Everybody likes to rewrite the story, but the reality is that the American critics who went over there and saw Sunset Boulevard did not give her a good reviews, especially the New York Times and Wall Street journal which combined had 11 paragraphs tearing her performance to shreds. Close also was a much more expensive actress to hire, making the she less profitable for Andrew Lloyd Webber especially since she didn’t stay with the show as long as Lupone would have on Broadway. Had no choice, but to replace her.
The “born to bay, I’ll be may” thing came as a direction from the music director according to Betty Buckley. She dumped that pronunciation halfway through her run on Broadway, because she realized in sounded so dumb and she didn’t care what the MD thought anymore. Apparently it originated with Glenn Close and her inability to sing the “e” vowel openly and powerful enough to get a full sound. The clip you hear of her here is from the revival where she finally sang it correctly.
Thank you for this wonderful compilation! I, too, wish I could find Susan Dawnn Carlson!!! On a different note, it's interesting to see how wildly the tempos vary. It's hard to believe that LuPone and Endsley were even in the same production!
Broadway YouHaven'tHeard The Patti recording is from her last night, she is known to speed things up on her last night, it’s exactly what she did with Evita and Gypsy. But yes, it is strange.
Thanks a lot for this great compilation. For me - here in Germany - Helen Schneider was the greatest Norma since the first Show at the Rhein-Main-Theater / Niedernhausen. She has such a brilliant and outstanding voice and play Norma with an extraordinary Intensity. Every single Show.
I did miss Judi I remember catching that. And I'm not sure if a recording of Maria Mercedes exist except for her performing with one look. Ive been dying to find a full recording of her.
Patti lupone is the only one who sang it in the original key. All others sang it in the key that was lowered for Glenn close. I did like Betty Buckley, and Dianne Carroll.
As wonderful an actress is, she stole this role from Patti Lupone, I blame ALW. Glenn could not ever sing it in the original key, non of them could, except the original Patti
Roberto Ignacio... I saw Patti twice in Sunset and she was phenomenal! She is one of the few who actually didn’t over act the role into camp. And the changes they made for the Broadway version weren’t for the better, even though they thought they were. Betty Buckley was fantastic as Norma and Elaine Paige sung the role great, but, was trying too hard to imitate Gloria Swanson. If you want to see Glenn Close as Norma, just watch the live action version of 101 Dalmatians. She acted the same in that, but, thankful no singing!
jenylogan1.... Yeah, the show is troublesome and is not one of ALW’s best, but, Patti did make it better and she sang the score, as written, wonderfully!
LuPone. That score was NEVER more thrilling. Death defying keys.
We all have favourite! And mine is Betty! I saw her several times in London and she was sensational. I will never forget her performance.
Patti should have done it on Broadway, Andrew Lloyd Webber, should be ashamed of what he did to Patti
ABSOLUTELY
Everybody likes to rewrite the story, but the reality is that the American critics who went over there and saw Sunset Boulevard did not give her a good reviews, especially the New York Times and Wall Street journal which combined had 11 paragraphs tearing her performance to shreds. Close also was a much more expensive actress to hire, making the she less profitable for Andrew Lloyd Webber especially since she didn’t stay with the show as long as Lupone would have on Broadway. Had no choice, but to replace her.
The “born to bay, I’ll be may” thing came as a direction from the music director according to Betty Buckley. She dumped that pronunciation halfway through her run on Broadway, because she realized in sounded so dumb and she didn’t care what the MD thought anymore. Apparently it originated with Glenn Close and her inability to sing the “e” vowel openly and powerful enough to get a full sound. The clip you hear of her here is from the revival where she finally sang it correctly.
It's "Me" not "May"😂
@@joshuajohnson2216No it sounds like may, thats their whole point
@@Broadwayriah Actually it's Me not May. They don't know how to pronounce it properly. Forget about it and I don't want to argue.
Thank you for this wonderful compilation! I, too, wish I could find Susan Dawnn Carlson!!! On a different note, it's interesting to see how wildly the tempos vary. It's hard to believe that LuPone and Endsley were even in the same production!
Why?
@@fergusmurray1828 Because they're singing at such wildly different tempos
Broadway YouHaven'tHeard The Patti recording is from her last night, she is known to speed things up on her last night, it’s exactly what she did with Evita and Gypsy. But yes, it is strange.
Thanks a lot for this great compilation.
For me - here in Germany - Helen Schneider was
the greatest Norma since the first Show at the
Rhein-Main-Theater / Niedernhausen. She has
such a brilliant and outstanding voice and play
Norma with an extraordinary Intensity.
Every single Show.
And the orchestra is fabulous too! Very exciting!
Very comprehensive - great collection. You just missed out Judi Connelli and Maria Mercedes though :)
I did miss Judi I remember catching that. And I'm not sure if a recording of Maria Mercedes exist except for her performing with one look. Ive been dying to find a full recording of her.
Go patti!
She was the only one to do the original ending key
And without a breathe before “me”
Much has been said about Linda Balgord doing it in the same original keys as Patti, but here she is definitely hitting that same D!
Pia Douwes too!!
@@justess797 ooh i didnt know ! shes awesome
Patti lupone is the only one who sang it in the original key. All others sang it in the key that was lowered for Glenn close. I did like Betty Buckley, and Dianne Carroll.
The 1st US Tour Norma, Linda Balgord, used Patti’s key.
I've never bothered too much about key changes except for the movie of Evita when they were so significantly lowered for Madonna.
I wish Nancy Anderson got more than one performance. I’d love to see her do Norma.
Oh miss endslsy! The 2nd cover for patti. Singing in the original key xx God bless you and the company for supporting patti xx
Yes the slight growl before “Me” was everything
Saw Close and Clark. Wow..would have loved to see Moreno
Well I loved Petula Clark
Something about Karen Mason's performance really stood out to me.
Glenn close 👏🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
Could you upload Patti and Glenn's audio?
Diahanne Carol is the best
Elaine is absolutely the best
1st UK tempo is so slow but Faith is a great Norma!!
I can never accept anyone who sings “I’ll be Mayyyyy”. If you can’t modify the vowel to sound like me then you are not a singer!!
It’s easier to sing mayyyy!
@@steventownsley6763 I know it is. But it sounds terrible.
2018 Valeria Lynch - Argentina !!!
You forgot the Dutch version of 2008 , wich had a quite awesome performer - Simone Kliensma - th-cam.com/video/sPLM1exJZ5A/w-d-xo.html
I will be making a part 2 of this video for the other productions
+SunsetFan98 YESSS!!!
There are only two Norma Desmond: Gloria Swanson and Glenn Close.
As wonderful an actress is, she stole this role from Patti Lupone, I blame ALW. Glenn could not ever sing it in the original key, non of them could, except the original Patti
Roberto Ignacio... I saw Patti twice in Sunset and she was phenomenal! She is one of the few who actually didn’t over act the role into camp. And the changes they made for the Broadway version weren’t for the better, even though they thought they were. Betty Buckley was fantastic as Norma and Elaine Paige sung the role great, but, was trying too hard to imitate Gloria Swanson. If you want to see Glenn Close as Norma, just watch the live action version of 101 Dalmatians. She acted the same in that, but, thankful no singing!
I never really cared for the show, but Patti Lupone was the first one I saw, and still the best !
jenylogan1.... Yeah, the show is troublesome and is not one of ALW’s best, but, Patti did make it better and she sang the score, as written, wonderfully!
What a limiting opinion