What's with Ann Reinking's Voice?
GO8GO
the OCA of "Chicago" and was really shocked. Maybe after hearing Ruthie's
magnificent recorded version, my expectations were high, but nothing could have
prepared me for Reinking's performance. It is totally unlistenable. She can't
hit a single note correctly and her attempts at melody suggest she is tone
deaf. But what's so alarming is the way she quavers, almost as if she has
Parkinson's. It's like listening to Hepburn. As bad as her notorious Oscar
performance was, I think this is the saddest chapter in her career. Is she
sick, or is that just the voice she's developed?
Beb11572
>Parkinson's. It's like listening to Hepburn. As bad as her notorious Oscar
>performance was, I think this is the saddest chapter in her career. Is she
>sick, or is that just the voice she's developed?
Agreed totally -- and what's so bizarre is, that's exactly the way Gwen
Verdon's voice sounds now. (The same questions you asked of Reinking I've
wondered about Verdon for several years.)
EdwardRCox
Both women seem to have the same vocal qualities, from youth to now.Listen to
Gwen on Damn Yankees and Ann on Goodtime Charlie...
Maybe it's their close relationships with Fosse
that's the culprit? ; )
Anyone hear Julie Hagerty's voice lately?
D-Dude
Chicago recording. It brings a brassiness and vulnerability to the character
that adds so much to the show. Also, I think it's an affectation for the
role. Although her voice is most likely rather quavery and raspy, I believe
she upped it to play Roxie. Cast in point, Ute Lemper, who played Velma in
London, on her recording of All That Jazz, puts on that same voice for the
"No, I'm no one's wife" at the end, when minutes ago, she was belting with
flair! and we all know Lemper is an amazing singer. So, I don't really think
there's anything wrong with Ann's voice, just age, cigarettes, and her
natural character.
GO8GO
there's anything wrong with Ann's voice, just age, cigarettes, and her
natural character.>>
There's also the point of the way she excessively gasps for air after every
line. Listen to her (try to) sing, and you'll notice that she wheezes through
her mouth. That might be standard dance breathing technique, but it is the
most annoying thing imaginable on a recording.
Jessica M. Thompson
way she did it.. yes, provided its a raspy almost harsh Roxie that she
makes, and yes, she doesnt sing from her diaphragm, etc, but I almost feel
that Roxie is one of those breathy vamps that is as desperate as Norma
Desmonde and breathy as Marilyn (in her later days), but yet kinda of
rough and growly too.. I dont know.. I just like how she does it.
Jes
On 16 Sep 2000, GO8GO wrote:
> We all know Ann Reinking can't and never could sing. But I just listened to
> the OCA of "Chicago" and was really shocked. Maybe after hearing Ruthie's
> magnificent recorded version, my expectations were high, but nothing could have
> prepared me for Reinking's performance. It is totally unlistenable. She can't
> hit a single note correctly and her attempts at melody suggest she is tone
> deaf. But what's so alarming is the way she quavers, almost as if she has
Steve & Rhonda
said about her: that new dancer that sounds like Gwen Verdon. Plus,
after all those years as an understudy and then replacement in the
original CHICAGO, I got the impression that like the production itself,
her performance in the revival was an intentional homage. Although, I
confess that at times the Revival recording has me thinking of a
FORBIDDEN BROADWAY performer doing Reinking doing Verdon.
Jeffrey Richard Lax
> We all know Ann Reinking can't and never could sing. But I just listened to
>
> Parkinson's. It's like listening to Hepburn. As bad as her notorious Oscar
> performance was, I think this is the saddest chapter in her career. Is she
Oscar performance? Can you explain?
Personally, I don't mind Reinking's voice as it's a character voice. I wouldn't
want to hear her in Les Mis for example. What -really- bothers me about the
revival cast recording is James Naughton slipping out of the dummy voice on the
wrong lines in Both Reached for the Gun.
-J
GO8GO
> performance was, I think this is the saddest chapter in her career. Is she
Oscar performance? Can you explain?>>
Several years ago, Ann performed the nominated song "Against All Odds" at the
Oscars. You can imagine how it sounded. If you can't, it was even worse than
you could imagine. The performance was a huge embarrassment and really
encouraged the trend of having the original artists perform their numbers
during the show. During his concerts, Phil Collins would intro the song by
saying "And Ann Reinking will not be here to perform tonight", which always got
a big hand.