Admittedly not an expert here, but I think one of the best at this is Stephanie J Block (for example "I'm breaking down" from Falsettos....). I also saw a video of her on YouTube (at Miscast perhaps? Unfortunately I don't recall) that blew me away for the very reason that she is one of the best at "acting while singing" out there IMHO.
Mostel starts the song fairly subdued, and sings "if I were a rich man ..." As he becomes more and more caught up in the fantasy of being rich, his performance becomes more bizarre and surreal as he actively imagines all the things he wants but doesn't have. The song ends with him dancing up a storm thinking about all the nice things in life he wants.
The one I watch here is Andrew Rannells. His body language perfectly captures Elder Price's selfishness and self-absorption. Love the way he occasionally tries to turn to Josh Gad but then immediately turn around, as Cunningham is clearly not worth his time.
So many singers have attempted to tackle this song in an attempt to show off their vocal chops, but most fail to convey the emotions behind the lyrics. Jennifer Holliday did both, spectacularly.
This. For me, this is the pinnacle of acting the song. Her attention to the lyrics, the arc she gives it...just everything. I’m so glad I was there to watch this live.
I know her performance in the actual show wasn’t great, but this studio performance by Linda Lavin of “Some People” from GYPSY really stands out to me as masterfully “lived in”:
bwaylvsong said: "@adamgreer, my mind automatically went to Elaine Stritch as well- she wasthe quintessential "actor who sings.""
I think this is a misunderstanding which needs to be addressed. She is acting in spite of song. Which makes the fact that she sings really silly and it harms her acting.
She is not an actor who sings. She is an actor acting in spite of song. Hiding behind failed notes as if it is emotion.
Somany singers have attempted to tackle this song in an attempt to show off their vocal chops, but most fail to conveythe emotionsbehind the lyrics. Jennifer Holliday did both, spectacularly."
I totally agree. She understands the arform. Using the notes and embracing them as emotion evoking weapons. Notes are actually actors too in a way.
Apologizing for natural singing always harms the emotion.
The Andrew Rannels clips is a great example too of acting through singing. The Elaine Stritch and Judi Dench examples are not acting through song but in spite of song. Therefore these performances feel insincere.
This performance is so perfect, nuanced and Murphy is so careful in her choices. The vocal is so connected to the performance to the point where you cannot imagine another way that Fosca could convey her emotions.
Dave28282 said: "Wildcard said: ""I Dreamed A Dream" from the Les Mis movie?"
That is actually "acting in spite of song".
Faking misery to use as a cover up for the incapability to sing.
This is actually a good discussion, because this whole movie is a showcase of actors trying to act in spite of song, looking miserable while doing it.
"Acting the song" means something very different."
SAVAGE. But true. There's some moments that worked, but overall, it was what some brilliant person here (I can't remember who...) said it's yet another issue of Hollywood not embracing that singing is what makes musical theatre what it is...MUSICAL theatre for goodness sake. No one will ever say acting isn't important, but the terms MUSICAL is what separates straight acting pieces from musical pieces, musical ability on some level is necessary. It's in the name of the art form for heaven's sake, EMBRACE IT
@Dave, you make a lot of great points, but you're conflating the terms "actor who sings" and "singing actor." The performers you label as "acting in spite of song" (Stritch, Dench, etc) fall into the "actor who sings" category, as they are predominantly acting and secondarily singing. These performers aren't great singers or musicians, but they know how to "sell" a song, which is what I perceived the original post to be asking for. The term "singing actor" applies to performers who equally value acting and singing (Murphy, Block, Holliday, etc), and these are obviously the ones you prefer. At the end of the day, it all comes down to personal preference and the style of the medium.
ETA: I'm not purporting myself to be an authority on this topic; this is my understanding of it.
The point is that anyone who tells a story through song (so both "actors who sing" and "singing actors" ) should be able to embrace and use the notes to act instead of acting in spite of them. If the person does not master this, the performance feels insincere. Then the performance is merely an obstacle course, avoiding notes, hiding behind masks, writing it off as emotion. But I'm not fooled. Then there is no point in singing. This only works in situations where the person is crying through the song or doing something incredibly funny, because these are the situations where they can (slightly) get away with it.
Also, this applies to any style or medium, the rules stay the same.
What Hugh Jackman does is the worst of both worlds. Exaggerating the exact wrong notes in a Broadway parody style and then switching to speaking the only notes that should be naturally sung. To make doubly sure the performance has no sincerity.
JennH said: "It's in the name of the art form for heaven's sake, EMBRACE IT"
I agree, with natural singing I think a lot more people would be interested in movie musicals.
I've never heard of people running out of the cinema during "A whole new world" in 1992's Aladdin. People can handle truthful singing you know. What people can't handle is these affected mannerisms of spoken words in between lines and affected parody notes in the wrong places.
Dave28282 said: "bwaylvsong, thanks for your reply.
The point is that anyone who tells a story through song (so both"actors who sing" and "singing actors" ) shouldbe able to embrace and use the notes to act instead of acting in spite of them. If the person does not master this, the performance feels insincere. Then the performance is merely an obstacle course, avoiding notes, hiding behind masks, writing it off as emotion. But I'm not fooled.Then there is no point in singing. This only works in situations where the person is crying through the song or doing something incredibly funny, because these are the situations where they can (slightly)get away with it.
Also, this applies to any style or medium, the rules stay the same.
What Hugh Jackman does is the worst of both worlds. Exaggerating the exact wrong notes in a Broadway parody styleand then switching to speaking the only notesthat should be naturally sung. To make doubly sure the performance has no sincerity."
I agree with you about Jackman; his phrasing in Les Miserables is often bizarre despite him being a capable singer.
I do wonder, though, if there are any examples of people who are "actors who sing" (actors first, singers second) who, in your opinion, give successful performances. Because I disagree that Hathaway and (especially) Stritch are guilty of "acting in spite of the song." When I watch Stritch perform, I see a fully realized, lived in, sincere performance. Hathaway, too, seems to understand fully what the song requires and uses the music to elevate her emotion despite the occasional missed note. I don't think you're saying this, but it comes across like you're saying only excellent singers can give a successful performance of a song.
joined:1/13/04
joined:
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Posted: 1/26/18 at 2:55pm