Cats - Memory - Linda Balgord

[xMastJedi]

Reganniccole I agree with you.

Vizman66 - No. Only Elaine Paige IS Grizabella

[Reganniccole]

her voice doesnt match the role.

[gingerlewis97]

that other cat is good though !!! xxx <3

[gingerlewis97]

@multiDom99 too right this dosent even touch it!

[basketball30ism]

sorry Linda but Elaine Paige is the only version that i love of this. and i like veerle castelyn as jemima :).

[ByMakeupForever]

@basketball30ism me too, i dont care for this version, or betty buckleys version, but Elaine Paige was BY FAR the BEST

[MultiDom99]

@ByMakeupForever bettys was the best

[brendan909]

at 2:20 she looks like she's having a stroke.

[RandomIdiot77]

Her voice is sensational but not suited to this song, the point of the song was meant to be a passionate ending were people could connect to her voice but instead this one is over dramatised and has not got the passion I would like to hear in this song. Plus we must find and fire her face painter cause honey those aint whiskers she looks like she ha an itch and strached her own face accidently.

[skbnvacaville]

Every singer will have her own interpretation and this is hers. She owns it.

I agree that I have heard better renditions but give the criticisms a rest! Not all renditions must be Elaine "Knock Offs", OK? (Elaine is sheer perfection.)

The make-up is what p*sses me off!!!

Is this Cats or Halloween!?

[jcga30346]

This is DREADFUL! Her overly percussive vibrato and strange vocal technique is a HUGE distraction to the beauty of the song. 

[crazyanimegrl1]

it felt way too overdone.

[BambinoBaritono]

me dio asco su manera de cantar, pff

[SamKitchin1]

For what it's worth, she made me laugh.

[ValtronW]

It's.......growing on me. I think in this particular performance, she's trying way too hard. But if she took it down a notch, this could potentially sound amazing.

Really.

[Gavonne127]

She STINKS...

[wickedboyike2]

i like this silabab (jemima to movie fans) but i dont really like this grizz i respect her as an actress cuz she can act it verry well but she needs to lay off the vibrato a little but thats just my opinion

[fergiemich05]

I didn't like the make up :S



[VIETNAMVET864]

good god ,this woman kills the song.She hurts the eardrum.PEE-YOU!

[yaywhewclips242]

yea, sorry Linda, BB was better.

[GingerSpiceCurry]

Not a big fan of this. She is singing too classically for my taste.

[seonidh]

2:05 its Lion-O and Cheetara working well after Thundercats

[AutumnRaeRocks]

So what about this 5 year old???? Maybe she could be the next one!!! lol

[noodle0912]

LOL, someone brought their cat.

[scott12061972]

not Betty thanks

[GreekFood08]

Everyone says she is impersonating Betty Buckley er sumone but she has an astonishing and beautiful voice. Cats just isnt her show! Maybe its the role. she could be something else. I dont know... :)

[scott12061972]

SHE IS JUST TRYING TO HARD TO FEL THE SONG BETTY bUICKLEY IS IT SORRY

[lariibway]

I like her interpretation, but her vibrato isn't nice.

[Vareetha]

I like Elaine Paige's version the best.

[asthemorningfalls]

I like Betty, she understood the "glamour" part of Grizabella better than anyone else.

[LivingDeadGirl7108]

Nobody does it like elaine Paige. Sorry. This lady is good but not as good as Elaine Paige.

[karrezza]

Great voice, but Buckley is my fave, and this makeup looks like a cat scratched her face rather than whiskers

[KimNek]

There's an internet term for her vibrato: Trying too hard. Seriously, she put way too much push into her voice. Lady, you're part of the cast, not the sole star. Stop trying to bring all the attention to yourself. The song will do it for you since it's the signature melody.

[ValtronW]

It's.....rather embarrassing, really. Who the hell was her singing coach? Yeesh .

[lilroxie123]

Can anyone tell me if Cats is still touring?

[justinfrnfr]

@lilroxie123 the broadway verison is but tehy arent on broadway anymore

[littlesongbird1]

@lilroxie123 I think it is. Go to ticket masters website.

[noodle0912]

The piano music is dreadful. Sounds like the Haunted Mansion or something.

[HecklesandTwitch97]

i think Elaine paige is better

[reesecups03]

it's hard for people who are classical or operatic singers to sing something that is closer to popular than their usual. hence the hard vibrato

btw i think betty is the best vocally, but elaine is the best acting.

[benvolieo]

she sounds like a bleating goat being shaken to death.

[MrMusicstone]

you idiots she doesn't sing with too much vibrato she just has a weird and inconsistent vibrato. Very powerful voice non-the less. I dont like her voice

[djohn4096]

That vibrato is too much for the song. She's a fine singer but more operatic and not enough Broadway.

[evandude345]

1- too much vibrato

2- I think the make-up dept. was drunk because her's is very scary

[andrevarner1967]

I love Elaine Paige's version as well.

[theatergeeksjk24601]

betty buckley was scary. elaine paige all the way!

[just1otherfan]

yes a tad too much vibrato but still beautiful. maybe as good as elaine ? maybe ...... luv the jem here XD

[Elfendied11]

Victoria looks sooo soooo gorgeous here!

[Puppies140]

HORRIBLE!

[MarkG889]

omg sorry but she is horrid, oooooh my ears! that was really bad.....

[marctull2]

Linda Balgord is a terrific singer. She did the premier tour of Sunset Boulevard, which didn't last long because of costs and slow ticket sales after three cities. i did have the pleasure of meeting her in Denver - wonderful person, down to earth, and definitely not a diva.

[noodle0912]

She has a gorgeous voice, she's just overdoing it a tad here. If she took it down a notch, even by a little, she'd still be phenomenal. In fact, she's almost as good as Buckley.....just a tad too much vibrato here.

[oneworldguy]

How long did she last in this role? Does anyone know?

[deanriam]

@oneworldguy She started in 2000 and was the last one to play it, that's as far as I know.

[vizman66]

Betty Buckley was the best.

[Lumirefan]

@vizman66 i think betty buckley sings so emotionless, but realy she have a great voice

[vizman66]

@Lumirefan Betty Buckley's version is full of emotion. No one can compare to her. This woman's version is awful. I wasn't that thrilled Elaine Paige's version either.

[Ryantravisaol]

wow, I really felt the emotion and the point...too much vibrato for me.

[pyxiekit]

a verry operetic version but i do like, and i love the look, and i love that she hits the high note at the end

[deanriam]

Wow, talk about trying WAY too hard to put your signature on a famous song. She should've just sang it instead of doing all of that crap vibrato.

[koolio669]

Elaine Paige has extreme talent when it comes to Acting/Singing. Linda is still a great singer. didnt like the Jemima in this one too much.

[maureenpowell1]

Yikes, who did she know to get this part????

[1980benno]

oh no....

she ruined the song

[BennyJayRuss]

Betty Buckley rules this song. Period.

[WiiRemoter]

ICK!!!!This was worse than Betty, Elaine is the only grizzelle who can sing this song flawlessly

[Boonedaba]

I too, remember the time I knew what hapenis was...

[karinaprincess2316]

Ughhhh. Elaine Page is betterrrr.

[AlwaysKeepingCool]

awful. period.

[teleryn0the0kitten]

I think she's an opera singer, that's the reason of the vibrato... Jemima is totally cute and is she really Sarah? Doesn't look like her though, Sarah was Jemima in the 80's London productions...

[whatuphowslife]

i like the movie version the best 

[nicmic42]

some of the faces in the back are just too funny...

[theRegalX]

no wonder it went off broadway...

[veggietenor]

On the touch me part she sounds italian going "Toucha Me!!"

[JellicleKat]

I will never forget when they showed this. They had just shown CATS on PBS (a few months before that), I was living in Arizona and they didn’t show it there so Mom taped it for me and sent it to me along with the TV guide article. After that I watched the video 2 or 3 times a day for a year! Then in the fall of ’99 this was on the Today Show and I was able to tape it!!!

[veggietenor]

A couple of hate comments!

- I can barely hear poor Sarah when Linda starts singing with her.

- Linda's face looks like someone was clawing at her face.

-I feel like she thinks she is the best and everyone will be amazed.

- And finally she's putting too much vibrato into her song.

[gstrong96]

Bleh!!

she sucks!

[benvolieo]

@gstrong96 wonder what ticket sales were like after this promotion... the poor white cat at 1:26 is wincing as Grizzabllea butchers the  main theme of cats...

[Boonedaba]

What a Jemima!!! I like her alot. Soryy linda, sing legato please.

[haberpelaos]

Someone knows this Jemima? She is adorable

[veggietenor]

@haberpelaos Sarah Brightman.

[lilred427]

See, you ppl are looking at only one version of Cats. Elaine Page, yes she was an AMAZING Grizabella, but also be reminded she was recorded and her voice was also changed in some ways. These people that perform live, are truely Magnificent! They dedicate their time and effort into learning the song. The least everyone could say is "Good Job."

[nicmic42]

@lilred427 well yea but ive heard my friends sing better than that (no offence 2 da person w/ those scrapes all over her face)

[redbsh]

SHE WAS HORRIBLE AS NORMA DESMOND AND SHE IS HORRIBLE HEAR...JUST TO OPERATIC .....IN A DIFFERENT ROLE MAYBE SHW WOULD BE OK

[Necromasty]

I've grown to love this version. I didn't like it very much at first, but now I prefer listening to this. It just takes adjusting, you have to hear it from a different angle. You can't start expecting Elaine then hear this. But now i really love this.

[Konekoi]

Wow, that woman is singing her heart out.

[brittyandemi3]

dude can your voice vibrate more?

I mean ur an exclellent singer just cant be as vibrating

[jdthemindfreak]

@brittyandemi3 I think Vibratto's are easy way to express feelings (:

[brittyandemi3]

@jdthemindfreak very true and i also have nothing against it

[moreira16071981]

adoro... adoro esta musica...

tem alma.....

[moreira16071981]

adoro.... simplesmemte belo....com muita alma

[MizVanity]

I think she needs to seperate Broadway and Opera. Like I said a few months ago... really overdoing it...

[Yquepasofull]

le quedo cabron pero me sigue gustando mas Elaine Paige

[itachirina]

i dont like her makeup. i like elaine paige makeup better.

[TheCoryChannel]

@itachirina, The reason the makeup is like it is is because in theatre its designed for everyone to see, even way in the back of the audience. Elaine paiges cat makeup was designed for close up camera video, for the film. In this video, the makeup is not. Trust me it looks great from farther away:)

[Elizannchan]

Her makeup doesn't make her look like a cat so much :/ More like a spider.

[moreira16071981]

belo....

[SwayingAndSweeping]

she messed up in the beginning. lol

[TheCoryChannel]

i think she gives a unique and great interpretation of the role

[CanadianBadAss999]

Powerful and passionate...Very Nice!

[manahound]

Linda Balgord is an EXCELLENT singer. Listen to her in the musical Pirate Queen, THEN say shes bad. You cant. This just wasnt her song. Its to low for her.

[Boonedaba]

Her vibrato is wider than a two-stall grage.

[Boonedaba]

Okay, I JUST realized why they cast her. Rht after "the memory is fading" and then "TOOOUUUUUUCH MEEEEE!!!!" i WAS SUPRISED. She redemed herself.

[Necromasty]

it sounds like there are points where he vibrato is so wide that the microphone picking her up can't exactly handle it, and that makes her sounds worse

[AddeChan]

OMG! This is actually horrible! Don't like this Grizabella! TOO MUCH VIBRATO!

[Nightcrawlerinsweden]

she doesnt even take the right tone :s seriously what did they think about when they picked her for the role? she doesnt match at all...

[actionjaxson91]

She certainly sounds more like a cat than looking like one...

[gogetyourverb]

Linda Balgord sings way too much vibrato but she still has a beautiful voice

[Charlottinaina]

@gogetyourverb beautiful voice but no one will be never so deep and perfect like Betty Buckley.....Betty's voice arrives at heart

[Nightcrawlerinsweden]

too opera and the vibrato sounds like a boat engine -.-

[jpkid05]

As an Opera performer, please dont say that was like opera. That's just insulting. LOL

[UKECLECTIC]

I have seen many Grizabellas live at the New London Theatre, this vocal is not good at all , and Jemima is really awful vocal..., the best Grizabella i never seen is right here on youtube Laurie Beechman sadly never got to see her live, p.s Tony Award Winner Lea Salonga will be playing Grizabella for the Manila run July/Aug 2010!!

[rlee1976]

I saw Laurie Beechman in this in 1992 and then her last run of it in 1997. Laurie sounded tremendous even with tons of chemotherapy coursing through her veins - there was just something perfect about her voice for this role.... Betty and Elaine sang it with their own style, more Broadway-esque - while Laurie added a rocky element to it without being too poppy... it was TREMENDOUS to see. She had just the right amount of mix, belt, all that... at the right times.. never over the top.

[camaylajeanne0890]

Hate the EXTREME vibrato in her voice :(

[DarkFlower012]

I agree with most of the other comments here. She can obviously sing, but this is not the song for her. She does it way too operatic and over-the-top.

[pabloabilio]

Sou muito mais Susan Boyle cantando Memory

[joshpembers]

She is wonderful. In her own way, Linda Balgord is as much of a super-star as either Betty Buckley or Elaine Paige. They are all good is my point. And this is one of the best musical songs of all time!

[emlodik]

I agree. Linda is wonderful. Her voice is very distinctive, but I love it. Plus, her acting chops... WOW. She DEFINED the role of "Norma Desmond" in such a special and unique portrayal, that I still get chills down my spine!

[pytko3]

I've been told that CATS is actually the SECOND longest running Broadway musical, the longest is Phantom Of The Opera.

[FincayraMerlin]

It wasn't in 1999. Now that's true.

[HorseyBabe12]

What's with the make-up?! And the tail - it's way too long! Her voice isn't suited to this song...

I agree with MrJohanfromSweden on the pose thing - I wouldn't be able to keep so still!!!

[nonok122]

she cant sing this

sorry but she cant

[Mgcian55]

her voice is angelic and a powerhouse. she sure as hell CAN sing it.

[trekkie2006]

She's too trained in the classical style of singing to sing this song.

[Mgcian55]

if this song wasn't sung classiclaly it would be dreadful.

[lilsaprano123]

Take a look at:- 10 year old performs memory . its really good.

[MrJohanfromSweden]

I guess that an outdoor stage dont have the aqustic of an indoor theathre :-) What amazes me most is all the cats sitting still for the entire number. I would go ballistic if I had to had the same pose for that long... Johan.

[sarahsandiego2]

elaine all the way!

[chazystyle]

3:15 - 3:25 was pretty good, the rest was absolutely terrible, the other singer was alright though, no one can pull it off like elaine and helen

[JofusSibey]

I really don't like her singing at all here!!!! And her makeup is horrible here too!

[rawitch]

Her vibrato kinda made me feel like she should be singing a different role...vibrato is great for this character but hers is so deep..

[TheCoryChannel]

i like it

[mortefko]

HORRBLE!!!! Never heard such a teriibke version of that biutyfull song!!!

Betty Buckley is THE BEST!!!!

[ItsKahlaYo]

this is just too much. I'm not a fan. =/

[mspudds22]

LOOK!

XD

[theguywhoiswierd]

she has a huge vibrato. i don't like it. it's too distracting.

[pachisrox]

Totally agree. It just seems a bit too much for the song and voice of role.

[gaarasbloodyshadow14]

i like the name jemima better then sillabub

[littlesongbird1]

Yes but in the usa that may have a slightly racist implication.

[onlyalittlewicked]

I love this woman, but I think she has one of those voices you love or you hate.

[Bellajemima708]

our Girzabella had laryngitis during our run and she sounded 100 times better than this

[gobble22]

too much heavy belting. i this is upsetting. the part is sopossed to be representing the fragileness of the elderly, not the confidence. the makeup was too much. not dirty enough. and her coat wasnt shaggy enough. if i was watching this on tv i purposely wouldnt see it. overdone and to classicly operetically dramatic. if it was in italian, fine. not good. =[

[Sclera2k6]

I'm sorry. But tooo much Vibrato. And the climax of the song was just overkill, I think. Too forced. Like, I think she's trying to put emotion into what she's singing, but all she's really doing is over-pronouncing everything, and singing it loudly. Sorry, I just believe that Elaine Paige is the best at really showing emotion in the song.

[noirstar]

@Sclera2k6 Elaine Page??????? What? "the best". This show belongs to Betty Buckley. Elaine Page was magnificent, however.. can anyone really compare the two performances?????? Balgord was good, but it's not a Legit role. It's just too much.

[angeldemusik69]

@Sclera2k6 Her acting is great but please somebody please tell her to cut off the vibratto

[beeingup]

Qué horror. Nada que ver con las magsitrales Betty Buckley o Elaine Paige.

Linda, you didn't sing that song beautiful.

[ltcj511]

are they trying to bring up sth new in this cast? new style new makeup etc. i dont feel really like it...too exaggerated, too opera, and the jemima wasnt great too.

[littlesongbird1]

Sillabub not Jemima

[ltcj511]

Duh. Just the same! in US ppl call it jemima ,in UK ppl call it sillabub. It's just the same thing!!

[littlesongbird1]

You got it back wards..us is sillabub uk is jemima

and its the same with some other characters

admetus uk and plato is us

tublebrutus us bill bailey uk

[ltcj511]

okok.

btw, *tumblebrutus*

[ltcj511]

can't wait to see the Italian Cats ! u heard of that?

[adryennsz89]

X_x please....this isn't natural, she forces it tooo much

[MizVanity]

This kind of reminds me of a drag show. Like, I've seen drag queens sing like this. It's WAY over the top! But see, sometimes drag queens overdo it on purpose. That's what makes it so entertaining. But that's not what this role needed at all.

[pspruce18]

The vocals are actually very impressive...the makeup on the other hand...way too distracting. Jemina sounds exactly like the one in the Buckley version.

[carlosrgs]

isn't she the wife of the jocker?

[redwolffclaw]

Sounds like she took an english as a second language course...

[kmdouglass]

Too much virbrato combined with an over-annunciated operatic style makes for a lackluster performance. And was her make-up inspired by KISS?

[MizVanity]

I like the make up, but only as a make up style to do when going to Goth Night at a club. Hell, that might even be too much for Goth Night!

[StinkMonkee]

The first professional rendering of this beautiful, moving piece which DID NOT bring tears to my eyes.

[fellatio24]

A superb rendition from the great La Balgord, who also played the greatest role in musical theatre - Norma Desmond in the 1st US tour of Sunset Boulevard.

[featheredpines]

I think she forgot it's a musical, not an opera.  The song is dramatic enough that she didn't need to over-embellish it so.

[nursejiggs]

AGREED!!! 100%

[zlosnica07]

oh my god... Grizabella and Jemina in this version are horrible!!! It's the worst version I've heard :/ The best is Elaine Paige!!! :) and the polish version is great too.

[botijo]

horrible, espantoso...vaya manera de joder una cancion.

[Bellajemima708]

worst. Grizabella. ever.

[veinsofmercury13]

agreed haha

[Metexploderallica]

That is the most obnoxious vibrato I have ever heard.

[AtLastOnTheGround]

I think she has a great voice, but this is HIDEOUSLY oversung. It seems like a parody of the song -- Her voice is SO full of bad affectations. Ouch!

[Frienze7]

Maybe I'm bias, but Paige is the only Grizabella for me. =/

[chiqitita82]

sometimes people sound better on stage

[KaraokeKid22]

wasn't she Patti's understudy in Gypsy? how did she pull that off? i mean with the kind of voice that she has and the old style songs.

[tatyrules12]

Yeah, I don't think she went on though.I know Lenora went on at least once when Patti wasn't there.

[emlodik]

Yes, she did go one at least twice. There's an audio out there of her final night.

[HouseOnSunset]

She was AMAZING as Mama Rose!

[kyaisme]

She can sing, but maybe not this song...

[ericscam2]

Good god, this is horrifying!