*in Idina's defense*
I don't think Idina is bad at all, sure she may have sung it badly at the tony's, but there isn't one performer in the world who hasn't had a bad performance. she was the original, she made the song what it is. i think that the others who performed it are just clones of the original, just putting a few twists and turns here and there. i mean, they're all amazing, don't get me wrong.
Stephanie was actually the 'original' if you haven't heard the story. Not trying to slam Idina with that comment, I'm just just saying.:)
I've heard that Steph was the original, but as I'm new to the world of Wicked...(hides) I don't know the story of from Steph to Idina. Anyone care to fill me in?
Swing Joined: 7/10/05
BEST: When i Saw Stephanie LIVE for my b-day but here "Nobody In ALL OZ, NO WIZZARD THAT THERE IS OR WWWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAZZZZZZZ!!!" is a little over the top for me worst
WORST: Idina on 6/13/04 but she was really sick!
And Hairspraydoll in the workshops from about 2000 to september of 2001 Stephanie always read for Elphaba but since she didnt have enough credit to open $14 million production Idina was chosen From Spetember 2001 to the OBC ; Stephanie u/s for the San Fran run and even went out one night as Elphie.
Swing Joined: 12/31/69
sorry, i'm going to have a dumb moment.
what exactly is a "riff"?
hehe (:
liz callaway does it in the show she does with stephen schwartz and it puts all others to shame. sorry.
Liz Callaway sang Defying Gravity? O_O
Jess, a riff is sort of like..an ornament, or a little decoration that the performer puts on the notes. It usually isn't written in the original music.
First off- why does it matter? everyone has their own preferences.
with that said however-
I have to say MARTY THOMAS' version is awesome! He is so fun to watch singing it.
Understudy Joined: 12/11/04
Best: Shoshana Bean
Worst: Idina on the Tonys
Chorus Member Joined: 7/29/05
The Best is definitely Shoshana and the worst is Eden trying to scream it out
yeah i can't STAND when SJB does the whole, "and nobody and all of all, no wizard that there is OR WASSS" her voice just sounds so strange.
Well anyway, Idina was the first one to bring the last few notes up and octave, which made the song what it is.
And about the tony's, i was reading something and it said that they raised her higher than usual, and the machine was swaying from left to right alittle bit. i have it recorded & i can see it now. sounds creepy
Swing Joined: 8/1/05
Best: Idina and Stephanie. Yeah, I'll agree that Stephanie's "And nobody in all of Oz..." was a little forced, but she still is amazing when singing Defying Gravity!
Worst: I'll have to agree with Idina at the Tony's.
Ok- Yeah, there is a bootleg out there of EDEN singing DEFYING GRAVITY on an off night.. She sounded shaky and her voice was not all there... yeah, she sounded bad
But there is also clips of her doing it on a different night- these are shorter clips- but she sings the **** out of all of them... I really love her in those...
Shoshana sings them all very consistantly, but she does not go full out on any of them.. When I saw her live, she was the same.. she only goes all out on NO GOOD DEED...
so- EDEN on those short clips!
Broadway Star Joined: 1/20/05
If you want to talk about clips bootlegs etc, you must PM them!! That is a big No NO on this board. Whether I`m against it or not.
I was talking about those on limewire and such... this whole board talks about those all the time.. i didn't think i was actually talking about something everyone didn't know about...
sorry
oh for goodness sake, Eden doesn't scream...she just has a raw and edgy belt
I, too, think Eden has the finest Defying Gravity and honestly her riffs in that number have been the basis for Elphies post-Eden. She infused the number with the most vocal creativity and power that I literally melted in my seat. A fierce rendition.
Worst: Idina about six months into her Broadway run and through the end. Talk about mushmouth diction and pitchiness. I have yet to see Stephanie live, but her overacted renditions do nothing for me.
If all these people sing it great, i wonder why they didn't originate the role? is it because of idina's star power or what ever?
Well...only one actress can originate the role! There can't be two! Doesn't work that way, silly!
actually my cat sings it worst
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
Idina sings it the best. the end!
No bias, right idinarocksmysocks?
And you're very welcome Jess.
yes I'm bias... but I've heard Sho sing it before and she sounds really good too! Though someone mentioned that Idina didn't sound do great at the 'Tonys and I agree. flat or sharp? oh well.
Stand-by Joined: 2/20/04
Worst: Stepahnie the first time I saw her...it was terrible...
Best: Idina the first time I saw her...amazing performance. Two days later, she didn't sing as well.
I love Eden as well..and I have to give her the best "The Wizard and I".
They are all pretty good. I do love Idina and Stephanie are my two favs. I don't dislike anyone
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