Elaine Paige - Memory

[VoR]

The movie musical has essentially become an instant laughing stock, but how do we feel about the obvious standout song?



For me it's the epitome of homosexual melodrama. "TOUCH ME! IT'S SO EASY TO LEAVE ME..."

 

[Beverley]

J Hud's version doesn't come anywhere close to this. It's perfection.

 

[vespertine]

The best version for me. Her power and resonance is unbelievable.

 

[Christian]

AMAZING. I can't even fathom how awful it would have been had it been given to DAME JUDi as was the original plan before she fell off of the stage during the dress rehearsal

 

[VoR]

As great of a singer as Betty Buckley is, I don’t feel like she really nails the DESPERATION in the way E-Paige does.

I guess it’s a different interpretation, though.

 

[vespertine]

As great of a singer as Betty Buckley is, I don’t feel like she really nails the DESPERATION in the way E-Paige does.

I guess it’s a different interpretation, though.

Yeah I think one has the better chops and one is the better actrice. She does the entire phrase in a single breath here - insane.

 

[Penelope]

The best version for me. Her power and resonance is unbelievable.

LOVE IT

 

[Penelope]

Elaine's mewling MEMOWY is a mere 9 but Betty Buckley's is a total 10

 

[Cerro de Casa]

I'm afraid I'm team E-Paige (my heart) on this one. I appreciate Buckley's interpretation, though.

 

[Lucille]

I think the Elaine rendition is superior. Bettys pipes are phenomenal but the Elaine performance is much more complete. The look in her eyes throughout the performance is what nails it for me.

 

[Christian]

I saw the very fabulous Betty in the very obscure Jerry Herman (RIP) show but quite brilliant Dear World.

Queen Elaine wipes the floor with Betty with her version of "Memory" though. It was written specifically for Elaine and it shows. It's musical theatre genius and she utterly kills it vocally.

 

[Nowoco]

I think people are forgetting Kimba's rendition...

 

[Cerro de Casa]

Yes, we are.

 

[lolly]

Even I'm not clicking that

 

[Cerro de Casa]

One version we haven't mentioned yet is Barbra's. According to the Wikipedia entry of 'Memory' it is ALW's 'definitive' version. Hmm.



Whilst Babs' version is, of course, LIKE BUTTAH, it feels a tad too technical for me...

 

[Zu]

Well it quite obviously doesn’t contain an ounce of the torment caused by Tim repeatedly running back to wifey mid-coq au vin - cue yet another ruined evening chez EP, usually ending in gin - which the fabulous if thoroughly vile Brexit pig brings to it in GLORIOUS ABUNDANCE!

 

[Zu]

Much along the lines of my stance on ABBA songs, I do think that no-one else should be legally permitted to sing ‘Memory’ apart from EP. In fact anyone who dares to even attempt it should be machine gunned at a bus stop

 

[Cerro de Casa]

Well it quite obviously doesn’t contain an ounce of the torment caused by Tim repeatedly running back to wifey mid-coq au vin - cue yet another ruined evening chez EP, usually ending in gin - which the fabulous if thoroughly vile Brexit pig brings to it in GLORIOUS ABUNDANCE!

 

[VoR]

 

[Phoenix]