Analyzing LEA MICHELE's "Funny Girl" performance on GMA!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 14 ต.ค. 2022
- A few months ago I posted a video analzying Lea Michele's performance of "Don't Rain On My Parade" from Glee. Today we're breaking down Lea Michele's performance as Fanny Brice in Funny Girl, singing the same song a decade later. Has she grown as a performer and a person?
Check out my video analyzing Lea's performance on "Glee":
• Analyzing LEA MICHELE'...
Check out my video reviewing Lea's performance in the show:
• I saw Lea Michele in F...
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i’ve pretty much heard every song from the show at this point thanks to some pretty brave souls secretly recording and i have to say…lea was born to play this role. it all just makes sense when she sings it
Barbra Streisand’s breath control has always been the most impressive aspect of her vocal technique (to me, at least.). And when Lea Michele was on Glee, I felt that this aspect of her singing was compromised at times. There’s a Tony Awards performance where Lea Michele sings with a very high, tight breath, but with time and maturity, her breath support as Fanny Brice is much improved. It could have helped that she’s had a baby, which can assist singers in expanding and better connecting with their pelvic floor. Either way, this is the right singer, in the right role, at the right time her in life.
Hi. Just found your channel. As good as she sounds here, in the theatre she’s even MORE incredible. Her voice almost sounds like a horn. In the song I’m the Greatest Star, the whole theatre was vibrating. Not a single note off pitch the entire show. I don’t know how she sings this difficult score 7 times a week.
Agreed 100%- she leaves you with chills. And you never feel like she's straining, it all comes across as completely effortless.
I'm glad to see you did a follow up critique. And it's good that you point out the difference when she sings as Rachel Berry vs Fanny Brice.
Yes, as you said, she has the pipes. At the same time, the choices are made by not just a singer but by an actress. If the delivery of a note and the emotional impact are considered it must be considered by both a singer and and actress. There is no doubt that emotional impact for the audience should be the foremost concern. She approaches it equally as an actress and a vocalist. That is thoughtful for a complete performance.
Have to admit, her signature cry sound is what hooked me on her voice ♥️
My favorite part of her voice for sure!
The glee music producer liked it and said it t gave her a signature sound so it is why it is used in many glee songs.
I agree. Sounds terrific.
This is one professionals opinion of her voice. I love his analysis and the way he breaks her voice down, but remember what he may slightly dislike about her voice, others may love. Myself included. Thanks for the video I enjoyed it.
Me too
Great video! Just a note she has Thursday’s off, so she does 7 shows with two breaks in performance a week. Gives her a bit more of a chance for vocal stamina. She was phenom live.
I wish I could take your audience to the theater to see a performance, rather than one song outside in the middle of Times Square. She is so comfortable, courageous and natural on stage. A great dramatic actress. The songs fit into the feelings of the moment. I don't know if she is a method actress or what, but there is a lot more emotion on stage. It is intimate and overwhelming. I held my hands to my face and started crying by the time it got to this song. I don't remember ever doing that before. All her songs gave me goose bumps. She was a real human being on stage. Interesting analysis of her voice and vocal decisions and I guess her GMA performance was the best we could get.
I feel the same as you in person at the theater you can't your eyes off of her I cried when she sun people I don't know why but the tears just started coming she was amazing and I have never cried at a Broadway play before.
Please tell me another only person who could literally listen to her all day every day and never ever get tired of it.
notes stopped at the end represents 🎤 mic dropped!!! she's amazing!!!!
I started singing at 4 years old, and I have to say when I heard Beanie "singing" the role of Fanny, I was shocked, mortified and uncomfortable. It was unbelievably bad. That said, I am living for Lea's performance! Powerful, polished and most of all PROFESSIONAL.
Amen to that, feldstine never should have been cast and no I won’t stop saying that because its the trueth, lea is perfection.
She's made Fanny believable in Lea. She's grown up!
I've being a fan of Lea for years and I have to say that she is amazing with the higer notes but her lower ones are a challenge for her. Also, I think you didn't watch Lea singing this song as Lea and that's probably why you see the "cry" as a Rachel Berry sound, but that is Lea's style.
I think she is a bit more 'over indulging' here, since it's for TV. There are some clips of the show flying around youtube and if you watch DROMP as she sang it in the show, there's a clearer difference to her Glee version
I worked as a professional ballet dancer for 20 years & I still work as a choreographer and repetiteur. I enjoy fouettes, but I have learned some people are not naturally equipped for the full 32, let alone variations. It doesn't make them a less proficient dancer by any means! I've had amazing turners not able to do steps I choreograph and find simple (petit allegro especially!). Every dancer has their specialties, but those specialties end up being tricks to show off, not their full measure as a dancer.
Lea Michele is the greatest star. I saw her in funny girl and she is phenomenal
The vocal cry I think was more of a character choice for the vocal style of Rachel, because it’s far less present in Spring Awakening. It doesn’t bother me because I feel like she’s choosing it as an expressive choice.
Exactly anyone who listens to lea's old performance she did not do that in every project
I quite like it when she does it. Sounds pleasant.
Actually, for someone with a heigher tessitura belting those mid-range notes with power might be challenging. So it could be that the choices are to add power and "grit".
Great video! And Lea Michele is clearly born for this role - and doing an amazing job on Broadway! I must find a way to get to NYC ASAP and see her live!!
I don’t know about being mean to co workers but Lea Michele has the equipment, control and artistry to be a Diva . Her choices in that song are well considered and practically flawlessly executes and like you pointed out…it is easy for her because she put in the time and effort to train her god given instrument.
Let’s be honest, Lea Michelle IS Rachel Berry. But we also have to hand it to her. She is undeniably talented.
Sorry I think that is not correct. They have a few similarities but Lea was acting as a teen and directed to do things certain things. Glee fans get caught up in this idea they used their real stories but that was just as an idea they never followed them completed. Also as Chris Cofler once said glee is NOT a real life documentary.
Hung out with her lately that you know that? Lol
Rachel berry doesn't exist. And do you know Lea personally?
@@JnTmarie I can answer that question for you know this person hasn’t hung out with her personally to know any of this and I’m sorry, but the fact that the person who is running this channel wants to waste time complaining instead of just doing the analysis really irritates me because he’s feeding into the nonsense. He’s feeding into the drama. Lee was directed to do certain things because she was playing a teenager like someone else said, and like someone else also said glee is a real life documentary Leah Michelle is not Rachel Berry Leah Michelle is herself that’s it is she no but is she deserving of constantly being nitpicked to the point where she had to deactivate social media because she was getting death threats no and please don’t think that I’m saying for one second that you did any of those dreadful things because I’m sure that you didn’t. I’m not saying that at all just for clarification.
soprano - this is not a difficult song to sing but her tone quality and control are quite good
I never watched “Glee” and all I knew about Lea Michele is the gossip about her being a mean diva. Then I saw her perform in “Funny Girl.” I’ve never seen a Broadway audience react so wildly to any performance, and I was cheering just as much as everyone else. She stopped the show several times! Needless to say, I am now a Lea Michele fan, and just got my CD of the “New Broadway Cast” of “Funny Girl,” which I know I will enjoy for years to come.
FYI - Lea is doing 7 shows a week which is a good idea considering the work load. She has Thursday evenings off and the show has Monday off.
And her fantastic understudy does Thursday’s show!
@@realbeal
Julie isn't just an understudy: she's an alt, one who has scheduled performances during the week. Understudies only take over when the main lead is unable to perform for whatever reason.
The “scoop” she does is what I love about her voice
So you pretty much said Lea was soo good that she just adjusts her voice to fit the character.
So many great vocal effects pointed out, that I will instruct my leads to watch this video for secret sauce ideas.
This is a fascinating analysis, one I truly appreciate. However, I am skeptical that so many of the vocal choices were so calculated to make the notes sound harder to sing than they are for Lea Michele. What I see is an actor playing the beats (in the acting sense) of this song with great and brave meaning; the vocals primarily and organically informed by the choices of an actor in their role; not by a vocalist trying to appear more at risk of wiping out than she really is. And an actor doing it all very very well.
You should be analyzing her singing in the theater and not some weekday morning, on the street performance.
Fantastic!
Great review and explaining. She is damn talented, no doubt about that 💯
I love lea in this role, she’s perfect.
Fascinating analysis. But I am not sure it represents her process that lead to her singing choices. A lot of this is just an instinctive response to the character, the scene and the song that musical theater actors engage in, filling in the spaces between the director's broad guidance. Lea is a very experienced stage performer, who's less conscious intuition is plenty sufficient to get her to the same place. Regardless, its very effective. I look forward to watching more of this channel.
Was never a big fan of Lea Michelle and wasn't excited about seeing her cast as Fanny Brice, but you have to hand it to her, she takes the role head on and owns it. We've all been a bit too snidey about her...
Also once again, I'd really love to see you analyze Shoshana Bean singing Finishing the Hat (the Dressing Room Sessions video) from Sunday in the Park with George. She really slays it I think, especially since it's a male role
the only reason i've been snidey about her was because of the stories i kept reading about her being a giant toolbox with her previous co-workers.
I think you did a great job of reviewing performance. I agree with most of what you said with the following exceptions.
I don’t think she thinks about each individual note, and how to make it sound harder than it is actually for her to sing. I think she’s trying to tell story within the context of the song vocally. And to properly convey the story, she’s making certain choices of how to use her voice that enhances certain notes.
Now they may also have the effect of making a certain note sound harder to sing, But I don’t think that’s why she makes the choice. as a long time singer by avocation with a very similar vocal range and a big voice, it’s the story that dominates how I sing the pitch that I’m hitting. The actual pitch has nothing to do with it has nothing to do with it till I start going after F’s, G’s and A’s. (The A being a pitch that I wouldn’t want to have to put on Broadway with any consistency as a mezzo.)
In fact, sometimes a song would demand a lighter touch going up the scale and that’s when it really gets hard. when you have a big voice, singing loud on a high note or even a mid range. Note that’s easy, always easy yes, even six or seven times a week.
She’s doing a wonderful job, and the backers of the production were probably wise to make the substitution. Thanks for the breakdown.
She's a pro!!!!!
OMG, what a pleasure to listen to your comments. Thanks so much for sharing and reviewing Mateo!
I would love to see a video critiquing Beanies version of Greatest Star in the future, thank you 😊
Awesome deconstruction! Good thoughts. In some ways, I’ve thought, “Yeah, that’s the kind of voice the role needs.” He instrument has definitely matured. “The cry” I call it “the hiccup.”) Has for sure thinned out. A lot of the habit seems to have turned into “mini hiccups.” Maybe if she were a little less lugubrious (much of the time) and more percussive, I’d love it more. Still, she’s singing it pretty purely without a lot of extra fuss, and I love that. ETA - I seriously miss the glissandos in the winds during the “I’m gonna live” bridge!
This song was not difficult for Lea at all, she sung this a million times. But she was a lot more techincal here since she was a recast and has to prove herself on national tv. Singing live on TV is a lot harder and has more stakes.
I really like that you talk about her technique and it's so engaging that you bring in some music/theatre theory into your videos!! It brings me back to the good old days when I was learning about music theory in high school. Amazing channel. Would love to see videos about Lea Michele singing People (or other funny girl songs), or Gliding (from Ragtime).
Thank you for your reviews and coaching!
Thanks for such a thorough analysis of this performance. Your points are well made and you illustrate them with excellent clips and comments. I wish you had acknowledged the impact of singing outdoors in the middle of Times Square as this context further affects Lea's performance, I am sure. If you were to contrast it with her performance in the theatre you would find a different set of techniques to analyze, although your comments would remain essentially the same, I suspect. Anyways, count me in as a new subscriber. You are informed, articulate and enthusiastic about your subject. What more could anyone ask.
Thank you for the video. We keep hearing these terrible stories about Leah Michelle. I want to like her. It was nice to hear something positive… thank you!.
Love her since 2010.. nothing has changed.. will definitely not be affected by that Sammie girl aka drama queen
@@Max-my6rk exactly I don’t care what Samantha said because she lied and anybody with a functioning brain nose she lied.
honestly, the whole reason she got fanny brice was because of rachel berry, the whole reason funny girl is on broadway is because rachel berry, this would not have been a thing without lea, i don't know why she didn't get it at the first place, maybe it was scheduling and her having her baby, thats why they kicked the old actress to the curb the moment that Lea became available
Beanies father is one of the producers of the show. She didnt Lose the part because Lea became available, she loat it because her singing is painfully inadequate for the role. Both ticket sales and reviews were horrible. lea was called in to save the show
This show seems to be more about the host than the subject of the show. She’s the one who is on Broadway- much easier to be the critic.
i agree i dont think shes really trying that hard. i think shes so naturally talented and that's why she could stand to sing so much in glee and on broadway while preserving her voice. in the spring awakening doc she was literally singing defying gravity as a warmup! its esp impressive to most people bc the majority of us cant easily hit these notes or sustain them
How much of the vocal choices are hers vs the music director’s?
This is all well and good, and you know your stuff quite well musically; but of course the elephant in the room is Barbra Streisand--whom Lea has obviously listened to 10, 000 times (and why shouldn't she? Barbra has phenomenal vocal and dramatic gifts she was born with, and a ton of analysis is beside the point. I was lucky enough as a teenager to see Barbra on Broadway, and I can't even describe what that was like. She absolutely defines charisma. BUT--most of us know all that. Believe it or not I am rooting for Lea and am delighted she's getting to do the role of her dreams. Her joy in the role is obvious and infectious. And I hope the show has a long run. But let's not forget who the original "pip with pizazz" is. Attention must be paid. Speaking of Streisand, one critic said, "What she is, happens once." He was right. Meanwhile, Go Lea! I hope Barbra waltzes in the theatre one night to see her--wouldn't that be an occasion??! :)
Wonderful comment
I think, part of the cry voice is because people want to see Rachel Berry in this role as well as Lea Michele in this role
Great video :)
I don’t know I don’t hear that cry sound you talk about. I just really love her voice. I like when she does that loud sound in her voice.
I mean you pointing out the cry I hear it now. But I like it. I don’t think it’s annoying. It sounds good. I think it’s just a nitpick on your part. She sounds amazing
Nit Pick MUCH
It's not as obvious as it used to be for sure. If you listen to her Glee performances it's a lot more obvious and a bit annoying at times. In this rendition of don't rain on my parade I think it was added carefully and I really liked it. But that's always just personal preference
She doesn’t do it as much as she used to but it used to be way too much on the show glee. I found it very hard to like her voice for a long time because of it.
OK I do hear that sound but I love it I freaking love it to me that’s her trademark but then I’m just gonna say it right here and right now I am biased and I love everything about her voice to me. Her voice is flawless and if that makes me delusional then fine.
I’m Brazilian, here we don’t have many musicals, even less in small towns as the one I live and the singing coaches are more focused on teaching pop music, so watch your channel and learn that much from you with so many details is so good, thank you for your work and for being so good at it ❤❤
You should check out Lillias White's version of Don't rain on My parade. She was Fanny Brice in a actor's fund performance of this musical several years ago which was at the New Amsterdam theater. I would love to see what you think of that performance. This clip l mentioned can be found on TH-cam.
Great every Word You said
You are giving some very Anthony Newley vocal vibes around 8:15, love it
The question remains, why wasn't Ms. Michelle cast in the first place? I felt sorry for Ms. Feldstein, who was miscast from the getgo.
First of all, i heard that beanie's dad is one of producers and some said he bought that role first her… 2nd lea was involved in that drama…
@@Max-my6rk she just had a baby and wanted to be a mom for a year before going back to work as well.
I finally saw the show & enjoy your breakdown. I am so glad to see your growth in the " uncanceling " of Lea which happened in her teens. ( and canceling people is not good ) . One more thing , consider that Babs was 18 when she climbed on stage - Mayne 19 for FG. Lea must be 30's. She has a good voice. Babs was good in FG movie and nothing else ( 4 me ) .
I tried to watch this but there are too many interuptions. I got nothing from it.
I will admit right off that I am not a Lea Michelle fan. I think that she uses the "cry" way too much. It is a tool in the singer's toolbox, but there are a lot of other ones that she could use. Yes, she pulls a lot of them out for this performance, but, for me, the "cry" went into the annoying catagory. I would have liked to hear the belted notes go somewhere - an increased intensity perhaps, rather than just held out. Having said that, she did a good job. While the song isn't challenging as far as the range it is a challenge with all the rhythmic changes, and she nails them.
I LITERALLY was just telling a friend that she's no Barbra, she over sells this song. And here I found you confiming my thoughts!! Love you. Barbra (if this makes sense) basically talked the singing and didn't over sell it. Thanks for the great review
I never was affected by that trash on her… look at where Sammie girl is at
Heck look at where a lot of them are compared to Lee. I mean Lee did amazing and funny girl. She’s got five great albums out including the funny girl cast recording she’s got a concert in October and as far as I know she’s got a new Broadway show coming up so you tell me again Who is doing really well because it ain’t Samantha it ain’t Chris it ain’t Amber. It ain’t none of them it’s Lee.
In Italian it is subito (accent on the u not the i). Great review.
I’m hearing a hell of a lot of nitpicking from a bunch of people who are not on Broadway like Lee is if you guys think you can do better than do it I’ll wait.
There are a few My Man covers on TH-cam from other singers that are amazing. Lea is great but not the end all. I enjoy learning from you through your knowledge.
I totally agree I don’t like the cry thing. She does over do it. She’s cleaned up her vocals but She still does the cry thing more than you are pointing out You’ve been kind. I just wish she was strong and passionate vs loud and angry Love your voice!
I love it so much ❤
Please do Gimme Gimme from Thoroughly Modern Millie!!
I like your analysis of this but no one talks about how lazy some of her words are - like “targit” as opposed to “ target”. It drives me crazy!! Haha
But you are really cool!!
Thanks!!
Can you analyze Jeremy Jordan?
I saw Funny Girl this weekend and loved it. I agree her sigh/cry comes up off as inauthentic or annoying. But her "Brooklyn Jewish" was not good. It was more off an actress who had taken speech classes trying to affect a Brooklyn Jewish accent.
Vocals 10 Comedy 2
She may be difficult but boy can she sing….. Lea Michelle in a nutshell
I can’t stand that vocal cry thing. Any singer with it immediately get discredited in my opinion. Glad someone brought it up.
judgy.
@@andym2801 not being “judgy.” It’s just bad technique.
@@Shannonkay2023 It's not technique. It's an artistic expression. She can do without it, but she does it at times because that's how she likes to release certain notes.
@@Shannonkay2023 it not bad technique if it has a purpose. Even on glee the music director had her do it for a signature.
uhh Lea's proven that she has a solid foundation in her technique, a vocal cry doesn't take away from that. In the case of someone like Beanie, the cry would absolutely just be a crutch.
It's that "cry sound" that really gets on my nerves. She really overdoes it. To me it is the singer's version of what is known in acting circles as "indicating." The emotion in Streisand's voice is authentic, effortless, breathtaking-and expressed with a tone and inflection that is all her own.
The problem with the 'cry-effect' (besides being extremely annoying)is that it is a new development in pop singers--Mariah Carey's wailing really popularizing it. Nobody did it pre-1990's. Therefore, sad to say, it is entirely inappropriate for a character of the 1910's-20's (Fanny Brice) to be using it.
Bring back beanie
I think her singing is very boring, and those "crying" intonation are a weak attempt to diversify a very meager palette of emotions.
My god, is this song obnoxious.
then skip it.
@@andym2801 I completely agree with you if they don’t like it, they can just skip it and honestly I feel like the people that are nitpicking till the cows come home they’re doing it simply because it’s leaving Michelle how much you wanna bet me if it was beanie time or Julie Banko, that this person was reacting to, they would make excuse after excuse after excuse after excuse as to why it was so wonderful.
You really do yourself a disservice when you criticize lea’s singing by trying to ‘sing’ what you think certain parts should sound like. You have…no talent…nitpicking someone extremely talented. It’s embarrassing.
what a dumb take, he is not criticizing, just demonstrating her technique if anything
He is very talented, and certainly has the vocal and musical training to critique singers on Broadway. This was a measured, well-educated analysis of a famous singer🤷🏼♀️.
Those who can’t do, commentate(badly)
@@slaw2942 can you do? Do you sing? Can you provide links to your recordings?
@@DivaG81 no I sure can not sing, but I’m not out here criticizing talented singers and giving god awful examples of how they should do it
Lea Michele is ridiculously overrated. She is emotionally DEAD. Hearing her torture songs which were perfectly sung by barbra streisand is torture
Sorry but Barbra's voice sounds so old.. I listened to her Broadway recording.. I will never buy she was a young girl Fanny.. she founded like in her 40s..
@@Max-my6rk you're a tasteless imbecile... but then again, so are all Leah Michelle fans
@@Max-my6rk exactly give me Lee every single time
Oh, grow up I bet if this were beanie or Julie you’d be praising them to the cows came home and Barbara really isn’t that good? I’m sorry I prefer Lee you’re just being nitpicky.