I think I heard she actually lost her voice/ was sick during that performance too, which is why it sounds more strained than her other recordings. And she still sounds great!
jeremy’s is super good but Jessie... unmatched perfection. even in her weakest performances of it she’s got the emotion and voice that just *is* jenna. she’s not overboard with the accent but she doesn’t completely lose it either. it’s just so so so good
Sara is amazing but I think Jessie was born for this role, she just feels more emotional and in character than Sara, it's like her life was exactly like in the musical, and oh God how she hits each note with such passion is unbelievable
I may be biased because Jessie was the first I saw and loved but to me it just seems like Jessie plays it so well that she could've actually experienced what Jenna went through and her performance wouldn't have been much different.
While scouting for a Jenna, Sara saw Jessie Mueller in another play and said she knew, in that instance, who she wanted for the role.(info from Sara's book) From what I've seen and heard Jessie knocked it out of the park (or stage in this instance lol). Passion and Pipes!
I'm going to agree, I don't think most people can bring that level of empathy. The song is about a woman that lost herself to an abusive husband, and is pregnant with a child she can't relate to, that's a dive that takes some talent to deliver. Some people resort to d list drag to try to deliver because its really raw at the core they don't even want to think about.
I agree 100%. She’s my favourite Jenna, and considering this is the first musical she’s been in, it’s understandable her acting might not be quite as emotional as the others, but I don’t think she did bad on that front!
I think she sang it beautifully, but I agree that it needed more emotion. It didn’t really have any of that angst that Jessie sings with, and I think it’s really important for the character and to show her struggle
I think if Carrie has the chance to perform that on stage as Jenna she would smash it but because she was sat behind a piano she couldn’t show of her vocal talent well
Jeremy gave you a completely different approach to this song. Not knowing that this song was originally from a girls perspective, makes you think he is singing about someone he deeply cared about that went through something, and it changed her.
Jessie Mueller will always be number one. Not only is her voice, which beautifully cracks at the high notes, perfect for the role, but she pours so much emotion into the song and thats the most important thing. This song is really heavy and needs the emotion only Jessie can bring to it. BUT ALSO JEREMY JORDAN QUEEN
@@drew4826 it's either they have a great mic and sound system or she's good in lipping. Because the video panned wide but there's no mic but her whispered lines are as loud as her belt.
I watched the Tony's the year that Hamilton took over. I remember being wholly unprepared for Jessie Meuller's performance. Incredible vocals, and incredible control, and she conveyed such deep emotion. I could not help but be moved.
ig it reading the original comment I was rather confused because I felt emotion from Sara and Jeremy and he is literally portraying a pregnant women during a self reflection 😭
I saw sara barellis on her last night performing and she was so amazing and afterward she just broke down sobbing and the crowd gave her a 5 minute standing ovation and i was bawling my eyes out. It was one of the most amazing experiences in my life so far
All of them sang really well, but the ones who were in scene were better because I believe they're in the context of the song, so we can feel every word they sing
@@staceylaing4814 I agree. It felt like she was trying to sound more vocally perfect in a song where that is not even necessary and was losing the emotion in the prosess.
what jessie does with “just a little” never fails to make me cry. and i feel like she truly embodies and badass southern woman and i should knkw i’m from georgia 😂
@@Rysiimpson True, unfortunately he's proven quite a number of times, that his live vocals aren't as "solid" as his studio ones, and he doesn't show off his high range during live presentation but mostly keep everything below C5/B4. He is a good singer though, and I REALLY like his covers, but I have to admit that his technique might not be as efficient as people might believe by just listening to the work he posts on his channel.
I'm so happy you finally made this video!! My top three are: 1 - Jessie Mueller 2 - Jeremy Jordan (wig flew to another dimention) 3 - Carrie Hope Fletcher
So it doesn't really make sense to compare live performances to recordings, or to compare those actually acting in waitress to those singing it in concerts because the emotion that they have to show does change their singing of the song stylistically.
I agree. There's an energy that you're expending when you're onstage in front of an audience that is just not there when you're sitting comfortably in a chair or hanging out in your room.
Okay he sang it great BUT I’m over male singers who think they can sing this song. It’s about a woman being pregnant!!! Escaping an abusive relationship!!! Realizing she’s worthy as a woman of all of the things she used to be before men changed her life!!! He’s technically a great singer, and his rendition is impressive. However, the original was written the way it’s written because those lower notes carry heavier emotion. Jordan couldn’t truly understand that emotion (although he’s a good actor,) and made his rendition higher and more impressive-sounding as a result. I personally think its a shithead move because imo he shouldn’t even have sang the song in the first place. The beauty of theatre is that the music occurs within a context/storyline, and the context of this song is disregarded when a man sings it.
@@delaneyryan6399 Thats great and all, but I think you are missing the point as to why Jeremy Jordan sang the song in the first place. It was for the Miscast Gala, where they purposely had him sing that song because he wouldn't be able to in a regular setting. It was not a shithead move, it is literally the entire purpose of that Gala to have people who would not be normally cast in that role to have the chance to sing it. I think that you are extremely wrong in assuming that just because it is a man signing "She used to be mine", that he can't convey the emotions that the song is supposed to portray. That's what theatre (and acting in general) is about, being able to convey emotions regardless of what you are acting/singing. I am quite positive that the rest of the women that have sung this song have not been pregnant and have been through an abusive relationship, does that mean that they too are disqualified from singing this? Since they wouldn't be able to "truly understand that emotion"? (Although they are good actors?) Also the fact that you said that he made his rendition higher I think is not completely correct. I am no expert on this by any means, but after listening to him and the other ladies, I think he was almost spot on with his notes. He seemed pretty close with the way the other singers sang the notes, he must've been in the same range at least. I just think it is unfair to rag on Jeremy Jordan when he was just paying an amazing tribute to this wonderful song just because he is a man.
I still think Jessie was the only one who could really capture the absolute anguish Jenna was in, but the other singers sound pretty good without the story context.
They're not on here, but I think (other than jessie) Jeremy Jordan and Amanda Cole capture that deep pain. It's just an intangible element those 3 are always able to add to the story they tell through song.
Elizabeth Sanchez she does naturally have a rasp! It’s amazing and adds so much emotion, without overdoing it. She doesn’t need the riffs others seem to favour to sound impressive. She’s incredible
The reason most sopranos struggle with singing pop/belty music is because most teachers, in my opinion, focus too much on developing only head voice for sopranos instead of balancing chest, head and a mix voice that allows you to transition between the two (once again, this is just my personal opinion). Jessie is a soprano. And her mom doesn't want belting inside their home it was said on one of her interviews. And her being said that she played Lizzie Fields before and that role requires belting and that it's hard for her at the time. Now she has gotten to have more support in her voice. So my point is... I don't have a point. It's just a fun fact that I wanna tell to all the people that I struggle so much in belting as a soprano myself that's basically singing with a loud and highly chesty on the top of your call register.
*The best:* 1. Jessie Mueller 2. Nicolette Robinson 3. Jeremy Jordan 4. Carrie Hope Fletcher 5. Lea Salonga *P.S.* Sara Bareilles for being the maker of this masterpiece ✨
sophie grace When singing professionally in order to be forward enough if you sing “r” consonants all the way like you would say them, it makes you go off pitch so you typically won’t sing them
Aravius But I also think the character’s slightly Southern accent might affect the way they pronounce their r’s, specifically for the ones who are in scene.
Agreed!! Saw Lucie in Waitress in London and she was absolutely fantastic. I saw Jessie live too, at one of her last shows, and she was.. insane. So much better than any of the recordings. That being said, I had a really high bar set going to see the West End production, and Lucie did NOT disappoint
In Oct. 2018 on the Waitress Musical channel they had a young man by the name of Adrian Matthew sing this song on stage at the end of the show. He was 14 at the time. He did an amazing job of showing all the emotion of every word of the song. I listen to it all the time now. I can't get enough of his voice. I'm not taking away anything from the performances you show here, but that young man truly gave this song something special. I hope you give it a listen.
My favourite is Jessie. Here's was the first version I ever heard, so I guess I'm a bit partial. But I feel like having a Broadway background helps loads in this song. It's an emotional song, sung at a very pivotal moment of the musical, and I think that emotion really shows in Jessie's. I also love the power in the climax of the song when Jessie sings it. Nevertheless they are all amazing, this is a pretty hard song to sing so they're all amazing. This song though... Absolute perfection.
Why is no ons talking about Betsy Wolfe? She has a very different, distinct voice, that I thank suits the character very well! Also she is just a POWERHOUSE
She was a little off and then tried to catch up which only made it worse. I would have to see a better performance to judge better but I thought she was one of the worse. Like I turned it down.
jessie mueller. sorry, i don’t make the rules. her voice is pure perfection. she seems so dazed, like she’s going to pass out, which is really realistic to what’s happening in the show. y’all saying the best was jeremy jordan are wrong. he was fine but y’all only praise him cause he’s jeremy desi oakley is also a personal favorite of mine, she just sounds so desperate for help. and she plays a much more, independent jenna throughout the show, if that makes sense. it makes this breakdown hit you a little more in the chest i can’t stand any jenna that sings them with really closed vowels, which was most of them. (see katharine mcphee’s for the best example of this). it gives it a more like ‘ariana grande’ kind of sound, which doesn’t fit. why did they slow down the tempo for lea? sara seemed really disassociated, which was distracting. what were jessica runs? very strange. betsy was fine, a little pitchy in places but overall enjoyable. caleb is screaming through most of his, which i didn’t like. stephanie let the accent affect the tone of the song, making it a little more screechy. EDITED: alright, y’all were mad and for good reason. i made this comment when i was a freshman? so i definitely was not as knowledgeable as i am now. so, to make up for it, i redid my critiques Sara Bareilles- Her vocals are absolutely stunning, she just doesn’t act the piece the way it should be. Watch how she kind of flails her arms around, it doesn’t communicate super well what Jenna is going through. She’s performing it, not acting. Jessica Vosk- I’m sorry, I can’t stand her cover of this song. She embellishes it with multiple riffs to try to make her cover different but it sounds like she’s trying too hard. Her vowels are also spread really thin (and be ‘scaaareeed’) and they just generally sound very ugly. Carrie Hope Fletcher- Her cover sounds nice, her pitches are in the right places, her vowels are fine, she just sounds so....vanilla. I’m sure part of this is that she’s just too young but there are no dynamic emotions, it feels bland. Jennifer Nettles- I like her version! She’s a little flat on that ‘scared’ note but I like the more matured tone she brought to the piece. Because it’s a concert performance, I’m okay with her not bringing out every emotion Jenna was feeling, she wasn’t meant to be acting here. Betsy Wolfe- I loved Betsy as Jenna on paper. She looks younger (and I really like a younger Jenna, it brings something new to the character) but her acting was really over the top and she tended to run sharp on most notes. Not my favorite. Emma Hatton- Her tone was more shrieky. She was stressing her vocal chords out here, you can tell just by listening. Called Hyles- I had no idea he was an alternative singer beforehand so I considered him to just scream through it. Even after I know that fact, I still think her should have taken it down a half a step or a full step. That would have made the cover more enjoyable to listen to and would sound better on his vocal chords. You can hear his strain when he performs in the original key Lea Salonga- Besides the tempo being WAY too slow (I have no idea why they thought that was a good choice), I like her cover. I can never hate anything Lea sings, something about how trained her voice is means that she never falls off pitch, it’s crazy. So while it’s definitely not my favorite, it’s not bad, I like it. Kerry Ellis- I’ve never had anything against her version, it’s definitely serviceable. Her pitches are nice, her vowels are good (maybe a little bit thin but that’s just how her voice naturally is) nothing wowed me about it though. Stephanie Torns- I think someone could write a dissertation on why her Jenna is amazing and I could definitely write paragraphs on why she deserved her own dedicated playbill. She perfectly communicates what Jenna is and what she’s going through. I can’t praise her enough Natalie Weiss- I’ve never been the biggest fan of her voice, especially here. She’s an amazing teacher and by proxy, has amazing technique but she’s just kind of okay. It’s serviceable Desi Oakley- This woman, THIS WOMAN. Many of her performances that have been shared are from her earlier performances on the tour and that does not do her justice at all. She was very sick the first few weeks (Cleveland, Columbus, etc) and was obviously not able to give the most stunning performances. She once had to call out 30 minutes when she was in my city before because she was throwing up in the bathroom. Listen to this performance and then form your opinion, th-cam.com/video/KVq3_lZ4OQ0/w-d-xo.html . She has a gorgeous tone, she brings Jenna’s anger to her character which many forget is integral at this moment. Katherine McPhee- I’ve never been a fan of her Jenna. She sings really far forward into her mask voice which makes her belts sound so much weaker in my opinion. Rachel Tucker- She was an amazing Elphaba but listening to this, all I could hear was how raspy her voice was and how much it was cracking all over the place. Jermey Jordan- I think his belting is absolutely amazing but this is no where near the best performance of the song. I like how he, again, brought the anger but there are better performances of it out there Jessie Mueller- I CAN NOT SAY ENOUGH GOOD THINGS ABOUT HER ACTING. While I have a problem with her as a person, her voice and acting are unmatched. Every single one of her belts are on key with a healthy belt that sounds round and clean while also acting this hell out of this song. She is absolutely amazing
I agree with everything but the Jeremy Jordan one, that video was the first video I’ve ever seen that had anything to do with him (i didn’t even know who he was before that) and he’s definitely not the BEST one but he is ONE of the best, and it’s not just because he’s Jeremy , first time I saw it I thought it was phenomenal and i didn’t even know who he was.
It's Jessie. Hands down. I mean, hello, she was nominated for a Tony for it. They're all wonderful, but Jessie Mueller puts even Sara Bareilles to shame with that powerhouse instrument of hers, and Sara wrote it!
the song is dark, and Jessie delivers that, she is lost, she is pregnant with a child she doesn't know and doesn't want to know, that is some shit, and Jessie delivers that.
Jonny Smith I was totally with you on the first part, but then you messed it up saying Jessie puts Sara to shame. Jessie didn’t freaking astonishing, but the original by Sara Bareilles can never be beat.
Sara is my favorite. She brings it in a simple yet powerful way, which allowes to actually listen to the touching words that I think are the main thing here. Literally gets goosebumps when listening to her. Ps so impressive that she wrote it
Same. Like, it shouldn't work every time, I've heard it so many times, I know exactly how the song goes, yet as soon as she opens her mouth, I'm toast. I cry. Every. Single. Time.
Kristofer Wilson THAT'S what it is...I feel like I wanna cry with her, like in that moment she did lose and gain a part of herself and is having a whole realization at that moment...that's quality. But kudos to all who attempted these vocals, Sara wrote the hell outta this song!
Does she naturally have that accent or was it part of the character? Also I think she did a fantastic job but I wouldn't say she was my favorite. Better than most here
TRUTH I must’ve watched this a thousand times & it still gets me good. It’s the only performance that seems to really catch the fury + sorrow + sense of intergenerational war between devastation + hope that brings the song to this universal timeless groove that just connects emotionally + intellectually + aesthetically. Like-someone put THAT on the gold records we put on Voyager probes & shoot to distant stars to introduce humans to alienkinds.
Jessie Muller is stunning ❤️ Lucie Jones is killing it in London! The vid of her doing this after the show for the 300th performance is spine tinglingly good!!
To me, I have a top five and everyone else just blends in 1) Jessie Mueller 2) Jeremy Jordan 3) Lea Salonga 4) Carrie Hope Fletcher 5) Katherine McPhee
Thanks for compiling this list of wonderful versions. It would be nice to have an updated version to include Alison Luff (my favorite), Lucie Jones, Jordan Sparks, a better Katherine McPhee version, Shoshona Bean, and now Nicolina Bozzo.
Hard to choose between Jeremy Jordan & Jessie Mueller... Both give me chills! It's almost too close to call... They both sang it beautifully & performed it amazingly... but you simply asked who sang it the best... It has to be a tie between them... I can't choose further!... I just can't! 😱...😄 😄
kelsey huff yeah I agree which is why I didn’t really like her rendition much, I love her voice though usually. She used a lot of low larynx on everything she was singing which sounds nice for some parts but if you do it too much it sounds strange😂
Waitress meets Wicked. Can you spot the Elphie's in the video?
I sure can, mostly because of your Wicked comparisons though!
Desi, Stephanie, JV, Kerry, Rachel ☺️
and emma hatton!!
And Jessica!!!
Mister Golightly Jessica vosk killed it!!!
Sara, best voice
Jessie Mueller, best Jenna
Jeremy Jordan, like wow
Totally agree.
I agree so baddddd
Super agree
I dono Jessie Mueller was pretty amazing
jessie muellers voice is so unhealthy your joking right??? she's such an unreliable singer
Sara Bareilles is the most underrated singer, I don't want to hear it. she invented this masterpiece too so...
Kaily Chavez
That still doesn’t mean that she isn’t even comparable to Jessie
Kaily Chavez
Fact:Jessie’s better for the role
Fact:Sara’s still awesome
Factier fact: Jessie’s better for the role
It’s true
That’s what she sounds like. She sounds like she wrote the song unlike a lot of the girls who sound like the girl the songs about
Kaily Chavez adapted it...
Love Sarah and her voice and her genius for writing this music.... but in this clip.....0 emotion. Didn't cut it. Sorry, not sorry.
Nobody does it like Jessie Mueller but I said an out loud “damn” when Jeremy Jordan went that hard.
Amanda cole did it best. Hands down.
Shoshana did
Jessie all the way. But Jeremy Jordan . . . And Sara’s original recording is still my go to because it’s in my range.
Jessie M sings it like she’s wailing and on the verge of crying yet has 100% control over her voice, puts her a level above
I’ve read she cried during many of her performances but still sounded flawless
I think I heard she actually lost her voice/ was sick during that performance too, which is why it sounds more strained than her other recordings. And she still sounds great!
For this song, it's always Sara first (since this is her song) and Jessie right after. No one else can sing better than them, not even close.
I saw the show four times, with four Jenna’s. They were all incredible, but Jessie was a step above
@@dtchaoSara sings it with too much control. She doesn’t let loose enough.
The irony when the ad is for a pregnancy test...
Focus on the negative
LoL okay I'm out
Natasha Lane lmao
I SNORTED
oh shit
@@CountryCowboy008 ok little ray of sunshine. lets sing kumbaya and make smores.
I know she isn't in the list but Shoshana Bean's whole song is a climax.
Raymond Tung honestly facts tho.......
I swear
She needs to be on the damn list tf
@@twiggycarter8350 YEEHAA
EXACLY
jessie wins. also side note: jessie sang that performance with laryngitis. so she struggled. but still made it emotional.
Wow I’d could tell whatsoever! She’s just so good acting normally, so I thought the slight struggle was just emotion.
It honestly makes it sound more emotional
hi omg so umm i didn’t get a single notification so if you’re seeing this thank you for 1.2k likes holy shit holy shit!!!
Naaa…Jeremy all the way. Unmatched. Sorry
jeremy’s is super good but Jessie... unmatched perfection. even in her weakest performances of it she’s got the emotion and voice that just *is* jenna. she’s not overboard with the accent but she doesn’t completely lose it either. it’s just so so so good
She’s got a wonderful hold on that accent, sounds quite real in comparison to many other Jenna’s
@@nigerianprincess101 yes! I completely agree!!
I think Amanda Chloe is the best
Jeremy is unmatched sorry.
Sara is amazing but I think Jessie was born for this role, she just feels more emotional and in character than Sara, it's like her life was exactly like in the musical, and oh God how she hits each note with such passion is unbelievable
I may be biased because Jessie was the first I saw and loved but to me it just seems like Jessie plays it so well that she could've actually experienced what Jenna went through and her performance wouldn't have been much different.
@@dahliaquincy8097 I'm probably very biased, too, because her version was the first one I ever heard
While scouting for a Jenna, Sara saw Jessie Mueller in another play and said she knew, in that instance, who she wanted for the role.(info from Sara's book) From what I've seen and heard Jessie knocked it out of the park (or stage in this instance lol). Passion and Pipes!
I'm going to agree, I don't think most people can bring that level of empathy. The song is about a woman that lost herself to an abusive husband, and is pregnant with a child she can't relate to, that's a dive that takes some talent to deliver. Some people resort to d list drag to try to deliver because its really raw at the core they don't even want to think about.
I just feel like she kinda got some things too passionate...... please don’t kill me 🙁
Sara WROTE this song and executed it beautifully. Wish she had more emotion but it sounded the best hands out.
Me too
I agree 100%. She’s my favourite Jenna, and considering this is the first musical she’s been in, it’s understandable her acting might not be quite as emotional as the others, but I don’t think she did bad on that front!
Im gonna leave a link to a version where her emotion is great. At the climax especially you should watch it! th-cam.com/video/WQ2tzQHrWVw/w-d-xo.html
I think she sang it beautifully, but I agree that it needed more emotion. It didn’t really have any of that angst that Jessie sings with, and I think it’s really important for the character and to show her struggle
Yikes! Meatball thank you so much!! I’ll be sure to check it out!
Damn Carrie Hope Fletcher's tone was flawless. And that power. But I still think Jesse does it best on stage.
Facts
*snaps* for Carrie I love her
I think if Carrie has the chance to perform that on stage as Jenna she would smash it but because she was sat behind a piano she couldn’t show of her vocal talent well
It’s probably just me however I know that Carrie Fletcher ate that up but most of it seemed rushed to me
Jeremy gave you a completely different approach to this song. Not knowing that this song was originally from a girls perspective, makes you think he is singing about someone he deeply cared about that went through something, and it changed her.
Clean version: Lea Salonga
Most Heart felt rendition: Jessie Mueller
Tbh, I was waiting for that boy, Adrian.
Enting Gulles oh my god yes Adrian nailed it and the whole cast and audience was in awe
Enting Gulles exactly he sang it best!!
yep
adrian slays most of these adults!
But like same
Jessie Mueller will always be number one. Not only is her voice, which beautifully cracks at the high notes, perfect for the role, but she pours so much emotion into the song and thats the most important thing. This song is really heavy and needs the emotion only Jessie can bring to it.
BUT ALSO JEREMY JORDAN
QUEEN
Hers is recorded though while most of the others are live.
@@iris089 Jessie's version isn't recorded she sang it live at the tony's
@@drew4826 it's either they have a great mic and sound system or she's good in lipping. Because the video panned wide but there's no mic but her whispered lines are as loud as her belt.
She wasn't whispering she was using her voice.
That's "head" voice.
can we just take a moment for the wonder that is Lea Salonga and the fact that she is in almoust all of these video's?! That woman can sing anything!
ya, she was brilliant in Les Miserables.
....and she could easily play that role. It is not written for race but for a woman.
I watched the Tony's the year that Hamilton took over. I remember being wholly unprepared for Jessie Meuller's performance. Incredible vocals, and incredible control, and she conveyed such deep emotion. I could not help but be moved.
Ok, I love Jeremy Jordan, but that kid Adrian (idk his last name) who went up on stage with the cast and got to sing it was so flipping good
IKR
Adrian Matthew Escalona
Elvendork Adrian Matthew- Ive been watching him on that one video multiples a day😂
Yes...these two!!
He lives a couple of towns over from me! I've met him and he's super sweet.
They are all amazing but I didn't feel any emotion until Jessie Mueller's version.
Jessie conveys the emotion sooo well
I think betsys version had really good emotion as well as being sung well
Jeremy was able to channel a pregnant woman's pain despite being a man.
ig it reading the original comment I was rather confused because I felt emotion from Sara and Jeremy and he is literally portraying a pregnant women during a self reflection 😭
If you haven't seen Shoshana's version you need to! It wasn't on the list but it's the only one that rivals Jesse's.
Lowkey mad my girl Shoshana Bean isn’t on here
Had Sho started by this time?
Joseph Klarr no
this video was made before her run started
Same 😂
Or allison🥺
seeing jessie mueller perform this live was one of the highest points of my life. homegirl rrly got the entire theater weeping.
I would love to hear Kelly Clarkson cover this song
I knooooow!
Omg yeeeeeeeeeees !!!!!!!!!
YEEESSSSS!!!!!!
Omg yes yes yes and Lea Michelle! I actually found this while trying to see if she had a cover
Y E S
Sara Bareilles is so underrated though.
Which is borderline criminal considering she wrote the song.
Her voice has this haunting feeling to it. 😭
Yeah she wrote the song!
And her voice sounds like an angel singing.
Mike Allen what you know about voices and singing
@@daisy-woof3938 i just know how to listen. :)
I saw sara barellis on her last night performing and she was so amazing and afterward she just broke down sobbing and the crowd gave her a 5 minute standing ovation and i was bawling my eyes out. It was one of the most amazing experiences in my life so far
I love Sara Bareilles, but Jessie Mueller's version is just so beautiful it brought back tears to my eyes again.
1. Jessie Mueller
2. Jeremy Jordan
3. Sara Bareilles
I completely agree with you. And if I may add a 4th one, would be Katherine McPhee. ✨
Yes..this order ...and the Adrian kid might top them all...
my choice is not in this video i love alba reche her voice is amazing
Wow Jessie Mueller,
You must listen Adrian Mathew voice
All of them sang really well, but the ones who were in scene were better because I believe they're in the context of the song, so we can feel every word they sing
Caroline Teodori true! like it's a bit of an unbalanced comparison when some are truly performing in character while others are just making a cover
Jeremy Jordan
I agree. they have the upper hand because they have more incentive to convey the emotuon
I have to agree. Although the men sang the song well they still weren’t as great as the women due to the context of the song/role.
Why is no one mentioning Lea Salonga's version of this, like *chef kiss*
she's no good.
@@blackclavish so no we just saying wtvr
She's always technically perfect, but doesn't have as much emotion.
@@staceylaing4814 I agree. It felt like she was trying to sound more vocally perfect in a song where that is not even necessary and was losing the emotion in the prosess.
It was so slow it dragged on and lost the feeling and emotion of the song.
what jessie does with “just a little” never fails to make me cry. and i feel like she truly embodies and badass southern woman and i should knkw i’m from georgia 😂
Lea Salonga's annunciation is so perfect that I actually hate her for it a little.
(she's so incredible)
Probably the best all-around Broadway singer of all time.
@@Ed__Powell Watch out for Eva Noblezada! I’ve seen her called the next Lea Salonga.
Agreed. Hers was the best.
Why does nobody talk about Carrie Hope Fletcher? She has such a great voice
Afonso Sousa true one of the best of the video
😊
She’s a queen 👍
Thank you 😴🤧👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🙌🏻👐🏻👐🏻👐🏻
Truly amazing
you must be on crack if you think she's "one of the best"
I love how much freedom this song gives the singer. They can can sing the climax however they want and it still would sound good
Ikrrr
Technique: Carrie
Emotion: Jessie
Impressiveness: Jeremy
Technique: Sara..
I'm most impressed with Caleb's technique to be honest. Absolutely flawless rock tenor vocals.
@@robbiemedica2652 his vocals aren’t live though….
@@Rysiimpson True, unfortunately he's proven quite a number of times, that his live vocals aren't as "solid" as his studio ones, and he doesn't show off his high range during live presentation but mostly keep everything below C5/B4.
He is a good singer though, and I REALLY like his covers, but I have to admit that his technique might not be as efficient as people might believe by just listening to the work he posts on his channel.
Timestamps:
0:18 Sara Bareilles
1:02 Jessica Vosk
1:45 Carrie Hope Fletcher
2:21 Jennifer Nettles
3:04 Betsy Wolfe
3:47 Emma Hatton
4:30 Caleb Hyles
5:14 Lea Salonga
6:07 Kerry Ellis
6:46 Stephanie Torns
7:31 Natalie Weiss
7:53 Desi Oakley
8:35 Katherine McPhee
9:19 Rachel Tucker
10:00 Jeremy Jordan
10:38 Jessie Mueller
damn lea salonga can sing anything jesus
Anna Mortari true
So true it's scary
big mood
Anna Mortari I can’t help but hear Mulan every time she sings
she needs to play Jenna!
I'm so happy you finally made this video!!
My top three are:
1 - Jessie Mueller
2 - Jeremy Jordan (wig flew to another dimention)
3 - Carrie Hope Fletcher
Bianca Boaventura exactly!!!
If you want more weave flying from Jeremy Jordan listen to Santa Fe from newsies
Jess Stories oh I've heard. That man is a blessing to this universe
Extremely true
Bianca Boaventura I agree with this completely!!
Technically, Lea Salonga's version was the hardest. The tempo was slower and that requires pretty impressive breath control.
this video should have just been titled “do you wanna be shook for 11 minutes and 42 seconds?”
Gurl same
So it doesn't really make sense to compare live performances to recordings, or to compare those actually acting in waitress to those singing it in concerts because the emotion that they have to show does change their singing of the song stylistically.
I agree but most people singing this will try to act like they are acting out the character
I agree. I thought the same thing.
I agree. There's an energy that you're expending when you're onstage in front of an audience that is just not there when you're sitting comfortably in a chair or hanging out in your room.
Jessie is the best Jenna ever! You feel something when she sings it that you don’t feel with the others. But Jeremy Jordan WOW that was amazing!
"Oh yes all of them are absolutely amazing!"
Jeremy Jordan: Hold my beer...
Jeremy Jordan actually K I L L E D I T and I’m not just fangirling he’s so talented 😭💛
Makayla Murphy yassssssss I totally agree!!
faxxxx
His voice will always be mind blowing
he wasnt even in the right key lol
@@ricardoortiz3174 he is though.
Stephanie Torns absolutely gave me goosebumps. HER NOTES HELD OUT PERFECTLY.
Naomi absolutely beautiful
How dare you not let Jessie Mueller finish
Me waiting for Jeremy and Jessie: 👁👄👁
ME
Meee 😂😂
Me too 🤣
Me haha
Same lol
Jeremy Jordan is the only one that truly spoke to me and ofc JESSIE MUELLER
The answer is Jeremy Jordan.
But as far as the females go, of course Jessie Mueller.
Emma Soemer Agreed!
Agreed!!! Jeremy Jordan’s version was absolutely AMAZING!!!
Emma Soemer he was amazing too
I agree
Okay he sang it great BUT I’m over male singers who think they can sing this song. It’s about a woman being pregnant!!! Escaping an abusive relationship!!! Realizing she’s worthy as a woman of all of the things she used to be before men changed her life!!! He’s technically a great singer, and his rendition is impressive. However, the original was written the way it’s written because those lower notes carry heavier emotion. Jordan couldn’t truly understand that emotion (although he’s a good actor,) and made his rendition higher and more impressive-sounding as a result. I personally think its a shithead move because imo he shouldn’t even have sang the song in the first place. The beauty of theatre is that the music occurs within a context/storyline, and the context of this song is disregarded when a man sings it.
@@delaneyryan6399 Thats great and all, but I think you are missing the point as to why Jeremy Jordan sang the song in the first place. It was for the Miscast Gala, where they purposely had him sing that song because he wouldn't be able to in a regular setting. It was not a shithead move, it is literally the entire purpose of that Gala to have people who would not be normally cast in that role to have the chance to sing it.
I think that you are extremely wrong in assuming that just because it is a man signing "She used to be mine", that he can't convey the emotions that the song is supposed to portray. That's what theatre (and acting in general) is about, being able to convey emotions regardless of what you are acting/singing. I am quite positive that the rest of the women that have sung this song have not been pregnant and have been through an abusive relationship, does that mean that they too are disqualified from singing this? Since they wouldn't be able to "truly understand that emotion"? (Although they are good actors?) Also the fact that you said that he made his rendition higher I think is not completely correct. I am no expert on this by any means, but after listening to him and the other ladies, I think he was almost spot on with his notes. He seemed pretty close with the way the other singers sang the notes, he must've been in the same range at least.
I just think it is unfair to rag on Jeremy Jordan when he was just paying an amazing tribute to this wonderful song just because he is a man.
It's sad that the musical didn't win any Tony's. If only hamilton wasn't in the same year :(
Trick question it was actually Adrian Matthew, the young boy who covered the song 😭
I still think Jessie was the only one who could really capture the absolute anguish Jenna was in, but the other singers sound pretty good without the story context.
They're not on here, but I think (other than jessie) Jeremy Jordan and Amanda Cole capture that deep pain. It's just an intangible element those 3 are always able to add to the story they tell through song.
desi did a really good job when I watched her
Ughh you gotta see Shoshana....I think you'll adjust your opinion.
Betsy shaking her head had me worried it was about to fall off LOL
No hate intended but most singers do something like that unless they have a prop in their hands
Lml
Jessie mueller!!🤩💛 she was born for the roll of Jenna!
Power: Sara
Technique: Natalie
Emotion: Jessie
i think Jessie and Jeremy are tied for emotion tbh
Where is Allison Luff ❤️😍!??? She sings it the best out of everyone!!
Stephanie Torns is *the* most underrated Jenna HANDS DOWN. She is SO so talented. Chills. Go watch her whole performance ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Sarah W YES YES AND YES!!
When I saw the show, she was the person playing Jenna and she was incredible. She was very realistic. I didn't feel like I was watching a show
She was also amazing vocally
She was fantastic when we saw her!
I liked Stephanie a lot too
I didn’t find so many comments about her performance 🥺
Her perfect balance “crying” effect voice ... wow
Jessie Mueller SHES MY MF FAVORITE LIKE TF I LOVE THE RASPINESS WHEN SHE SAYS “when she used to be mi-“ IDK IF YALL HEAR IT BUT I LOVE IT
Elizabeth Sanchez she has a rasp cause she had laryngitis during this performance x
Jojo Thelu oh shit- I didn’t know she had laringitis
Elizabeth Sanchez she does naturally have a rasp! It’s amazing and adds so much emotion, without overdoing it. She doesn’t need the riffs others seem to favour to sound impressive. She’s incredible
The reason most sopranos struggle with singing pop/belty music is because most teachers, in my opinion, focus too much on developing only head voice for sopranos instead of balancing chest, head and a mix voice that allows you to transition between the two (once again, this is just my personal opinion).
Jessie is a soprano. And her mom doesn't want belting inside their home it was said on one of her interviews. And her being said that she played Lizzie Fields before and that role requires belting and that it's hard for her at the time.
Now she has gotten to have more support in her voice. So my point is... I don't have a point. It's just a fun fact that I wanna tell to all the people that I struggle so much in belting as a soprano myself that's basically singing with a loud and highly chesty on the top of your call register.
ѕαѕѕу Eઙŧɧεя ok p.s: I already know this stuff
I need this Caleb kid to start a band and start making quality emo tunes with belty panic/afi/my chem vibes
He started out kinda off-key tho. Some of it seemed like a tone issue tho cuz he wasn't all bad
He has a band actually... 😂 Sorry I'm 7 months late on than this. You may have found it by now.
He has a TH-cam account under the the name Caleb Hyles. Hes amazing.
He does stuff with annapantsu the Queen herself
@@lucyroberts4041 yass annapantsu is amazing
Jeremy Jordan's version is my all-time favourite. There's so much emotion in it that for me can not be beaten!!!
Seriously though what can’t Lea Salonga sing
Lea sang it the best >.>
Is she the voice actress of pearl in Steven universe
Yeaaaahh
Clarity and texture ❤❤❤❤❤❤
G.S ART nope deedee magno
I’d love to see a who sang the climax from Burn from Hamilton the best!
Claire Goetz yeesszz
Yeeeeeees!
Jessie Meuller is sublime. Incomparable. character, vocals , everything!!!
Ben Platt needs to be added to this video!!! His instagram video is gold!!!!!!!
ok millennial, we see you, you can go now.
Listeningtomusic yay maybe his Instagram video didn’t exist then? idk but, yeah I mega agree with you. I actually started crying.
why is no one noticing how good stephanie’s was???
Agreed. Easily the best one.
Yesss! She is the best one for me
she was sharp at some points and a little off-key at some notes too but it was great
period
She was the first on my list! But me Jessie just gets me man 😭
*The best:*
1. Jessie Mueller
2. Nicolette Robinson
3. Jeremy Jordan
4. Carrie Hope Fletcher
5. Lea Salonga
*P.S.* Sara Bareilles for being the maker of this masterpiece ✨
Nicolette does SUCH a good job I was choking back tears
Jessie Meuller takes the cake... er pie... I agree. She was the waitress when I saw it live on stage in Nashville last summer.
GarageStudio I don’t think lea should be on the list...
yup. this is it.
Nicolette wasn't in the video. Is there no videos of her singing this? She's the only one I saw live. Couldn't stop crying.
everyones talking about jeremy but calebs emotion could literally convince me hes pregnant
can we all have a joint session on how to pronounce "her"
sophie grace When singing professionally in order to be forward enough if you sing “r” consonants all the way like you would say them, it makes you go off pitch so you typically won’t sing them
It's called vowel modification. People change the way the sing words to match their tone and flow better.
Aravius But I also think the character’s slightly Southern accent might affect the way they pronounce their r’s, specifically for the ones who are in scene.
Jessie Mueller. Hands down. She hit the notes, her voice is perfect, and she hit every emotional cue.
But goddamm Lea Solanga coming in strong.
Check out Lucie Jones singing it at West End Live. Also saw her in the show, and I had utter goosebumps.
Agreed!! Saw Lucie in Waitress in London and she was absolutely fantastic. I saw Jessie live too, at one of her last shows, and she was.. insane. So much better than any of the recordings. That being said, I had a really high bar set going to see the West End production, and Lucie did NOT disappoint
i literally broke down, she’s amazing
I did too!! I sat down and started crying when they sung about not using phones 😂and didn't stop until I was on the train home
I saw Lucie Jones in the show as well! She is astonishing - not only her voice, but her emotional and acting as well. My favourite Jenna hands down!
agreed shes insane !!
In Oct. 2018 on the Waitress Musical channel they had a young man by the name of Adrian Matthew sing this song on stage at the end of the show. He was 14 at the time. He did an amazing job of showing all the emotion of every word of the song. I listen to it all the time now. I can't get enough of his voice. I'm not taking away anything from the performances you show here, but that young man truly gave this song something special. I hope you give it a listen.
Agreed, that performance by that young man was absolutely amazing. Makes me cry every single time.
This performance was a 10 out of 10 I always tear up
My favourite is Jessie. Here's was the first version I ever heard, so I guess I'm a bit partial. But I feel like having a Broadway background helps loads in this song. It's an emotional song, sung at a very pivotal moment of the musical, and I think that emotion really shows in Jessie's. I also love the power in the climax of the song when Jessie sings it.
Nevertheless they are all amazing, this is a pretty hard song to sing so they're all amazing.
This song though... Absolute perfection.
It’s like a an elphaba reunion up in here lol
Ok but why is Adrian not in here, I love his climax the best, he's the most diferent and high and he deserves to be here
I was looking for that comment :) his and shoshanas versions are my absolute favorites tbh
jessie’s pleading “fight, just a little” 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺
i saw Stephanie Torns when i saw Waitress on broadway! she did FANTASTIC, so much raw emotion
Why is no ons talking about Betsy Wolfe? She has a very different, distinct voice, that I thank suits the character very well! Also she is just a POWERHOUSE
Wessel Greven THANK YOU! She is amazing
RIGHT
Cause she was sharp
She was a little off and then tried to catch up which only made it worse. I would have to see a better performance to judge better but I thought she was one of the worse. Like I turned it down.
@@vampress18 agreed it wasn't her best performance but she is definitely one of my favorites as jenna
jessie mueller. sorry, i don’t make the rules. her voice is pure perfection. she seems so dazed, like she’s going to pass out, which is really realistic to what’s happening in the show.
y’all saying the best was jeremy jordan are wrong. he was fine but y’all only praise him cause he’s jeremy
desi oakley is also a personal favorite of mine, she just sounds so desperate for help. and she plays a much more, independent jenna throughout the show, if that makes sense. it makes this breakdown hit you a little more in the chest
i can’t stand any jenna that sings them with really closed vowels, which was most of them. (see katharine mcphee’s for the best example of this). it gives it a more like ‘ariana grande’ kind of sound, which doesn’t fit.
why did they slow down the tempo for lea?
sara seemed really disassociated, which was distracting.
what were jessica runs? very strange.
betsy was fine, a little pitchy in places but overall enjoyable.
caleb is screaming through most of his, which i didn’t like.
stephanie let the accent affect the tone of the song, making it a little more screechy.
EDITED: alright, y’all were mad and for good reason. i made this comment when i was a freshman? so i definitely was not as knowledgeable as i am now. so, to make up for it, i redid my critiques
Sara Bareilles- Her vocals are absolutely stunning, she just doesn’t act the piece the way it should be. Watch how she kind of flails her arms around, it doesn’t communicate super well what Jenna is going through. She’s performing it, not acting.
Jessica Vosk- I’m sorry, I can’t stand her cover of this song. She embellishes it with multiple riffs to try to make her cover different but it sounds like she’s trying too hard. Her vowels are also spread really thin (and be ‘scaaareeed’) and they just generally sound very ugly.
Carrie Hope Fletcher- Her cover sounds nice, her pitches are in the right places, her vowels are fine, she just sounds so....vanilla. I’m sure part of this is that she’s just too young but there are no dynamic emotions, it feels bland.
Jennifer Nettles- I like her version! She’s a little flat on that ‘scared’ note but I like the more matured tone she brought to the piece. Because it’s a concert performance, I’m okay with her not bringing out every emotion Jenna was feeling, she wasn’t meant to be acting here.
Betsy Wolfe- I loved Betsy as Jenna on paper. She looks younger (and I really like a younger Jenna, it brings something new to the character) but her acting was really over the top and she tended to run sharp on most notes. Not my favorite.
Emma Hatton- Her tone was more shrieky. She was stressing her vocal chords out here, you can tell just by listening.
Called Hyles- I had no idea he was an alternative singer beforehand so I considered him to just scream through it. Even after I know that fact, I still think her should have taken it down a half a step or a full step. That would have made the cover more enjoyable to listen to and would sound better on his vocal chords. You can hear his strain when he performs in the original key
Lea Salonga- Besides the tempo being WAY too slow (I have no idea why they thought that was a good choice), I like her cover. I can never hate anything Lea sings, something about how trained her voice is means that she never falls off pitch, it’s crazy. So while it’s definitely not my favorite, it’s not bad, I like it.
Kerry Ellis- I’ve never had anything against her version, it’s definitely serviceable. Her pitches are nice, her vowels are good (maybe a little bit thin but that’s just how her voice naturally is) nothing wowed me about it though.
Stephanie Torns- I think someone could write a dissertation on why her Jenna is amazing and I could definitely write paragraphs on why she deserved her own dedicated playbill. She perfectly communicates what Jenna is and what she’s going through. I can’t praise her enough
Natalie Weiss- I’ve never been the biggest fan of her voice, especially here. She’s an amazing teacher and by proxy, has amazing technique but she’s just kind of okay. It’s serviceable
Desi Oakley- This woman, THIS WOMAN. Many of her performances that have been shared are from her earlier performances on the tour and that does not do her justice at all. She was very sick the first few weeks (Cleveland, Columbus, etc) and was obviously not able to give the most stunning performances. She once had to call out 30 minutes when she was in my city before because she was throwing up in the bathroom. Listen to this performance and then form your opinion, th-cam.com/video/KVq3_lZ4OQ0/w-d-xo.html . She has a gorgeous tone, she brings Jenna’s anger to her character which many forget is integral at this moment.
Katherine McPhee- I’ve never been a fan of her Jenna. She sings really far forward into her mask voice which makes her belts sound so much weaker in my opinion.
Rachel Tucker- She was an amazing Elphaba but listening to this, all I could hear was how raspy her voice was and how much it was cracking all over the place.
Jermey Jordan- I think his belting is absolutely amazing but this is no where near the best performance of the song. I like how he, again, brought the anger but there are better performances of it out there
Jessie Mueller- I CAN NOT SAY ENOUGH GOOD THINGS ABOUT HER ACTING. While I have a problem with her as a person, her voice and acting are unmatched. Every single one of her belts are on key with a healthy belt that sounds round and clean while also acting this hell out of this song. She is absolutely amazing
LifeWithAnM'nM ! wow! this is a great analysis of their voices! great job 👍🏽
tea!
Girafarig's Butt we only spill the true facts here y’all
I agree, i love jessie muellers jenna over all the most, she plays jenna SO well i love her jenna so much
I agree with everything but the Jeremy Jordan one, that video was the first video I’ve ever seen that had anything to do with him (i didn’t even know who he was before that) and he’s definitely not the BEST one but he is ONE of the best, and it’s not just because he’s Jeremy , first time I saw it I thought it was phenomenal and i didn’t even know who he was.
Allison Luff hands down has the BEST rendition of this song. I’ve seen the show so many times and she was the only one that made me cry.
all of them win sorry i dont make the rules
It's Jessie. Hands down. I mean, hello, she was nominated for a Tony for it. They're all wonderful, but Jessie Mueller puts even Sara Bareilles to shame with that powerhouse instrument of hers, and Sara wrote it!
nailed it men
the song is dark, and Jessie delivers that, she is lost, she is pregnant with a child she doesn't know and doesn't want to know, that is some shit, and Jessie delivers that.
Jonny Smith I was totally with you on the first part, but then you messed it up saying Jessie puts Sara to shame. Jessie didn’t freaking astonishing, but the original by Sara Bareilles can never be beat.
Why did I tear up during Jeremy Jordan's performance?
Oh wait I know, because it's Beautiful.
Sara is my favorite. She brings it in a simple yet powerful way, which allowes to actually listen to the touching words that I think are the main thing here. Literally gets goosebumps when listening to her. Ps so impressive that she wrote it
Shoshana Bean also did an amazing job
She was Insane on broadway !!
I just saw shoshanna and she blows them all away ... like she was perfect
Love me some Jessie Mueller, but Shoshana Bean was perfection on this song!
There’s no denying that her voice is incredible. I did not like her portrayal of Jenna, though. She did everything so slowly and I wasn’t a huge fan.
I saw her on broadway! She was incredible. Made me cry
I don't know but everytime I see Jessie Mueller's version, I almost cry
Same. Like, it shouldn't work every time, I've heard it so many times, I know exactly how the song goes, yet as soon as she opens her mouth, I'm toast. I cry. Every. Single. Time.
Jessie but honestly they're all amazing. But I can just feel the emotion the most in her performance like I want to cry with her
Kristofer Wilson THAT'S what it is...I feel like I wanna cry with her, like in that moment she did lose and gain a part of herself and is having a whole realization at that moment...that's quality. But kudos to all who attempted these vocals, Sara wrote the hell outta this song!
Lucie Jones. She wasn’t in the video but she sang this song soooo good! Her voice is incredible. Easily my favorite version.
All of the pics of Natalie Weiss are making me die lmfao
I did wonder! Any need?
Stephanie Torns hands down. I got to see her live in February and she is just absolutely amazing.
Does she naturally have that accent or was it part of the character?
Also I think she did a fantastic job but I wouldn't say she was my favorite. Better than most here
Sorry I saw Stephanie live and it gave me chills. She puts so much raw emotion in it.
Jessie Mueller = only one who brings tears to my eyes...
TRUTH I must’ve watched this a thousand times & it still gets me good. It’s the only performance that seems to really catch the fury + sorrow + sense of intergenerational war between devastation + hope that brings the song to this universal timeless groove that just connects emotionally + intellectually + aesthetically.
Like-someone put THAT on the gold records we put on Voyager probes & shoot to distant stars to introduce humans to alienkinds.
Jessie Muller is stunning ❤️
Lucie Jones is killing it in London! The vid of her doing this after the show for the 300th performance is spine tinglingly good!!
To me, I have a top five and everyone else just blends in
1) Jessie Mueller
2) Jeremy Jordan
3) Lea Salonga
4) Carrie Hope Fletcher
5) Katherine McPhee
I think it’s way more vivid in the key Jessie Mueller sang so I guess I’m biased
2700e5643 Sara always sings it in a lower key to Jessie. The way it’s done in the actual broadway show is in He key she sings it.
Thanks for compiling this list of wonderful versions. It would be nice to have an updated version to include Alison Luff (my favorite), Lucie Jones, Jordan Sparks, a better Katherine McPhee version, Shoshona Bean, and now Nicolina Bozzo.
you should start adding annapantsu, she doesnt show herself singing but she can pull off some really high vocals.
Jeremy Jordan gives me chills. I honestly felt like I had to hug him.
Hard to choose between Jeremy Jordan & Jessie Mueller... Both give me chills! It's almost too close to call... They both sang it beautifully & performed it amazingly... but you simply asked who sang it the best... It has to be a tie between them... I can't choose further!... I just can't! 😱...😄 😄
Me, a bass knowing full well I can’t: “yeah I can hit that note”
we are only allowed to hear that beautiful sound but to not do it ourselves. kinda beautiful.
jessica vosk didn't use much space when she was singing....
kelsey huff yeah I agree which is why I didn’t really like her rendition much, I love her voice though usually. She used a lot of low larynx on everything she was singing which sounds nice for some parts but if you do it too much it sounds strange😂
Kelsey Huff it’s because she’s sitting and leaning forward, she’s blocking all the air in her diaphragm
I agree. Her placement on the "oo" vowels was just lovely, though.
she came to my school and preformed it live. she did better live but this is still a beautiful rendition.
Dont you dare insult the Queen
Add adrian's version, his emotion, the vulnerability in his voice, ugh, his version along with jessie's and jeremy jordan is my favorite!
Ok but Stephanie Torns definitely needs to have her run as Jenna rather than just filling the role with random celebrities
Stephanie Torns just needs to be cast as a lead in a new show full stop, so that SHE is the celebrity she deserves to be.
If you watch Lucie Jones performance who did UK west end and the tour..it breaks my heart everytime!! The whole performance is on here! Amazing