Benanti was mesmerizing on the stage performing this haunting number. She is one of the few who nailed the character totally through this vocal performance.
this is great! I love Laura Benanti. And I have to say, I am very pleasantly surprised by Antonio Banderas (I never got to see this on stage). He totally pulls it off. Great scene all around.
remember that you are watching Benanti sing this on stage... singing in character on a stage is totally different than for a movie. It is powered by thousands of people all watching and concentrating, breathing together.... and a live orchestra playing and all of it conducted... LIVE THEATRE is live... a movie cannot handle the raw power intended for a live performance and so it has to lay back a bit, be more cerebral.... keep all that in mind and watch the 2 performances again and youll see exactly what I mean
Laura did great here. Though the first time I heard this song was by a choir, and I still can't get it out of my head 5 years since I first heard them perform. Check it out. I think it's posted here. UST singers unusual way.
I saw Laura Benanti do a spotlight showcase tonight. She was and is an amazing singer. I loved her rendition of this song much more than Nicole Kidman's. It's so powerful and beautiful.
i also agree with many of you-- this is a great style,& voice range of this song-- and she does not sing it in the 'pop music style" ie she keeps her vowels open until the end -- ie as in the word --"way" my voice teacher has instructed me to keep the vowels open she has so much passion and intensity in all the right places-- she is wonderfull--kidman breathes it and has a flat affect-- i agree,
I have heard many recordings of this song, including the original cast. NO ONE comes anywhere near Laura Benanti! Vocally alone, it is far superior to most (including the OC). When you add the acting, it is unbeatable!
one performance was intended for stage and one for film -- they are completely different mediums that require different approaches. PS theatre performers don't craft their performances to be broadcast in close up on youtube
@derogatony THANK YOU!!!!!!! EVERYONE SAYS NICOLE KIDMAN DID A BETTER JOB, BUT THEY DONT KNOW WHAT REAL TALENT IS THEY ARE SO USE TO ENHANCED COMPUTERS MAKING THESE ACTORS SOUND BETTER NOT RAW TALENT LIKE LAURA BENANTI!!! SHE WON A TONY FOR GYPSY. THERE WAS A REASON NICOLE KIDMAN WON HER OSCAR FOR THE HOURS AND NOT MOULIN ROUGE ITS BECAUSE SHE CANT SING
@TheBohemianTenor Never thought of that - Anne would have been fantastic.... thing is, I think he look was too similar to Penelope and Marion's (???) who knows...
@hannahraepike She does however speak during the song, professing her reasons for why she leaves: security. Tired of the games Guido plays. She's very much part of the song.
Nicole Kidman's voice suited the tone of the film. There wasn't much context given to her character at all. It was simple, one dimensional; well acted but nothing more. Laura Benanti has a far better grasp of the character and thus sings the song as it should be. This is the actress confessing her love for a man she is made weak by. She doesn't want him, which is why she leaves in a song called "Simple" found in the stage production. She's angry at herself and at him!
I actually favor this song in the key written for the movie, which is unusual for me. This sounds too operatic and I really dig the deeper sound/ belt in Nicole's.
They lowered the key for Unusual Way in the Movie then gave it to Nicole Kidman to DESTROY. Terrible Movie , Brilliant Broadway Show with all the songs intact.
@derogatony Nicole Kidman sounded like a MAN ... I HATE IT when they cast people in movies that can't sing the songs in the original key.... Nicole Kidman's performance was SO 2D and boring and FLAT....
I don't like the accents. He doesn't sound Italian (like he ever would!) and her sounds cartoony. I like them both. They are good actors and great singers....but I haaaaate the accents.
I adore Laura Benanti but I found myself not very moved by her when I saw this production. I love NINE but this revival was messy. Banderas and Rivera were perfect.
Best rendition of this song. Period.
She's absolutely STUNNING in this song. I would have LOVED to see this revival.
they were both WONDERFUL in this "hit and miss" revival -- thank you for posting -- Laura Benanti is THE REAL THING
Laura Benanti is a goddess! She's fierce in everything she does.
Benanti was mesmerizing on the stage performing this haunting number. She is one of the few who nailed the character totally through this vocal performance.
I love this song! It's so pretty!
I love Laura, she's beautiful and extremely talented!!
I found this vid 10 years ago, but still best unusual way. Thanks for share prime record!
definitely one of my favorite Broadway actresses and biggest inspirations. She's completely flawless!
this is great! I love Laura Benanti. And I have to say, I am very pleasantly surprised by Antonio Banderas (I never got to see this on stage). He totally pulls it off. Great scene all around.
I LOVE her voice. I want to steal it!!
She is just amazing. I can't stop listening to this song on my iPod. it's just so beautiful and haunting and she just sings it so beautifully xx
yes! the best Louise in GYPSY i've ever seen (and i've seen a LOT of them) -- Laura is TERRIFIC, so talented
this is the best version of the song I have heard.. Its my favorite bway song .
remember that you are watching Benanti sing this on stage... singing in character on a stage is totally different than for a movie. It is powered by thousands of people all watching and concentrating, breathing together.... and a live orchestra playing and all of it conducted... LIVE THEATRE is live... a movie cannot handle the raw power intended for a live performance and so it has to lay back a bit, be more cerebral.... keep all that in mind and watch the 2 performances again and youll see exactly what I mean
beautiful voice!!!!! luv this sooo much.....
beautiful!
I just got this part in a local production of nine =] can't wait
She is my HERO!
this is fantastic!
Laura did great here. Though the first time I heard this song was by a choir, and I still can't get it out of my head 5 years since I first heard them perform. Check it out. I think it's posted here. UST singers unusual way.
I saw Laura Benanti do a spotlight showcase tonight. She was and is an amazing singer. I loved her rendition of this song much more than Nicole Kidman's. It's so powerful and beautiful.
she is perfection
i also agree with many of you-- this is a great style,& voice range of this song-- and she does not sing it in the 'pop music style" ie she keeps her vowels open until the end -- ie as in the word --"way" my voice teacher has instructed me to keep the vowels open she has so much passion and intensity in all the right places-- she is wonderfull--kidman breathes it and has a flat affect-- i agree,
this is amazing, weird to think its been 15 years since this was posted, though. Still, amazing performance.
but really why she didn't get the tony nod is beyond me
I didn't care much for Nicole Kidman's version, but this one is gorgeous. Love it!
I have heard many recordings of this song, including the original cast. NO ONE comes anywhere near Laura Benanti! Vocally alone, it is far superior to most (including the OC). When you add the acting, it is unbeatable!
one performance was intended for stage and one for film -- they are completely different mediums that require different approaches. PS theatre performers don't craft their performances to be broadcast in close up on youtube
@derogatony THANK YOU!!!!!!!
EVERYONE SAYS NICOLE KIDMAN DID A BETTER JOB, BUT THEY DONT KNOW WHAT REAL TALENT IS THEY ARE SO USE TO ENHANCED COMPUTERS MAKING THESE ACTORS SOUND BETTER NOT RAW TALENT LIKE LAURA BENANTI!!! SHE WON A TONY FOR GYPSY. THERE WAS A REASON NICOLE KIDMAN WON HER OSCAR FOR THE HOURS AND NOT MOULIN ROUGE ITS BECAUSE SHE CANT SING
@asthemorningfalls Yes.
@TheBohemianTenor Never thought of that - Anne would have been fantastic.... thing is, I think he look was too similar to Penelope and Marion's (???) who knows...
Wait--- in this song, is she confessing her love to him, or is the song sung "aside"?
@moviemaster02 IF YOU HAD NICOLE DO IT LIVE SHE COULDNT DO IT, THERE ISNT ANYTHING SPECIAL ABOUT HER SINGING CHOPS
at the beginning she sounds a little like audra...audra would be so fierce on this song
@hannahraepike She does however speak during the song, professing her reasons for why she leaves: security. Tired of the games Guido plays. She's very much part of the song.
Wow, one her best songs and roles! Her voice is incredible!
And yeah, Nicole Kidman fails in comparison.
Nicole Kidman's voice suited the tone of the film. There wasn't much context given to her character at all. It was simple, one dimensional; well acted but nothing more.
Laura Benanti has a far better grasp of the character and thus sings the song as it should be. This is the actress confessing her love for a man she is made weak by. She doesn't want him, which is why she leaves in a song called "Simple" found in the stage production. She's angry at herself and at him!
I love Laura Benanti
@stephencolyer You deserve an award fro probably the sanest comment I have ever read on You Tube.
@Bway2be PLEASE DONT WATCH THE MOVIE , ITS A REASON WHY IT DIDNT DO WELL. TRUST ME !!!
I actually favor this song in the key written for the movie, which is unusual for me. This sounds too operatic and I really dig the deeper sound/ belt in Nicole's.
They lowered the key for Unusual Way in the Movie then gave it to Nicole Kidman to DESTROY. Terrible Movie , Brilliant Broadway Show with all the songs intact.
NICOLE KIDMAN DOESN'T BELT! She whispered her way through this song. Jarrod--go to hell.
@derogatony
Nicole Kidman sounded like a MAN ... I HATE IT when they cast people in movies that can't sing the songs in the original key.... Nicole Kidman's performance was SO 2D and boring and FLAT....
laura is flawless. however - the direction to use accents - yikes.
I don't like the accents. He doesn't sound Italian (like he ever would!) and her sounds cartoony. I like them both. They are good actors and great singers....but I haaaaate the accents.
All I can say is, totally different style but I love Nicole Kidman version more.
a technically superior singer but the emotion is not as full and present as others I have seen
I adore Laura Benanti but I found myself not very moved by her when I saw this production. I love NINE but this revival was messy. Banderas and Rivera were perfect.