Well-done sir. Have only heard females sing this previously, and marvelously I might add. Mr. Ball gives a great performance, and I thank him for that.
Barry... Yes I always associate this song with Barbara Cook ... But, In this case you should hear Tim Curry's rendition...So powerful you'll never think of this song as a Female Part ever again. This is v good though.
I think that Michael is wonderful in this song, as usual.Actually he is wonderful in every song. I´m loosing my mind trying to find a way to carry him home with me. Just his smile worth his weight in gold.Wonderful singer, great performer.Beautiful smile.
I've listened to all the versions of this song, and he makes me cry the most..... I mean my God, how does a song and a voice do this to a person. Hearing this for the first time reminds me of the first time I heard Elaine Stritch sing "Ladies that Lunch" or Ethel Merman sing "Some People".
I think he does a great job of this. He's a master of conveying emotion. If you see this on a bigger screen, there's a tear in his left eye at the end that he has to blink away twice...what a doll! Oh, and love those dimples!!! :)
I think you can tear any performances to pieces, and though I've heard Micheal ball cheese this up in other recordings, I think this is an Honest performance for this song. It moved me the first time I watched it. and thats what matters. and if it didnt move you, well then dont watch it.
This song tells evey aspect of what I feel for the guy that I madly fell in love\ over 35 years ago .Circumstances has led us to different directions.... but the feelings will always be there between us.... and no one, nor nothing will change that. He is the love of my life and my forever lover.
I love Hey Mr Producer, and when I watched the video it was the first time I had heard the song, not being very familar with Sondheim earlier. I was completely blown away by Michael Ball's rendition and immediately went to look for other versions of the song. I like his best.
@superduffman22 This song is all about "wanting"; desire, passion, and, ultimately, obsession. It's an infatuation that isn't returned. It goes beyond love. It's not about being intimate or sentimental (which is what love implies...this is pain and anguish. That's why the only time the word is used is when referencing "you *said* you loved me". The end of the song carries realization that there is no real love here...just unrequited desire. It's called "Losing My Mind" for a reason.
I think its really to tear any performance to pieces, I can see where it can be a bit showy, but he ultimaletly delivers the emotion of the song, which is the most important part. I personally think he does a great job here, espicially comparing it to other version of this song done by him. Hes honest and sings quite well in this performance.
This song is SO much more powerful with a male vocal. Perhaps it is that we don't usually associate obsession with the male half of unrequited love (strange since it is probably most common). Great showtune made better with Mr Ball's stellar vocals.
I love Mr. Ball, and have actively followed his career for 20 yrs. His voice is superb, and he always carries himself well onstage. However, with all due respect to him, he tried to SING Sondheim here, and it's a credit to his talent that it wasn't a bad performance. I've seen this show several times, and every other version was superior to this one, even on the regional theatre level. The notes are written to follow the range and emotion of the speaking voice, and contribute to the moment.
Worked my whole life to be a great ballet dancer, now I'm going to an audition for a Broadway show because christopher wheeldon is choreographing the dancing, my sister says that this would be good for my resume... I think I might learn my 16 bars from this song but omgsh, I may be able to sing in front of my computer quite alone, but, this is going to be scary.. Heights Fights and center stage at the met wouldn't scare me, but singing >.> how much more intimate can you get..
Strange you should say that. I recall that Michael Ball said that Stephen Sondheim had heard his recorded version of the song, but thought he should be sing it differently. So Mr. Sondheim worked with Michael, giving him a kind of "master class" during the rehearsals so he perform it the way Sondheim thought it should be performed. So I guess you disagree with Mr. Sondheim's interpretation of his own song.
i think micheal ball sings the most beautiful musical sounding version of this song. but listen to the tim curry version, he sings the song like he is feeling every tiny particle of the emotion in the song. I love both versions and it depends on how i am feeling which one i listen to
Hear julie athertons version of this song on her new album - NO SPACE FOR AIR - available on 06.06.10 Only a few spaces left for her launch concert at the Delfont Room, Prince of Wales Theatre - 7pm - 6th June 2010.
Mahvelous14: Umm, why does America have to discover this wonderful talent? What does it matter? Let the people who enjoy him, enjoy him, whether they be British or Australia. Nobody needs America to discover anything.
Anthony Warlow's version will always be my favourite, but Michael's comes pretty darn close. I adore how he always puts his all into everything he performs.
alex, I don't think it was an intentional change of lyric. As this is (in effect) a live performance,Ithink Michael made an error and changed the lyrics in his head? I have heard great Sondheim singers(live) who have done this,after all we are all human.
@MrSwifts31 I wondered that, too. It really, really changed the entire number for me, though. "Want" is so much more effective. Other than that, I found his performance self-indulgent & surface-level. All of the gestures and presentational expressions took me out of the song. This is, possibly, my favorite Sondheim number. Its genius is that you can literally stand in one spot & not move at all & deliver this gut-wrenching song with honesty & anguish, & it's better than "staging" it would be.
