Darius de Haas- "King of the World"

[mrtytaylor]

This performance reminds me that there is a GOD. How luck I am to call this man an 'ol friend. As I watch it I just keep thinking YES YES YES. Peace please, Ty Taylor.

[KevinRRose1]

yyyeesss. get it man

[berrettalbright]

he is great! i loved him in Children of Eden

[jordan9205]

Totally agree...

[travus1990]

I JIZZED IN MY PANTS!!!!! simpley amazing

[snakesmyle]

I liked it at first... But the ending was a little too much for me.

[Mgcian55]

so is your personality for me.

[mymixedtape05]

the most amazing version I've ever heard.

words can't expresssss how beautiful.

[Rainydayjar]

@Mog04

I see what you are saying about the ending. However, using this as an audition piece (and any song for that matter) is different than performing it at a concert. He is showcasing his talent, and producing a fantastic performance for the audience. It is safe to say that is a large part of what a concert is, wouldn't you?

[100percentSPAZ]

fierce.

[balletsouth]

GUYS! This is Darius de Haas. He's a Broadway legend! And for the record the ending is how this was originally written NOT what he "decided" to do. Not even the original (Ty Taylor) could kill that ending the way Darius does. Save the hate Mog4!

[beltyourface]

3:11 hahaha

[kindawonderful7]

this is the DEFINITIVE performance of this song.

[beejolson]

woof. he is LIVING behind that mic

[artiknight55]

sheesh.. fantastic.

overkill on the ending though, lol :)

[jkwynn1012]

His range is unlike anything I've heard. Brilliant!

[54MProductions]

my sister just came back from studying at NIDA in sydney. they did this play and the kid who sang king of the world was amazing.

[shessomickey]

Brilliant!

[BarrenCheezyGlory]

Just... wow

[mog04]

Im not entirely sure about this performance, dont get me wrong he is phenominal, and theres no doubt that his talent is extraordinary, but Im not sure that the big ending suited this song, I dunno maybe its a case of less is more, or just because you can do it doesnt mean you should, im very biased about this song anyway cos its my audition peice, so I may be wrong, but I thought he shouldnt have pushed the ending as much.

[Generalriku]

man, this guy can sing. also his facial expressions matched perfectly with his vocals. upcoming singers should learn from his performances.

[ObsessedwithBroadway]

This man is the Zeus of musical theatre.

[Kornwolf91]

i know!!! i was excited to learn that he went to teh performance arts school im at now in NY

[singingsucker]

one word - phenominal

[morpheus0013]

This is incredible; it's EXACTLY what I want and expect from someone performing this song. I hope to see much more of this gentleman in years to come! Well done!

[newyork2277]

dasmmmmmmmm i live..this dude sounds like me when i go n at church.......

[lexellcassini]

This man is so great! WOW!!!

[MrRhino2009]

damn dude ur a total badass i mean........damn way to discourage other singers with the end of that thanx haha

[Jayee123]

I'm speechless.

[MissVivaLaVieBohem]

THIS GUYS FRIKKIN AMAZING

[ginnylin]

The original recording already brought tears to my eyes... but this version just ripped my heart out.

What an amazing amazing man. Performers like him really deserve more recognition!

I have watched this a ridiculous number of times, my heartfelt thanks to the uploader.

[PaulMichaelXD]

fantastic job

[JCHSings12]

OMG did not see that crazy ending coming!! glad it happened though! very very good.

[1996294]

and by the way, i am from the philippines! we love you here, darius!

[1996294]

darius, i hope that you get to read this. you inspire me every time. it's amazing that you've really chosen this path to become involved in musical theatre, because you've affected so many other people because of your voice. Godspeed!!

[mymixedtape05]

damn, best rendition ever, i love the end, how high he gets.

such control! jealous!

[FeedReMiBack]

damn...

[ramseurkid]

amazing. But I actually like the original song better.

No need to make it higher, in my opinion - the song is amazing on it's own.

[elisavarela]

LOVE LOVE LOVE AKJABLKJBULI

marry me and sing to me.

[tadwinkle]

I was there. It was the greatest theatrical experience of my life...and I have had A LOT of them. For those obsessed with SFANW, it is like a cult and this was it for us. If only someone could get the guy who sang Flying Home. JRB said that it should never be performed again because it was so perfect.

[sydneyparra96]

AMAZZING  CHILLS

[SimsVids15]

Darius de Haas! What more can I say! :D

[Abbyo101]

Genius... Need I say more?

[dparkhu]

frickin sick

[hiimkristen23]

*favorited*

[skittlesjc]

I get goosebumps every time I watch this vid! He's a fabulous singer.

[kindawonderful7]

this. is. the best ever.

[DMW499]

He is acting his ass off without even moving out of frame. He is what this song is supposed to be. Love this.

[jaxonosu]

Obviously, this performance is incredible, and I am humbled by this mans talent and ability, but I think he screws up a lyric before "I was working for the people, I just wanted to be better".

It could even be intentional, but I just can't understand what he's saying and would like to know. Can anyone make it out? According to the composer's site it should be "I was not challenging the system..."

[makinbacon254]

3:08 on... what the hell? I am in love. :D

[6281clarky]

fucking amazing !

[jaxonosu]

This is kind of ridiculous...  I can't stop watching.

[dennisdamenace3500]

Crazy high notes at the end man that was amazing. Nice goin!

[adamklesh]

um impressed sounds like an insult at this point...flawless

[rufusbleu]

I LOVE this man..he has a wonderful spirit...I just finished Jesus Christ Superstar Gospel with Darius, and he would sing the heck out of "Gethsemane." Miss you brother!

[flapintapper]

is there any video of that

i would love to see it

[pianoman5331]

dayum

[iammrkcohen]

This video was referred to me with VERY high expectations.... needless to say this guy met and exceeded those expectations. BRILLIANT.

[CVActor1]

WOW. I am speechless.

[IdxDave]

Darius de Haas is the reason I do musical theater. A bad ass show would be JCS with him and Drew Sarich. Holy shit talk about bringing the house down.

[dansingajb]

Ohhhhh my god. I don't think the world could handle such awesomeness.

[RuinedbyReality]

What...the...hell?

How have I never seen this video before? Amazing! Such a great blend of phenomenal acting and singing...wow!

Did he ever do an actual performance of Songs for a New World? He would have made an incredible Man 2...God, thinking of what he could do with "On the Deck of a Spanish Sailing Ship, 1492" gives me more chills than I have now...

That was great!!

[SimsVids15]

I Totally Agree! Could you imagine him singin' Steam Train?? :D

What a Man What a Voice What a Talent! :)

[nycmattb]

once again it thrills me to see how much everyone loves this video. best thing I ever posted.  BTW, I'm seeing him as Jesus in JC SUPERSTAR this weekend- actually flying down to Atlanta to see it... I get chills thinking of it!

[ObsessedwithBroadway]

OH. MY. KARL. YOU ARE SEEING HIM IN JCS??!!! you are sooooooo lucky! I love him!

[flapintapper]

did anyone record any of that?

[ObsessedwithBroadway]

If you ever take this video off YouTube for any reason whatsoever I will cry. Please don't. I NEED Darius!

[amurr4]

daymn

[JRyanReichel]

HOLY FUCK.

WIN!!!!

[falsetto81]

Darius de Haas=DELICIOUS!!!

[witchstar1987]

I can say with full confidence but this is the best version i have ever heard of this great song, damn, phonomonel. there's no words for it

[rachelBSU0711]

Thank you. I just watched a HORRIBLE version of this song. This one just redeemed my faith in this song.

[GRuc152]

this is the absolute best version of this song ever done, Darius has one of the most dynamic voices in theater today, just wow

[GRuc152]

the absolute best version of this song ever done, Darius has one of the most dynamic voices in theater today, just wow

[JodyJoda]

Amazing song, Amazing performance!

[EnchantedSilence]

Holy mother you are amazing.

[halfofom1else22]

so amazing. oh wow.

[halfofom1else22]

oh. my. GOD. you are fantastic!!

[zjoke]

Holy shit... 3:08-3:34. Holy shit. 3:08-3:34. Wow. Did he just belt an E?

[jberke]

Wow!!! When he goes into that last part... holy shit... it's unreal.

[ObsessedwithBroadway]

Karl I'm love with this song now! He does it so well I cain't help but love it! He's freakishly amazing, I don't get how he does it.

[pooldawg99]

Me = jealous....

[ObsessedwithBroadway]

HOW is he so AMAZING??!! I like this eve better than his Lost in the Wilderness. SO GOOD!

[UberWackyAmerican]

i am speechless

[UberWackyAmerican]

that is the most disgustingly beautiful greatest rendition of this song i have ever heard. im speechless.

[Alexcarreon2010]

He's incredible!

[jumpingjokerchick92]

this is pretty much my favorite thing ever.

[celinelowe]

I am totally moved by this performance. You really made this song your own...

Awesome voice mate!

[nycmattb]

thanks for the comments, everyone!! ain't nothing better than Darius...

[imladrisorbust]

yes

[DrMuzzy1]

yuh huh, look up Jonathon Shew King of the World, in my opinion its better

[Valjean0324601]

Beast...all I have to say...

[nowaitwhat]

Absolutely stunning.

When I initially heard the cast recording, I did not really like the song (I mean, piano was amazing... of course.)

Amazing vocals, and just the sheer performance was jaw-dropping!

This is now a favorite.

[pakmanATL]

gosh. im glad the audience was quiet until the end. usually with singers this good people would be really loud! hehe

[snuka12000]

Powerful!!!

[orenk3]

This guy is beast! Those notes are ridiculous to hit by a normal person! He is the best singer I have ever heard!

[snuka12000]

Excellent and inspiring!!!

[mmmeredithlynn]

ohh my goodness. amazing.

[Mussso]

HOLY COW... This guy is frikken amazing!!

[theatremuse90]

why is he so incredibly amazing?!!!

[ManhattanSonata]

That was truly phenomenal. I'm usually not for changing a melody so drastically like he did, as it quite often ruins the composer's intentions, but that WORKED. Not only did it work, it make it better. Thanks for sharing this.

[BroadwayOperaBaby]

Damm! I think I am very much in love :) this is one of my favorite songs in the entire world. This song coupled with his amazing talent and emotion just goes right to your core, it's an emotional roller coaster experience both for the performer and the audience, amazing acting, the end is banannas. When you're feeling down, this is really inspiring

[samdudeere]

:O erm my jaw just hit the floor went through it and is now going through several floors of the building! oh wait now its underground

[xrainbowedlove]

I'm pretty sure I'm in love.

[Jmoss760]

This guy is great! I wish there was a recording of Tituss Burgess singing this song.....

[jhemone]

MOVINGLY AMAZING!

[prboy0812]

Holy mother of God! The last minute of this is sooo inspirational. I absolutely adore this song--I can't even put it into words...

[klmnumbers]

I'm so in love with Darius; listening to him sing this and Lost in the Wilderness is remarkable;

this song always gets to me emotionally. ..

and I like to sing it when I'm alone in my room. >.> or car.

[klmnumbers]

Two things:

1 - I adore this song. It's probably my favorite from SFANW and I rock out to it my car often.

2 - Darius is a revelation in this performance. I cannot get over how gorgeous his voice sounds throughout and how committed he is.

[spencerlbeck]

this is insanely phenomenal . just as good , if not better than ty & billy . the end has so much passion - it astounds me . perfection . :]

[DavidMB13]

this is the most disgustingly unbelievable ridiculous performance i have ever seen by a singer ever.. i am beyond ultimately floored, i feel as if someone just jumpkicked me in the face.. this is the craziest most amazing things ive ever heard

[move2themusic]

WOW. I love how he shoots up an octave or two for the last chorus.

[MusicMan290]

good god that's amazing. not only his vocal placement but the performance and interpretation. he's good.

[krierhk]

absolutely incredible, one of the best songs in the show.

[PhoenixOfNight]

Darius was and still is and probably always be my favorite singer/actor. Its too bad hes not mainstream show-wise, I'd love to be able to see him live.

[ILkBigButts]

DANG! I wish my mixed voice was that strong.

[SamuraiPanda201]

He's the reason Lost in the Wilderness is an awesome song at all in Children of Eden.

And now he's the biggest reason to love this song.

Absolutely solid acting and of course, it goes without saying, a stellar showing of vocals.

[ISupportThat]

wow

[DirtyRottenScoundrel]

I can't get over the sheer beauty of this performance. It's beyond incredible. It's inspiring, gobstopping, and haunting. Perfection. I'm playing Prospero in a production of The Tempest right now, and this song eerily parallels his story. Down to the lyric "Why am I sitting in this cell?" It's amazing. This song, and especially Darius's performance, has inspired me SO much. I never thought a Youtube video could effect my art so much. :)Masterful.

[nycmattb]

what a wonderful comment! I'm so glad that this clip was able to affect you in such a way. that's the power of great material sung by a great talent who knows his instrument inside out. Darius has been blessed with something great and he uses it to beautiful effect

[FantasyParadox]

I agree with every word you said.

[lilred758]

Wo, youre right! I never made the connection between that song and Prospero before! That's AWESOME. Thank you for that.

[pumpkinheadedmf]

I was listening to it going "Man! This guy's fantastic! I can't wait to hear him go for the C!" Then he did that thing in the last chorus.

Darius de Haas. Incredible.

Words cannot describe...

[nycmattb]

makes me so happy that everyone appreciates Darius so much! he's simply one of the most fantastic voices out there- and not a bad actor either. Saw him do a one-man Fringe show in '0g6 where he played like 6 characters and sang high throughout. an MP3 of this easy enough to make. just capture it from ur sound card

[pseudosacrosanct]

I have done so, but a version with decent quality would be amazing.

[triggerdannywatkins]

love him , hes just as good a billy porter !!! i know of him and i live in liverpool ,england.

[triggerdannywatkins]

love to get it as well ........ just umbelivible !!! he can sing a top c like a middle d!!!! love it !!!!

[moshemaizels]

awesome, absolutely awesome. Almost as good as someone doing it live.

[CuteDookey]

that really was jaw dropping.  jesus christ.

[luce570]

immaculate, powerful, and all man!!!

[pseudosacrosanct]

Is there an mp3 available of him performing this song? I've searched and come up dry.

[PhoenixOfNight]

darius is still my favitoriest tenor ever, this just enhances that.

who needs opera when you have darius?

and its really too bad no one outside of new york really knows of him, hes so friggin ace.

[shpantsboy101]

My jaw literally just dropped

holy crap

[sparbz]

This guys gonna make Sharpe Nine the "Ridiculous Mother Fuckers"

[yCh1057]

i don't know..i kinda felt like those high vocals at the end was a little over the top!..but it was good!!

[DRAMADORK620]

I loved him in the soundtrack of "children of eden"

[Hopelesshope3]

Thank you so much! This is one of my absolute favorites from Songs for a New World, and I honestly didn't think that I could enjoy anything other than the recorded version...THANK YOU FOR PROVING ME WRONG! Absolutely inspiring!

[Unplugged516]

just to clear something up...

the whole idea of going up the "octave" (technically), at the last chorus, was NOT Darius's idea.

Billy Porter did it in the original performances of SFANW in '96. you just don't hear it because Ty Taylor did the actual cast recording, not Billy.

[molsson8586]

wow

[DirtyRottenScoundrel]

Aah! Oh dear... I am completely speechless because that performance was not only flawless, but flat-out amazing. I am so impressed, I can't even say. I don't think there's anything bad that could be said about this performance. Brilliant

[Aracind]

:o that was...amazing.

[CDieman88]

nice

[emilielessian]

I LOVE THIS SONG!

and his voice....

[songbyrd07]

who is this man and why isnt he in my life?

[lesmissaigon]

that is amazing, that last high note is a top E

[spookythebando]

Um.

I'm still picking my jaw off the ground because he's so freaking AMAZING.

[ColinTC]

wow!

i am speechless..

[EleahB]

i think he's amazing

[encorebc]

More Darius! Please tell me you have more to post!

[tylermacjones]

goosebumps from the first four words- literally..

[lifeforce1986]

Wow

[cmusoprano]

There is so much love in my heart for JRB. Ah, so good.

[nycmattb]

all these great comments are exactly why I felt compelled to post this- it amazes me that more people aren't aware of Darius' incredible talent, and there's no better way to show it off than by tackling such a difficult song and handling it in a way that makes a lot of excellent tenors hesitant to even try it. Ty Taylor and Billy Porter both sing the hell out of this, but Darius just goes beyond the pale

[goofy108]

agreed. this is my favorite version.

[shorterac989]

did someone say somethign bad... ill kill them

[nycmattb]

hah! I've actually not heard a single bad thing about this. I just think it's a shame this man doesnt get more recognition outside of NY

[shorterac989]

hes amazing, are you an actor too?

[Samjew]

I don't know if I've ever seen anything like that.

[Conkabar]

its times like now when i feel ashamed of being a baritone.....

from like 3:12 and on just about made me weep with wonder and joy and so many emotions.

i love JRB.

[kieraap]

What a wonderful voice. Great job.

[imladrisorbust]

so much energy. this is amazing. i just love how much he gives this song.

[mtagz]

aside from the amazing vocals.. his acting was spot on. you couuld tell he had a focus and a specific focus and somehting that he was fighting for throughouut the song which made it stronger and hit me harder

[wolfpackpeach]

this is beyond amazing!

[yourgraceness]

finally...someone does a good job at that song.

Thanks!

[PriceMessick]

H-O-L-Y S-H-I-T

[weeeweeemma]

this is insane.....that is amazing!! its a hell of a song to play though.....i trip over my fingers every time!

well done!!

[tenor01]

this performance pretty sums up what it's all about for me.

[catstagestud08]

That was stunning.  I've never heard that song that way.

[50sandman50]

my all-time favorite!!!!

[Robibi84]

When JRB was in D.C. the guy playing guy 2 (can't remember the name) also took it upthe octave at the end and it was absolutely AMAZING!

[IIIThreat]

What the hell!! OMG! That was freakin' amazing! Why does he have to be so damn good?

[fishness42]

fierce.

[acneuens]

I like how he just takes it up an octave at the end just for the hell of it.

[lullabyofbroadway]

that was fucking insane. bravo bravo bravo!!!

[JShex]

If you are the future of musical theatre, we are in great shape.