Added: 3 years ago
From: wickedkerrylover
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  • She's good but idina will ALWAYS be my Elphie even if j block was the first one they shaped the show to idina that's how it worked idina made the show not block plain and simple

  • this was dire

  • my god she is the most godawful man broadway has ever seen

  • i love this version i love shoshana i sung this version for my audition for college and i got in

  • oh no oh no! that was just.....no.

  • Why is this tagged as "Idina" and "kristen"? It has absolutely nothing to do with either of them. And it's spelled kristin.

  • Such a shame. Ruining such an amazing piece of music. Some things are just meant to be sang the way they were written, not riffed to hell like everything Shoshana does. 

  • I don't know what you guys are talking about! I love Shoshana to death, and i think this is one of her best

  • WOW! Ive never been a fan of Sho so i had never really watched many videos but HOLY CRAP! Can you imagine if she done that in a show? I would die right there.

  • for goodness sake people it's just a bad recording I'll admit Shoshana isn't my favorite Elphie but she is AMAZING all the same they all are it's Broadway they cast people who they think can play the part it just so happened that she could

  • i like her, but willemijn is better...;)

  • i really cant listen to this... much too high and somehow... just horrible.

  • @Gr4ndmasterSexy exactly what i was thinking

  • It's not "pitchy", its the crappy audio. -_-

  • Horrible.. my ears...

  • oh god... it's all pichy and noisy... she really did a mess with that song o.O

  • Horrible! Scratchy and squeaky!!!

  • That was terrible

  • umm.......... i don't mean to be mean but that was kinda awful.

  • Check out this version by current Australian Elphaba Jemma Rix: search for yXgZS7LD-30

    God, so much better.

  • @malicea4th0ught I LOVE LOVE LOVE Jemma Rix!!

  • wow...talk about singing like the rent is due....what a voice! x

  • 0:33... falling of my chair laughing

  • Obviously, she's talented, but god, those riffs she did with almost every single damn word were horrible and unnecessary. Couldn't make out some of the words. She's just trying too hard in this.

  • @singtoyourmax I totally agree, its totally over-done

  • Jesus Christ, this is just a mess! 

  • ahhh my gosh! she is so amazing <3

  • shiversssss. AMAZING.

  • in my opinion Sho had big shoes to fill when idina left. the show wouldn't STILL to this day be a big block buster if she hadn't taken over :) she made the role her own with HER own talent as many of the other actresses are today. which is why it constantly sells out.

  • @faggyboy2 noooo she did not have big shoes to fill wen idina left honestly i used to think idina was the best cuz i would listen to the soundtrack, but i saw shoshana live, and omg she was 1000 times better. honestly shoshona has it, idina didnt

  • @NYCroxmysocks- uhm.......she had HUGE shoes to fill. idina is the one that put wicked on the map as a major broadway show, performed 8 shows a week for almost 3 years and almost killed her voice doing it. shoshana? one year of performances and judging from this video she hasn't exactly killed her voice.

  • @bieberboy316 ur right, idina killed her voice becuz she couldnt hit these notes, she ruined her voice. shoshona didnt ruin her voice because thes notes are in your register. i know people who worked with idina, dont tell me wat i know. k thanks

  • @NYCroxmysocks- i will if i want to :)

  • @bieberboy316 have fun with that then

  • @NYCroxmysocks Idina originated the role of Elphaba, if she "couldnt" hit these notes, they wouldnt make her sing this song. The songs were created around the voices of the original cast. And Idina did and can hit the notes, on the soundtrack, and in some videos. But her voice got strained from singing them all the time. Im not telling you what you know, and i dont mean to start an argument, but Im standing for Idina.

  • @georgiaherdman2009 Obviously, you don't know what you're talking about. Stephanie J Block was the original Elphaba in the workshops. The songs were created around her. Idina took over the role to open the show because she was more well known in the theatre community. Have you seen the live videos of Idina singing Defying Gravity? She's ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS straining for the notes, and most of the time, she's ridiculously flat. I love Idina Menzel, but not in Wicked.

  • @theshowtunesguy.

    If Idina couldnt hit the notes of Defying Gravity she wouldnt be in the OBC..

    Shes done so many shows im sure she would hit them sometimes, but she strained her voice with night after night of performing. She is Amazing in wicked, her acting is outstanding. I have seen videos of her, and yes they are straining, but the notes arent in her vocal range and dont come as naturally as some other elphabas. But she DOES sing amazingly, its just not consistant in that part of the song

  • @georgiaherdman2009 considering her songs were written to suit her voice, you'd have to say she could sing them once upon a time. She just belted her face off and ruined her voice.

  • @georgiaherdman2009 now if you knew anything youd know that the orignal cast was going to be stephanie j block and it was "originated" as you say around her voice. in idinas first audition she cracked terribly and even cursed trying to hit these notes. look at all the videos she cant hit the notes

  • @bieberboy316 Professional singers don't kill their voices. No matter how long they sing any show. That's not something a singer would brag about. And Shoshana actually performed in Wicked for well over a year. Not only did she perform on Broadway but she performed in the Chicago production as well as 2 national tours. I love Idina but she never performed the show like she did in the recording studio.

  • @steverox87- well obviously idina put everything she had into the performances, shoshana kept it at a limit. 1 year on stage and then the tours, thts nowhere close to what idina did. i have nothing against her though i owe a big part of the way i sing defying gravity to shoshana

  • Go ahead ... Pick a note ... Any note ...

  • Agreed on the comparisons to Idina... the show wasn't even written for her... it was written with Stephanie J. Block in mind... when she got The Pirate Queen, Idina was the second choice...

  • SHE SOUNDS BLACK

  • i agreee with you guys.

    She IS NOT Indina, she IS Shoshana.

    Indina did leave a big legacy, but her time to shine is over, and its Shoshana's turn.

    Everyone has their own style.

  • @disneychannel290 well said totally agree (Y)

  • I hate people comparing every other wicked actress to Idina!

  • WOMAN IS INSANE.....got to love her!

  • I am obsessed with Shoshana Bean, but this is a disaster. I don't know what's going on here. All of her riffs are sloppy and out of tune. i'm flying highhhh that one is a wreck and a half. Maybe she was like sick or something. =/

  • @unsightlyindulgence One. All of her riffs are right where they need to be. Sit in front of a piano. They all fit. Two. The Flying High is good. Out of the usual but still good. She wasn't sick. Just changing the song to better fit her style. Three. If you're as "obsessed" as you say you are.(Bad and creepy word choice btw. ) Then why would you bash her. Maybe you're just and idiot or something. =/

  • i think she is amazing but i don't tink this is her best. And i know this is a concert so don't yell at me lol

  • i think the reason that shes better in this (this being a performance as opposed to in the show), is because here shes just doing the song, all she has to think about is the song. when shes doing the actual show, shes 20 feet in the air and she also has to act it, and no just focus on the singing.

    but shes still fierce.

  • Nahhhh. Sho Is The Best Elphie. There Hasnt Been Nor Will There Ever Be Another Elphaba That Even Comes Close To Her. Idina Is A Recorded Singer. She Cant Sing Live Worth Shit. Shoshana Can/BEASTS On Both. Sooooo..... Case Closed

  • @abcxyzcrap LOLOLOLOLOL! You're fucking hilarious. Good joke, sweetie!

  • @abcxyzcrap Idina CAN'T sing live?!?! Yeahh, right! Quoting Glinda: "Don't make me laugh!"

  • Idina is WAYYYYYYY BETTER!!!!!!!!!! I <3 Idina.... this? This Is Friggin HORRIBLE!!!! she sounds like she's dieing... Idina is way better then this chick will ever be. I <3 Idina. Idina4eva! <33333333333333333

  • @ForbiddenRose22 Idina never ever did a riff as amazing as Shoshana.

  • 1. Shoshana Is THE Best Elphaba. Eden? Hell No. Idina? Only On The Original Soundtrack Can That Bitch Sing This Song.

    2. Shoshana Can Riff/Run The Shit Outta Anything. There Was A Lot In This One, But It Wasnt A Real Performance. There's No Band, Just A Piano. So OBVIOUSLY She Was In A Club Just Having Fun With This Song.

    3. Shoshana = BEASTLY.

  • @abcxyzcrap I like Shoshana, but I think Idina's way better. WTF, don't call her bitch!

  • @abcxyzcrap hahahaha your hilarious.

  • Fucking amazing is all I can say.

  • I think I prefer her to Idina, as much as Idina is fantastic, the higher notes sound a bit easier for Shoshana.

  • You gotta have big chops to sing this, man. And Shoshana fits the bill. I agree though, too many riffs. Also, Idina will always be my Elphaba!

  • I used to think Idina was the best but this girl can sing.

  • Ok to everyone that keeps argumenting on strains and stuff, she's trying her best!!!!!! Omigod!!!!!! This isn't a real prefomance at Wicked ok!!!! She is original!! Idina made it her own, other Elphies made it their own!!!!! I love this version and every version she does!!! It is her own rendition of this song!! I love it just the same!

  • Shoshana is def the most original Elphaba that has come to the role. But it is hard to say who the best is seeing as how everyone has a different taste. As for Idina ruining the song, that would def be a negative. Idina is amazing and Should be shown respect. It is difficult to get up on stage and sing this song 8 times a week.

  • Every singer has an off night. On a whole Shoshana was, by far, the best Elphaba. And really SufficientxGrace? Idina was the best ? Have you seen the videos of her destroying this song? Cause there are ALOT of them. Just sayin.

  • Idina is still better. Just sayin.

  • i love riffs but not too many................this definitely had too many! Elphaba is not Beyonce!!!! So please dont sing like her

  • meeeeee-eeeeeek down.....release was VERY sharp there and i agree with clubpenguin...its WAY to busy/ornamented and takes away from feeling the music is suppoed to reflect here.

  • shes trying to hard

  • not the best

  • I love Shoshana but this is over riffed!

  • her end riff i like the best. its unique.

  • this isn't that good. i love riffing. i do.

    this is way to far off from the original.

  • i totally agree, even though shoshana is my favorite, this is just overkill. Her best stuff is her post broadway tour stuff.

  • She wasn't straining, the sound quality is just terrible. She has impeccable technique, ever heard of speech level singing?

  • Her technique is certainly not impeccable. She said herself she had to be retrained in classical singing.

  • This is the farthest thing from classical singing my dear. If you want to hear classical singing, listen to Oklahoma, West side story or Guys and Dolls. This is comtemporary/pop singing, i.e. mix voice and belting. There's no way you can sing those high notes with poor technique, i.e. pushing or straining, like Idina eventually gave way to. The other clips of Shoshana doing Defying Gravity are better examples of great vocal habits and easily produced sound.

  • love shoshana, but this was bad lol.

  • why so many unnecessary riffs? my throat feels sore now...

  • @snowballmouse

    Omigosh. I was just thinking the exact thing. I respect Shoshana, but I don't agree with the need for the unnecessary riffs.. to me, it's a distraction to the lyrics of the song (and too much of it doesn't make it sound pretty :-/ )

  • I love the Me at the Start , and the second bring Me down <33

  • I really do not like this version. She has an amazing vocie, but you don't need to kill it, concert or not. It sounded like she was straining the whole time and trying wayyy to hard.

  • Wow I love how everyone is getting into such a big conflict over this video. Guys this was at a CONCERT! She can sing it how she wants. For god sakes. She wouldn't do this in the actual production. I think it sounds good. She's showing her vocal ability and it sounds good. Haters back off! Shoshana is amazing! <3

  • agreed.

  • not really

  • @FuckingFierheller Yeah I mean Kerry Ellis made a bloody ROCK version of this song for christ's sake! Which is amazing!!

    Kerry wouldn't sing like a rock singer in the actual production because it's not a rock musical! So I wish people would knock it off and appreciate other people!

  • @FuckingFierheller No truer words have ever been spoken

  • @caylawithac2010 I Do Admit...Sho Can Overdo It At Times. That's Because She Believes In Taking Risks. Plus, This Was A Version She Did On Rosie O'Donnel's Cruise Ship So It Is Very Different Then Her Actual Defying Gravity And You're Were Also Right About The Extra Riffs That Were Not Needed But...That's Sho!!

  • @TheJoker07 I May Be A Hypocrit But Standing Up For What You Believe Involves Being A Hypocrit And I Do Apologize For Calling You An Ass But Hey, Sho's My Girl :D

  • Comment removed

  • i dont understand why everyone likes this woman so much. my own vocal chords feel pain when i listen to her!! this song is beautiful without all the extra riffs, i do not like this version. at least idina doesnt overdo the song. i saw her live, it was absolutely amazing and not forced. No voice cracks there. and voice cracks are a sign of STRAINING!! WHICH IS BAD FOR THE VOICE!!

  • to be honest, i admire all of them. it's like my life goal to be able to sing Defying Gravity without shredding my vocal cords on 'so if you care to find me', so i think they're all amazing.

    while we're on the subject of favorites though, mine's Eden Espinosa. But of course, not everyone is going to agree, but that doesn't matter. can't we all just say that they're all amazing?

  • I've noticedl, everyone she sings DG in a concert in a concert she always cracks on that 'Im flying High' riff!

    But I do love her!!!!! She's amazing!

  • Oh my. That was really not good. Her voice cracks all over the place, she overdoes the riffs by like 10,000 percent, and tries to sing completely outside of her range. It's clear she has talent, but, dear, tone it down just a smidge...

  • I think Eden is the best consistently acting and singing. The key word is consistently.

  • Shoshana Bean is ok. but shell never be better than Idina Menzel. Idina is the best. only because shoshana tries to hard. and she thinks shes better than all the other ones. shes a bit to confident for elphaba. and when i see idina. im in awe. when i see shoshana. i think.. show off. sorry just not a fan.

  • this video has nothing to do with idina.  go bash her somewhere else moron.

  • I was responding to someone else's comment about how Shoshana will never live up to Idina...when you dont know what your talking about, dont comment.

  • yeah really. when u dont know the convo but out. idina isnt super awesome.. just the best elphaba so far. ive heard a few diff elphies and so far. shoshana is second best to idina.

  • I understand that! I love Sho too, but my two favs are 1) Kerry Ellis and 2) Saycon Sengbloh. Kerry has the most beautiful voice ever! So gifted and unique, she makes the part her own, you know its her just by listening. Saycon is African American so she brings a kindof gospel to the role which i LOVE...those two are my favs, also love Sho, Eden, SJB...i respect everyone who plays the part tho, its not easy thats for sure!

  • youu are now my best friend for saying that

    everyne i know bums off idina

    and thats only because they've only ever heard her on the soundtrack

    live she was .... well..... sickening

    they only picked her coz she was well known..... :/

  • well thank you smithi123 =] Everyone says she likes her but she strains he vocal chords so bad! She is constantly off pitch too. i like hetr acting as elphie but her chops were not up to par.

  • @TheJokerz07...First Of All, How Do You Know What She Thinks About The Other Elphabas??? You Should Take Time To Read Over Your Ignorant Comments Before You Post Them!! Now, I Love Idina But Idina Wishes She Could Belt Like Sho'...You Wish You Could Belt Sho' So If Shoshana Is A Show Off... Then You're An Ass!!

  • well. i guess i am an ass. lol. but im not gonna get into a youtube fued with you. i have my opinion and u have yours. if im an ass becaue of my opinion, then you sir are a hypocrit. thanks for making a fool of yourself in front of everyone who reads these comments. come again. have a nice day:D

  • i agree its like all she wants to do is riff this whole song, where as idina puts so much emotion into it and i think she sounds 10 times better

  • I don't think her riffs --at least to this degree-- really fit elphie's character...  it throws it off for me. it's soulful, almost gospely, and that's not really the tone of Wicked,

    I mean, yeah, talented lady, obviously, but I just don't think the riffs fit. And least not in such concentration. She seems to be doing as many as possible in ONE song. Too much of a good thing, etc.

  • This was not her singing in the show....believe me she doesn't riff like that on stage...but personally I love her riffs...

  • I dont understand why people hate this so much! its amazing!

  • just AMAZING i love her riffs so much!!!

  • Great voice, but I tend to agree with others who have posted. Oversung, too many riffs, and the song would have been better served with a true soprano. However, she is a truly up and coming singer!

  • Idina will forever be my Elphaba.

  • she has a good voice. and some of her riffs are good. but i think all of them in one song is over doing it.

  • I DONT LIKE IT AT ALL!!! too many rifffss! god, it totally destroys the song, besides, too deep voice for an elphaba!

  • Her voice isn't deep...Idina's voice is deeper than Shoshana's...

  • she has incrdible voice, no doubt, but all the riffs totalllllyyy overdid it =/

  • love her, love her riffs, just not all of them at once. cuz with too many riffs it's not Defying Gravity anymore.

  • The song shouldn't be riffed so much. It doesn;t fit.

    Bad. Really Bad.

  • Her voice is absolutely awful!!! She takes a song that requires power, straight singing, not a Mariah Carey pop album. Can't stand it. She ruins the song completely. Her voice is to strained. It sounds forced and not pretty at all. All her extra vocal do dads might work in a gospel choir but not Wicked and especially not as Elphaba.

  • This is too much, lost all its integrity, amazing voice though, can't deny that!

  • lovely

  • well i think it was good:)

  • Okay, don't get me wrong. I LOVE her. But her voice came out a little whiney, and the song is spectacular by itself. Her usual couple riffs are plenty. It's fun to have fun with the song, though, and this wasn't on stage by the sound of it, so I think it's fine. and at 0:25 she went flat. She's a fantastic singer, but this definitely isn't her best.

  • If you'll listen, you'll hear that she did it on purpose. Sung with the written note, it would be a clash, and probably a beautiful one. She chose to take a lower note for the personal effect.

  • 0:34??? what was that????

    That was toooooooooooo much

  • that moment is classified as "pure awesomeness"

    look it up, its a term in the Shoshana Bean singing classifications.

  • too over the top, the song is amazing by itself and it is obvious she is a great singer, but she seems to be milking every moment of this song.

  • so, what, it's Elphaba's big moment, why not milk every moment?

  • Excellent point, thegaythespian.

  • she added alittle too much spunk to it....no one can top idina

  • i think that is too much. idina is simply the best..

  • i think that was kind of annoying to be honest....shes trying wwaaayy too hard. shes got the skills, she doesnt need to force them in our faces.

  • i wish they would get a good black owman to play Elphie... no one can riff like a black woman can! but Sho comes extremly close!

  • saycon sengbloh

  • they have, aha. saycon, brandi, alexia..

  • There've been 4 black women to play Elphie to date: Saycon Sengbloh, Brandi Chavonne Massey, Dan'yelle Williamson, and Alexia Khadime.

  • amen sister!!!!

  • if you were sayin amen! to me... um... im a guy haha!

  • Oh Holy Shiz, Shoshana. :O x

  • i'd like to see any other elphie have that soul.

  • Eden espinosa

  • Saycon Sengbloh

  • Was this on Rosie O'Donnel's family cruise where Rosie says she wants to do Shoshana Bean? Haha

  • ahahah, yesh :D

  • i normally like her riffs but this was just a tad over the top aha x

  • totally agree, that was way too much

  • Shes amazing. I do wish she'd drop that 'Im Flying HiIiIgH' riff though. Shes being doing it at a lot of benefits recently and it never seems right. Shes still one of the best Elphies though

  • tht rubbish

  • shoshana was almost as good as idina and then i heard this. it makes me sad, its still good, but not idina good!!

  • no one can top idina :)

  • hehe I know, Idina is the best there ever was!!! but Shoshana is definitely close!!!!

  • Idina rox my sox if you listen carefully this person does not even get close to the right notes

  • she's not trying to get Dee's notes, she's making it her own. and she does a damn good job of it. Sho's awesome. =)

    ~Thea

  • she sounds really strained when she sings this

  • It's good but there are too many extra trills, it kinda sounds weird.

  • Yeah. I understand riffing and everything, but adding extra notes to every single word is just bad.

  • Idina Menzel is and always will be the best ever wicked witch of the west and she sings it soooooooo good much better then this one. She does a good impression kareoke version but not close to Idina!

  • you're right!

  • i think both everyone has a different opinion and that is your own opinion...

    so i dont think you should judge and say who you think is better when everyone doesnt agree.

  • I am saying that yes for me I think Idina does much better. Many agree and some may not. If you can hear then you should be able to desern on who sounds better. The one that hits the notes correctly and does not sound pitchy. The one that has voice for this song. This girl does good but, does not do as well Idina. I am going to give my opinion because thats what I feel and know to be true to me. I am a singer myself and have a trained ear and can tell when a voice is struggling.

  • I even went and listened to two other videos of her doing this song and yes she is good but not any where near Idina. The ending is where you can realy tell. She has a great voice but not suited for this song. Its a hard song to sing.

  • All the riffs aren't in character of the piece. But hey, this is not for a live show of Wicked, it's ROSIE!!! All these riffs are fun to listen to, hey at least she can do this AWSOMNESS!!  I don't see Idina belting and riffing her ass of like this!

  • omg this is frickin awful!