Samantha Ferguson 2004 - "Alto's Lament"

[penguinlove12344]

not good when she hits the high C and your headphone volume is on high...

[Thunder7cloud]

A girl who just graduated sang alto 2 (and often tenor) in our choir and sang this song - I'm not sure what note she hit for the high C, I doubt it was actually a C, but I can't remember. But what is called a C in the song doesn't actually have to be sung as a C, it can be much lower as long as it's as high as possible.

[awesomerockyluva]

i'm an alto, and i can hit a high e flat

but nope...

every year....

i get alto...

[fruitverslaafd]

You sing nice but you really don't make any contact with your audience, that's a shame because that's why you have very little reaction. More acting please because that's what this number is about

[slvmusic]

See, altos are where the vocal color is. Altos can sing the same notes as sopranos, as well as sopranos singing the same notes as altos, it just doesn't sound right because of the timbre.

[Vlikeshugs]

I found her version quite underwhelming...

[GingerTyger]

I'm a full fledged contralto, and I have no high c. At all. If I tried singing this it'd be way too airy (the whole thing) because I have no upper range. I can sing incredibly low though... Wish sometimes I could sing soprano. It's not cause I don't have chances, it's cause I physically can't..

[Jessi181]

It's not about a soprano getting stuck singing alto, it's about an alto who wishes she could sing soprano so she could sing some melodies instead of all of the alto harmonies.

[YouCantPullMeDown]

Sung too much rather than acted..loses comedy valuee :/

Fantastic voice though..

[schris2flute]

A lot of people think this is a song about an alto who wants to sing soprano, when in reality it's a song about a soprano who keeps getting alto parts. For a lot of choirs it doesn't matter if you can hit the highs, if you can hit the lows you're an alto.

[queenslanddiva]

Well done, for a soprano. Let's face it girls, altos rule. I can sing a high c too, just like most altos. In fact my range is much bigger than the sopranos in the singing group I sing with. Keep going, the sopranos need us desperately, they just don't realise it, because they only see themselves! lol

[awesomerockyluva]

@queenslanddiva ugh.. but its so annoying. the sopranos get all of the attention. lol. it sounds so whiny, but its true. why must I be stuck with all of the low nights, when i can hit higher than the sopranos?

argh.

[bailarz]

she's good, but she's a good SOPRANO.......an alto should sing this song. because its the ALTOS lament, surprise surprise. i think its funnier when the alto sings the high C cuz it always ends up a screach. props to her though, she's got a BA set of lungs

[fionacorinne]

just so you know, you should be able to sing a high c if you're an alto. altos are supposed to have better ranges than soranos. buck up and start practicing, it's called expanding your range. i just turned eighteen, and i have a range from a low c (like, c3) to a high f# (as in, a f6). don't post stuff you don't know what you're talking about. it's what your voice sounds better doing. my word. you're not a real alto either, honey :]

[lovemetameme]

Not TRUE!!! Im a alto and I can sing a high F!

[Tanja0Marie0Jane]

it's not meant for an alto to be sung! Al those people say that it's meant for alto's to sing it, but that's not true. It's a soprano complaining about always being cast to sing the alto part.

[dudess4rent]

good voice! more of a jazz caberet than musical theatre, though.

i'm a low alto and trying to sing it down one octave except the part where it's supposed to be alto.

[doumkatek]

Wow, you have a lovely voice

[soccergoalygrl43]

your voice is incredible!! I'm not sure if because you were a featured singer or it was a competition that you weren't very animated, but this song should be..the audience was not responsive at all! Amazing voice though :)

[sameese79]

It was a competition.

[susieq0789]

lol im an alto and i can sing it except for that high c is kinda hard lol

[sunnishiiine]

shes lost the funniness of this the song shes really good but its not funny

[Cookie31039]

I'm glad I'm not the only who can't sing this song because I'm a true ALTO. It's written for a Soprano voice.......#$%^&

[DancinThroughLife]

whenever girls sing this song, they always exaggerate the alto parts, which i understand makes it funny....but it's really not that hard. make an actual ALTO version of this song and see how easy it can be. singing alto is FUN!

[lemonea]

I would LOVE to sing this song...

too bad I'm so not a mezzo and am fully alto...can't sing it dangit!

[broadwaybabee18]

i was just wondering if anyone has any idea where i could find the sheet music to this song. either online or any music store in america. i have looked online to see where it can be ordered and i found nothing. and i looked in two local music stores and neither found it in their data bases.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU KNOW WHERE TO FIND THE SHEET MUSIC TO THE ALTO'S LAMENT.

thanks!!!

[Singer4Jesus]

I sung this last year for a competition at my school.... my director found the music for me, though. I'm pretty sure you can find it online somewhere. If I figure out where I got it, I'll let you know. :)

[K8lamb]

If you find it, let me know!!!

[ItsRainingLovee]

we are name buddies :)

[csereix]

she's headed for broadway!!!!

[shadela3626]

I absolutely adore this song, especially when you get someone vocally talented and acting who can pull it off. This young woman's voice is incredible, comedic timing could be better.

[VinnyVinnyVMan]

Oh, and people who keep saying she's a soprano....duh. You all have clearly missed the humor of the song as well. She's a soprano stuck singing alto in every show she does. At the end she takes the lower note because she's mocking the alto parts she has to sing. Again, this would be clearer if this actress knew what she was doing. The vocals: great. The acting: awful.

[VinnyVinnyVMan]

This is probably the worst rendition of this song I've seen. I mean, yeah, she's obviously a trained singer and she's got a voice, but she is awful at executing the humor of the song. It's almost like the humor is the song flew right over her head.

[kelseyannemusic]

dude samantha, your amazing

[SilverWings8182006]

Haha this was hilarious! She has such amazing expression!

[chalexyeti22]

Oh poor her...shame she isn't a REAL ALTO. At least she can sing a high C, real altos can't. I just love that the alto's lament can't be sung by a real alto. FML.

[wickedphant0m]

Ya, I totally noticed that the first time I heard it...I was like "wow, these notes are actually kinda high"...ironic.

[ohjaPANTS]

Why can't an alto sing it? :S I'm an alto.. I just can't hit the high C. But, then it's funny that way I guess.

[wickedphant0m]

If you can sing this then, congratulations...you're a mezzo.

[ohjaPANTS]

Oh, nice lol! Thanks :) I learnt something new.

[shadela3626]

Yay Mezzos :D

[Singer4Jesus]

Psh... silly alto. This song is for people who can sing the melody. Sorry. :)

[ghillies4life]

@chalexyeti22 I'm a real alto. And for the Alto's Lament, I just scream for the C high, and then make it a joke, because I really can't. I have a horrible high C.

[MonkiiGirl]

@chalexyeti22 the point of the song is that it's a soprano that is shoved into the alto section because there are always sopranos.

[DarcySchacher]

@chalexyeti22 im an alto and i can hit the high c.

it all depends on what your range is.

i can usually sing anywhere from alto up to first soprano... i just prefer alto cause i like to belt. :P

[lovemetameme]

@chalexyeti22 Not TRue!!! Im a Alto and I can sing a high E!!!! You Soprano and sing really low as well. Its what your voice is best suited for. Just because I sing really high sometimes, My directors like my tone quality when I sing On My Own compared to I'll Know. Though, Im a great Maria!!

[Squibakou]

@chalexyeti22 not really... many alto's can sing a high C however their lower register is more powerful, more fluent or more comfortable.

[idinakristinwicked]

@chalexyeti22

actually alot of altos can hit it theres a girl whos in my show choir who sometimes sings the tenor part who can hit a high C

[titanicwicked]

@chalexyeti22 Thats kinda of the point. the High C is supposed to be a Joke.

[berlande101]

@chalexyeti22 the song is about a soprano being thrown in the alto section...so...

[x4812k]

@chalexyeti22 you don't need to sing the C. plenty of people do it as a joke. like a purposefully shrieky note

[XxmainstagexX]

@chalexyeti22 not true. you can be a real alto and just have good range. I am an alto through and through, but I've worked on having the range, and can hit the C like a soprano.

[omnigeek13]

@chalexyeti22

i know right? my last choir director kept complaining that we never had any real altos, that all our alto section was comprised of mezzo soprano betlers. we hadnt had a real alto in YEARS

[pianomags]

@chalexyeti22 I know, it's a shame. And another irony is there are absolutely no "shit" / boring classical pieces for contralto. Perhaps if people don't want to be stuck on lower harmony drones they could study harder pieces ummm. My guess is that once they start training properly their range will shoot up to sop2 / sop 1...that's usually the way it goes. True contraltos are so very rare. And if they're bored with superficial show stuff join a chamber choir for god's sake, get the brain going.

[Vlikeshugs]

@chalexyeti22 I'm a real alto and I can sing a high C. Took me QUITE while to get it, but I did. You can sing it btw. It just has to sound awful at the end. xD

[LiveArtistVocal1]

@chalexyeti22 Isn't the point of the song that they aren't really altos and are forced to sing the part they are not?

[vampuricprincess]

She's fantastic! I loved when she did the "Sweeney" part.

[alexdelarge95]

singing alto doesn't mean singing off key

[dangermouselegend]

She's not singing off key... The alto parts she's singing are the ones in the music... Alto is the most boring part to sing she's just reflecting that in the way she performs them!

[jonmarz333]

it seems to me that the Non-Alto parts are too sweet and in her head voice too much but other than that wowza

[jammymogs]

brill

[MrOpera777]

sounds alot like the music and the mirror from a chorus line in parts :-p

[illbeastonishing16]

I love the "sweeney"

[dinochompeth]

geez. no personality whatsoever

[macaronionio]

I love "Now here's a medley of some of my more finer roles"

Lol.

Great job! :D

[emceegregor]

her diction bothers me. a lot. but she is a great singer otherwise.. that was truly a great high c! lol

[willowcabin1]

Whoo! I love Sam. She was a counselor in my unit at Blue Lake.

AMAZING singer.

Great job.

[fictionjunnkie]

HI!!!!!!! SAMANTHA!!!!! Sorry it took so long 4 me to post a comment but i dont have a youtube account. I'm using my friend KDs. KD says HI (and that I believe every word of this song!) well anyway I was the first one to find it and i told everyone. I'm so smart that way. Anyway u r AMAZING!!!

[fictionjunnkie]

Btw, that's andreya up there^^

[VivLovesMusic]

She put's a h in front of all her "i's"... It's like "h-I'm down on my knees for a melody" that's bad... It releases most of your air.

[baabaagreensheep]

your not funny enough

[feuerxzaku]

I don't understand anything about choir, but...BRAVO SAMANTHA! -huggles- This is Olivia from Blue Lake...and that was totally AWESOME! =3

[the1whojumpshorses]

SAMANTHA!!! its Gabie M. from blue lake!!! wow you are AWSOME!!!!!!!! loved the song!!!!!!!

[dance6critic]

Ahhh!!!! Samantha its Shannon P. from Blue Lake, you are amazing!

[jlaa24]

She's soooo right! I'm an alto and I feel the same way!!!!

[jajaeeyore93]

I like how she sings, "glee." lol

[bkt0991]

her diction is amazing

[msmn09]

hahah yeah i dont think they recognise the

humour within the piece .. i think it's HILARIOUS =D !

[grantyboybeatfreak]

*hate

[grantyboybeatfreak]

love her voice but hat how she does this song

[youllneverbekg5]

i don't like how she says mell-oh-dee.

[dakotapatti]

Yay! I live near Decatur! WHOO! lol

[Lonesandstorm]

I live in Decatur and go to Eisenhower...

[Sciguy123]

Its seems like the audience doesnt get the humor in the song!

[IdolcampRox2]

I know!

[Eagleswing76]

I don't think many can understand the humor unless you are a Musical/Choir person.

[patriotchild]

Some parts she sounds like she doesn't have an alto range. Like when she sings "Sweeney" that for me is a very easy thing to sing yet her voice starts to crack. But on the whole, she was amazing.

[skatami]

Well, the humor of the song is that she's a soprano always cast as an alto.

[Princecharming2255]

GREAT HIGH C!

[spikssssss]

high c was fierce

[Theatralisdiva]

WTG - Way to rep Central IL!

[BestArts]

Great job!

[OhGodWhatABitch4]

wow welcome to my life....

Ha Ha

reppin' for the alto twos

[solosinger88]

where can i get the sheet music for this?!

it's fantastic,never heard it before

[raaawrmonster]

musicalstar31...uuhh your wrong.

shes supposed to be an amazing saprano who is given all of these lame alto parts by directors.

samantha, amazing! pretty hilarious and i loved the expression during the oklahamo part! i love this songa dn your voice was so great

[crazysnoopyguy]

Musicalstar, you obviously missed the whole point of the song. The character IS a soprano who has for all her life been forced to sing alto and wants desperately to sing some of those high notes like she knows she can so well. Samantha, I thought your voice sounded spectacular, and character was quite entertaining. I laughed out loud. Keep at it!!

[hsr89]

thats what i got, but then why is final note down lower? i got the impression that the character couldnt get up that high after hyping herself for the entire song...i could be wrong though.

samantha your hi-C was killer

[maryliz98]

It's all part of the joke. She wants nothing more than to sing soprano, but the final insult is that the last note of the song is one that an alto would sing! She doesn't even get to end the song as a soprano! :-D

I've seen a lot of versions of this on You Tube, but I think her high C is the best! She doesn't even do it as a separate note - she just adds it into the previous lyric! WOW!

[Sciguy123]

The final note is lower because its the alto note....its just adds to the character of the song!

[musicalstar21]

Okay... Your voice is all right but a soprano is not supposed to sing this song... That's why it's called ALTO'S lament... If you can sing a high C well, then you're not meant to sing this song... Other then that, the only thing that you could do better is having more of a desperate character... Right now, you seem really perky, and that is defenitly something this character is NOT!

[clixit07]

i went to school with you doubt youd remeber me

[fllcrcl]

She is not a very good alto. That is the pt.

[wickedfunnerer]

i have seen the acting done better.

singing was pretty. but for this song the girls not sapost to be that great of an soprano. thats the joke..

[chika1333]

OMG! I was SO excited when I saw this! I've been trying to find it everywhere...I can definitely relate to it. 2nd Alto has been my position since 1st grade. Oie.

Thanks!

[Staccas]

Absolutely gorgeous voice.

The only problem with the performance is that it was perhaps a tad too 'reserved'? Not enough desperation.

But that aside, her voice is stunning.

[ARussianActor]

The point of this song is to... you know... actually sound good as an alto. Because otherwise, what's the point? Good performance. I think I love this song better when people do it seriously, its a whole lot funnier that way. When you make fun of yourself, your voice take on a nasty quality. Your true voice is good, why mess with it? Love this song though. I've coached a few girls thorugh it.

[broadwayboricua]

not really impressed

[taylortot243]

thats my babysitter!!!!!!! shes the coolest person on earth!!!!!

[llcooljay1887]

I love this song. The only suggestion I have is you could make your "Finer Moments Medley" I little worse sounding. Do you know what I mean? It really was WONDERFUL though!