West Side Story Revival - America (02.25.09)

[jewey896]

omg! I want this!! Can we trade?!!??!

[zoelesmis]

i LOVE this.

[SomebodyBond]

Gotta say, the singers got off a beat right at 4:28. Not inexcusable by any means, just thought I'd mention it. I liked that, though; shows that it was indeed a real performance, and not edited like some of their TV performances might have been. I've looked through all the version of this song that I can find (that have been on Broadway, at least), and I think I either like this or the original best - regardless, they're all very distinct, and each group makes it their own.

[Llaryhi]

Do you know if the tours are keeping the Spanish in their shows? I feel Pretty as Siento Hermosa, etc?

[WeDoItForJohnny]

@Llaryhi I read somewhere that they were keeping it, they said it would be 20% Spanish lyrics & dialogue and 80% English.

[jewey896]

Why did they change everything into spanish? Thats kind of annoying haha

[roccoh21]

The Spanish in the show was distracting. It makes perfect sense to have integrated both languages but they need to always make sure the audience had context to understand everything said. John Leguiziamo does this well in his act..he says things in patterns of both languages so his words are always understood. The put most of the show back in English anyway a while after the opening.

[ChicagoSouthDan]

Some of the criticism of the singing may come from the fact that the sound quality on this is bad. Everyone who thinks the singing is bad should do a search on "West Side Story Karen Olivo Letterman". This will give you a youtube video of Karen and the cast doing this same number on Letterman. The singing and dancing are great. If you hear the Letterman appearance and still think the singing stinks, you have no taste in music.

[roccoh21]

@ChicagoSouthDan These clips are often distorted. I sat in the 6th row of the Palace and one thing you can't criticize about this revival is the singing. It is exceptional.

[LadyDiaz777]

boo.

[Velcroshoesrgood]

That beat in the beginning is the same from the beginning of In The Heights.

[shortyFLIPinaH]

YEAH I KNO!!!

everytime the song comes on i cant figure out what song it is until you hear singing or LMM rapping

[westsidestory97]

@Velcroshoesrgood

haha, thats funny because Karen Olivo was IN In The Heights! (: Shes my idol<3

[dreamingofastranger]

Yeah, I know it was done with Baby John, but that was more portrayed as Baby John being unwilling to participate, and it was stopped before he was dropped on her. With this one, everyone is willing, and A-Rab is actually on top of Anita before Doc comes in. Either way, it's still, as ateneodude said, one of the most emotional scenes in the show.

[Selendomono]

just adore karen olivo! one miniute she is in a cute tight belt and the next shes slamming it down with a beautiful vibrato and rich tone. gotta love it!

[subwayeatfresh45]

Ya know I think they should have left the shark guys in this number.

[Selendomono]

the shark guys werent in any production but the movie so they shouldnt be here.

[jackdavenportsbaby11]

The sharks & the Jets fighting was the plot of the movie, so if the Sharks weren't in the plays then what the heck was the plot?

[Selendomono]

oops i think you misunderstood me. the sharks were in the show just not this scene.

[jackdavenportsbaby11]

oh ok lol that makes more sense

[dreamingofastranger]

This was incredible. Best version of "America" I've hears in a LONG time. I wish I could see the revival =(

[sillyjilly679]

my friend saw it

she said it was a big disappointment

she wished she had seen another show, like in the heights or hair or something

[dreamingofastranger]

Ah no! WHy was she dissapointed? A lot of people are complainnig about

*SPOILERS*

the rape scene, the Spanish and Tony.

[powerfulpowerzz]

what about the rape scene? i thought it was only an attempted rape.. did they change it an make it a full one? that wuld be disturbing

[dreamingofastranger]

Well, I could be wrong, but people are describing it as "vulgar, obscene and taken too far." One person described it as "anita being pinned down and having her skirt held up by all thenJets as one of the Jets, possibly A-Rab, unzips his pants and climbs on top of her." So yeah. I think it's still an almsot gang-rape, but a lot more vivid and shocking.

[ateneodude]

Yes, that's how it's done in the revival. That's how it's done in most productions. It's one of the most emotional scenes in the show.

[Selendomono]

i just recently saw a community theater production of WSS and they did it just like that only it was Baby John ontop of Anita. I think people are shocked by it because we havent seen WSS on broadway for so long. nearly 30 years since the last revival i think.

[clayandhayley]

It really isnt vulgar. It just shows how the Jets think they can take advantage of Anita and how they have no respect for any of the Puerto Ricans and the Sharks.

[dreamingofastranger]

I personally don't think it's vulgar - a bit disturbing to watch, and highly emotional, but not vulgar, I'm just describing what others have said.

[xlefreakcestchic]

@dreamingofastranger I saw it, and yes that's what happens. He also grabs her breast.

[wickedphant0m]

Yes, they did...it's...ya...

[StarlitMasquerade]

FOR ALL WHO CRITICIZE THESE SINGERS FOR THEIR VIBRATO: Vibrato is way better than belting. It means you're a better singer and actually know how to use your voice. These women know how to use their voices and they use them to make this version their own and to be different from the original while still keeping true to their characters.

[bwaymusicalboy]

You can't really compare vibrato and belting. You make it sound like you either belt or use vibrato, which isn't true. In this, Karen Olivio is belting AND using vibrato, which is not unheard of...

[Stewy202]

@StarlitMasquerade you can belt with vibrato. but great point.

[WendIaBergman]

@StarlitMasquerade Belting and vibrato are 2 different things, you can belt with or without vibrato. I'd say most if not ALL Musical Theatre performers use vibrato and A LOT belt.

[yeahitsmej15]

to the kid who said that they are screaming this song your seriously wrong. this is the best version of america i have ever heard. karen olivo made it all her own and sent herself apart from all the other anitas. she is not screaming. its called projection. learn your terms.

[Grsz11]

Who is the opposition voice, that was the men in the original?

[loveforall09]

yes... it is the men.. I think in the revival has the men too but i don't think the men go when they travel.

[insertcreativename2]

no, the men are only the opposition in the movie

[broadwayfreak12]

The opposition voice is Rosalia

[moreau17]

no, in the original, its only the girls.... they added the guys in the song in the movie.

[StarlitMasquerade]

In the original it's like this. The original men who came up with the show made the changes to the revival, so they kept the greatest majority of original things, they just tweaked some bits.

[Selendomono]

i dont know why people are arguing about the singing i think they sound good enough. so mabey they dont have the perfect technique of julie andrews they still sound ok. and karen olivo is wonderful as always

[Marcosdastar]

If you have it. could you please post A boy like that. I know Karen rocked it!!!!!!!!!!

[dramaguy3506]

Karen Olivo is simply magnificent. I saw her in In the Heights and she BLEW me away. I hope I make it up to New York just to see her as Anita.

[thelex001]

I saw the bilingual revival late in its DC run; it's marvelous, and "America" stopped the show. Karen Oliva (Anita) made me forget Rita Morena and Chita Rivera (yeah, I'm that old). All you savants critical of this clip, go back and listen to the original B'way cast album, and remember, the movie introduced male Shark voices (the only time other than the Quintet the Sharks actually sing). The performance here, recorded on, what? a mobile phone, and is easily as good. A great show!

[Hondurankid92]

ohh yea cuz theyre all screaming! nice job buddy, id like to see you do what they have to on stage all week singing and dancing! when u make it on broadway and can do it better, hit me up! ;) thanks

[Durnty]

hm here's the thing. I'm a guy, so i doubt i'd be doing what they're doing. And your condescending tone seems a bit unnecessary when someone posts criticism.

If you think i'm wrong, give me a reason rather than questioning my own ability

[Hondurankid92]

I am so sorry you feel that I am being condescending!!!! Shame on me! damn me !! Do you know how difficult this number is?! You saying it sounds like screaming is completely inaccurate because simply they're not! If you wanted to be more accurate you could say that the girl sounds like a loud mouth because you can clearly tell they are singing fine!

[Durnty]

obviously if i thought they were "singing fine" we wouldn't be having this discussion. Their "singing" seems to lack any sort of technique, so it sounds as though they're just shouting out the lyrics with no support and hoping for the best

[Hondurankid92]

ok well that makes more sense, you said screaming, shouting is completely diff.

[Asylum07MasterMadman]

ummm, they sound like their characters,Olivo is professionally trained, but not always the "proper" way sounds best for a character. In musical theater characterization is king, you want mostly form, go to opera and shut up

[Asylum07MasterMadman]

no she sounds fukking great, that wonderful high vibrato is beautifu but it doest leave out the attitude, and I am sorry... you dont have the proper posture and form when you're dancing like hell

[loverofbroadway]

They're not shouting out lyrics. They're playing their roles the way they're suppose to play them. They're a bunch of Puerto Ricans who have only been in the States for a short time. They're suppose to be struggling a little with English and they're suppose to have really heavy accents. That limits they're singing, but it makes it more realistic. They did an amazing job in this song! Have you even seen the show?

[mpsmithpt]

I think "authentic" is a good word. Have you heard popular Puerto Rican or Cuban music? I always joke that the singers are out of their range and have to shout.

[chariteeze]

I saw the original in Boston before it hit big on Broadway many moons ago. I would go for revival if I can get to NYC in the future. Incredible score and dancing can't be beat!

[diroman114]

Oooo OOoo and COOL!!!!!:D

[clayandhayley]

could you please please please post Somewhere.

[ElValenciano421]

***continued***

we all understood everything just fine. If you actually are WATCHING the show, and god forbid, do some RESEARCH in order to form a well-developed concept of the show before you see it, you will never be lost and will revel in the wonderful experience that this revival is. I implore all of you to familiarize yourselves with the show and then go see it, and you will fall in love.

[ElValenciano421]

The Light in the Piazza is as much in Italian as WSS is in Spanish, and Italian speakers don't nearly make up the same percentage of theater-goers as Spanish speakers do. Anyways, why would they do a revival with nothing new? What would be the point? A revival without a new concept is just a cash-cow with nothing of substance to contribute to the theatre community. Anyways, if you haven't seen the show, don't judge it. I actually HAVE seen it, as have many of my non-Spanish speaking friends, and

[vintagefish921]

Excellent point. You always knew exactly what Fabrizio and his family was saying, even in Italian. Same goes for The History Boys and the french scene.

[ElValenciano421]

They didn't speak spanish here because at this point of the show, Anita is all into being "American" and refuses to speak spanish to the other characters.

[Selendomono]

this is the only scene in the show (only talking of this production) that i really love because I think all the Spanish was a ridiculous choice (already has that argument on the "I fee pretty" audio.) and i didnt like matt cavenaugh much as tony. the audio on this is beautiful. if i didnt know any better id say it was from a cast album!

[6Hex9]

Puerto Ricans speak Spanish. Very simple fact. So what's ridiculous about it?

[Selendomono]

well we do live in AMERICA (no pun intended) and americans speak english and americans are the ones viewing the show (Les Mis isnt in french is it?)

[Amaranth9]

People come from all over the world to see shows on Broadway, so there goes your argument. But if that's not enough, it's ridiculous on its face that just because "Americans speak english" it means all Americans speak all English all the time-- particularly in an artistic venture with creative license! Heaven forbid that we play to some of America's diversity or make an audience work a bit more.

FYI, Puerto Ricans have been American citizens since 1917 and it is a US commonwealth.

[musicaltheatergeek79]

"FYI, Puerto Ricans have been American citizens since 1917 and it is a US commonwealth."

The lyrics even mention that:

Immigrant goes to America

Many hellos in America

Nobody knows in America

Puerto Rico's in America

[aa4285]

So is Guam.

[EmanuelBoricua]

Well actually America is from Alaska to Argentina. It is not exclusive of the United Sates.

[bellavitagirl4]

Americans speak whatever language they want. There is a lot of English because there were many settlers from England.

Les Mis was originally in French. However, it's technically an opera, and it wouldn't fly on Broadway if the entire show had to be subtitled like they do for most operas. Besides, Les Mis is hard to understand based on context. WSS has the advantage of a familiar story, easily understood scenes, and choreography that expresses the sentiment of the scene.

[mellybear03]

yes but the point is to show the difference between the Jets and the Sharks. The Jets wanted the Sharks to get out because they weren't "Americans". And the Sharks wanted to live in America and keep part of their heritage too. The Spanish shows just how "different" the Sharks were

[ashcass]

I love Karens version, the whole thing is sounding great, any chance of A Boy Like That or the Tonight Quintet

[ateneodude]

I'll post a few more songs, then you'd have to trade for the whole audio.

[6Hex9]

I thought the Sharks' parts were supposed to be in Spanish?

[ateneodude]

Only in some songs like the Tonight Quintet. :)

[6Hex9]

I'm so upset. The one scene that I couldn't wait to see performed in Spanish was this one. Poo.

[clayandhayley]

please post more!! including somewhere, maria, and something's coming!

[ateneodude]

New audios up!

[broadwayadict]

im not going to lie when i heard she was doing anita in this i was like...really...not that i dont love her i mean she is amazing but i didnt see her as anita

karen you proved me wrong

[cdmsinger]

GET IT karen! that was so damn good.

[ray208101]

Karen is brilliant! wow!!!!

[wickedfan18]

can you please post a boy like that..

[ateneodude]

I'll be posting a few more songs. Watch out for them :)