Hugh Jackman singing Soliloquy from Carousel

[nkohne]

@joyandlady I have sung this song, and while I don't like the language that Hugh Jackman uses in the song, it is what is written in the music. The MacRae version was in a video, and at that time, you would not have seen language on film when aired on tv (I could be very wrong on this, but that is what people have told me through the years).

[xaruiz]

He started making the fists at the end and my mind saw claws extending...

[joyandlady]

He says "bastard" instead of "bully" (3 min)... you don't try to improve upon Hammerstein's lyrics, okay? That, combined with his styled rendition of this song, makes me cling to MacRae's version even more.

[Phantomdubber]

@joyandlady its bastard in the original ¬_¬

[tray2022]

hugh is a lyrical baritone thats why he has a high tone then dramatic baritones but he is deff not a tenor haha

[operasanger]

@tray2022 Actually his voice is closer to dramatic tenor or what they used to call "lazy tenor". The timbre and tone are really not lyric baritone at all. It's far too light with very little baritone richness. Unfortunately it's more like what is popularly called "baritenor" in musical theatre these days - it's just more tenor than baritone.

[frenchaccount1]

Saw his one man show last week and he sang this! It was magical!

[ebertenor]

He's actually a very talented singer. The thing is, he should be singing tenor.  All this stuff is too low for his voice to shine, which is why he doesn't have the colors that true baritones do on this song.

[smashedmatt]

Little formal voice training? Hugh graduated from WAAPA, Australia's most prestigious musical theatre institution!

[lauriehere1]

When you compare this to MacRae or Raitt, PLEASE remember that this was recorded on a hand held device from the audience, so the quality of the recording is poor. As for comparisons, yes Jackman has had little formal voice training, but I find his "conversational" way with a song more enjoyable and memorable. His Billy is cocky, just as he shoud be.

[lalalandbby]

Lovely.. But nothing compared to my favorite, Anthony Warlow. Now that;s an amazing man.

[RPenta]

@lalalandbby Jackman has many marks on YouTube: he cannot hang with the masters Gordon MacRae and John Raitt.

[CrazyJaney92]

Hugh Jackman will be a great Jean Valjean in the movie from the musical "Les Misérables" because he can play anything and he has such a great voice.....He is the only choice for the movie producers because he is bankable. That's it !!!! CQFD like we say in French.

[CrazyJaney92]

The rendition of this song by Mr Jackman in his one man show in Toronto was wonderful: standing ovation at every show ( I attended 4 of them). Hugh's voice is more powerful then ever now. What a blast for the Frenchie I am, who had never heard about Billy Bigelow before this video on youtube.

[SarahB1863]

For the record, I don't think Alfie Boe should be Valjean in the movie version, either. Great voice, too operatic to reach a mass audience. Again, in the book Valjean is constantly fighting his animalistic side to become good - whoever plays him in the movie has to bring that out. Boe sings too pristinely to sell an audience on Valjean being rough and selfish. You need a grittier voice than either he or Jackman possesses. IMO.

[SarahB1863]

I like Jackman, but when I heard he was in talks to play Jean Valjean in the movie version of "Les Miserables" I checked out this video because there's a lot of vocal similarities between Valjean and Billy Bigelow. And I gotta say...Jackman can't cut it. His Bigelow sounds too cheery and nice-guy; Billy is a rough-and-tumble carnival barker, NOT a nice guy! Valjean is the same way - if Jackman can't sing Bigelow, no way can he sing Valjean. Simple as that.

[hpfan]

Behold -- The perfect man.

[blackpython]

Yeah this version is very fast, and I think Hugh Jackman is doing a great job considering the speed up and that it's just a concert. I know John Raitt will always vocally be my favorite illy, but that doesn't mean I can't love someone else in the role too. I think Hugh did a fabulous job. I wish he'd gone for the high note, but there's no shame in singing it as written if you can't option up.

[BabiaySiuaa250]

l0l_ánÿòNë_wÁÑÑá_chÄt_wÏth_më_­ì_féël_sÒ_lóÑËlÿ_tÓdAy└

[fujunction]

He's a very healthy singer

[granbranfan]

It's great that Hugh Jackman is singing this beautiful song from the 1956 movie. He will draw the much needed attention of the younger generations to this amazing musical.

[jessied44]

Love him singing this, but the sound quality isn't very good. Would love to have a truly clean copy.

[weikko79]

Why does he leave out the "When I have a daughter..." bit? Ruins the song as far as I'm concerned.

[logician30]

What are you people taking about?! He is amazing and his voice is perfect. I hear nothing but strength and passion in his voice..and I am not a big fan of his. Hitting notes perfectly does not constitute good singing. Its the feeling behind the notes that make the song become real.

[sko1187]

"Soliloquy" is the seminal musical theatre aria. While Jackman acts circles around John Raitt who was boyishly charming, and Robert Goulet who had a voice but the acting abilities of a self indulgent child, ultimately Jackman just proves adequate when it comes to the vocals. Raitt's performance is a master class in vocal control and power, especially with his high B flat. Jackman is impressive in some respects, but ultimately not the best.

[kennyalancramer]

I would love for him to play Valjean in the upcoming Les Mis film

[alisonlanger]

I love this man so so much! What a talent

[jbjcurly]

His acting is good. His singing isn't horrible, but it certainly is NOT perfect, great, the best, incredible, or any of the other hyperbolic descriptions on this page. He is a good actor that can sing. This piece (and role) requires a GREAT singer and a good actor. If you put the acting first you will end up with singing like Johnny Depp in Sweeney Todd... and if you think he sang really well... then God have mercy on the future of Musical Theater.

[chrishot10]

@jbjcurly Depp was amazing as Sweeney Todd because he's a great actor. It's not that difficult, the part of Todd and Depp is a decent singer. After all, I think some people take too seriously musical theater. It's not opera, you know. If one has The Voice and The Music Talent he does opera. When one can't do opera turns to musical. I can't imagine Domingo choosing a musical career as I can't imagine McRae or any other musical performer dare to sing Calaf in Turandot. Just my opinion of course.

[kennyalancramer]

@chrishot10 Johnny Depp is a good actor but he has no buisness in a musical... The only reason he was hired for the Sweeny flim was because Tim Burton directed it... same goes for Helen Bonham Carter (Tim Burton's wife)... they can not sing those roles... And extensive vocal training is required sing musical theater... Musical theater stars are NOT, as you suggest, failed opera singers... Regardless of style, vocal training is almost always rooted in the bel canto method of teaching

[MuzzyBarker]

@chrishot10 WTF?? Sweeney Todd isn't that difficult a part? Have you heard the complete musical (minus all of the songs and parts of songs that they cut from the movie for convenience)? A good Sweeney takes much more than "a decent dinger", a fact undermined by Depp's half-assed attempt at lending his voice to Sondheim.

[kennyalancramer]

@jbjcurly I don't think you can compare Hugh Jackman's singing talents to Johnny Depp... Depp is just terrible... Hugh has a fabulous musical theater voice... it is not perfect by any means... he has some vowel issues to be sure, but so do most acclaimed Broadway stars. He is certainly no Anthony Warlow, but he is leaps and bounds better than most movie stars who think that because they can Twinkle Twinkle Little Star (off key) they should be in a musical and use autotone (the horror!!!).

[sicon67]

As good as Jackman is, his voice doesn't have the textures off McRae.

[JSCOTT215]

@sicon67 True.....Not a fan of McRae either though. I like the John Raitt. My university is doing Carousel, I'm praying I can be half as good as any of these guys.

[Sparkina]

@sicon67 Yes, Jackman is talented but nothing like Gordon -- and nothing like that blue-eyed fellow from Hoboken

[seeWhitelight]

great!!!hes a great actor and a good singer!!!WOW

[mmcharacter1]

considering that this is a concert version of the musical and they probably had only a limited time to do each song, they managed to cram a 9minute song into under 7minutes hugh did a great job considering all that.

[ekirkie]

he is going to be a remake of carousel..

[aburny]

i love warlow's version but this is good to i guess

[tamarexxe]

I was amazed at the power of his voice. I am in love with him all at once. He was great as Curly in Oklahoma and to compare his voice to Gordon MacRae is just unfair. NOBODY had a voice like M MacRae and never will, but that doesn't mean that Hugh Jackman is not an incredible singer, because he has one of the most amazing voices I have ever heard. Bravo Hugh Jackman you are amazing. And he actually danced the dream sequence in Oklahoma!

[thesp467]

for those f you that say he is over animated, he is acting in a theater that seats two-thousand everyone needs to see him... it's not film!

[HanBOHobbit]

I love Hugh's version...

But I also am in love with Mandy Patinkin's version too. :D

[nancypo1]

Too bad they didn't have better mikes and amplification. A little to fast at the end, he probably just doesn't have the strength to hold the LONGGGGGGGGGGGG notes. Or have the depth of Gordon MacRae... Love Hughie though :) Great in Oklahoma on PBS...

[mmcharacter1]

@nancypo1 He can hold the long notes all you have to do to find that out is watch other clips of him singing. i think the reason he didn't is because they were trying to rush the song and they didn't give him enough time to do it properly. (just my opinion)

[fanyzuko2003]

great job

[chrishot10]

As for this performance, Ben Brantley of The New York Times wrote for Jackman:

''Certain people, no matter what their size, seem to turn into giants when they set foot onstage. The Australian actor Hugh Jackman, as it happens, is a tall man. But that doesn't account for his towering presence on Thursday night at Carnegie Hall.''

I totally agree with him.

[chrishot10]

He's done it. In the acclaimed 1998 revival of Oklahoma on West End. And he earned an Olivier Award nomination. And is considered as one of the best 'Curlys' ever. He's a great singer and by far a greater actor than those two you mentioned. There are many videos featuring Jackman as Curly in that production on youtube. Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin, The Surrey With The Fringe On The Top, Pore Jud Is Daid, People Will Say We're In Love. And he does everything but 'failing miserably' with them.

[Danscottonair]

Well danettesills I was a snow child in a school production that ended last night and we were really really good (Nottingham, England) to be precise

[phantomxr]

no im sorry but jackman is good very ,very good ,but doesnt come close to mc rae or howard keel,as a singer ,or as an actor,lets see him do the duet (People will say wer,e in love ) from Oaklahoma!! with any leading lady he fancies. and he will fail miserably.

[InfinityNYC]

He out acts them in his sleep. I see what you're saying about the singing though. However, this is the best I've ever heard Jackman sound. I think the poor recording actually helps that though.

[danettesills]

I performed as Carrie Pipperidge at Madonna High School in 1975. One of my favorite memories, as I didn't pursue an acting career, went into journalism and family. However, I think Jackman would bring an honest, sexy energy to the role. Hey, who else has done a dynamic performance of Carousel in the recent past? Good for him. About time. I'm looking forward to it.

[amuziccritic]

Jackman seems has a decent voice but this performance doesn't measure up to others seen on YouTube - Gordon MaCrae, John Raitt, Goulet - whose I like the best even if it's from a tv version. The problem isn't Jackman's voice but he's just singing a song, he isn't getting into the role. Watch Goulet do it and tell me you honestly think Jackman comes even close. If Jackman's going to be in a movie it's strictly on his current star status, not because he's the best available.

[onepiecebestanime]

Do you have any idea, how difficult it is to stay in caracter while singing? And after all I agree with you that Hugh has not the best voice out of the people you mentioned, BUT he would give a role his own interpretation (at least as far as he can, concerning the director) which ymakes you believe he's really that caracter... there are many actors which aren't nearly as convincing as him

[richyhughes]

I'd rather see a genuine portrayal encompassing all the hopes and fears of a parent to be than a strutting peacock that hits all of the musical notes but none of the emotional - and thats from someone who played Billy Bigelow in May and cried every night because he could never touch or even speak to his daughter.

[Staymewithflagons]

You can't say Jackman doesn't have something we rarely see today...charm.

[Staymewithflagons]

I studied voice in the 1970s...my Dad who played this part in the 60's already noticed a shift in the voice coaching my generation was getting...like acting...singing was becoming more natural...both syles can be beautiful...but

one must be careful not to become TOO

natural...breath control is important.

[bigusslikus]

It is a real shame what passes as good singing. He is truly talented but is voice is only above average. He can't come close to great broadway baritones like Howard Keel, Gordon McRae or even Stokes Mitchell who is already far below the afore mentioned two. Contemporary Broadway singers stink and people like this and Stokes Mitchell stand out because everyone else is terrible.

[WinterBornActual]

i think that you are correct in your analysis, but I would add that there is virtually no one amongst his contemporaries with a voice and presence like Hugh's and none of them has his breadth of talent

[chrishot10]

I'm so bored of all these comments on contemporary vs past stars. Hugh Jackman is not a singer, he does not have an operatic voice BUT he has charisma to burn, he is unique because of his innate charm, preternatural beauty, endless stamina, admirable self-confidence and his ability to command the stage whether he stars in a musical, a cop drama or hosts the Oscars/Tonys. He's proved that he's a natural-born stage star, a true showman with extraordinary confident raptor with his audience.

[chrishot10]

I meant, 'extraordinarily confident rapport with his audience'. I type really fast and I make mistakes, sorry.

[chrishot10]

Plus, he's a HUGE movie star, one of the biggest superstars in the industry today. As for those Broadway stars you mentioned, I bet the majority of people have never even heard of their names, except perhaps for McRae but even he was far from a big Hollywood star (he wasn't a star at all actually) despite the fact he did some films in USA. In other words, just face the fact that Jackman is UNIQUE. You doubt that? Give me names then, names that have a career equal to Hugh Jackman's.

[AtLastOnTheGround]

Oh please. Keel, MacRae, and Mitchell are all phenomenal but they lack the charisma, inner-depth, and charm that Jackman brings to the stage/screen. And I'm not sure we heard the same audios, here. Jackman's placement and control when he gets to the big section at the end was phenomenal.

[SchwarzBass]

OH give me a break. Howard Keel and Gordon weren't exactly the top of the heap in the acting class. I did some broadway shows... now make a living singnig opera. I would MUCH rather hear Hugh sing this than some dumbass opera singer getting obsessed with his own "glorious" tones. Hughes voice is absolutely adequate for this role... perhaps moreso than Howard and Gordon. It sounds right, to my ears. Now BSM.... I'm with u there. Highly overrated and boring. Sweet soul though.

[RPenta]

@SchwarzBass

You must be taking hits on the Iron Sheik's crack pipe--Jackman cannot carry Keel's, Raitts or especially MacRae's jock strap when it comes to singing.

It never ceases to amaze me what insanity gets posted on videos of singers or musicians--beyond crazy. I can't wait for someone to post comments on art like, "Michaelangelo wasn't so great Joe Bacciagaloop was just as good. "

[CircusFreaksPresents]

I can't wait for the remake of Carousel. Jackman is going to play the lead. =3 Or so I've read.

[balletgurlie]

I'm not sure how I feel about the remake. Jackman is certainly a better actor than Gordon MacRae but he can't beat that voice. And these days Hollywood has failed big time at picking out a good female lead in musicals. I'm worried!

[Klenotka]

Anne Hathaway might be his opposite. He sent a script to her. He doesn´t have to be Gordon MacRae, he is Hugh Jackman. One of the best musical actors around. If we can have in musical people without any singing talent (Pierce Brosnan and Colin Firth in Mamma Mia) then I am really not worried about Hugh in Carousel. He is a better actor than McRae, and today is it more about acting than just a singing (that he can do as well)

[chrishot10]

I didn't get your comment on Brantley. Yes he's stupid but I thought his comment on Hugh's performance in Carousel was rather good. As for your above comment, I totally agree. Hugh will be nominated for an Oscar when and if he does Carousel. That's for sure. He's a formidable actor and a great singer. All this comments that McRae, Raitt are better blah blah are pointless. They lived 50 years ago, they learnt to sing with different techniques and they are not even close to Hugh's acting talent.

[Klenotka]

I misread that comment and because Bartley´s name was attached, I automatically presumed a bad comment. I apologize for that ;-) I need to read more carefully next time ;-)

[chrishot10]

;-)

[chrishot10]

Btw, Klenotka, this is martha s. from ozalots... ;-)

[Klenotka]

Hey :-D

[TimonyErt03]

Hahahaha!!! I love his comic timing on the "Oh Bill" part! Awesome!!!!!!

[AtLastOnTheGround]

OH MY GOD

That end note is EARGASMIC!!! If I were in the audience and had the luck of viewing this live and actually feeling that enormous, fantastic voice resonate in the theater, I might have fainted.

[pollydoofus]

I think this is not up to his usual standards. My guess is he did not have a lot of time to live with this fabulous song before he performed it. It doesn't have the detailed nuances of his best work. I did this show many times and with some very good Billys but the best one i ever did it with was David Canary. He did not have the technique to pull off the end of this piece but in every other way he was Billy. For me, the best sung-acted one is still McRae.

[allieree]

Thanks for posting this. I am fan of Mr. Jackman--in all of his roles. What a talented. Is there anything beyond his phenomenal talent?  I doubt it.

[kayune]

brilliant great musical as well

[Altivelzian]

I have to add tho that I love Hugh in so much that he does - simply the most gorgeous man alive.

[Altivelzian]

I agree about Mandy Patinkin. I took part in a radio broadcast for BBC Radio 2 of Carousel with him and he was fantastic! his Curley is on the edge - dangerous to know. I think that characterisation is how it should be - Hugh is too nice! It's like Peter Grimes (Britten opera); Jon Vickers was qunitessential - a Grimes that you felt sorry for but who you knew was simply too dangerous to himself and others to remain alive. Mandy as Curley is the same.

[chrishot10]

I agree. Jackman gave more importance to the acting part, and of course he has a great voice. He is by far more conveicing than McRae, who does have a beautiful voice but he seems just to care more about the singing part, not the acting.

Btw, Jackman said at Los Angeles Times this past week that he has developed a script for a movie adaptation of Carousel. He has been working on it for two years and now he thinks it's ready. I can't wait!!

[RPenta]

@chrishot10

You have it exactly backwards, this role calls for a great pop baritone and why Jackman is good as a singer, he is not great as another commenter said. Unfortunately for Jackman, this role has been sung by men like Robert Goulet, John Raitt, and of course Gordon McRae--as a singer, Jackman cannot hang with them.

[dsneybuf]

Jackman actually pulls off the dialogue transition to the daughter verse better than McRae did.

[ooliebelle]

Those questioning the quality of Hugh's voice may want to keep in mind that this was recorded on a hand held device from the audience. The sound in the concert hall, including his voice, was excellent! Enjoy his spot-on "conversational" way with this song!

[braender22]

If you want to hear it sung phenominal, check out Chris Pinnella. He has it all over Hugh Jackman, and I do love Hugh Jackman.

[domsbabygrl]

Negative - check out Anthony Warlow's version. Heaven.

[EmKoolaid]

The best version of this song is by Mandy Patinkin.

I love him though. :]

[ShuffleBallChange]

Hugh....where has THIS voice gone? Unfortunately he's spent too much time recently working on average movies... I loved him so much more on the stage....

[FitandBushy]

Love how he does the transition from singing about a son to a little girl. "Oh, Bill!" lol I think some of this could have been a bit slower tempo, but I really like Jackman's interpretation. It feels more modern and less melodramatic than some earlier versions. Hope some day he can bring this to the big screen.

[santiagosayz]

i love him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[rosacotton]

A nice performance though I felt something was lacking; not sure if it was his delivery or how he was miked.

John Raitt and Gordon MacRae did this dramatic song best.

[skatesindreams]

The sound is better in the HQ version,

I'm grateful to be able to hear this - until we have an "official" recording.

Thank you for sharing it here!

[ChrisStockslager]

I'd say Sinatra did the best version. Hey conveyed all the right moods without being too cartoony, which the other two tend to be at times.

[ThePiano1991]

I agree this is very overly animated! Hugh's portrayal in the song is great but the music is far to fast. The ending sounded like Tom and Jerry.

[BernardProfitendieu]

@ChrisStockslager you must be joking! that lounge lizard?

[Hasselhoffhater]

I wish I could sing this! Alas the last part is too high.

[chrishot10]

What a big voice Hugh Jackman possesses! Listen to him on 5.56' till the end! What a singing! Especially on 6.33'! MY GOD!!! And then there are people who believe that this man has no talent! I wish Hugh will at last star in a big screen adaptation of Carousel. Now that he turned down that 3d "Cleo", CAROUSEL is the perfect musical for this brilliant performer to star in. If he does, well I think the Oscar monination for Best Leading Man will be more than a sure thing...

[ThomasIsMoonface]

Nice try. Raitt wins.

[carrotjuse]

Raitt's dead. Jackman's his replacement.

[fingletoad]

Wow, I had no idea Hugh could sing! I love this! "My boy Bill" thanks!!

[hkk321]

Thanks so much for posting! I have wanted to see this for years.

[TheMcLush]

Oh, if only it had been properly miked!

[worldtraveler91]

Wow, awesome!

[musicalwatch]

If the forced "American" accent would be killed, this wouldn't be half bad. Conductor missed two measures in the middle though (!)

[25dinningk]

do u haev M.S.N messenger? go2 my profile and msg my ID!

ur so COOL! :D RG

[bailey291]

I absolutely love Hugh-who doesn't but I'm sorry-I just don't like him for this song- his voice sounds grabbled like an old man and he rushes it -lacking emotion. Check out Chris Pinnella singing this song -it's pretty amazing!

[AnjuliMcDaniel]

I like Jackman, and I love Carousel -- but nobody but nobody does Soliloquy like the original Billy Bigelow, John Raitt. If anybody has a video of him doing it, please post it. You haven't heard it done until you've heard Raitt. I have the LP from the original show with Raitt and Jan Clayton, and no one compares to Raitt. And his performance in the song "The Highest Judge of All" is stunning!

[Chriswren9]

YOU SAID IT!!!!

[Chriswren9]

I have just posted that very thing!

[ABCSuperSoaper]

I hate Carousel. But I love Hugh Jackman. Consequently, I stopped to watch this video. Actually liked his performance. And he's slated to appear in the movie version in a few years...aren't we lucky? He'll get me to go see it, too...

[AtLastOnTheGround]

I agree, 'Carousel' is far from my favorite show, but Hugh is just amazing! That last note gave me goosebumps.

[JCsGal]

I can't get this video to work and every once in a while I get a "This video is no longer available" message. Did you take it down? :-(

[egazeba]

No, It's works for me

[JCsGal]

Ok, it works for me again now. I guess maybe YouTube was having troubles or something.

[JCsGal]

This is my favorite of the three from this performance. I just love to hear him sing and he takes it to a whole other level with this one! :-)

[bohemiawelcumsyou]

I think that last note just made my ears smile.

[cdmsinger]

DANG!!! that was phenomenal.

he straight up killed it at the end. major props.

[KezWasHere]

Awesome. Hugh is pretty good but he could be even better if he took some more singing lessons. He has a bit of a throaty style here and there.

[Maytooka]

j'adore sa coupe de cheveux....toujours aussi Hot et Sexy....

[Gruntilla]

Excellent. He's got a great voice when he's doing the right stuff.

[Buddymom]

Thank you - thank you. I do not understand why these productions are not filmed and released on DVD like they did with South Pacific. This is an amazing one-time performance. I never thought I'd get a glimpse of it. Thanks.

[dsneybuf]

Back when Hugh Jackman performed Carousel it was not allowed to film those types of concerts.

[outbackdreaming]

Hugh is supposedly doing a movie musical of "Carousel" at some point - he said in Nov. 2006 that they just got the rights to it so hopefully it will be soon!

[wefewwehappyfew]

Why, where can we see this in full?

[MyOzalots]

He's just perfect, isn´t he?

Thanks for posting!!!

[egazeba]

Without any doubts! :)

[btr2oz]

OMG I've never seen this soliloquy done better. I just wish this musical wasn't so sexist! Hugh, you did an amzaing job with this number! I am glad to have seen this, but want to see you as Phineas Taylor Barnum next on Broadway!!

Bravo!

EW STL MO

[blackpython]

I adore Hugh Jackman, and love this video, but I gotta say the best Soliloquy is still the original one, sung by John Raitt. You can see a video of it on youtube where Raitt goes up on the "die" and it's one of the best performances I've ever heard.

[outbackdreaming]

Thanks for that! This is from "Carousel in Concert" at Carnegie Hall in NYC in June 2002 right before he started filming X-Men 2. Can't wait until he films the movie musical!

[silverpixiechick]

OMG look how young he is..LOL

[damanhugh49]

AWESOME!!