Added: 5 years ago
From: pianodude
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  • I wish she would record this whole concert but especially this song. I love this version with additional lyrics. I've not heard those before

  • goosebumps!

  • Beautiful so pretty!

  • Once you go dark, you never go back (to white)....hey, we're talkin' 'bout chocolate here!

    

  • This is... magical!

  • I was always interested what a woman singing this song would sound like. It serves the song well, and her voice suits it. But I agree; Gene just had much more passion and gave the song a certain charm.

  • @mmwh93 I would love to know the same thing. The additional lyrics really make the song but I can't find them anywhere when googling

  • How can anyone dislike this video?!?!

  • so where on earth can i find the sheet music for this rendition of this fabulous song?

  • I love Audra in everything I've heard her sing, except this. Only one version of this for me. Lou Rawls!

  • Although Audra has a great soprano voice, Gene's phraseology in this song just can't be beat. It seems that usually the first person that records it and makes a hit out of a song, is the one we favor over any others who sing it. :)

  • no question gene's rendition is timeless and unbeatable! however, its cool to here new takes on this immortal masterpiece!

  • I didn't know she sang! She has an amazing voice!!

  • This is beautiful interpretation of a wonderful song. Gene's interpretation is not diminished at all by this version. Audra is a lovely woman with a beautiful voice/instrument and with this orchestra behind her, the music soars and should lift everyone to ... the innocence of childhood!

  • The vibrato made me feel like I was having a seizure.

  • @ZiggyOsiris is that a good thing or a bad thing? lol

  • @sol1991los Haha definitely a bad thing

  • @ZiggyOsiris I know. Josh Groban has that same effect when ou hear him live. lol

  • Beautiful singing and beautiful orchestation of a beautiful song.

  • i want to be audra mcdonald when i grow up

  • @milesandemilyrock you and me both.

  • an opera version of this is not really fitting i mean with the orignal man singing it he didnot put much effort in the vocals so hear it that way is a bit odd

    I blieve the best verison of this song (prior to the original) is Maroon 5 even though people say the guitar ruins it i think it gives it a funky cyclopse feel

  • Her Vibrato Is...Luscious. :)(:

  • Gene Wilder at his best in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory...Outstanding!

  • Since saw the At &T commercial, my kids starts asking what movie was this from, and I just had to find this music. This is great.

  • Pure Broadway....truly lovely... But my inner 8 year old loves Willy.... If they had used this version in the commercial none of us would be here....

  • OH MY GOD!!! I forgot she sang this. I had a good New Year's Eve by myself that night!! Lady can SANG!!! LOLOL!! :)

  • To be honest, BUCKETHEAD'S INSTRUMENTAL VERSION IS THE BEST

  • wow that sounded bad! no one can sing it like Gene Wilder!!

  • Great

  • she wavers her voice too much

  • This is a great version too, but I like the Gene Wilder version. It is funny that a little commerical like AT&T brings back our memories.

  • @indy264 I feel the same way man. To the haters, she still sings the song amazingly. I do personally prefer the Gene Wilder.

    Audra McDonald is phenomenal. Gene Wilder in the movie, he is Willy Wonka.... but when he sings, he has this quality of sounding almost ordinary yet beautiful and uplifting. When he sings it, the song feels so much closer to me.

    Audra's version gussies it up and it loses a little touch with the soul.

  • @indy264 @indy264 I feel the same way man. To the haters, she still sings the song amazingly. I do personally prefer the Gene Wilder.

    Audra McDonald is phenomenal. Gene Wilder in the movie, he is Willy Wonka.... but when he sings, he has this quality of sounding almost ordinary yet beautiful and uplifting. When he sings it, the song feels so much closer to me.

    Audra's version gussies it up and it loses a little touch with the soul.

  • @indy264 exactly! haha! I was just watching the commercial and realized what a beautiful song this was and I had to get the sheet music for it and youtube it! :P

  • @indy264  lol the commercial made me come back to this to

  • @indy264 so true when i seen the commerical it made me think of being alil kid again its was great

  • No one can beat Him, he had the magic and soothing voice. I don't know why people are saying he can't sing. He sings awesome? Man people are losing there touch when it comes to good music.

  • shes has a great voice, and she has a better voice then Gene. but he just has a magic that came from his voice. u cant explain it but that will always be his song. just like billie jean will always be micheal jackson. no one can touch them..

  • @shotym34 agreed

  • @shotym34 Maybe it's because when he sung it he WAS WILLY WONKA..you know what I mean? he wasn't just performing the song he was BEING the guy.

  • I actually really love both videos. Gene Wilder may not have the best classical voice, but I still love his version. It's kind of haunting to me, and I love that. And I absolutely love Audra's voice, she's beautiful, sings beautifully, and I really enjoyed this performance too. Completely different, but both enjoyable. <3

  • --sorry, in the first sentence I said "videos" when I meant "versions"

  • Where have some of the lyrics to this come from? They're very pretty; I've hever heard some of them before. I was trying to find the the complete song she sings here, but I don't see all the lyrics anywhere.

  • i liked the song

  • she is gorgeous

  • OMG she's on Private Practice!

    I'm impressed Audra, good on you :)

  • She sings beautifully....but Gene Wilder kicks her @ss on this....

  • Melts in the mouth!

  • I'd love to have the sheet music with the added lyrics for this.

  • Ho I hate the new willy wonka's chocolate factory . And I can't find the original one anywhere.

  • lol there isn't any "opera" in this. She's just singing classically and trainedly. hahaha. As opposed to the original version. I'm not a fan of the song to be honest, but she sang it really well!

  • I love the original version most. I would love to see Prince play the role of Willy Wonka and perform this song. He has a creepy Willy Wonka bi polar vibe to him.

  • Lol!!! You are very right.

  • @lalahahajkjklol Sorry...I meant to give you a thumbs up!  I completely agree! This is not OPERA!!!

  • @SondheimFanatic1 But its still a great song and she sang it beautifully also what is the definition of Opera because i really don't know, but i wouldn't have considered some of those songs as Opera

  • @Nefret8789 Opera is a form written music and not a voice style. Opera is a form of theatrical art in which music is used to tell a story. It has evolved into things such as musical theater, rock operas, and themed CDs. Correct me if I am wrong anyone...because I am in no way a professional in this topic, but I do know some stuff about it.

  • I went back and watched the original movie version of this song after listening to this a few times and in comparison, Gene Wilder can't sing well... at all. I admit that the operatic version was a bit overwhelming at first, but after hearing it a few times you get used to it and now I prefer it to the original. Although I wish they had started with the first 4 notes in the original version of song.

  • The way Gene sang the song was as a parent would sing to a child, perhaps that's why those who viewed the movie as a child prefer that version

  • @hop208 You can't compare the two like that.

  • Beautiful. I love hers and Gene's version too.

  • too much opera for me

    and i see am not the first to comment that

  • @aplayaz2000

    this isnt opera!

    she is singing it operatically...there is a difference. she sings this beautifully, if you dont like this song sung classically then why are you listening to this recording?

  • she makes the world of imagination seem like the looking glass . . .  thats wrong :/

  • no heart it doesn't do the song any justice. her voice is great but she just doesn't like she is in a world of pure imagination

  • i always thought that his song was super creepy. I don't know why...

  • Maybe it made you think of the tunnel scene.

  • i love her so much

    i hope to be like her someday

  • Not my favourite song. I like it when Gene sings it, but it sounds too Opera, like someone already said.

  • theres to much tremolo in her voice. its like an opera. i hate it.

  • awesome

  • What is she saying between 2:36 and 2:40??? i can't understand it.

  • i believe she is saying "and anytime time you please...please save me one"

  • Thanks.

  • Anytime you please, and please save me one.

  • she said save me one

  • She has a pretty voice, but I don't think she really did the song justice.

  • Her ending "white man" remark wasn't even funny to validate the effort. She ahas a BEAUTIFUL voice! But... If you can't sing this song from the heart (her timing was too regimented), don't bother. It could have been SO MUCH MORE enjoyable if she truely "felt" the words.

  • AMAZING!

  • Comment removed

  • I feel pity for ragusto. A Black kid must have kicked his brown ass growing up.

  • Comment removed

  • wow...responding to racism with sexism is oh so effective!

  • Comment removed

  • It is both sexist and offensive - they do intersect. Calling someone a cunt is sexist because it reduces them to the sum of their parts, mainly a vagina, and equates being a complete dumbass with the most physical manifestation of being female.

  • Comment removed

  • I think you missed the point, which is most evident by your accusal that I aimed "dumbass" at you. I said that if one equates (makes equal) a vagina with being a dumbass, as one does when they call someone a cunt as a form of insult, then it is sexist because it undermines women on the basis of their biology. and stop taking things so personally. I'm not trying to attack you, i'm just explaining my logic.

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  • Neverland!

  • Willy Wonka

  • Evry time her voice gets all high and stuff i like go crazy its "sensational"

  • I like her voice but to much vibrato

  • This is Amazing..Her Voice Tells A Pure Story

  • This is just....wow. She's an amazing singer!

  • I can't stand constant vibrato like that.

  • wut duz tha mean?

    "Vibrato" ?

    like heerrrr voice wen she singz?

  • agreed

  • Nothing like moving melodies responding to eachother... REAL music!

  • She is in the serie cold Private something

  • Stunning!

  • Im bout to kill my slef because of her!!!

  • I knew I recognised her from 'Annie'! :D

    I love this song...and obviously, she does too. Gorgeous.

  • BEAUTIFUL. it just felt so moving. =]

  • its not bad just not my style

  • I just love listening to her beautiful voice! It's so inspiring for me as an aspiring singer!

  • Heart just melted!!

  • Buckethead's version of this song is the best. ~.^ I love playing this on guitar.

  • i love her version of this song:)

  • Amazing! I love this version. She has an incredible interpretation of this song. Great vibrato> perfect :)

  • I'm surprized that there are a lot of people here who don't think this song suits her, or that she uses too much virbrato. I actually disagree, I love listening to her virbrato, she makes it's actually just so beautiful <3

    :3

  • this is amazing! Like her voice or not she is an amazing woman who can argue with 4 tony's?

  • I love seeing her on Private Practice and I think she was with Dick VanDyke on a series many years ago. She is a wonderful actress.

  • Private practice is the best. I love her character. I think she and taye diggs are an awesome pair :)

  • You're refering to Diagnosis: Murder; but that was actually Vicki Rowell though

  • WOW! this version sounds LOVELY! if they ever decide to make "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" into a musical on broadway, i hope they'll do it in a classical way, just like how Audra McDonald did it here! ^_^

  • Heavenly, I love it!!!

  • what does she say at 2:21 ... ?

    "if you want to view .. magic light?"

  • paradise

  • that's what she sung

  • she says magic light I think...hahah

  • I think she did say Magic Light.

  • I think she says, "Magic-land"

  • (I say a proper vibrato from your diaphragm can be controlled "easily" but in reality, it requires a lot of work and practice to master).

  • jfrig - it's HER VOICE that doesn't suit THIS SONG, not the other way round. This is absolutely one of the best songs ever written. She really has an unpleasant (if technically adept) voice, I absolutely hate overuse of vibrate like this, ESPECIALLY on songs where it's TOTALLY inappropriate!

  • vibrato, although can be controlled to some extent, cant be stopped all together. it actually hurts the voice to do that because you are straining so hard on your vocal chords to get them to stop vibrating at the place where they are uncomfortable.

    i dont know why people dont understand that vibrato is not a persons choice, but rather their throats choice of placement.

  • I hate to say it, but that's bullshit. I do sing by the way and I can control my vibrato just fine. It is absolutely something the singer chooses to do, just as any wind instrumentalist would also choose to do it or not, it's from your diaphragm, not your instrument/ vocal chords.

  • alright, but that is your own opinion. im a singer too, i cant control my vibrato and if i do, it hurts my throat afterwards.

    dont be rude, thanks =]

  • Jenna, that sounds like it's probably a bad habit (which you should try and tame sooner rather than later), a good vibrato comes from your diaphragm (and can be easily controlled), a bad (and uncontrolled, thin sounding) vibrato comes from your throat.

    Do you have a professional vocal tutor? If so it would be worth discussing this with them. Sorry if I came across as being rude, I was probably in a bad mood or something ;)

  • yes i do have a professional vocal tutor, so thats probably not it.

    i really would rather not discuss this further, these poor audra lovers have to read this argument.

  • I think it's beautiful. :-)

  • i dont this song suits her voice

  • Very true. I don't like her vibrato much on this performance.

    Not a bad performance, though.

  • Outstanding

  • i dunno what to think

  • She sings so beautiful it's crazy>

  • I love this song

  • i think it'd be better if she didn't do so much vibrato, i think that kinda messed it up, but overall, she did an amazing job

  • I couldn't agree more

  • She has a classical approach so you just can't do with the vibrato. =)

  • I couldn't disagree more.

  • Holy Fuck, that was amazing!

  • It's called vibrato

  • It's not exactly how I imagined it, but I guess its pretty good.

  • I've heard countless renditions of this incredibly beautiful song. Short of Gene Wilder, I think she hit it out of the park.

  • This is absolutely scrumdidlyumptious.  :)

  • well, i thought the interpretation was beautiful. who says it cant be sung like this? just like the song says...its pure imagination.

  • Ill drink to that!

  • true

  • The song Summertime wasn't meant to be so jazzy, but it is. It's just an interpretation. Audra is just classically trained, doesn't mean it's Operatic just because of vibrato

  • Hi, I was wondering if there was any way you could email me the video clip of Audra singing Pure Imagination? I love it, but there isn't a recording anywhere, and I'd like to have it on my ipod. Is there anyway you can help?

  • If you want to burn a copy of this song on a cd or something download realplayer to your computer. Realplayer allows you to save Youtube videos on your computer. Just rightclick with your mouse and select download to realplayer.

  • Wow, her voice just entranced me from the first note to the last. She's amazing. Beyond amazing, even!

  • YAY FLUTE PLAYERS!

    Audra is good too!

    ;)

    I have to say, nothing can compare to when Gene Wilder did it. Classic =]

  • nice :)

  • so nice her voice is like so gentle

  • your point?

  • this is fantastic!!

  • This beautiful song was written by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley. I just found and posted an amazing video of Anthony singing his song "Who Can I Turn To?" in 1965.

  • I love her hair! It's so beautiful she looks gorgeous up there and totally interpreted this song so well!!

  • Wow...I love this song so much and wasn't expecting her to interpret it that way! Classical and aria-like, absolutely gorgeous. Love it.

  • I don't believe her.

  • Is this whole concert on DVD and available for purchase?

  • daymn

  • well said tadwinkle.

  • It makes me laugh that people fight when one person expresses their dislike of a singer. My mother HATES Audra...I adore her. We do not fight. We just think they other has bad hearing! :) Why argue? It's called an opinion. Everyone is entitled to theirs. I think Streisand is AWFUL, but my family loves her. So what? It's what I think. I do love seeing people's arguements, though...I feel like I am back in third grade with them.

  • i think this is great. i've seen so many versions of this song now. on a rock guitar, jazzed up on keyboards, classical guitar, and now this. this is fun.

  • she is just brilliant