Added: 5 years ago
From: modernmillie
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  • She's amazing. I love her emotions.

  • This lady has class - this is what life is all about - brilliant!!!!!!!!!

  • This lady is pure class, head and shoulders above the others that's for sure.

  • Too sloooooooooooow.

  • Comment removed

  • Quite a dull performance, actually, but not totally bad. Lea Salonga's is definitely more dynamic, heatfelt, and relatable.

  • If her articulation were better, then the pianist wouldn't struggle to play so slow so she could pronounce the words well.

  • This unknown performer seriously needs to take English lessons.

  • @joshgardell She's not that unknown, she has worked with the authors of "Chess" for like 15 years and performed Chess as well as other stage musicals. She's an amazing singer - it shines through here although I think the pronounciations/articulations are funny here and there. No matter how much I adore and respect her beacuse I know how good she is, this is not one of her better performances, it's too unprecise and lacks power.

  • @joshgardell - She was the original Florence in "Chess" in London. She speaks English fluently. WTF are you talking about? She's a Musical Theater Pro. You obviously don't know this genre of music very well. Her phrasing is perfect. I've heard her live and of course understood every word of her performance, she's that clear. Talk about being a pretentious one. BTW = The pianist is Benny Andersson...the fucking composer of this musical and he's playing at the speed he wrote it at.

  • @SingerAR .........No she wasn't. Elaine Paige was the original Florence in Chess in London. Tim Rice wrote the show for her. Moreover, this song wasn't included until the song went to Broadway and Judy Kuhn starred as Florence. As far as I know, Helen has never appeared as Florence either in the UK or USA.

  • @joshgardell This is actually a very respected Swedish musical singer (:

    She is wonderful in Swedish, maybe not so good in English but one have to have indulgence with that since it isn't her first language.

  • @joshgardell

    Och du papphammar borde gå och sova nu.......

  • Remarkable singer and she makes the song feel really "lived in".

  • Wonderful! Helen is just so great.

  • I could listen to his over and over and over again. Such an exquisite and sublime performance!!!

  • It's not just about having a big and technical perfect voice. The primary goal is to tell a story (if the song actually has a story to tell) and NO ONE tells a story better than Helen.

  • @fingal61 True - it's not all about the perfect voice.  Which is why Salonga's better. Salonga not only has the better voice BUT tells the story much better.

  • @joeytruelove Don't blame Salonga for the beat and orchestration. Obviously, you don't know what you're talking about, pretentious one.

  • I think this was written for the Broadway version, which had the SUPERB Judy Kuhn as Florence.

  • seriously - try not to be dumb - there is no need for comparison - both have lovely voices, but watch her face - it's not about technical proficiency - which both possess. it's about connection - she GETS this song. rather than compare, just listen.

  • I absolutely love Lea Salonga's voice too, but this young lady makes a lovely job of this. Very nice version indeed.

  • This is NOT Lea Salonga's video, so don't dare drag Lea Salonga's name in videos of singers BENEATH her!

  • @anafor2un

    They are both singers who sing this song beautifully as far as this video is concerned, they are equal.

  • HelenWho?

  • Appreciate Helen's nice version for what it is. Don't compare to Lea Salonga -- who is miles better than Helen in ALL aspects of singing!

  • @aaprato Except that she isn't ;-)

  • @2Vaffel2: She sounds sooooo OLD. Lea Salonga's is WAY BETTER than this version.

  • You can not judge the voice quality of this clip when the sound is too bad.

  • Nope. Lea's is clearly better than this. The shrill voice alone is already a major point against voice quality.

  • I'm a huge fan of Kerry Ellis and I hate english with a swedish accent but this was amazing.

    Sjukt bra! Vilket år är det ifrån? Ser rätt gammalt ut.

  • I freaking love this version! So much better than Kerry Ellis in chess! Its so much softer! <3

  • Oh for Christs sake do an English album and rule the world. I'd be the first in the queue. UK Paramedic.

  • @1paramed I'd be right there behind you in the queue...such a beautiful voice.x

  • I believe the pianist is the brilliant Kjell Edstrand.

  • somehow i think i can imagine frida or agnetha singing this piece...

  • @denglijunfongyikei... sure, this singers sings very much like Agnetha.

  • Hands down, one of the best videos on YouTube. A fantastic interpretation by Helen, and the fact that the song remains as emotional without the big orchestra, only a piano backing her up, shows the strength of the composition - one of the best musical numbers ever, in my opinion. The English lyrics are also superior to the Swedish ones (although they are also very good). I would love to see a stage version of "Chess" in the original language with Helen Sjöholm and Tommy Körberg. *****

  • I'm a big fan of Lea but I thought Helen's rendering of this song showed more emotional maturity. It brought tears to my eyes.

  • I Like this version much better than the swedish.Hlen is so good.

  • Mycket bättre på svenska

    Way better in swedish

  • had the pleasure of singing this song with Helen and Benny on Piano on Wednesday night, 14th April after the Kristina performance at the Albert Hall, London

  • I met Helen on Wednesday night 14th April and had the pleasure of singing along with her to this song and Benny on piano

  • There is no doubt that helen has the best version of this song. although i think she sings the swedish version better, because she makes it more... i dont know.... powerful? But i love this one too, though the song sounds better with an orchestra.

  • @kaliiiine Possibly because the Swedish lyrics are a bit different. Their meaning do show mroe power and strength in the character than this one, I believe. But you're right. It's a marvellous song.

  • but the last part of the song is a bit boring lea salonga made a great and effortless version of this check it out

  • i like as i love th elea salonga version.

  • I dont like to compare usually, as every singer brings something different to a song. But wow. This is my favourite version of this ever.

  • @LaSheefra I like her version the best because helen is really like telling you a story, so natural, so genuine... bravo!!

  • so beautiful, my favorite version of this song

  • I wish she would do an english language full track pop album produced by Benny. Very talented singer with a pure strong voice that she uses with such finesse!

  • @1974pieter Last year Helen Sjolhelm and The Benny Anderson Band put out an album - Story of a Heart - with several English language songs. Helen sings three of the songs while Tommy Korberg (another big Swedish star - he was the Swedish Valjean in the 10th anniversary Les Miz concert) also does some of the vocals. Story of a Heart has gotten some airplay on the BBC.

  • I love her voice- it's so clear and pitch perfect. There are also so many wonderful surprises when she floats the notes instead of belting them. It's such a subtle intimate interpretation-- just beautiful.

  • neillken: Well, before you write her off, check her out in the 2002/2003 Chess På Svenska version, called "Inte Jag". As this isn't in her native language, I'm not surprised the emotion isn't as clear as it would be in Swedish. In Swedish, her voice has a poignant quality and you can hear every emotion, loud and clear.

  • Sorry Felicity.., i just loved the first part of this video, her voice did stun me, but sadly i got bored on the last part.... Lea Salonga is from the Philippines, and she's also singing this same song in a language that is foreign to her also, but the i felt the "soul" more in her rendition... =)

  • Well, all right then. But still, I recommend you to check out "Inte Jag", which was done a few years later.

  • i love the accent coming through....lovely :)

  • Svar till Fanny S91

    Fel igen Fanny. Det är Helén som är one of a kind.

  • Hmm, Helen or Lea Salonga?! I can't choose! So beautiful!

  • Simply lovely.

  • so beautiful.

  • Hon sjunger som en gud!

  • he, he snarare som en gudinna :P

  • I love all the interpretations of this song but this one and Sutton's version are my personal favs!

  • I'd like to see you try singing this song in a foreign language. Considering Swedish is this singer's native language, not English, I think she does a good job.

  • Very nice !!!

    Thanks for upload,

    Steven

  • Helen Sjoholm has a huge talent in acting and singing. From the first time I heard her, I was a fan. Thanks to all those who posted her vocals.

  • wow!!!

  • she has a great voice... but i like lea salonga's version better. lea has this sweeter tone in her voice that goes w/ her famous crystal-clear singing.

  • Magical voice, sweet face...sigh...I gots a crush...

  • crystal clear, love this song, love this version of Chess score

  • Helen du är en klass för sig! Vilken röst! Tack för att du finns!!!!

  • Sutton who????

  • Sutton Foster

  • 100% perfect - need I add more?

    Other than to say Thank you for uploading

  • Absolutely magnificent . . . one of the very best I've heard. I love this song!

  • Det er en fantastisk sang, og Helen synger bare så perfekt.

  • Älskar henne! :D min idol lätt!

  • LOVE her voice.... amazing...

  • She has such an amazing voice!!! I love it!!

  • Helen is amazing. I've never appreciated a recording of Chess fully without her vocal stylings.

  • a nearly flawless performance of that song. Vocally, she is the best I have heard, a crystal clear, pure voice and beautiful expression.

  • Lov it. She really sings awsome!!! =)

  • Superb singer!!!!! What I call intelligent singing, well enunciated and every note precise and tunefull.

    Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • She's the best I've seen doing this song.

  • Comment removed

  • perfection!!!! not over sung..just right

  • You should all see sutton foster;s version this is good but hers is even better :)

  • Touching...5/5!

  • She actually sounds like Julie Andrews...

  • God she really does as well.

  • Well I don't think she actually sounds like the incredable Julie Andrews, but still I agree on that she's a really good singer. I think she's sweden's best singer!! =D

    But the lovely Julie Andrews is one of the kind! =D<3

  • agnetha could not do better than Helen!!!

  • devine things are beyond words

  • I had never heard of this lady. I'm hooked. She sings this song as though it were written for her,

    Heaven

  • She is Sweden's best musical singer, maybe the best in whole Europe.

    And she's a pretty good actress. Do you know "As it is in heaven"? She played Gabriella, the mistreated woman.

  • Gosh, you are right! I loved that movie.

    I first heard Gabriella's sang and becaused i loved it so much, i watched the movie. Ms sjøholm is a great actice and singer!

  • She played Florence in the swedish version of Chess :) Search for "Inte jag" to hear this song in swedish :)

  • It awakes emotions...both bad and good ones, though...

  • I like Helen a lot, I really do, but can you imagine what the uncomparable Agnetha would have done with this tune?

    I get goosebumps just thinking of it:-)))

  • I personally think Helen does this song much better than even Agnetha would have done it. :)

  • What a voice crystal clear the best of all she is awesome

  • A lovely version..almost on a par with Lea's

  • I like them both equally.

  • @2Vaffel2 I wouldn't go that far...

  • You people that hate on either Helen or Lea are idiots...

    They both have beautiful voices and did this song justice. Enjoy the music.

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  • Absolutely Heavenly! Ethereal! Just discovered her last night!!

  • this was filmed in the beginning of the 90's... but still :)

  • She is a true s i n g e r

  • I can't even deal with how awesome she sounds on this song

  • Helen är underbar! Så även pianisten Kjell Edstrand!!!

  • She has the feeling but...

  • But?

  • Very good! Lea Salonga's version is just as good and as refined :)

  • no not really. leas singing is bland and not much to hang in a tree (swedish expression) ;D

  • I think I may now love this woman. Sensational! Has she done any solo work in english, does anyone know?

  • I can't stop listening...great singer and great song!!!thanks to benny and björn!!!!

  • Helen brings so much to this song, though I prefer her voice with the Swedish version which has to be my absolute favorite. Kerry Ellis sings this song well but she needs to learn depth and warmth which she is lacking at this point.

  • She's probably the only female next in line to properly represent the songs of the original ABBA female singers. Gotta love the Sweds!

  • fabulous! ahh!! be my wife

  • My comment aimed for "4260laurel"

  • This is definately the greatest version of this song...-absolutely magical! Helen is in my opinion the best singer existing today= true world class material + she is beautiful to look at and has a charming personality to match - A TRUE STAR! Thank you Helen for all the wonderful works you've created. Love ya loads!

  • This is definately the greatest version of this song...-absolutely magical! Helen is in my opinion the best singer existing today= true world class material + she is beautiful to look at and has a charming personality to match - A TRUE STAR! Thank you Helen for all the wonderful works you've created. Love ya loads!

  • Yes she´s really a wonderful singer and woman, I always get a tear in my eye when I hear her sing. Would she sing at my funeral? Of course not, but it´s a wonderful thought anyways...

  • Beautifully acted- but Sutton's voice is far superior in tone and depth.  Enjoyed both though.

  • You can't be serious! You are an incompetent fool, an offense against the world..

    Listen instead to Kerry Ellis - there you have some competition for Helen...

  • Was that serious an insult necessary just because 4260laurel preferred Sutton's version of the song? You haven't got to agree, but you also don't need to say that 4260laurel is an offense against the world because (s)he doesn't agree with you on the subject of who sings a song better. Both Helen and Sutton did wonderfully with the song.

  • The Best ive seen and heard.

    Better than lea and alot better than sutton(I love sutton but thats not her type of song)???

    Helen takes the cake!

  • totally fabulous

  • Helen's rendition is FIERCE! You go girl!

  • abba!! <3

  • amazinggg

  • Påminner mig om att påminnas.

    Det är sjukt hur man kan forma en egen innebörd,

    men ganska fint ändå.

    Jag skulle vilja ge bort vissa låtar.

    Permanent.

    Bara sådär

    -till folk jag älskar.

    Jag har gett bort många låtar i tanken och sådär.

  • BEAUTIFUL voice. This is the best version of this song I have heard.

  • Inarguably so... Brits and Yanks can't sing that Scandinavian vibe. And I mean Helen is Helen... Her timing is exquisite nomatter what she's got herself into.

  • It's videos like this that make me so happy Youtube is around.

  • beautifull!

  • Ooh, her voice is soooo pretty!

  • i want her voice

    if i was a woman that is

  • Absolutely fantastic. Helen Sjöholm is one of the best in the world. It's not just her voice, it's her presence, her feeling and her eyes. I believe many people feel she is easier to understand than other people.

    However, this song fits Helen very good since it is a song about longing, loneliness and difficulties of love. Great, great song.

  • Ir's a amazing and sad song I loved it. As long as I sing this piece, as if talk to myself. Because of the same story happened on me, sadly.

  • I think it is one of the most beautiful songs I know. more romantik then enything else.

    just amazing.

  • Wonder what Benny's thinking... "I will make her play Florence in Chess..."? So he did...

  • and thank you white tiger for being so sensible and mature.

  • holy crap why are you people being so mean? this is getting ridiculous.

  • I also have several British friends and friends across the globe so I ask that you kindly do not speak negatively about the United Kingdom or any country. And happy new year to you too folks!!!!

  • Amen - and God save the Queen!

    :-P

  • cassagne, Please DO NOT Take The Lord God Almighty's Name In Vain And Please DO NOT Take The Lord God Almighty's Son Jesus Christ's Name In Vain. And Please try to be kind to folks, just as you would have them be kind. I ask the same of you too mta1966, please try to remain civil folks.

  • effortlessly amazing.

  • Beautiful voice, giving all she has, as always!

  • i think she sounds great!

  • I've never heard this version before. She beats Judy and Sutton!! This is so beautiful.

  • Yeah, she sings wonderful. I've met her, Helen Sjöholm. Sweet.

  • Wonderful!

  • I dont think thats too slow.you can feel the emotions in her performance really good and her voice is just amazing!!

  • You have got to be kidding me. The low notes don't "waver", I hear nothing wrong with them in the least. Her voice has such amazing *control* over every note and pitch. It's beautiful.

    I don't know why everyone insists on comparing the two women. They both sound amazing, and seeing as they have two different vocal styles, they sound very different. I love both. They're individual interpretations of the same song, and if you prefer the other, watch that.

  • Now, this interpretation is done in no set tempo. I would agree on the first verse being on the slow side, but apart from that I find Helen's version having a most appropriate tempo.

    As with other Chess songs and various versions of them I think Swedish vocalists being more spot on and not just taking the song through the paces.

    I'd like to think this is close to what B, B and T intended the song to be once.

  • hahahaha good one!

  • hey MTA you seriously have no idea at all (in the least) what you are talking about. Please take it from someone who was Valjean's cover in London: she is heads, shoulders and body over Sutton Foster. All Sutton does is belt, there is no beauty in soft notes. Helen has, by far, the best interpretation. Case closed.

  • We're all entitled to our opinion, you have yours and I h