Ellen Greene: Somewhere That's Green

Don't know what morning show this was on, but it's Ellen Greene singing "Somewhere that's Green" from Little Shop of Horrors. What more do you need to know?

[@ericgrunin]

There are several versions here on YT of Greene singing this song. This is the best. The pianist is hanging on her every note, which gives her the freedom to tell the story as naturally as if she were speaking rather than singing. Also she is constantly navigating between the nasal "character" voice and the full throated belt - virtuoso craft, put to brilliant dramatic use.

[@lairdminor8192]

I like the version in the movie best. I especially like her breathy delivery.

[@sithenor]

So so sooo true

[@TallSilentGuy]

And then at 3:57 we were given that "What voice will she sing the last note with?" moment. Chef's kiss!

[@alextirrellRI]

I'm presuming this is during the original off-broadway run and that is the show's pianist/MD -- he's doing it from memory and it's the exact arrangement.

[@genecorrado]

This is what happens when you match a passionate singer with a piano player who knows what he's doing.

[@josha7248]

Her rendition is unmatched and this song never fails to break my heart. It makes me think of how some peoples’ dreams are so simple, unambitious, normal and everyday, yet remain unattainable, no matter how meager and sincere they may be. My soul weeps.

[@griffin812]

Reminds me of Gigi's lyrics in The Movie in My Mind in Miss Saigon. She dreams of a simple, safe life in America where "Our children laugh all day And eat too much ice cream And life is like a dream".

[@nobleone89]

Joy Woods definitely does it justice. Look up her recording with Alan Menkin

[@JG-ut4yk]

No truer words were ever written, nor sentiment more sincere than this comment about this song.

[@josha7248]

@@JG-ut4yk thank you so much. I’ve thought about this for so long lol

[@Itstonytime77]

She set the bar for this role so high that it’s almost impossible to escape the shadow of this performance

[@omarcogle1965]

How did you feel about Michaela Jae Rodriguez take on Audrey?

[@gionmusic]

@@omarcogle1965 Wish that was the version we had in NYC (instead of Six Pack Seymours)....

[@omarcogle1965]

@@gionmusic Was Ellen Greene the Audrey in that one?

[@gionmusic]

@@omarcogle1965 no. Ellen was in the orignal Off Broadway production. (And an Encores “revival” with Jake Gyllenhaal…who is kinda responsible for the recent onslaught of “six pack Seymours come to think of it). Joy Woods is currently Audrey (but that changes fairly regularly)

[@omarcogle1965]

@@gionmusic Interesting, I know Jeremy Jordan was Seymour in one of the revivals.

[@robchenoweth9776]

She has always embodied this character, but this stripped down version is really wow. When she says the line "I dream about it all the time" her facial expression is devastating. People often forget this song is not supposed to be just sweet and cute, it's supposed to rip your heart out because this will never happen for this character. This version captures that to perfection. I have watched it 20x and cried every time.

[@mikesteele05]

How do you simultaneously play this so sincerely while still hitting every comic beat with perfect timing?

[@kevinbarney5615]

Practice!

[@joshuahenryjenkins]

"I dream about it all the time" is so well done.

[@colinmorgan2355]

Incredible actress...... Audrey was definitely created for Ellen Greene....no one else can even come close to her performance...❤️❤️❤️

[@esf0ad]

Actually, as great as Ellen was (and is), she actually wasn't their first choice. They originally wanted Faith Prince to play the role, but she couldn't get out of another project, so they went with Ellen. Faith was, however, Ellen's first replacement in both the New York and L.A. companies, so she's not bitter...really.

[@BradTea]

This amazing performance is from The Ira Joe Fisher Show, a daily variety/talk show that aired on WKRC-TV in Cincinnati from 1985 to 1989. That is Ira Joe Fisher beside Ellen. The guy on the piano is not Howard Ashman but Robert Billig. A pianist and music director, he was involved with the vocal arrangements in the original production of Little Shop of Horrors.

[@gionmusic]

We are truly a village...thanks filling in so many blanks.

[@timothylankford5294]

I knew he looked familiar. He did weather in NYC as well. My first thought was that it was “Morning Exchange” on WEWS-Cleveland.

[@afponygirl8261]

Oh wow, I just never tire of hearing Ellen Greene singing this number. Still brings a little tear to my eye watching her perform it all this time later. What a magic moment for that morning show :)

[@rickmortensen2]

Chills! The way she expertly switches from her character voice to her formidable belt at the perfect times!

[@jesusangelrondon]

Never seen this video before. She looks so different out of character. I'm amazed by her talent.

[@sethmunich4062]

She's in character. Just out of hair and makeup.

[@jesusangelrondon]

@@sethmunich4062 you know what I meant.

[@sen.garyhart4239]

She's the only one that has ever made me feel "smitten". Just as much today as she did in the 80's. Us mere mortals should be thankful that she graced us with her presence.

[@ShiroiTengu]

The way her voice cracks and wavers at "December bride" gets me every.damn.time. 😭😭😭

[@tolegonianfella5423]

That was so so brilliant! I’ve watched a lot of renditions of this song but no one ever seems to be able to come close to giving the sincere emotional tone Ellen Greene is able to give when she performed this piece. She’s able to bring so much emotion out of it

[@GregoriousGregori9]

Ellen still slips into Audrey as seamlessly as stepping into your favorite pair of slippers. There is absolutely noone on earth who can even touch her shadow in this role... She lives each & every word, every line she sings.

[@Jonathanbroder]

Ellen Greene REALLY is amazing. She will always own this role.

[@matthewdalessandro5975]

Ellen Greene just kills this role. Like I love Lee Wilkof and Ron White from the original production but I can at least watch other Seymours and Twoeys and not immediately want to go back and watch/ listen to the original production. Bah, she's just so good!

[@chiebukachibee-zoraedu]

You meann Ron Taylor.

[@lendondain1]

I never get tired of her singing this song.

[@michaeldemarco7694]

She was absolutely brilliant in this role! Love her ! ♥️

[@michaeldemarco7694]

Ellen Greene is that you who liked my comment? Hmm 🤔

[@iamAlTocino]

This is beyond words to explain. The rendition and the character will wait a century to match. ❤❤❤

[@mikemariche8090]

Ellen you are amazing. No one’s ever made me tear up from songs like you.

[@ShatnerLover]

I can’t get enough of her.

[@seanzackson9232]

I love her voice. I want more every time.

[@mikemariche8090]

Her voice is so amazing 😢 makes me actually feel the emotion in the moment

[@sethmunich4062]

She makes me cry every time.

[@peggyknecht5551]

I still get chills. She is an amazing singer! She makes it such an Iconic "I want" song. Her rendition is my favorite by far.

[@aetreides]

Madame Greene showing again why she is the quintessential Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors. Absolutely incredible execution.

[@glendaray7349]

I haven't really started my research on this remarkable talent , I'm hoping to see her star on the Walk of fame!!! She's brilliant

[@JeniseLaVonne]

FLAWLESS!!!!!! I just LOVE HER and how she slayed this song!!!!!!!

[@mikewright3029]

acting and staying in character and singing at the same time. amazing. 🌹

[@valestyheliosgalahad3221]

Cette chanson et cette interprétation me fait toujours sourire et briser mon coeur en petits éclats. Ellen Greene est si talentueuse. Merci aussi à Ashman et Menken pour cette pépite.

[@stevemattfis]

Consumate singer and actress. In a studio with no costumes lighting etc surrounded by hosts, audience, pianist and still she takes us on a tour of what is in her minds eye transferring it to ours. Brava!

[@DLFLux]

I never knew that it was possible to fall in love with a voice until now

[@jvmbmc]

The original and the best Audrey!

[@gardnersgourmetbakery6269]

Just sublime….simply sublime

[@FishOutOfWaterToronto]

@gionmusic What else do I need to know? Nothing. Ms. Ellen Greene is simply perfection!

[@scar6862]

Astounding. What a nuanced depiction of character. Perfection.

[@almamattersr3735]

When every single actress who played this part after her tries to sound like she does , you know you are an icon.

[@michaelchain]

Anyone who loves musicals wants to be somewhere there's Greene...

[@samguzz18]

Ranks among the greatest musical theater performances of all times. Brava.

[@joshualopez3260]

Perfection. Nobody comes close as Audrey.

[@BobbyLandiaPDX]

That's what I'm TALKIN about! 👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@paulalansmith]

just fucking wow, ellen brings it on a morning talk show - CHILLS man!

[@bradjacobs7348]

what a weird performer and weird song, yet perfect!

[@jasonstatham6170]

Ive got chills. Will never be better

[@smurf902]

The universe was at work as always. They offered it to Faith Prince, but she had a prior engagement with an industrial and couldn't do it. Can u imagine? She wasn't their first choice. She is infinitely more talented than FP. Never seen anything with FP that moved me to this degree.

[@gionmusic]

Well…considering she only has one part in her wheelhouse…I’d beg to differ

[@jagotrakos8105]

Stunning! Gave me goosebumps! Thank you for sharing 💚

[@mkoury83]

a range like no other... goosebumps EVERY SINGLE TIME. thank you for posting this!

[@yvvngmlaba]

my go to audition song

[@dubworldvwadventures]

Such an incredible talent. Oscar worthy performance!

[@Dj_OhBoy_1960]

My biggest wish is right here!...❤❤❤

[@stuffchat]

I WANNA LIVE SOMEWHERE THAT'S GREEN!!!!!!!

[@franjamison77]

Excellent

[@robh913]

Wow!

[@Mum1715]

♥

[@JamesBrown-ij1px]

I've never seen her sing it without the blonde wig.

[@painfullybored9259]

God Damn that’s good!

[@TallSilentGuy]

Was this performed live in the studio?

[@susanpalmer255]

A daytime TV show.

[@Bakerboy1958]

Who was the pianist? He was perfect

[@rexnemo]

"Fetch Jessie !"

[@sneezythesquid]

Anyone know who the piano player is?

[@agnesi8690]

Not fancy like Levittown.

[@smurf902]

What's hysterical is my aunt and uncle lived there

[@shawnshuman9460]

Does anyone know what year this was?

[@plawson8577]

June 1985. About several months before she flew to London to shoot the Film adaptation.

[@Reeal15]

Never been a huge fan of Ellen's rendition...HOWEVER, can we talk about how clean and musical this pianist's accompaniment is?!

[@nicklapietra3890]

Love her in the movie but it feels to me she goes too far overboard in performances like this.

[@sen.garyhart4239]

Some advice for the tough guys out there. Go ahead and let the tear drop right away, because if you try to hold it in you will be snivelling trembling bitch by the end. Go with it because your machismo attempts will be futile. I've been trying since the 80s and it doesn't work.