wants to hold her mother as an idol.

But she is, however, trying very hard not to admit to herself how much she misses Desiree. At least that's the way I see it.

[hottieho13]

Posted: 12/23/10 at 6:53pm

i loved the Audra's Nuances also during this song!and even though she is a full grown beautiful women,when she sang it ,she had the vulnerability or even gulible nature of a child(i guess that's what you call it,but it probably would fall under nuances as well.hearing her sing this is so hypnotic ,it sucks that she didn't record this on any of her albums yet.but is this version used in the stage play at all?

[ljay889]

Posted: 12/23/10 at 6:56pm

but is this version used in the stage play at all?

No, but the 1995 London revival with Judi Dench unsuccessfully combined both versions. I know some like the combination, but I call it unsuccessful because if Sondheim really thought it worked, I think we would have heard it in subsequent revivals. It's interesting to hear, but honestly sounds like a mess to me.

Updated On: 12/23/10 at 06:56 PM

[hottieho13]

Posted: 12/23/10 at 7:03pm

"No, but the 1995 London revival with Judi Dench unsuccessfully combined them. I know some like the combination, but I call it unsuccessful because if Sondheim really thought it worked, I think we would have heard it in subsequent revivals. It's interesting to hear, but honestly sounds like a mess to me."



ok thanks! i wanted to use it for auditions and concert types of things(yeah i know never audition with a Sondheim song but you never know!).i just like to find/collect obscure or not well known songs and keep them in my repertoire,as for the 1995 mash-up i'm scouring youtube for it now.