Idina Menzel-Chess Florence&American-Nobody on Nobody's Side

[jimbonnie]

Her voice just wipes me out. Such power and range. I could watch her do anything.

[degeorgetitanic]

Can we please just STOP arguing about who does this song better and whatnot? No matter what...no one is the "best" florence because no matter how many people say Elaine is the best there will be just as many to say Idina is the best. The simple fact is however that they are both amazingly talented...or they would NOT be where they are today. Elaine is a West End legend and Idina is a Broadway queen...both amazing...and Idina does great in this song :)

[psilva17]

She sounds great, just hate how she pushes the tempo!!

[bmamaxwell]

i love how Adam forgets that part of his line haha he's only played this role like 5 million times jk

[galindalaterglinda]

love idina in this role and this is one of my fave parts of her from the dvd

[Clarinetist0409]

I love Idina!!!!! :) She is soo amazing in the role of Florence!

[kibakiss123]

wow! really awesome quality, thx :)

[kwellard]

chess will be playing @ stables theatre hastings east sussex, may 2010.

[ABCSuperSoaper]

I like the broadcast better, but I like how raw this is. Adam is still spectacular, despite mucking up my favorite part of the song. Well done, performers. Well done.

=0)

[BellatrixBlack123]

idinas voice is so cool in this role... florence is perfect for her :D idina <3

[freelancetada]

This is different than the PBS broadcast, because you notice

little mess ups (aw, adam) but it's still great.

[ktyydd]

ok there was one (of this show) today at 7am. but its too late. the last one i think is on July 2nd at 7am. give that a try. on PBS.

[phanLv14]

I am so excited to watch this on Great Performances!! :) :) :)

[Disneydanny]

The PBS show "Great Perfomances" has this on their schedule The program will air (at least in San Francisco) this Thursday @ 8 PM repeating the next morning @ 2 AM

[paxpaul]

I really like the original cast recording of this musical, but I love Idina on this! I hope there's a pro-quality recording with her. Thanks for posting this!!! Many thanks!

[Gabriella189]

and meant i fell in love with the song not Idina (although I am a big Fanzel)

[Gabriella189]

The first time I ever heard this song it was with Idina (and no I didn't get to go or meet her :( I had to do tests instead) and SHE was the one who made me immediately fall in love. I think that Idina is a wonderful Florence and is amazing in any part she plays. She wouldn't have been hired/asked to do the play if they didn't think she was a good Florence would they?

[Tobilover]

she has an absolutely amazing voice. so powerful LOVE her in this song.

[aggieisthesex]

it continues to excite me that Idina and Adam ie Maureen and Roger were reunited for this

[BlueJeanBaby012]

I'm doing this song (edited and altered) for an audition and I never realized how much I sound like her at times... My voice teacher was right.

[Gabriella189]

wow you're so lucky to have a voice that sounds like Idina's!

[teardropsofhope7]

you met her???? lucky lucky lucky!!!!

[teardropsofhope7]

Thank you!! thats exactly what I needed to hear!!! I hate when people put Idina down!! I think she is the best thing to ever grace the stage with her presence!!!

[teardropsofhope7]

Idina is the shining light on that stage!! and every time she people have to honor to see her grace the stage!! I really wish she would do Rent or Wicked again!! that would be so awesome!!!

[Kaylore]

I don't usually like Idina. (Her off-tempo style doesn't work on songs like "I know him so well") But this song really fits her very well and she does a good job especially for someone having to read the teleprompter while she sings.

[katiexoluvsbroadway]

Why the crap don't you like idina?? She's amazing even during a bad performance or anything, but, its your opinion i was just wondering.. I love idina! :)

[degeorgetitanic]

Haha I agree with some of your points but the teleprompter bit isnt true , was sitting close to the stage and Never saw one

[teardropsofhope7]

Omg someone tell me when this is out on DVD!! I swear to you i will be the first to buy it!! lol.

[unabletosoldier]

coming out on dvd/cd in the states june 16th :)

[boffo1962]

Looks like she nailed it. Looking forward to the PBS broadcast. :>

[Elphaba88]

OH MY GOSH

a DVD and CD --- PLEASE COME SOON!!!!!

THIS IS AMAZING

[MvyMkr]

GOD! *shivers* I remember being there! The moment she walked onstage the tears came!!!

This song...that long note AMAZED me, and the riffing!

Where I was sitting her mic was a bit lower than everyone elses, yet her voice still powered through!

GO IDINA! WE LOVE YOU!

And come back to friggin' London!!!!!

[Vessynikol]

Oh, no she is...phenomenon, or even.... Well, can't find a words in the dictionary - just form another world...

[heygirlhey2206]

idina is amazing..

[xxidinarox]

I love Idina's voice so much. It's so powerful and sensual at the time. And I think she's an amazing actor with the way she interprets her material and how she sends it out.

[SarahIdinaPhreakx3]

Amen.

[Trevita17]

I think she has a lot of talent, but I've said it once and I'll say it again, this cast is fucked. Her voice isn't mature enough for this role, Josh Groban is too young, Anatoly is supposed to be in his late thirties early forties, and he doesn't sound right... this creative team butchers my all time favorite musical....

[stylegirl62]

Adam is really the only one that fits. i love idina but your right her voice isn't mature enough.

[MvyMkr]

I disagree. I think one of the things that makes her so awesome is her vocal maturity beyond her years...tho she is 37 now lol. And the vulnerability she brings to that "hardened" exterior.

[lilpete34]

She is NOT singing with her body. She is standing there CLEARLY reading the lyrics. The rest of the principals were doing it too, but had the ability to make it look somewhat natural. She just stopped and looked at the screen. Look at 7:08 in this video. WHAT WAS SHE THINKING?

[SarahIdinaPhreakx3]

Wheres the screen?

I was there and I saw no screen....

[Bexy890]

Neither did I....

[ePratte92]

7:08 - she was thinking - "Oh shit I forgot the lyric!" ha ha that was pretty back actually love her though. My friend had tickets to see this show but sold because he heard it was so bad. I love her outfit before she takes the jacket off too.

[SarahIdinaPhreakx3]

Well it wasn't. I went and it was AMAZING. Im sure that most people who went would tell you that =]

[SarahIdinaPhreakx3]

Lool, at 7:08 she paused because she wasnt meant to sing at that second :P

[idinakristinwicked]

i dont see a screen and why would she have to read the lyrics when she memorized them and some of the others like adam only had to refresh their memorys cause they already did this show once in 2003

[wicked4idina]

i could be wrong about adam lol. i didnt have time to watch the whole vid

[SarahIdinaPhreakx3]

Yeah its Adam =] lol

[aishabe]

Yep, it's Adam.

[wicked4idina]

adam pascal also

[chellegoesmoo]

lol the lyrics of this musical change every single time it's in a new performance. i love it!

[ammg1971]

Wow! This is incredible. I was there that evening, and enjoyed every minute of Menzel's performance (and others' - most of the cast was great). I've loved Chess since the late '80s in my college days. While I enjoy both Paige's and Kuhn's versions (Murney is very much not to my taste; I simply don't enjoy her style, but I'm happy for those of you who do), this is by far my favorite. Menzel does have some issues with her hands, but other than that, her performance was pure pleasure for me.

[DistantCousin]

It's a shame the final chorus was dropped - the song ended all to abruptly! :-(

[lilpete34]

Why does she spend half the time wringing her hands

[DistantCousin]

Yes my friend and I commented on that at the time - she was either wringing her hands, sticking them in her pockets or staring at the floor - such a confident performance - NOT!

[wicked4idina]

she sings with her hands and body a lot. it is just how she is. very emotional and she tries to add more emotion with body movements

[omgsora]

She had her hands in her pockets with awkward posture for most of the show.

[Bexy890]

I think that was part of her characterisation, I noticed it to and she never normally performs like that. It's the only explanation I can think of.

[ilovenyc3]

I'd like to see you guys get up there and do a striking performance! she'd come out on top ANY day.

[SarahIdinaPhreakx3]

DAMN right she would.

[tggold]

Quite honestly I know about 100 people who have better vocal technique than Idina. Idina simply got a lucky break. If you consider this a "striking" the popular ear really has gone downhill =/

[bshern]

It's not about technique. It's about how you can perform a song. Idina is a great actress and a great performer, and that is why she made it. Technique means nothing in musical theater. Ask any professional. I have.