Chess Benefit Concert Rehearsal - Anthem

[syleiling]

aw, someone's jealous of josh... and calling other people idiots for having different tastes is very stupid.

[DemonTaoist]

His daddy bought him a (new nose) career, and the masses being ignorant bought into thinking he's amazing. He's not. He's so, so not.

[RAC3504]

Josh Groban singing Anthem- Perfect Match. Josh and Adam are certainly the greatest american male vocalist and Idina the greatest female- of this generation.What a treat this concert is.

[L0v3Namine]

watch?v=5Jt-ep5JDBQ&feature=re­lated

Same?

[libermama]

Josh Groban singing "Anthem"?! A match made in heaven! Love it!!!

[anasofiazevedo]

I totally agrre with you! A perfect match!

[stagemusicman]

WE all know this boy can sing..but c'mon Josh ..take some acting lessons

[leemute]

This is a rehearsal. Probably more like a sitzprobe. I mean No one is focused.

[kzaaaaaa]

plus, it's a concert, not a full performance.

[Jiddir]

nice voice but it is a musical and some acting would have been nice

[carriewhite410]

The only bad thing about this is if i ever see another version of Chess, I'll always compare whoever does this song with Josh.

And when you compare people to josh, they never win. ^_^ He's beyond amazing

[hed99bpb]

Lol Tommy körberg, compare him and josh will lose. But yes he is amazing, but just not in musical theater. Stig rossen, take him and compare and he will lose. Sorry to say. But hey he sings amazing song on his own Josh Groban, you raise me up.

[WizAki21]

Tommy makes my privates tingle

[WizAki21]

try the London OC. YOull be blow away by tommy

[rantaylor1]

the green light makes him look like the Joker! love his voice and I'm damn picky

[GottaLuvGavroche]

Josh Groban is a truly talented, though this is not one of his better performances. Still it is quite amazing.

[bailey291]

I love josh but he sings this too pretty- it lacks emotion as this song truly deserves

[Maseraticrazy]

I was there on tuesday at the Royal Albert Hall! It was breath taking, I have been listening to this song for 20 years, and Josh at the blew everyone away! I have never seen so many people show so much emotion over a song!

[e1117116]

Saw him at the Royal Albert Hall on Tuesday and I cried it was so beautiful. Worth the ticket money just to hear that song!

[muhcmuhc]

I love how people are making comments over a camcorder recording.

[mlb7171]

He has terrible diction. Listen to Korberg...

[TheJudgeNYC]

This kid is so not that special.

[jeabarr]

Josh Groban is "not that special"???? i think you'll have a lot of people who will disagree with you. :)

[123musiclover]

yeah i kind of agree with you. his music is awesome but his voice is on a steady decline after his second album. he is plague with a lot of bad singing habits that will make his voice not "special" anymore. so i agree with you.

[EriksChristine]

Okay I have to say that this "kid" started at 17! How could you not say he's not special??? That's just stupid. Josh started at seventeen, and moved on word with David Foster, and other amazing musical people. So, leave Josh Alone.

[EriluAqua77]

to EriksChristine,

You're right on what you say... his early start... he's got such a great future ahead of him!! after all he's only 27.

AND if some1 like David Foster thinks he's brilliant... I rest my case.

[snootzie78]

fuck u 123musiclover.  josh groban is cool.

[123musiclover]

hey take it easy on the language. it isn't nice. of course i am just stating an opinion and i am entitled to that. calling people names is immature, sir. If you would take a listen to his first album and contrast it to his live album, there is a sharp decline in his tone quality. why? because his technique is not great. he pushes the sound indicated by the big vein on his throat. there is no breath support down below his abdomen. his voice is suffering. I love his music, not his technique.

[hed99bpb]

In normal words, he breaths with his chest, and not with his diagfram, which doesn't give much support. ;)

[EriluAqua77]

WOW... almost five years after...

I'm soooooo waiting for this!!

[gigne]

Wonderful! Feeling quite lucky that I have a ticket for the Albert Hall concert on the 13th!

[gaby3101]

ConstantijnH :Its at Royal ALbert Hall 12th and 13th of may, but there are no tickets available I guess.... :-((

[ohmightyblog]

one of my favorite songs ever

[ShirleyBognot]

"She is eternal

Long before nations' lines were drawn

When no flags flew and no armies stood

My land was born...." Good golly, these words and Josh's voice... patented tearjerkers.:(

[mismiz62]

beautiful...heartfelt...genuin­e.

[corvus13]

Will Groban be playing The Russian?

[lmtidol]

Yes he will be The Russian again.

[ConstantijnH]

so when and where is this concert? this is great!!!!

[cutie25415]

yes he will! I wish I would go!!!!!!!!!

[jdawgbrun81]

Josh Groban is the only singer I've heard perform this song not struggle with the skips from low to high. I'm still hoping someone will have the wisdom and gumption to record the London benefit. It's one of the greatest crimes that these concerts are going unrecorded (professionally).

[JennaLeighhh]

i love how hes basically the only one who's not singing from reading the lyrics out of a book. hes amazing.

[janjessup]

Can't wait to see the video from the London May 08 performance. Hope someone lucky enough to be going will post it here. A rehersal would be great. Please, please!

[willthrillws]

I don't believe that! If he was studying with someone OF ANY MERIT he would be 100x's better than he already is! I mean can't you here how he is struggling through the passagio into the head register?

[chicagononymous]

Well if you're as much of an expert as you think you are - then you should also know that his voice won't fully mature until about 2014. All your "criticisms" are common among early 20-something male singers. Put down the vocal pedagogy book - stop thinking you know everything and actually spend time learning - which is what you should be doing at your age.

[wwonka2]

Right on chicago! It's a 22-year-old voice.

[janjessup]

WOW! Glad I'm not a music critic. I just get to enjoy this phenomenal singer. He was 22 when this was done in 2003 but Josh will be performing in Chess again (London, May 2008). Looking forward to hearing more from the Number 1 Artist of the Year 2007 with

the Number 1 CD for 2007 (Billboard).

[willthrillws]

I would just like to see how he would sound if he had training! He sings in the back of his throat and and as a result the upper notes lack vibrancy and ease. He is singing to heavy in the low register and trying to drive the chest register up which obviously affects the intonation and gives a tight clinched sound on high notes (most notably the G4 of "Where would I start") He needs lessons but why get lessons if your already a star!?

[seemars]

Josh has been classically trained since he was 17 and still has a coach several days a week.

[spookythebando]

Dear Josh Groban...

Why did you ruin my favourite number from 'Chess'?

I hate to say it, but Pascal would've done a better job on this song. Even tho I know you would've butchered 'Pity the Child' even worse than you did 'Anthem'.

[freakofdamonth]

ok...i know he can sing ok.....i just cant bring myself to like him. his voice actually really bores me. Maybe its because even though he sounds good...he doesnt sound any different than any other lyrical singer and there is nothing special about his voice to make him unique

again my opinion, i know most people will actually disagree, but thats how i feel.

[lenesmil]

Really? You don't think he's special? I find that very interesting.. I totally disagree with you, ofcourse. I have never heard any other voice similar to his. I don't mind that you don't like him, you can say what you want, I'm just curious, which other lyrical singer do you compare him with?

[JerkyPuck]

Is that the Asian lady from Avenue Q at 2:08????

[SamuelXavier427]

yes Ann Harada

[joefan89]

I love his voice!! it's so soothing and yeah, he's incredible

[dansingajb]

Some people are born with this odd, fast vibrato and can't change it much. The speed doesn't really bother me much, but it might be more effective if he used some straight tone on the long notes, then added it at the end. But either way, his vibrato is much nicere now than it used to be- like in "remember" or whatever that song is called- it was really shaky.

[jtrudeau88]

He's got vibrato, it adds warmth and depth to the tone. His is too fast and tight, but it is better than straight tone. He's got a nice tone, he just needs to slow down his vibrato a little and let it oscillate more widely.

[tenoralkid]

hmm but don´t you think that the fact that is oscillates very little adds to the perfection of the pitch and focus in the tone?`what happens when the vibrato becomes wide is that the focus in the tone declines..

[jtrudeau88]

There are vibratos that are too wide too, take Jennifer Hudson. Somewhere inbetween his french vibrato, which is classified as very quick and tight, and a slower one is preferable. If you compare his to any great opera singer's, take Pavarotti, Gedda, or Corelli, it is a little to quick and tight. He's got a nice tone, he just needs to reduce the tension on his larynx. Like you said though, he does have good intonation, but a slower vibrato wouldn't diminish this.

[tenoralkid]

Maybe you´re right. Personally I prefer Tommy Körbergs vibrato in favour of anyone else..Körbergs vibrato is so little and quick, but in the same time steady and gentle....what do you think?

[teenie3759]

i love josh groban. he is the best ever.

[lucasdewa]

Josh Groban is the best at singing this song by far, but tommy korberg is good!

[tasiax]

It always amazes me that out of that young skinny tall body comes that amazing powerful voice...

[tenoralkid]

I don´t know from where you´ve got the idea of him being tall, but I can tell you he is not. 179 from what I have read

[tasiax]

I believe he is at least 6 feet or 6'1 at least when I saw him in concert to me that Is tall I am short.. he even 5'8 is tall compared to me.

[sarahbfan86]

6', but he slouches.

[jr212pa]

he has a flutter in his voice, can noone hear that????

[Patff]

Linda Eder does a beautiful version as well.

[amandajoy4783]

Josh Groban has one of the purest, most natural and beautiful voices I have ever heard. This is gorgeous! I'll never tire of it.

[thenatural91483]

Anthony Warlows version of this song is by far the best i have ever heard. The greatest musical theatre voice ever!!!

[xotessxo]

miraculous.

[MelancholyBaby21]

Again...Not bad but too much. I study with cast member of the original bway production and have worked extensively on this particular song with her. What most she stressed was the simplicity the song was intended to have which has been lost over the years. It's not an aria nor should it be sung like one.

[Simba92]

Omg...this brings back so many memories. I loved this so much and I think Josh cursed in the beginnig lol.

[Chanelbaby]

I absolutely love his version of this song. His voice is flawless. As for the vibrato.. he cannot control it. As a singer myself, vibrato comes from training, and trying to control it actually hurts. At least it does for me. Love him. Perfect.

[ottoan]

A good singer can control and modulate both timbre and vibrato. And I think Groban, very unnecessarily, cranks up the vibrato to a maximum. Overkill. Especially for the pop heavy musical Chess (where Anthem is from).

[jaap310]

sorry, i disagree, have heard and see many versions of anthem including miachel ball and tommy Korberg and this is by far the best !! (only my opinion)

[JoshiesJem]

If you listen to Josh's music, you'll know that he's always had a ton of vibrato, especially in his new album. That's just the way he is. I think it's what sets him apart from other pop singers

[ottoan]

On the contrary, the heavy vibrato makes him sound exactly the same like so many other singers on Broadway. It's boring and predictable...and it's disappointing that he chose to go there. Nothing in Chess calls for this style of singing.

[tenoralkid]

I don´t think his vibrato is heavy at all, it is very small and fast, which at least pleases my ears.

[MelancholyBaby21]

Josh has a pleasant enough voice and pulls off the vocally challenging song fairly well...Missing is any hint of true stage presence or connection with the material. In both, the rehearsal clip and the performance, he has a tendency to over sing a bit, leading to hints of strain in the upper register, and a loss of connection with the story he is supposed to be using the song to convey...Much, it seems, as he approaches every other song...It's easy, yet somewhat forgettable, listening

[JoshiesJem]

I think what people forget is that Josh was only like 22 or 23 here. For being probably the youngest Anatoly, I think he kicks butt

[JoshiesJem]

Michael Ball did Anthem??? *runs off to find it*

[MountainsGandalf]

Josh sung this song brilliantly. I've grown up listening to Michael Ball and his rendition of Anthem was amazing, but I have to say I now definatly have a new favourite :)

[carriewhite410]

I am finding that everything I love is connected. Josh Groban, Broadway, Michael Ball. *follows to find MB Anthem*

Thanks for the info!!!

[brafmutant]

beautiful job. thanks for putting this up.

[freim93]

What close-ups. Josh is such an amazing singer!

[phantomphan1778]

Josh is soo amazing! Thank you for putting this up!

[tenoralkid]

He is great, but I think he should cut 20 procent of his vibrato in his song.

[jvd897]

I'm pretty sure that I like this better than Korberg's version. If CHESS ever goes back on Broadway, Josh is my #1 pick for Anatoly, no doubt about it. Brilliant.

[Emptychairs06]

Gorgeous...sadly I can't bring myself to like him.