Toni Braxton A Change in me

[simsb2787]

Toni is simply AMAZING!!!!!

[ifluvinguiswrong]

There's been a change in me too Toni! Thanks for posting this.

[KingdomHeartsFan3211]

Good, but not quite as great as Ashley Brown.

[bubbafluff21]

I don't understand how anyone can dislike her performance of this song when it was written for her and was only supposed to be in the show for her run but was perminately added

[connections224]

so beautiful. im glad they picked her as belle

[GeorgeBradJohnson]

I like that they added a song just for her, its also interesting to see a black Belle though tbh it'd only work on broadway where we're more willing to suspend disbelief. Given the film is set in roughly the 1800s in provincial France Belle being black would add in all sorts of latent racism though that could be an interesting spin to the story too.

Either way this is absoloutely terrific.

[ariesgal1991]

What key did she sing this in? She's alot lower then most other Belles, which is good because I can't sing very high either.

[ALilBee]

I believe she sang the song beautifully, but its was much too much like a song on the radio than a broadway production. She supposed to be Belle, not Toni Braxton in a Belle dress singing like Toni Braxton. I think I would have been dissapointed if I saw it. And people who think I'm saying that because of race its not true at all, I just saw a production with an Africian American Belle and she blew it out of the water. I just don't think Toni played the part well.

[BlyssfulStorm]

I wonder how many people here actually SAW her on Broadway. It's been over 10 years and I STILL remember it. Compared to what she did on that stage, she sounds like crap here. The song was written for her and she owned it.

[scrappyjulia94]

I love this performance, but I don't see Belle when I watch it. I see Toni Braxton in Belle's dress.

[mjonas211]

I'm in musical theatre and im black and its hard for me to try out for roles that originaly cast for a white person. Seeing Toni play Belle gives me hope :)

[kg41390]

Beautiful performance. But I have to say, I laughed out loud at 2:29. Can anyone guess why? :P

[Esorassen]

@kg41390 i have no idea. why?

[wallotla1]

@kg41390 She totally does the Whitney Houston I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU riff!

[bradshaw5678]

i wish Nikki Renee Daniels had gotten to play Belle on Broadway. That is the ideal example of someone of color who would've made this work...seems that riffing is a bit inappropriate - as was the line added "Talk to the hand Beast" (which was suddenly added when Toni came in)...Toni could've just done a recording of the song and released the single - bringing attention to the show - she didn't have to play the role. lol

[sephyr2006]

And what exactly is Broadway singing? There are many style of singing used on Broadway. Just because she doesn't sound like Susan Egan doesn't mean her voice wouldn't fit on Broadway.

[sephyr2006]

I love what Toni did with this song. Obviously she was performing on a talk show (not on stage) and she was being promoted. She sounded amazing. And who cares if the key is lowered? It's the song that counts. Toni is just one performer in a long line who make songs their own: Barbra, Ethel, Liza, Patti, etc. Just enjoy the performance!

[CMTTTTTTTT]

OMG this was so amazing, her voice is perfect, she is brilliant on broadway! a lot of people think that monitone powerful projection sounds so good but rather it is a way to cover off off key off pitch voices. a way to cover a out of key off pitch voice, Tomni sounds Fantastic!

[mrdefinite]

Just heard she is returning to Broadway in the musical "Chicago"! I'm happy for her!

[Daydreamer1083]

I don't care WHAT anyone says...Toni Braxton brought BEAUTY to Beauty and the Beast. She sang the song with all of the passion that the other actresses (Though I do respect and admire thier playing Belles' part and have respect for thier craft) missed.

[SongsJerome]

T_T

[carem1985]

You Betta SANG Toni

[beltingbaritone]

I love the idea of a contralto Belle, since she's usually cast as a soprano. It's really amazing. <3

[LindaLugoNC]

anyone have a vid of toni as belle? And i mean an actual vid of her durring a Beauty and the Beast on broadway performance.

[emothebandgeek]

Belle sings from a low E to a high F. In my opinion, most mezzos can't get down to her low notes, and so she's an alto--even though she's usually listed as a mezzo.

As a Disney princess she is often expected to have a bright, sunny timbre, but a dark and warm tone is awesome for her character as well.

[paypay1011]

CONTRALTO OR MEZZO SOPRANO... ITS ALL ABOUT THE DELIVERANCE!!! DID TONI DELIVER THIS SONG? YES THE FUCK SHE DID!!! SHE ATE THIS SONG UPI JUST SEEN ANNELIESE PERFORMANCE ON THIS SONG... AND IT WAS WACK!!! SHE HAD THE RANGE BUT SHE SKIPPED ALL TYPES OF EXECUTIONS WHEN IT CAME TO THE MELODY... ITS NOT ALL ABOUT THE RANGE YOU MUSIC EDUCATED DUMBASSES!!! EXPERIENCED VOCALIST COMMENT... BITCH!!!

[bnyc5131999]

she sang this with such ease. beautiful.

[LegallyWickedMermaid]

I like it it's different for belle but nice at the same time :)

[MrThebratz101]

omg she can sing i love her she was a better belle than any white girl

[jmacck]

worse belle of all time...srry but really not broadway material

[momoney7752]

Effortless



[momoney7752]

Effortless



[kitttykat248]

this was sooo beautiful :) i loved it

[aprilcat02]

one of my fav video...i luv Belle and i was so happy 2 see a African American woman play her...this is one 4 the little Black girls that never had the Frog Princess...thank u to whoever posted this...

[RandomlyConnected]

interesting. Belle has a very high voice so it's odd to see Toni casted in this considering she is renowned for her bass-like voice

[purplesummer888]

@RandomlyConnected hahaha yeah they changed some of the keys of Belles's songs for her, and Belle has a huge range thats like from a low F to a high F# hahaha

[ethalinia]

@purplesummer888 Really? I never noticed...Belle is an alto, right? Or is she a mezzo?

[ThePhantomsSinger]

@ethalinia She is a Mezzo for but the female playing Belle needs to have an Alto range as well.

[TTDOVE]

toni is a contralto the rarest of female voices not a mezzo.

[ThePhantomsSinger]

@TTDOVE Oh I wasn't talking about Toni I know she is a contralto. I was saying that the role of Belle is written for a Mezzo but needs to be able to hit a lower range at times.

[aferrari62]

HAHAHAHAHAHA WHAT IS THIS?!

[RaWrZzZz]

I like listening to her broadway recordings, her acting is extremely moving.

[jybys]

she sucks as bella! audra shouldve played her

[whitetiefilms]

BLACK BELLES REPRESENT!

[sgtdroxie]

I saw her in the show . . . she did a great job . . . although they transposed the whole show down to fit her voice. So even the group numbers that belle is in were lower. Her acting was surprising very good . . . the marquee said Beauty and the Beast . . . a whole NEW beauty. So you knew walking in that it was going to be something different. I saw the show 2 times proir with white chicks and I have to say I loved Toni the best.

[EmShrayyy]

I love the decision to cast her as Belle. I think it was very groundbreaking and opened a lot of doors for people who probably normally wouldn't get cast a certain role because of how they look. This is what art's all about. love it.

[X4COOLGUY]

Gorgeous voice. She is soooo talented.

[X4COOLGUY]

Gorgeous voice. So much talent.

[choirgeek822]

why is there a metronome in the background in some parts .... ITS SO ANNOYING!

[c6h12o6glucose]

after hearing this, I would love to hear her sing - I will always love you. I bet she would blow it out of the water!

[Thattheatrelnerd]

What key is this!!!?????

I want to use it but I can't figure it out. Please help me!!!!!

[MaryBridget12]

@Thattheatrelnerd Yea,...... Anyone let me know too....

[fabala921]

@Thattheatrelnerd G-flat major

[ObsessedwithBroadway]

@Thattheatrelnerd G flat major... :) Really pretty.

[SexyLiLLeilaniMya]

The true original "Disney Black Princess" she was great on Broadway in the role of Belle I saw the show 4 times each time she was PERFECT!

[ljames75]

This is the actual key in it's original form people....

[elizsmalley]

I wish it was always in this key... I keep finding higher keys, but this is awesome!

[elphie1415]

@elizsmalley I have to agree with you. I think its beautiful in this key :D

[TruthinMe44]

I wish a soundtrack from this musical with Toni Braxton was released. I love her voice.

[omigoduguys12]

She made belle her own way..shes original and not like them other belles..to me shes one of my favortie belles

[starchyld1972]

A very good performance. THE COMPOSERS of the show liked her so much that they WROTE THIS SONG FOR HER AND ADDED IT TOO THE SHOW so all of you broadway traditionalist and people complaining about race sit down . this was the almighty dollar and some casting agent thought she would work and she did so let it go

[annajoy2009]

too much swooping. this is broadway, not a club.

[silenthillmaster755]

I can't imagine seeing the whole show with her. her voice is soothing but totally not right.

[SexyLiLLeilaniMya]

@silenthillmaster755 I beg to differ this song was written JUST FOR TONI she was a huge star at the time she took this play on and the fact that she had no background on this type of stage or anything to do with Broadway and its unique sound she turned it out her voice is perfect for any arena she is one of the most talented artists male or female of all time but I respect you're opinion I just don't see it that way and I'm a loyal Broadway lover!

[BadLactose]

Does anyone have any footage or recordings of Toni singing 'Belle' or any of the other songs from the play? I can only seem to find this one.

[Dusterian]

In theater you are supposed to have suspension of disbelief, and use your imagination. This is also a fairy tale, where impossible things happen like the kingdom is still perfect without seeing it's ruler (cause he's a beast in recluse). Anyone in this play can be any color at all.

[NobodyInAllofOZ1]

yall need to stop who cares if belle was black just cuz she was originally white dont mean anything toni still brought the character to life and she added some soul to it who cares!

[dsb188]

@supernatt. in various productions of the lion king they did actually have some white people cast in some of the parts. I think when it is in terms of the story line it may be important to stick to certain ethnicity of people, but in both the little mermaid as well as beauty and the beast it wouldn't effect the storyline. I think broadway has thought things like this through.

[chrischico]

@supernatt924 same in the Little Mermaid Triton was black and Ariel was white, looks a bit strange

[disneyrules886]

seriously race shouldn't be a problem anymore did whites not use blackface montage and even in cinderella with brandy the prince was asian the father was white and whoppi played his mother there was no change in the story.People should not look upon race but the quality of the persons performance.

[boseknows0]

@supernatt924 Belle's mother couldn't have been black? And ur comparison to Dreamgirls makes no sense. Dreamgirls is about a very specific time in American history, and based on Motown, the African American recording giant of the day, and its girl groups, like the Supremes. Beauty in the Beast has no place in history. It's an adaptation from the fairy tale La Belle et la Bête by Jeanne-Marie Le Prince de Beaumont. And if u argue that there were not black people in Europe then ur wrong.

[babygurl59033]

i had no idea she was on broadway for beauty and the beast!! she looks amazing!!

[NYCinema]

She should've done this song in the blue dress as how it was supposed to be in the show.

[DavidJMcCarthy]

@NYCinema shes not in the blue dress in the show! haha. :] but i do agree it is a bit awkward to be wearing a 40 pound dress. :]

[SevenSkellington]

She is GORGEOUS in that dress. WOW.

[dacanceruwishuwere94]

she looks sooooooooo beautiful!! acting needs much work, much less runs, but i LOVE THIS KEY!! yes, she's a contralto, who says belle has to be a soprano or mezzo the whole 8 years that this show ran?!?! besides, she could do this song anyway she wanted, IT WAS WRITTEN FOR HER, GET IT!

[IIIThreat]

I think adding her own melismas makes it personal, kind of like when Whitney Houston played the Fairy God Mother is Cinderella (or like the Baroque singers of times gone past). I like this version much better than the original. It sounds alive.

[dacanceruwishuwere94]

don't get me wrong, i adore when actors put runs in the songs, but, she was singing like toni, not like belle, in my opinion. i didn't say no runs, just a tiny bit less. besides, it takes away from the acting. but this key is still beautiful!

[adamrossonline]

most likely this was a showcase of the song promoting toni starring as belle and not the actual show itself, i think that's why she's performing more as herself here rather than being 100% in character. either way she does an amazing job.

[Randalina1]

plus belle is supposed to be smart and reserved yet delicate and elegant, while toni braxton is a sure and confident diva, especially in this song, not really pining for change but already in control of shit

[carem1985]

She's a vert amazing vocalist is what it boils down to at the end of the day

[Mshottie6]

i love toni, but this part isnt really right for her.

but, this song was written for her, so if she hadnt come to broadway, it wouldnt be in the musical.

[RyanJeremySings]

Thank god she actually did do the show!

[Mpsych83]

It's one of those "it's so bizare you go because of the novelty" moments. Toni (I love her outside of theatre) was deliberately miscast I think because she was everything Belle is not. I don't get into black Belles because there would be few in France at this time and people of African descent wouldn't have been esteemed the way Belle is in her community. I have a similar reaction to not wanting to see a white Simba in the Lion King - it detracts from its authenticity.

[IIIThreat]

Dude, I don't think animals have races...just saying...

[Dusterian]

Esteemed the way Belle is in her community? They all say she's odd and doesn't fit in! Pretty much the only positive thing they said was she's pretty, which even white people back then acknowledged. But once again, it'sa fairy tale, if this were real time it may have been when the King and Queen of France were decaptitated during the revolution!

[supernatt924]

Damn! Why is it so low?!

[SamuelXavier427]

I love that she waves her finger yet doesn't riff...

[juleshills]

I never saw Beauty and The Beast on Broadway, so I don't know what songs are in the production, however, I would have LOVED to hear Toni sing "Provincial Life."

[arghimemily]

it's cool that she's a black belle and all, it just bothers me when the key has to be ridiculously lowered just to put famous people on broadway haha.

she rocked it anyway i guess.

[arghimemily]

and for the whole show i mean, not this song obviously lol.

[GildedButterflys]

yea I was thinking that too. It's awesome, but I'm sure if they wanted a black belle there would have been a wonderful one out there who could sing in the correct key. The contralto voice doesnt fit belle.

[TheErleevis]

The song was written for Toni when she started the show, therefore the key was raised for all the other Belles...

[sarahgenedowling]

disney's joke on broadway....

[rykiernan]

Great song! Great voice! But dosnt fit the role of bell.

[faffolite]

she is singing in concert setting not within context of show so may be different withing show

love the idea of belle being black and thats almost what makes her different within the town etc

also recon she could brin some much needed strengh to belle

[AshleySpencerfan]

she can sing but i just don't like her as belle shes an amazing performer but she needs to study her character a bit more and y is she wearing the yellow dress!? this song is preformed in the blue dress with a cloak

[elphablover]

I don't know if this would change anyones opinion on Toni Braxton's Potrayal of Belle but it's important to note a few things: First and foremost the producers of the show were so impressed with Toni they wrote this song into the show for her...after that it stayed in the show until it closed. Second, you have to remember this was right on the heels of the enormous success of the Brandy version of Cinderella, in an interview Toni mentions that Disney was trying to bring that magic to Broadway!

[king14375]

She can sing no doubt but she sings as Toni not as Belle. Belle the insecure girl would not riff the hell out of that song.

[iluvRENT07]

Belle is not an insecure girl at all!!! Especially at this point in the show. Listen to the lyrics! At this point she is stronger than she has been and this is her revelation. That's why they chose Toni to play Belle. They wanted to show how confident Belle actually could be. And they didn't want her to lose Toni in the part. They wanted the strong bafrican-american woman Toni was to shine through in Belle! Which is why they wrote this song for Toni! Look up stuff on the net about it!

[kissez4tina]

what the hell?

[alemerent]

What in God's name is that finger flip at 1:25? That is absolutely and gratuitously heinous. Makes no sense. Not Broadway, not even legitimate singing. Good God, and we're suppose to believe she is Belle??? Gimme a break, this is a joke.

[fjays]

it was.. uh.. unique! Nice to see she was a cookie-cutter Belle, but.. uhh?

[mormonophobic]

Someone needs to teach her diction. Half of that song sounded like it was being done in a foreign language. Belle? Really??

[twin33]

no she not a broadway singer she a sultry R&B singer so what the hell do you expect of cause she gona sing it the she use to singing

[ericdeanda]

this cracks me up so good.

[SamSkii14]

I really dont like her as Belle.

shes not a broadway singer ...

she looks Beautiful, but i dont like her singing voice as Belle, she adds to much to it then it needs. Even thaugh this song was writen basically for her ...

It just DOES NOT sound Broadway or Belle.

[bielbraxton]

Toni Braxton is much more than talented, she's brilliant. she puts life in everything that she does.. she sings with the heart, with the soul. Toni sings with the life!

and the people should appreciate her.

[MATTandMUSIC]

I like that she played Belle.

It's nice to show flexibility in a character and bring out new things in it.

I think Toni is a very good and unique Belle.

[stormylove16]

she was horrible. not musical theater type singing what so ever.

[ifusuckilltellu]

First of get your facts str8 Toni is an A/C artist first then a pop artist just because she happens to be black doesn't mean she is an R&B artist how dare you assume like that second of all Unbreak My Heart was number one on the pop charts around the world and didn't reach anything higher then second on the R&B charts so get it right Toni is the best and is a legend unlike yourself!

[tintin04yellow]

annaliese van der pol is so much better than her performing this song...

[tintin04yellow]

her voice is not so theatrical for me..

[Delifine]

She's just perfect! She's so young here but it's so much wisdom in her singing. So much love in every sound!

[dtothehammy93]

does anyone know where i can find any vdeos of scenes from the show with Toni as Belle, like her singing Home or Something There?

[CMTTTTTTTT]

thats was fantastic, god shes good

[hamdolphin]

You've gotta be kidding me...

[BdaSinga]

i wonder, when she played belle, was the man who played her father black as well...? hmm?

[Niteowl128]

I saw Braxton when she played Belle in '98. The man playing Maurice (Belle's father) was not Black. But Meshach Taylor (of Designing Women fame) played Lumiere. It was great

[pillowlover005]

she sings the song very well. i do find, however, that she focuses more on making the song sound pretty rather than the character. it is theatre, so while singing, you are supposed to act. i didn't really see that in her performance, but she did well regardless. =)

[BryceAlister]

This was just at a concert production I believe!

I heard she was wonderful as belle! I personally would of liked to see it!

[RockQueenOfTheWorld]

@BryceAlister i think it was on rosie o'donnel

[bdavisthedancer]

Though Toni Braxton has done theater and acting she is primarily a vocalist. Singing is her element, not acting. That being said, this is a beautiful performance.

[pillowlover005]

I have heard decent things concerning Braxton's performance as Belle. I don't think, however, that she performed with the character in mind. While she is a vocalist, she is performing in musical theatre which requires singing AND acting. You can't say someone is good if they are only good on one end of the spectrum. Both qualities should be weighed. And she was performing on Rosie O'Donnell, not a concert.

[muffins4life2]

well when she his performing the song here she's not on broadway she is on the rosie o'donald show. so she is just singing.

[5487erik]

There is an article online where the producers of the show said they casted Toni to bring in a different element to the show and when they casted her they didnt want her to take to much of "Toni Braxton" out of the character...They casted her to not be the typical belle that people had always seen and I think Toni did a brilliant job at doing that

[ifusuckilltellu]

Me to!

[BEUTIIBOUND]

Of course you do Leilani ;)...Thats why we are 2 of Toni's biggest fans. We can acctually appreciate her talent lol.

[ifusuckilltellu]

Who is Leilani?

[MissBrownin]

@pillowlover005 This video is actually from when she performed on the Rosie O'donnell show Oct 7th, 1997. I still have it on tape lol

[TimeToDefyGravityXXX]

i reali dont like the way she sings it, shley brown is 10000000000000000000 times better

[that1reject]

u sound real dumb seeing that the song was written for TONI BRAXTON!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ToniB4E]

lmao don't be so harsh!!

[mikeymike67]

i love this! she is super talented. The song was written for her, people seem to forget that. Each actor puts a spin on their character, her role broke boundaries. A+

[Tidusmax]

thanks so much for posting....ive been looking forever for this video

[luvtoni29]

Awesome Vocals, So much Passion...She's a true talent!

[ifusuckilltellu]

The best version of this song in my personal opinion is the one we are watching Toni did a beautiful job and if that the same dress she wore on Dancing With The Stars?