Once again Ms. Paige proves she not only has a magnificent voice but is an especially fine actress. She is Norma Desmond, Every gesture and expression. Elaine Paige is not only the first lady of the muscial stage....She is indeed the first lady of the stage as a whole. Wonderful acting, wonderful voice. I'm a huge fan. Go into youtube primarily to see and listen to the marvelous singer/actress
Elaine is a magnificent talent...a triple threat: acting, dancing, singing...especially the latter. What a voice!!! No wonder she's known as First Lady of Musical Theatre.
Was lucky enough to see Glenn Close perform Norma in NYC and then I flew to London and saw Ms Paige perform Norma 5 times. Elaine blew the roof off the Adelphi Theatre every time! Met her after each performance at the Stage Door. Such a fantastic performer!
This is Elaine's best performance of his song! Absolutely flawless! I love that it is down a half step from the close/buckley key. Darker colors in the orchestra and wonderful in her voice. Sing it!
Elaine has always put her heart into everything she takes on- this has always been one of my favourites, sending goose bumps up my spine when her voice soars. One almost feels you are flying - bravo Elaine
True, as someone said, Gloria Swanson's acting as Norma Desmond (in the film and the original) was great, but, for me, Elaine Paige not only nailed this part with her acting, but the lady can sing, too!...putting it way too mildly...Magnificent, Elaine!!! YOU ARE LOVED!
Love Elaine's voice here. She sounds phenomenal. I love when the singers are given stage mics, instead of regular miss, it limits them from their freedom to act onstage.
@victor63 How wonderful to have seen EP in Sunset! and to have seen her last performance was the icing on the cake. I am very envious! I love her..she is absolutely the best. I think with this role and the Piaf role, she really came into a supreme performer.
aaaaaa, ok. I misunderstood then. Sorry. Yes Elaine is lovely. About Glenn, she might not have the perfect voice but she has such magnetism that blows one away. All the best and thanks for clarifying. Hugs
NORMA With one look I can break your heart With one look I play every part I can make your sad heart sing With one look you'll know all you need to know With one smile I'm the girl next door Or the love that you've hungered for When I speak it's with my soul I can play any role No words can tell the stories my eyes tell Watch me when I frown, you can't write that down You know I'm right, it's there in black and white When I look your way, you'll hear what I say Yes, with one look I put words to shame Just one look sets the screen aflame Silent music starts to play One tear in my eye makes the whole world cry With one look they'll forgive the past They'll rejoice I've returned at last To my people in the dark Still out there in the dark... Silent music starts to play With one look you'll know all you need to know With one look I'll ignite a blaze I'll return to my glory days They'll say, "Norma's back at last!" This time I am staying, I'm staying for good I'll be back to where I was born to be With one look I'll be me!
Definitely a Norma Desmond for Singers. She’s a wonderful singer, acting as Norma Desmond, a singer who happens to be acting. I prefer Glenn Close’s approach - an actress who happens to be singing.
Elaine Paige is a true performer. She plays each part with easy, making you believe every word she sings. A wonderful actress, singer and a legend in the world of musicals. Please do not put Susan Boyle and Barbra Streisand in the same sentence. Barbra is an absolutely awesome singer, songwriter, producer, director and actress. Boyle is okay, but amateur is comparison to Streisand or Paige.
In this instance I was replying to a comment (I think...) about Glenn Close and my response, which is still shown, is about Glenn and not Elaine. I am a huge Elaine Paige fan and would never be dismissive about her voice, which is one of the best in musical theatre in my opinion.
I like her 40 Years on Stage Celebration, rendition of this song. She looks best with her hair short and punky, and her singing is absolutely stunning! This is similar, but the other is best. She actually looks older in this clip. The 40 year celebration, she looks much younger, and more sexy, probably because of her short spiky hair style. That is the best performance ever!
I've had voice teachers tell me NOT to sing a full-on sustained "EEE" because it's not pleasant to hear. It has nothing to do with lack of vocal development. It's very common for Broadway performers to make vowel modifications.
Was she busy with Piaf? She spent more time off the show than she did in... Although I saw Caroline O'Connor as Piaf as a result which wasn't so bad :)
@earlady66 So does Glenn Close, and very convincingly as an actress. I’d trade SOME singing ability in exchange for a character portrayal so total and so captivating that when I watch Glenn Close I think, “she’s completely lost her mind…”, which is what happened when I watched her live - twice. When I watched Betty Buckley, Elaine Paige and Petula Clark, also in live performance, I thought, “what beautiful singing voices…” None of the latter ladies convinced me they became Norma Desmond.
@loggats There’s nothing wrong with us people, except maybe having a different opinion from yours. Glenn Close may fail as a singer but she succeeds as an actress. Musical Theatre succeeds when an a performer, through her singing, no matter how imperfect, can make us believe in the character she’s playing. That’s acting. Even singers would agree that in Musical Theatre, acting skills have to be very strong, if a performer is to succeed in getting the audience to believe in her character.
You've got to be kidding. She looks like a wax figure now from madame tussaud's. She looks way better here and don't insult women by saying that with bad plastic surgery they look better and younger.
@loggats It's MUSICAL THEATER, darling child. That means you need more than a singing voice. Glenn Close is an actress of prodigious talent and a dramatic singer with the ability to interpret music second to no one. How any of that registers as 'fail' seems to require the critical sensibilities of a prepubescent child. Post back when you grow up, dear.
She was the best Norma. She could act it and she could really sing it. Slightly dangerous, and the closest to Gloria Swanson. It's still a very average song though. It goes exactly where you think it will go.
You really need to get your ears syringed if you think that the barely gifted amatuer that is Susan Boyle, who has the all musicality, lyricism and timing of a peanut, could make a decent fist of this song. I'll make comparisons between her and Elaine Paige when she's been knocking out 8 shows a week for the past 40 years. As for putting Boyle and Streisand in the same sentence................. words fail me.
@ALFAVILLIA OK OK BITCH You WIN!! GLEN IS NORMA.....So shes a better actress?..so what..I dont go to WEBBER shows or buy the CDs for the acting if I want acting I'll pop in my SOPHIES CHOICE DVD & when I reach for SIR Andrew I want infectious melodies & BIG voices singing them
