'You Have to Be There' as slaughtered by Susan Boyle.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 9/1/11 at 10:07pm

https://www.broadwayworld.com/videoplay.php?colid=269938

What the hell, man. I have to take pause with BWW too as this is not a new song. Try a 15 year old song.
Both versions (English)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqOV7Tn2IcU
The original Swedish version
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vk76_iqw-Pc

[Johnnycantdecide]

Posted: 9/1/11 at 10:22pm

This is one of the worse things i've ever heard.

[jacobtsf]

Posted: 9/1/11 at 10:24pm

"her new song" means a song that is new for her.

That said, yes this was not good, but not as horrible as many of her other appearances.

[latitudex1]

Posted: 9/1/11 at 10:41pm

I like how she tried to "act it out." But—even though the two songs have very similar themes—I guess the type of desperation & sadness she had in "I Dreamed a Dream" didn't translate to this song.

And this song loses something without the screaming high Ds at the end.

[jasonf]

Posted: 9/1/11 at 10:42pm

Isn't she at minute 16 by now?

[GlindatheGood22]

Posted: 9/1/11 at 10:53pm

We're not that lucky.

[bernadettelupone17]

Posted: 9/1/11 at 11:15pm

Alice Ripley performed this song on her duet cd. Surprisingly, it is absolutely breathtaking. Changing subjects: isn't it time Kristina is brought to broadway? It's one of favorite pieces of theatre, and it is completely stunning.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 9/2/11 at 12:24am

can Susan Boyle please go away!! now!

[ACL2006]

Posted: 9/2/11 at 12:24am

can Susan Boyle please go away!! now!

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 9/2/11 at 2:12am

Ripley's live version of this song is absolutely stunning. I'll keep that in my head, and not click to Boyle's warbling.

[THDavis]

Posted: 9/2/11 at 6:58am

Anyone else realize how true "Razzle Dazzle" is after watching this?

[broadwayjim42]

Posted: 9/2/11 at 1:34pm

Helen Sjoholm owns this song and while I did think Susan's version was, um.....tolerable, it was edited, rushed and just plain lacking.

As for "Kristina" and it's Broadway fate, I think that ship might have sailed. After the Carnegie Hall concerts, both of which I attended, critics praised Benny's score to the heavens, but both the English lyrics (many of which I think are clunky)and the cumbersome plot came under fire.

A production is being mounted in Finland next year but I haven't heard anything about Broadway in the two years since Carnegie Hall.

[BosBroad]

Posted: 9/3/11 at 3:10am

Well, I enjoyed it. No, it's not great, or even very good, vocally, but I thought she communicated the sentiment well.

I personally was just glad that the song received exposure. The fact is that millions more people know I Dreamed a Dream and Les Miserables today than they did pre-Susan Boyle. And now millions have seen YHTBT performed - by Susan Boyle. Everyone thinks it's new because so few have heard of it.

Wouldn't it be great if some tv show somewhere - other than Glee - would show theater performers in prime time? Sure. Are they going to? Nope.

So we all can say, pretentiously and rather rudely, "can she go away now?" or we can be happy there is at least a performer interested in musical theater who can get it heard - and get some publicity for the shows.

Let's also remember that, if we want CDs manufactured, we need singers who sell them. Isn't she up around 20 million now? In an industry that's on life support, that's one heck of a transfusion.

On a personal and irrelevant note, I've worked a lot with people with disabilities, and for that reason, I'm rooting for her. It's truly amazing what she's able to do - and frankly, I think people sense how hard things are for her so that draws them to her even more.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 9/3/11 at 4:04am

I appreciate that sentiment, but is Boyle a "theatre performer"? When she performs on this show, IMHO, she just comes off as a middle of the road singer the Talent franchise wants to promote. I don't even think the majority of her fans would bother finding out it's from Kristina...

(I admit, I like a ton of pop singers, and some that could be called middle of the road--and don't get me started on my disco faves--but I simply don't get the Boyle appeal).

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 9/3/11 at 4:15am

I personally was just glad that the song received exposure. The fact is that millions more people know I Dreamed a Dream and Les Miserables today than they did pre-Susan Boyle.

You think the fact that they know it that those millions really give a sh*t to find out more? I Dreamed a Dream was already a well known song...

Wouldn't it be great if some tv show somewhere - other than Glee - would show theater performers in prime time? Sure. Are they going to? Nope.

She is a karaoke singer.

Let's also remember that, if we want CDs manufactured, we need singers who sell them. Isn't she up around 20 million now? In an industry that's on life support, that's one heck of a transfusion.

Yeah, so what if she sounds horrible! She sells CDs! Yay! Am I supposed to be happy about a novelty act?

So we all can say, pretentiously and rather rudely, "can she go away now?" or we can be happy there is at least a performer interested in musical theater who can get it heard - and get some publicity for the shows.

Publicity for the shows? She sings from Les Miz & Cats if those shows need publicity we've run into a problem.
Updated On: 9/3/11 at 04:15 AM

[BosBroad]

Posted: 9/3/11 at 4:39am

TheaterFan4:

Wow, such anger.

You think the fact that they know it that those millions really give a sh*t to find out more? I Dreamed a Dream was already a well known song...

No, actually, IDAD wasn't already a well known song in the general, mostly occasional/non-theater-going public. Not by a long shot. The song that broke out mainstream from Les Mis was Bring Him Home. I guarantee the majority of people in the US watching Boyle's video heard IDAD for the first time. In the UK, it was likely very different.

I wrote:
Wouldn't it be great if some tv show somewhere - other than Glee - would show theater performers in prime time? Sure. Are they going to? Nope.

You answered:
She is a karaoke singer.

Nice response. I like how you addressed my point about the lack of performances of songs from the theater on prime time television.


Yeah, so what if she sounds horrible! She sells CDs! Yay! Am I supposed to be happy about a novelty act?

I never requested you be happy. I have my suspicions that might not even be possible. But, yes, the music industry does need singers who sell large quantities of CDs in order to keep producing CDs for singers who don't. It's a fact.

And is she a "novelty act" three years and three albums on? Maybe.

Publicity for the shows? She sings from Les Miz & Cats if those shows need publicity we've run into a problem.

I haven't heard anything on her CDs from Cats. I've heard songs from Les Mis, Chess and Kristina.

Regarding Les Mis in the UK, read up on the Susan Boyle effect there. It's really interesting. Seriously. When Cameron Macintosh says, "We're open now because of Susan Boyle" that means something.

And, I'm fairly certain the Benny and Bjorn aren't too upset at having YHTBT sung from Kristina - since they couldn't get capitalization to open here, and since 99.9% of the public won't have a clue the musical even exists.

[BosBroad]

Posted: 9/3/11 at 4:48am

Eric -

No, I don't think she's a theater performer. Did I say/imply that? If so, I didn't mean it.

I meant that there aren't any real theater performers on tv. Boyle and Glee are the only exposure many Americans get to musical theater.

I'd rather we were exposed to the originals and the best. But we aren't, so I'm just grateful that we at least have a singer who will sing something like YHTBT on a major US show.

I remember reading that Ruthie Henshall said she got a million views on her IDAD after Boyle. I would imagine Helen Sjoholm could also benefit in some way.

A lot of people don't get the Boyle appeal. But I don't get the EMINEM appeal.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 9/3/11 at 5:05am

1.) Now more than ever I believe Robin Williams should play her in a bio-pic.

2.) I've never seen a performer look more uncomfortable. She looks strapped in that dressed and her body never moves. Who the f@#k did her make-up?

3.) There is so much going on on-stage to distract you from the fact that she blows. To those saying they want variety shows back, this is not variety show material. On variety shows performers often sang on a bare stage, showcasing the song and their voice. This number was overblown with orchestra and strings, crazy lighting effects, confetti etc. They have to make one song a spectacle because she blows.

4.) I don't care how many albums she sells, her sound is atrocious. Her albums are awful tripe. The adult contemporary equivalent of Glee CDs-overproduced and garish. Her first CD was like a funeral procession-lackluster, joyless, and every song sounded the same.

5.) She reminds of the singing Frankenstein monster in Young Frankenstein.

6.) She has enough cash to keep her in cats, flannel jammies, Ovaltine and Hitachi magic wands, She can fade into obscurity now.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 9/3/11 at 5:05am

1.) Now more than ever I believe Robin Williams should play her in a bio-pic.

2.) I've never seen a performer look more uncomfortable. She looks strapped in that dressed and her body never moves. Who the f@#k did her make-up?

3.) There is so much going on on-stage to distract you from the fact that she blows. To those saying they want variety shows back, this is not variety show material. On variety shows performers often sang on a bare stage, showcasing the song and their voice. This number was overblown with orchestra and strings, crazy lighting effects, confetti etc. They have to make one song a spectacle because she blows.

4.) I don't care how many albums she sells, her sound is atrocious. Her albums are awful tripe. The adult contemporary equivalent of Glee CDs-overproduced and garish. Her first CD was like a funeral procession-lackluster, joyless, and every song sounded the same.

5.) She reminds of the singing Frankenstein monster in Young Frankenstein.

6.) She has enough cash to keep her in cats, flannel jammies, Ovaltine and Hitachi magic wands, She can fade into obscurity now.

[BosBroad]

Posted: 9/3/11 at 5:09am

Hey Bettyboy, what do you really think? LOL

Just fyi, she does move awkwardly for a reason - she has a disability. Attack her voice, her songs and the production all you want, but there's no need to make fun of her for that.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 9/3/11 at 5:20am

BosBroad, I appreciate your response, and apologize if I came off rude. I did think you implied it was the same as having a theatre performer on major US tv (and I did catch some of the touring cast of Les Miz on the show the week or two before, so...) It's true that to some extent the song will lead people to seek out other versions--youtube has been great in that respect.

And don't worry--I don't get the boyle appeal, I just find her emotionless and not a great singer, but my fave pop vocalist is Donna Summer who many here would flay me for, so :)

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 9/3/11 at 5:22am

Susan Boyle suffers from depression, anxiety, and has some cognitive delays (learning disabilities). I've watched her TV bios, interviews and specials. There has never been mention of any physical disabilities that I'm aware other that being older and the limitations of age. I'd never make fun of a documented physical disability had I been aware.

Believe me, I was on the band wagon with SuBo for a very short time. I think she's had a nice run and needs to retire. This isn't for her and she's got lots of $$$. Her mum would be proud. Now she can go away.

Everyone loves on American Idol when hopefuls with lacking talent get crushed. Someone needs to tell SuBo that the world was in love with her underdog story, not her mediocre pipes.

Then again the general public is beginning to no longer be able to identity a good singer because music is so filtered and overproduced they don't understand what vocal technique and craftsmanship sound like.

Christine Ebersole should be selling 20 million albums-not Susan Boyle.

[Amalia Balash]

Posted: 9/3/11 at 11:11am

Susan Boyle does nothing for me as a singer or a story, but I'm always glad when someone or something puts interesting new-to-me music on my radar. This thread's done that. I was totally unfamiliar with Kristina. I clicked on the OP's link to the YouTube of the English version of You Have To Be There, enjoyed it, and downloaded the Kristina at Carnegie Hall album.

So Susan Boyle indirectly helped at least one person get interested enough in Kristina to find out more. If she and Glee and other popularizers are doing that for other people and other musicals, good for them.

[ggersten]

Posted: 9/6/11 at 5:51pm

I'm only glad for this if it will help me locate the d**n sheet music for this song. We've been googling for a week, without success. Anyone have the sheet music that they'd like to share? PM if possible.
On topic, I didn't find Boyle horrible - although some of her phrasing was awkward. She's just an okay singer - she's not a performer. Alice Ripley is a performer. Helen Sjoholm is a performer. They understand the song - the tension - the passion - the longing - the confusion. That's why their versions are stirring and Boyle's is flat.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 9/6/11 at 6:35pm

Sara Chase's rendition of this song in the big workshop of KRISTINA in New York a few years ago was absolutely stunning (Alice Ripley was in it too, but as Ulrika.)

As has been pointed out, Boyle is a singer who lacks any skill to convey the emotional subtext of the lyrics she performs. While her instrument and her story are both impressive, she has zero versatility. Her social awkwardness makes watching her live performances almost unbearable.

Updated On: 9/6/11 at 06:35 PM