ELAINE PAIGE - "As If We Never Said Goodbye" (Sunset Blvd)

[otingerbrendan60]

A teacher of mine and I are huge Elaine Paige fans and she was lucky enough to see this on Broadway with Elaine, just the other day she brought me the Playbill to the performance :)

[abaliola]

Saw this production, Betty Buckley and Patti LuPone but never saw the Glen Close. All of them did justice to the role.

[22professional]

first call. bravo. incredible. Elaine IS Norma Desmond when she sings this song. ive seen Elaine sing this live twice in the last two years and she can still nail it. the best.

[MultiShawns]

i would give anything to see her on stage doing this song.

[popazz1]

It actually makes this more credible,given that the whole musical is about an ageing silent movie star!

[mushypeas10]

Interesting clip - I doubt there are many recordings of this, not least because it must have been hard to tape performances using early 90's camcorders as filming could be easily spotted and stopped due to their bulkiness. Also, Paige was not in the show for years and years, so fewer opportunities to get a recording. These clips are like early movie clips, showing great performers at their peak in original B'way productions, and filmed using evolving technology. Ironic considering the context..

[Doylefromhell]

@libbychecks, I was referring to the countless recordings posted to youtube from users phones and cameras which were not nearly as capable or accessible in the 1990's. Cell phone's were considered fairly new then, they weren't even thinking about pictures or video with a phone. And digital cameras weren't nearly as prevalent as they are now, you can't deny.

[libbychecks]

@Doylefromhell What are you talking about?

[YearOfTheSens]

@libbychecks That's cute that you're too scared to own up to your own words now, after I put you in your place. To refresh your memory, here's your post:

LIBBYCHECKS said: Video was very available in the 1990's. You must be very young to think otherwise.

The 1990's was not just a step out from the days of television which began 50 years earlier than the 90's.

Catch up on history before you start lecturing people on the things that you don't know about. --

[YearOfTheSens]

@libbychecks and here's the part where I put you in your place, which you're too scared to even admit to yourself, you senile, angry and crazy old bitch:

YEAROFTHESENS SAID: you dumbass bitch. the common camcorder in the 90s was more than double the size of your average video-recorder of today (and that's NOT counting mobile phone cameras which are capable of filming higher quality than this video). Get a fucking clue or STFU

[batman12357361]

I cannot see it very well but I like what I see but would like to hear a better audio version. Elaine Page is a singer I have recently become aware of from watching Susan Boyle videos.

[reigne20]

that's why we respect theater actors

[earlady66]

No one sings the line "I've come home again" like Elaine Paige! That part of the song is definately hers! Bravo EP!!!

[garrychelsea]

@earlady66 you should have seen kathryn evans she was the best norma ever

[fatheranthony4pope]

She would so have to get the job if and when this is made into a Movie!!!!

[MUSICCGP]

Oh my God.

I don't have words to express what Elaine Paige made me feel with this performance.

I'm in tears.

She is just Terrific

[KAIKASS2009]

Thanks for giving us a great moment!!!!!!! Thanks a lot! Gorgeous Elaine.

[SUPERALITO]

the best Norma ever. I sow her on Broadway and it was amazing..!!!!

[tusen82]

Elaine is the Norma Desmond! No one can do that role better than EP!

[ShiniRyuk]

What an angelic voice. Absolutely beautiful.

[reubenuk]

She has the demonic destructive quality that Close had in Webbers 50th birthday show but is more vulnerable so wins hands down!!

[bigfanization]

I have the highest regard for Ms Closes acting ability, but this is"musical theatre" and Ms Paige. because of her superior voice and more than good acting abilities gives a much better performance. She is without doubt the best Norma ever

[Doowopper45]

Elaine Page sings wonderfully, but compare with glen close's performance from the tony's and you'll see the glen's acting kicks elaine's butt

[MTA1966]

@Doowopper45 ........possibly, but she also made our ears bleed with her horrendous singing

[karrezza]

I guess everyone has their opinion ,but Buckley sings this one with so much more power and the style of a diva that Desmond thinks she is. Its Broadway, its supposed to be huge!!!! THis sounds too fragile

[MrDognme]

Elaine Paige certanly has the most unaffected voice in this role. Unlike the pushed, over focused vocal placements of Buckley or LaPone, (or the lack of placement of Close) she has a natural sounding instrument. And from the stage its easy to believe she was a great Silent Film Beauty from yesteryear. -My apologies to the other great Divas. LOL

[MariskaHargitayfan20]

Its LuPone at least get the name right okay?

[candidamachin]

Elaine Paige is the best in the world. No competition.

[MariskaHargitayfan20]

Patti LuPone will always and forever be the one and only Norma. Sorry to burst your bubble but I did see Elaine live and she was horrid.

[ramona2400]

I saw Elaine in this and thought her great - than I saw Diahann Carroll as Norma and I truely had seen the best Norma of them all - Ms Carroll was full of emotion and vocal power and sung the songs in a lower register than all the other ladies - she was so beautifull in the costumes and recreated the feel of Gloria Swanson in the movie something the other norma's failed to do - bringing too much of themselves to the role Ms. Carroll just gave you pure Norma Desmonf

[aclnyc2008]

Amazing!!

[ARReith]

love Elaine. love her as Norma. love Sunset! So tragically sad!

[ajitter89]

I Love Elaine's Performane, as she added a slight gentleness to her character, such as at the beginning of this song, that made the inevetiable ending much more shocking.

[jeff5761]

u hve to get andrew;s video from royal albert hall...it's all inthere

[libbychecks]

I can barely hear or see anything on this video. Are you all seeing something different than I am? It looks like someone did this with a cell phone video, that might be out of date.

I would love to see a better recording of this performance. Please post if you know of one.

[HouseOnSunset]

Umm... It's a multiple generation video copy from a video shot in 1997! And it's actually quite good quality for what is. The audio is quite good and the video image is nowhere near as bad as it could be under the circumstances, you just have your computer re-adjust or go ahead and make an appointment for a physical.

[libbychecks]

You are kidding about the quality? I hear coughing and flickers overriding the song and video. I do appreciate that it available but I would also like to know if there is a better quality video.

[HouseOnSunset]

Everyone else can see and hear it clearly.

[mkermmoade]

I, too, found the quality poor, but I do appreciate the fact that it's available--this is not, in any way, meant as a slight to you.

[earlady66]

@HouseOnSunset It's not a very good video but at least I could tell how wonderful Ms Paige was in this role!

[HairsprayUK]

@libbychecks Well the coughing is becuase this is a bootleg and the sound isnt so bad for its age but the video has been through alot, it would be very nice to find the master.

[Doylefromhell]

@libbychecks, yea this was the 90's, encase you don't remember, they didn't have video recorders as handy as they do today, any quality recording of this show is spectacular.

[libbychecks]

@Doylefromhell Video was very available in the 1990's. You must be very young to think otherwise.

The 1990's was not just a step out from the days of television which began 50 years earlier than the 90's.

Catch up on history before you start lecturing people on the things that you don't know about.

[YearOfTheSens]

@libbychecks you dumbass bitch. the common camcorder in the 90s was more than double the size of your average video-recorder of today (and that's NOT counting mobile phone cameras which are capable of filming higher quality than this video). Get a fucking clue or STFU.

[libbychecks]

Respond to this video...and the word is not "encase". Try "In case"

[icze09]

i agree with you crberry2... the legendary elaine page has it all... mastered the art of expression theatre and musicale... she really sing so well with all the expression she can deliver so solid... long live the legend... heheh! we adore you elaine page..

[crberry2]

I must say, being a professional musical theater performer, it's not the singing that sets her apart from all of the other Norma's. She uses so many good acting choices in this song that so many others have failed to do. She didn't just stand there and fly her arms around like the others. She actually had actions and pretty damn good ones. Impeccable actress. Good voice.

[rlee1976]

@crberry2

I 2nd that! I was in tears watching this. Such vulnerability that was brought through into this performance!

[oprahnoodlemantra]

never been more impressed from this song than by Elaine Paige.

[artofpoetry]

Gorgeous voice, brilliant performance.

[dukeman723]

I happen to be partial to Betty. Out of all of them, she seemed the most vulnerable.

[operaboy81]

Hell yeah!

[chavaoropesa]

saw her on Broadway in her run of Sunset Boulevard and she is DEF. the best Norma ever, shame there is no complete recording with her, she can sing and act like no other.

[HouseOnSunset]

Are you SURE there's not complete recording of her? ;-)

[chavaoropesa]

I haven't seen it, do you know of one? would love to have it!

[HouseOnSunset]

I was being coy! ;-)

Message me.

[zram2008]

The BEST Norma:Elaine Paige voice, looks,and acting ability she has it all

Second is Glenn Close then this lady I found, she sings it beautifully: Simone Kleinsma

[KaraokeKid22]

no Patti, but much better than Glen...

[HouseOnSunset]

Please, my GRANDMOTHER does this role better than Patti.

[phatchrulesforever]

You go right on having an opinion! Don't let anyone tell you differently! :)

[DistantCousin]

Stunning as ever - my fave Norma, and I don't see how Sunset fans could have not liked her in the role (maybe they don't like Elaine herself)?!

[leprecornlee]

she bloody well is!

[EleniH]

Elaine just revealed this year that she had breast cancer during this Broadway run. What an amazing woman that she could turn out a performance like this AND go through treatment at the same time. Such a fabulous story. Makes you believe you can do anything. Good on ya, Lainey!

[McKay1]

Len! It's Molly. I was just thinking I should link you to this vid and there you are...

I had no idea! Damn, you'd never know it. She's amazing. Love her. She'll always be my favorite Norma.

[EleniH]

Hey sweetie! Isn't that an insane story? It makes me so happy for her that she had a great run and got to do this role. I love her too!

[xxfayerocksxx]

@EleniH you put that perfectly she's amazing <3 xxxx <3 xxxx

[bm237]

YES!!!!! As far as I'm concerned, she's the only person who's really sung this correctly (of course, I have yet to see Helen Schneider do it). This is a VERY important moment for Norma, even more so than With One Look, and the emotional balance and climax is crucial, and Elaine nails it! Strong voice and strong emotion.

[HouseOnSunset]

Well, what are you waiting for? I got Helen's video waiting just for you!

[YTBroadwayMan]

Her performance was the single best performance I've ever seen on stage - and the one I most think about all these years (13) later...

[ActorSinger51]

Patti was robbed by the tony people twice: once with Norma (she should have transferred to broadway as the original), and the second with Anything Goes--I consider that to be one of her best performances (next to Gypsy, Sunset, and Evita).

[Feareous]

Wow, this really is amazing. Elaine has a beautiful voice!!!

[HouseOnSunset]

It also helps that she looks so much like Gloria Swanson...

[Feareous]

Sorry, I went out to pick up some food...

Yes, I noticed that she does,almost like she is made for this role....

[djint57]

Thank you very much for posting this amazing and powerful interpretation of As If We Never Said Goodbye. Can you please post New Ways to Dream and The Perfect Year with Elaine on Broadway?

[AriesModerator]

Elaine is magnificant! So strong and with a set of great pipes!

[leprecornlee]

she is brilliant.... when she does this it always gives me goosebumps! bless her....small woman but verrrry big voice!