Who sings the best Soliloquy?

[ameliewormwood]

I'm caught somewhere between Joshua Henry and Steven Pasquale.

[EllieRose2]

Nathan Gunn.  His interpretation was more intense and stronger than Joshua or Steven. However, seeing all three men perform this song live I must say, they are all thrilling.  

[Smaxie]

John Raitt is still pretty tough to beat - especially when he goes up to a B flat at the end of this version. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKCUapUEFkY

[dalton]

No one, as great as they are, can touch John Raitt, the original Billy Bigelow. 

[Sondheimite]

John Raitt, John Raitt, John Raitt.

I don't hear any of these new fangled pretty boys hitting that B Flat.  

[GeorgeandDot]

John Raitt. Although, I do enjoy Henry's and Pasquale's performances. Nathan Gunn is wooden and emotionless. I actually quite like Mandy Patinkin's version of Soliloquy, especially the arrangements on one of his many albums.

[EllieRose2]

Slightly off topic but it's such a shame they didn't bring Rob Ashford's Carousel from Chicago and put it on Broadway. He didn't alter the book and score like an idiot, there was an actual carousel, and the two leads had great chemistry. I wonder if it would still be closing. I doubt it.  

[EllieRose2]

Sondheimite said: "John Raitt,John Raitt,John Raitt.

I don't hear any of these new fangled pretty boys hitting that B Flat."

That's because Rodgers did not write a B Flat for the ending of this song.  The men who sing it today stick to the sheet music, which is why I think it sounds much better.  I love the insults about the guys who just happen to not be dead or ancient though.  

[Sondheimite]

EllieRose2 said: "Sondheimite said: "John Raitt,John Raitt,John Raitt.

I don't hear any of these new fangled pretty boys hitting that B Flat."

That's because Rodgers did not write a B Flat for the ending of this song. The men who sing it todaystick to the sheet music, which is why I think it sounds much better. I love the insults about the guyswho just happen to not be dead or ancient though."



 

[GavestonPS]

^^^^ It's only fair. We have thousands of posts here from young people who have never heard of John Raitt.

I have no need to insult anybody and I'd pretty much kill to see/hear that Pasquale kid sing the role.

But in the meantime, for me, John Raitt is definitive (B-flat or no). On the other hand, my mother always preferred Gordon MacRae in the film and when he would sing "Soliloquy" on TV variety shows. So there's two votes for different old-timey dudes.

[adamgreer]

John Raitt.

End of story.

 

(But Joshua Henry was very good. I never saw or heard Pasquale, though I imagine he was quite good. Gunn had all the right notes and plenty of power, but didn’t seem to be acting the song at all. Very park and bark.)

[ameliewormwood]

GavestonPS said: "^^^^ It's only fair. We have thousands of posts here from young people who have never heard of John Raitt.

I have no need to insult anybody and I'd pretty much kill to see/hear that Pasquale kid sing the role.

But in the meantime, for me, John Raitt is definitive (B-flat or no). On the other hand, my mother always preferred Gordon MacRae in the film and when he would sing "Soliloquy" on TV variety shows. So there's two votes for different old-timey dudes."

In the video of Pasquale singing, he gets super into it and you can tell how strenuous of a song it is. Do you guys prefer when you can see that or when it looks more effortless, so to speak?

[green waver]

  Actually, I beg to differ with those who dismiss Nathan Gunn's acting chops. I found his a winning interpretation- the "my little girl" section especially moved me on the Live From Lincoln Center broadcast. Oh, and I dare say that most of the posters on these boards know who John Raitt was(and is),

[Smaxie]

You don't want to spend the Soliloquy wondering if the actor is going to get through it. Raitt seems to not be even breaking a sweat, and as a result he just soars with it. Even having seen that clip a hundred times, I just relax watching it, knowing he's going to deliver. I've seen and heard many other excellent performances of the song, but I always go back to Raitt as the gold standard. 

[10086sunset]

Raitt, there’s no question about it.

I happen to also like Sinatra’s recording.

[adam.peterson44]

I've heard all of the performances mentioned above (and 3 more), and for me, the best by far was James Snyder.  I just wish that it had been recorded.

[Fan123]

No particular opinion on whether John Raitt sings the song best, but somehow I just love what he does in terms of acting at the end of the performance in the below clip, from 'Broadway: The American Musical'. The way his Billy sings that money note and then straight away skulks off in character, 'not noticing' the applause, it gets to me!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhMvOJJy7AY

[ABitOnTheSide]

This thread should have ended with the mention of John Raitt. Nobody has ever come close to what he did with that song, and nobody ever will.

[dramamama611]

In total agreement with George and Dot:

Raitt, then Patinkin.

[rjm516]

I also love Patinkin's version. And I think Pasquale and Henry did great too. Have to go find Nathan Gunn's now!

Side note: judging from that picture shared from Chicago of Pasquale, and my experience seeing Henry in the current production - do the costumers try to make their handsome-in-real-life Billys as unattractive as possible???

[TNick926]

ameliewormwood said: "I'm caught somewhere between Joshua Henry and Steven Pasquale."

My thoughts on this: John Raitt towers above all others; he sings the hell out of it.

Solilquy is an absolute masterpiece - one of the great pinnacles in musical theater history.

I was deeply touched by Michael Hayden's version at Lincoln Center in 1994, and loved Hytner's gorgeous production.

Joshua Henry was wonderful as most recent Billy I've seen (wish I had heard or seen Pasquale).

I too would not mind at all being caught somewhere between Joshua Henry and Steven Pasquale... :)  (Sorry, had to say it!)

[broadwaysfguy]

John Raitt on that 1952 tv performance is stunning and wins over anything ive seen or heard. Loved Joshua Henry's performance as well live this year-he definitely put his own mark on the song and role. Special mention to Hugh Jackman, who  did a wonderful version during his one man broadway show.

 

[TNick926]

Ah yes!  I forgot about Hugh singing it in his one man show - I also thought he was great. It's a Mount Everest to climb for male musical theater performers, not just musically complex but a three-act play's journey of emotional complexity, and it is thrilling when you see someone climb it triumphantly! :)

[JBroadway]

The more important question is: who ACTED the song best. Unfortunately I haven't seen enough (good) Billys to weigh in on that question, but I'd be curious to hear people's thought on that.

I can tell you who acted it worst though: Alfie Boe 

[fashionguru_23]

10086sunset said: "Raitt, there’s no question about it.

I happen to also like Sinatra’s recording."

I agree with every single word.