Chess Benefit Rehearsal - Pity the child

[HaraldJoe69]

Why do videos of difficult songs always degenerate into random fuckers on the internet measuring their musical e-penises? No one gives a fuck

[coolton072]

Adam Pascal + This song + Conductor in a wife beater= Awesomeness.

[cortezthemusic]

Is he gay wondering here

[partyinthetardis]

@cortezthemusic No. He's straight, married and has two kids.

[KtangMC]

What is that high note!!!!???

[xCoolCatTryHardx]

@KtangMC Guys high C

[hed99bpb]

@xCoolCatTryHardx It's Db

[kurtlabouvie]

@xCoolCatTryHardx I think it's actually higher. I thought, at least on the CD, it was an Eb.

[EdLeigh92]

@KtangMC It's a tenor top C, and he flicks up to a top D briefly on the bits like "no such weapONS". Pretty awesome!

[insomniasmoon]

Some people don't like his voice because its not classical, but I think it fits his character. ;) Watch the PBS version, you can't deny that hes a great actor. Look at his eyes...good actors act from the eyes out. I ended up liking Freddy better when comparing the two men because of this song. LOVE Adam.

[henanimejade]

I don't understand the greatness this guy brought by singing this, but I definately don't doubt that he can sing it!!

[henanimejade]

does only a male sing this? can a female easily sing this??

[SuperWhitts]

@liljee16 Db*

[jrkeeney2010]

you can sing full voice carefully. With the right technique. I am a voice major in college and I know lots of Tenors who can sing full voice on high notes and make it sound wonderful. Powerful and wonderful.

[liljee16]

@jrkeeney2010 Thats a D# up top haha. I'm in voice too and let me tell you. This song HURTS not matter how good your technique is. :-P

[christiangurl25]

adam.pascal.is.freaking.amazin­g.

[NatalieMasterton]

Oh my lordy......I just died. I will never EVER tire of listening to that man. Adam Pascal is a god of singing. Those top notes!.........ooft.

[juliakosh]

pity the singer

[starbuck68]

Oh. Ma. GAHHHOOODDDDD! wow. he ROCKED this song. sweet heaven. 

[blueeightysix]

I bow in awe.

[likeafairy]

wow

[junenostalgia]

Holy o__o the notes are so high....

[spydergoalie35]

@oneblazeof yea, thats def full voice

[logues85]

@spydergoalie35 actually, i don't think it is full voice. i've sung this song a bunch and have trained my head tone, mix, falsetto, upper extension, etc, etc a whole lot, so i know exactly what it sounds like when they transition. in this, you can hear it (well, i can hear it) at "pity the child with no such weapons..."

[spydergoalie35]

@logues85 as have I. what i meant my full voice is that it isn't purely falsetto. Its clearly a head voice sound, I agree. I think we were speaking of the same thing, just called it different things

[RandomZydeco]

@oneblazeof That's full voice. Adam's not using classical technique here, but that's appropriate since chess is essentially a rock opera. Also, you're quite something if you can sing an E5 "like the pros" at 17...care to share a video with us?

[Carcilwen]

He is fantastically talented. Love him.

[KarenRosieRay]

is there anyone more beautiful than this man?? NO

[rellenoz]

@KarenRosieRay yes. Raul Esparza :-)

[justavideojunkie]

i think it's funny that the conductor in the back ground is wearing a wife-beater. it must have been casual friday. just kidding. haha.

[angeleyez101]

I adore Adam!! <3! his voice is incredible

[VerdantMoon]

I can sing this. I just have to pity my neighbors.

[dymphnagal]

It's amazing how the tag he is wearing around his neck starts to shine as he hits the high note at 3:02, LOL! He really is mind-blowing...what a voice!

[bensilb]

Adam is amazing...love him...what a voice!!!! BRAVO BRAVO!!!!

[shortbutstrong]

the man is wearing sweats and he still looks damn good.

[RAC3504]

Thisa song was absolutely made for Adam Pascal to sing it. Best version by a mile!!

[Godoffreaks]

I have to concur! A very impressive performance!

[pseudodeduction]

Oh, pity the actor who has to sing this, constantly changing time, the highnotes will grab your balls, and rip them right in twine.

[xmrsadampascal]

i love him

*crying*

[felicity1titanic]

Goodness! What a crazily difficult song! Am in awe, to be honest. Very impressed.

[bmc102392]

he's never performed better. AMAZING

[malyale]

adam <3 By far the best version of this song on yt!

Rehearsal was better then the concert though... I'm glad it was filmed =) Thanks for the vid

[gooseyganderful]

love this song...need such skill to pull it off nd he did perfectly!amazing...

[ABCSuperSoaper]

Is there anything Adam Pascal can't do? The man is a brilliant performer, and seems like a really cool guy. One of my favorites ever. =0)

[CESARQ]

have never been a fan of adam but wow this is really amazing!

[xuiqila]

he is such a wonderful singer!! how he puts so much emotion into this song, luv it!!

[bmcdonald2009]

wow... oh my gosh.. amazing

[freelancetada]

He is beautiful.

[juvaus07]

Adam Pascal was great during CHESS. I think he totally stole the show from everyone. AMAZING! God the DVD a couple of weeks ago and can't stop watching!

[jazzymcjazzster]

adam pascal blows everyone away with this song...I'm sorry I love josh groban but...hes good.

[byDesign99]

BRAVO!!!!!!

[RickWolff]

I saw the Broadway show with Philip Casnoff. In any Josh Brogan production, the show-stopper is "Anthem". With Casnoff, the show-stopper was this song. Pascal makes it manic and meaningful, but Casnoff just rocked the house!

[phanLv14]

wow. absolutely incredible.

[candide43201]

He is ok on this..but its hard to listen to anyone after Murray head or peter, This song is the most difficult in the show and the most emotional..I just do not like people adding notes that are not needed when it is perfect on the page as is..but Valiant try.. I can't hate

[Felicity1247]

I thought he did better than Murray Head, actually. I think Adam has a better voice that holds out longer notes (and better). Murray Head sounds slightly off-key in the ending of the concept album, or that's what I think anyways.

[ButterS38g]

I appreciate the fact that this is all chest voice for adam. Some guy can hit those notes but they sound very girly when they do it!

[ButterS38g]

The highest anyone goes in Rent is an A natural I think. In this Adam goes up to a Db numerous times. Oh yeah, almost forgot, they also threw in there some As,Bs, and C naturals probably. Id have to look at the music to verify!

[underthepiano]

On an "Oooh" vowel, no less. Friggin HARD. Adam does admirably -- and sounds great on the new Chess In Concert CD's released today. Nice work, Mr. Pascal.

[ButterS38g]

Well said. Im jealous. I am a tenor myself. Its been awhile since Ive tested my range but the highest Ive gotten without cracking or having to push too much is an A natural. Im only nineteen though. And I want to train my voice through lessons to hit those notes. There actually a different part of the voice. Thats why its hard for some. Some cant quite harness that part of their voice!

[me148]

you're a baritone then. be proud!

[ButterS38g]

No like I said. Im a tenor. I can belt Gs and Abs, but Its ben awhile since Ive tested it!

[Alphasinger]

Gs and Abs are that of a high baritone's range and not tenor.

[ButterS38g]

I suppose. Most baritones I know can hit those notes. But not all. Im pretty sure Im a tenor despite having nothing higher than an Ab I think. Thats what all my voice teachers have told me. I also have a pretty rediculous falsetto!

[wainblatrobert]

:) he should've told you you sing notes not hit them too:)

[ButterS38g]

You are right. Some of them.

[ButterS38g]

Dammit! Well I used to have an A. oh well Im only nineteen. The male voice supposdly doesnt stop maturing until you reach thirty!

[jalidav1]

@ButterS38g this is true dude, when i was 19 i struggled with an F, i could just about reach it and thought i was going to be a baritone forever. i am 30 at the end of this month and can now hit a D#, so just keep practicing and it will come

[spydergoalie35]

that's true, i'm 19 as well, studying voice in college and my voice teacher, who is a pretty well known soprano in the opera world, Donna Balson says that though I too am a tenor, I'm not supposed to have a high C or B like professionals yet, its just not how it works. I have a B and a top C, its just doesn't sound very good, lol You're range will come, don't listen yp thhis guy "me148", hes lost, lol

[spydergoalie35]

its also not healthy for the make voice to be singing above and A, possibly a Bb depending on how trained you are at 19 anyway...

[chanteurmoderne]

@spydergoalie35 As an industry voice coach and professional voice researcher, I'm afraid I have to disagree with you. Adam is using twang to produce his highest notes - it's a high larynx, high power configuration - and it's perfectly healthy. In reality, if you lower the larynx slightly, you will end up with exactly the same thing that operatic tenors do to sing their high C. There is no reason for the male voice to avoid notes above A.

[spydergoalie35]

@chanteurmoderne Im sorry, I think you misunderstood what i was saying. What i meant was young men shouldn't sing very high as it is unhealthy, not older men. At least that was what i was told by my voice teacher

[NatalieMasterton]

@chanteurmoderne I wouldn't say he was using twang......twang has a tendency to sound nasal and the sound Adam's producing is cleaner than that. I would definitely say that was a full but safe belt...not pushing it so hard as to damage his voice but still keeping the throat open and producing an extremely powerful sound. Anyway, regardless of any techniques......he is awesome and that was an awesome performance :)

[drbarx]

Amazing!

I looked this song up because i thought I'd like to try to sing it, but now i realise I'll just embarrass myself.

[XdeathtoreligionX]

this is incredible... I didn't realise he had this freedom in his voice. In rent the top notes of one song glory were really pushed (i know it was probably intentional) to get that rocky graty sound, but i thought that was all he could do. Shit... This is amazing, one of my favourite renditions of this song =]

[FactsofLife1]

i absolutely LOVE HIM!

[EvilAngel813]

I just died a little and went closer to heaven... one of the best voices out there.

[therapture1]

my god thats sexual

[cliflejeune]

Why has this show just never worked? I LOVE this score!! I hated what they did to it on Broadway (cut it to rat s**t) but they did add Someone Else's Story! And I agree, he nails this song... and for those of us who work on stage; can you imagine singing it 8 times a week...UGH!!!!! Thanks for posting these reahearsal vid's!!!

[Kaylore]

I agree the Broadway show was a joke. The original is one of the best. Merano was awesome and a great opening song and it was cut. This is probably the best version we'll see as it folds both together.

[TinorialPeredhil]

I recently introduced myself to the Broadway show... I was nothing short of horrified. I agree that this version is spectacular.

[1eva23]

well hopefully the version coming out on DVD next month will give us the best definitive version we can get. i can't wait. i mean, tim rice arranged it himself so it should be perfection. :)!!!

[Kaylore]

Wow he nailed it. This song is impossibly high and Pascal gives it the raw feel that Freddie's character is supposed to have, made iconic by Head's performance. Very nice.

[WhyDoUNeedSmack]

Shogun, I couldnt agree more his expressions are amazing

[shogunn99]

The singing is powerful and wonderful but what really puts it over the top is his facial expressions.

[TinorialPeredhil]

Agreed. He gives it this raw emotion by doing that. He's amazing.

[theatrelife15]

wow

[imarory]

He is just incredible....every time I hear this I'm speachless. I'm so excited for the DVD of Chess in Concert to come out!! There's so much talent in that group!

[Sing2Life70]

Goodness gracious... amazing!

[bflo710]

Fuck that is a really high song...

[TJisRad]

Marvelous

[jackpotjez]

this rehearsal sounds better than the video of the actual performance! but its still amazing

[Fuucy]

I lvoe Adam Pascal he is amazing!! Him and Julia Murney together singing though...*faint*

[PearseToC]

The hardest notes in this song aren't even the final (and highest) notes but the piece before that is constant around g/a/b/c... tough tough and greatly sung here!

[ButterS38g]

It helps to do lots of scales too!

[spookythebando]

This is probably one of my faves of this song... kinda sad that he tried and (epically) failed at it London... But nonetheless, he is quite talented and I adore him.

[Ptolichus]

holy shit

[phantomgooseberry]

Fantastic control those last notes are immense!

[WildQueenie]

Okay, this is probably the thousandth time I've commented on this, but I keep re-discovering it every few months, and I can't believe how amazing this man's voice is! I mean, especially 4:07 and on, how perfect are those notes?!? What a frickin' slayer!

[shpantsboy101]

this is jus freaking ridiculous. Not even fair. This has to be the hardest song in musical theatre and Adam Pascal can sing it with complete ease, like hes not even trying. Look at 3:02-3:06. Thats just ridiculous. He's just standing there like its nothing. Geeze im jealous of Adam Pascal!!!

[ButterS38g]

And Im not talking about castratti either. I mean, look at Ted Neely, or Steve Balsamo.

[bxrgirl]

Haha, counter tenors are amazing.  Have you heard Vitas yet?

[ButterS38g]

Haha, yeah! The friends of mine that I mentioned as having insanely high ranges, are actually tenors though. Its just muscle tone for them!

[ButterS38g]

I am a first tenor, and would love to sing this song of course. But I dont have a high C, Db, or even a Bnatural. I had to work up to a high A, Bb, from an F#. Again, some are just born tenors. A friend of mine, had a C by the time he was a junior in HS. Now he is a freshmen in college, and has an E. Ive got another friend whose chords got strong enough to hit Gs up there. Some men are actually sopranos.

[mysterywhiteboy41]

I had to work from an F# as well...i'm around D now. It's just work.

[ButterS38g]

Cool! I haven't warmed up for awhile or done any scales so I have no clue what my range is right now,I'm guessing it still peaks at an Anatural. ummm.... how long did it take for you to work up to a D?

[mysterywhiteboy41]

about 2 years. I give the most credit from being in Songs for a New World, first as an ensemble member just doing man #2s harmonies...then Jesus Christ Superstar where I played Judas...and most recently Songs for a New World (again) this time as Man#1 handling the full track.

I find the more I just throw myself into difficult situations, the better i get. It's a good time.

[ButterS38g]

I am a first tenor and would love to sing this, of course. But I don't have a Cnatural, or Db, even a Bnatural, at least I think. Been awhile since Ive tested it. I had to work up to my tenorism. Whereas a friend of mine, has what you call whistle tone, hes got like and E. Hes only a freshmen in college, too!

[flicfan416]

He upstages all of youtube with this performance.

[mjarmstrong]

Wow. Speechless. I pity any man who has to sing that.

[WildQueenie]

It seems like any time I start to forget how amazing Adam Pascal is, I find this video again. Could he be any more amazing? No. No he couldn't.

[slut4688]

does anyone think the song should be called pity the adult?

[MIStageFan]

AP is an amazing talent, no doubt. Please check out my video of Kurt Bowen performing this song...SO emotional and powerful!

[EmmaxBoo]

isn't he wonderful... i did this show at a local theatre, the guy who played this part was also amazing at this song... i agree with trinityj1 when she says man are few and far between when it comes to this song... anyone have his new CD?? i would love to get my hands on one

[DefyGravityWithMe]

He's so gorgeous.

[TJisRad]

Just a fantastic performance. Truly, truly wonderful.

[TJisRad]

He hits that C5 with such ease. It really amazes me.

[robiDur]

an thats a rehearsal...dik

[rebecca32602]

so rare to hear that incredible song sung well. it was great!

[jalidav1]

makes it look easy.....bastard

[flicfan416]

hear hear!!

[PearseToC]

Yeah indeed :)

[laurenbiv]

wow! He has an amazing voice!

[WhyDoUNeedSmack]

Im assuming thats a really difficult voice range to get to?

[IJ69]

Well done. Mr. Pascal was very good in "Rent", as well.

[ButterS38g]

And its all muscle tone too!

[SyroTheVoice]

actually he sings a D flat.unbelievable!

[PearseToC]

It's a Db/C#

[WhyDoUNeedSmack]

The man is absolutly incredable his range is amazing

[LeighLo89]

Think I just peed a little

[ringrang21]

HAHAHAHA well said

[lizbuffting]

i saw him do this at the albert hall concert. i cried. he's jst fabulous.

[pquackey]

Jesus, that's a C#!

[stylegirl62]

is hi mic on ran up to his head? and the mic on his forehead?

[LadyJynjr]

Yep. The mic's on his forehead, the mic pack probably on his waistband with the wire run up through his clothes through the back. :)

[undrthtblndrumng]

god Adam Pascal is amazing!

[ButterS38g]

i want to learn this song, just as soon as i get that register. right now, im at a B. got some work to do!

[Itsnotfair]

OMG!!!!!!

[Bustybeth82]

Wow!

[LikeToTryToBeGood]

AAAhhhhhhhh is he F****** amazing????

[hed99bpb]

Yes he is ;)

[stylegirl62]

Omg Hell Yeah

[ALittleNightMuse]

god, he does such an amazing job with this song. I really hope he gets to play this character on stage. I think it would be a magnificent performance. <3

[Noahsaark]

I'm seeing the Chess Concert at the Royal Albert Hall, London, next week - Adam is starring with Josh Groban, Idina Menzel and Kerry Ellis - I can't wait.

[DefyGravityWithMe]

what did u think of the show ? I went on the monday. Amzing..........x

[Elphelise]

He is so amazingly talented. cant wait to see him, may 12th! Just 2 more weks to go..

[ozzymeetsjesus]

Its not a hard song for a properly trained singer. You just connect head voice to chest voice so you don't crack or strain. Being that he's a natural tenor, this would not be too hard. Songs such as queen of the reiche or take hold of the flame by queensryche are much harder by comparison.

[trinityj1]

Friend, guys that can get up there in full voice with that kind of ease and power are few and far between. This is a really stellar performance.

I can sing this, but I'm a soprano.

[ButterS38g]

Takes practice! Have to do lots of scales, vocal chord stretching! Of course, not everybody's vocal chords can handle that. Some people start as baritones and make the switch to tenor with ease. While, others just are unable to work up to those notes.

[bumumu]

he didnt switch into falsetto which is crazy hes amazing

[cheesewiz123]

singing a d flat if you are a girl = not hard

singing a d flat if you are a guy = not very hard, you just switch into falsetto

singing a d flat and having it not sound like crap and making it obvious that you switched into falsetto = harder

leading into a d flat, while having it not sound like crap and and making it obvious that you switched into falsetto = very hard

and ps: i can't even tell if he did switch or not, which is pretty damn impressive (guy voices confuse me)

[jnehila]

Adam is so ridiculously amazing with those notes. And...he is so much more REAL and subtle with his emotions than the others in this cast ...He is like the "Actor's" musical actor...he doesn't make it so melodramatic, and he sounds amazing in the process. It makes me weep when he hits those notes and has that subtle, wry, sarchastic look on his face. LOVE it! DO NOT feel the same way about Julia Murney however, and Sutton Foster is only slightly better. Her voice irks me. Groban is stellar

[theleadingplayer]

(girl voices confuse me too...)

but no he's not singing in falsetto. he's just fierce like that.

also, when i sing this song, i find that it's harder to pull that c out of nowhere (at the end) as opposed to singing into it like the first time around.

[androidabc]

yeah i dont think he has to falsetto, it doesn't sound like it to me, as a dude and a singer. he's just got fabulous range and control. so good!

[shizzz1]

I'm seeing this in London a month today ......... i think i may just burst with excitement. Eeeeee!!!!!

[tjw54481]

for the idiot who said this isnt hard to sing i say this.

In the event that you can actually hit the C on the top it probably sounds like complete shit.

Adam pascal is one of the few people in the buisiness that has the upper range cover like that.

So shut your mouth you phony wanna be.

[borthwick00]

its actually a D Flat! not evn hard!!! haha

[borthwick00]

If its not hard to sing why dont you record it and put it on here for us to see then?

[felic70]

no it is not hard to sing

[Adameeriu]

if it is not so hard we wait for your video response. just post it!!! you can try... but without success...

[christiangurl25]

wow, i am loving the entire cast of this thing. pascal is amazing.

[topazsummers]

i hope someone can get vids of him in the show in May!! that is going to be great!

[ugotitbabe000]

Can we revive this with pascual!!!!

[WhyDoUNeedSmack]

Adam is all kinds of CRAZY amaizing Good G-D seriously his range is out ragouse [sp?]

[rossihunterio]

D flat peice of piss lmao he is rediculous! amazing!

[Tweetybird91500]

Ok that comment was supposed to be a reply to a comment which now seems to have disapeared so sorry about that but any I love this video. Adam never ceases to amaze me at how talented he is.

[spyderkitty65]

I still can't get over how effing amazing this performance is.

[GiaMarieCarangi]

thats my man right there

[iduefoscari]

Are we in for a show in London in may!!Its funny when I read that Chess was a disaster on Broadway after its success in London. I have some idea how Verdi must of felt after the disaster of the premier of La Traviata. The boys from Abba had written perhaps one the greatest score for a musical and the New Yorkers were sucked into believing what a crap reviewer had written about the show.

[Greenblueeyes8]

Yeah thats right, although it didn't help that in the Broadway version they changed the story and the order of songs!

[Greenblueeyes8]

Yeah thats right, although it didn't help that in the Broadway version they changed the story and the order of songs!

[gyurimihalka]

he has beautiful and big voice...

[spyderkitty65]

Adam Pascal sings the shit out of this song!

[tilla85]

Check in Anders Ekborg in the swedish verision. I think that is better, even though I love Adam Pascal

[ForgetRegret614]

this is like...effortless. hes so good, i love him. aha

[potophan2006]

pretty dang good...but I'll always say colm wilkinson sings it better lol.

[mctrahan77]

I couldn't imagine Colm Wilkinson singing this song. The man has a great range but he sounds like Sean Connery.