"Greatest Star" Vocal Comparison - Beanie Feldstein, Julie Benko, Ephie Aardema, Lea Michele

[@WinnyFoster]

This really shows their different takes on this song and this role. Great job putting it together! Lea is by far the most natural singer in my opinion. It sounds effortless and her depth and tone is beautiful. Shes selling her talent for sure. I cant quite decide if i feel Julie is overdoing it or not, but her voice is good. I like Ephies tone too. Beanie is far too nasal for my liking and she lacks that energy, that something when she sings. I dont quite buy that she believes shes the greatest. It feels a bit, almost monotone at times.

[@zack4ever1]

Lea Michele the best ⭐️

[@BerryStraw15]

Lea ate and left no crumbs.

[@darabrown9973]

Julie has such an incredible, rich, timeless voice. I genuinely got goosebumps every time she was singing.

[@Sluggergirl]

Beanie, Julie, and Ephie are all very talented….but Lea is the only one who made me by a ticket to see the show.

[@CaroLizzette]

This comes out so naturally for Lea

[@allshookup1640]

Wow! I’d never heard Ephie before and her voice is so smooth and lovely! I’d love to hear more of her in other shows as a leading lady!

[@chefb2you]

I agree! Wow!

[@amazingstarzz]

yeah people keep forgetting about Ephie because everyone kept calling Julie the understudy when Ju’s the standby and Ephie’s the ACTUAL understudy

[@allshookup1640]

@@amazingstarzz probably because Julie went on a TON of times for Beanie and covered full time before Lea took over. Ephie is the understudy but her main role is Emma. So for her to play Fanny, Amber Ardolino has to play Emma and someone else covers Amber’s role of Vera. Julie isn’t in the show unless she’s playing Fanny for the night so it’s a lot easier just to throw her in and keep everyone else the same. I do wish Ephie got more credit though!

[@syworld82]

Beanie=HS Fannie Julie=standby Fannie Ephie=Replacement Fannie/Regional Theater Headliner Lea=Headliner Fannie

[@xkirax9531]

I got the honor to meet Ephie today at a rehearsal for my local theater’s production of funny girl. She was so sweet and super nice. Love you Ephie 🫶

[@赵曦瑶]

I like it when Lea sang “I’m by far!” and people were just cheering in the middle of the song it’s like they were saying yes you are!😂

[@kinskins100]

It's just because she sang it in glee

[@ryanb4940]

@@kinskins100no, because she’s incredible in the role. She’s clearly the best. Literally the biggest star.

[@kinskins100]

@@ryanb4940 she's not, but whatever. She's just a racist, entitled brat.

[@thiagodemourachaves2121]

Lea Michele ❤❤❤❤

[@jamieb465]

Lea is in a different league than these other talented women

[@peterboq1]

Yes the wrong league cause this isn’t the imitatevthe movie or your Glee days she still sounds like Barbra. The others sound much better than leah Michelle

[@carloscordero6695]

@@peterboq1 lol she performed far from her Glee days. She has grown and matured. Also, she HAS the voice and the vocal range to deliver. Beanie sounds weak and like an amateur. No belting power whatsoever. Hearing her sing this song and "the music that makes me dance" was a tragedy. Lea was born to play Fanny.

[@lynnlawson4471]

Every time I listen to these comparisons, I am blown away by Leah Michelle and shocked that Beanie ever got this role. Julie Benko has a strong voice but it is obvious that Leah has more experience and training in addition to simply having the gift of a beautiful voice.

[@giusi22]

lea is the best, no doubt. she is also the one who seems to charm the audience the most and gets the most reaction out of them. i listened to the album they just put out and lea is honestly born for this role

[@Leamichellefan2244]

Exactly, well said.

[@Leamichellefan2244]

Once again, lea, without a doubt lea, feldstine didn’t cell that at all and the other 2 were good but lea is absolutely the best.

[@davidwh2653]

lea is clearly the best but i giggled at how rude it was to put her and beanie right back to back

[@Justindavis531]

They weren’t back to back at all what

[@ToySoldiers]

@@Justindavis531 they were since Lea was last and Beanie first. So after Lea's part we hear Beanie.

[@davidwh2653]

@@Justindavis531 yes right after lea is beanie

[@syworld82]

It’s not rude it just makes you realize how much the difference is.

[@Leamichellefan2244]

@@syworld82 that’s exactly that’s not braid.

[@whitneylivingston5706]

At first I felt like they gave Lea less time than the others… until it dawned on me that her tempo was actually what it was supposed to be and everybody else was slower.

[@LazyFilmMaker]

Yeah, they had to lower the standards for Beanie, which ended up hurting her understudies.

[@theoperatripleaxel5417]

Lea is just... She is just to amazing...

[@Leamichellefan2244]

Lee is amazing.

[@Leamichellefan2244]

Lee is honest to God the only one out of these for who truly makes me believe that she is the greatest star. And when I say she, I mean Fanny Brice that way no one has a meltdown of some sort.

[@fabiosarfatireal4567]

Lea is the best funny girl.

[@petal1622]

1. Lea 2. Ephie 3. Julie 4. Beanie

[@carinarosales9392]

Always Lea Michele

[@KevinChen9]

Lea is the best.

[@toniharris2143]

Best Lea 2nd Ephie 3rd Julie last Beanie

[@allywhite87]

As a nearly 30 year veteran of the stage and screen, Lea is impeccable as Fanny Brice! I think personally (not really knowing much about the other 3 ladies’ personal lives) her journey most closely resembles the real Fanny Brice. Born in the Bronx, raised in the theater, fought her way into television on drive and talent, experienced devastating personal loss quite publicly, only to find love again and become a wife and mother. I’ve only seen clips of the show and I can quite literally FEEL her performance through the screen. I have heard complete audios from her opening night and from 9/23, and they are SPECTACULAR! I’ve seen the bootleg of both Julie and Beanie and still would rather see Lea Michele. Only she is capable of getting me to save thousands of $$$ to fly out to NY to see this show. I would like to see and hear more from Ephie Aardema (sp?), I think she has great potential. Julie is hilariously funny and a great singer, and I have to wonder, if the point was to showcase the funny and not the vocals, why not give Beanie a standby with similar vocal ability? They did the same thing to Sheridan Smith as I recall. Either way, they did Beanie no favors here. She’s funny and charming, but as soon as she has to sing it takes you right out of the story.

[@Leamichellefan2244]

Lea is my favorite out of all of them but that’s just me.

[@donnieptymcio]

wow, Julie Benko is realy good ! and of course Lea Michel

[@bryanvillavicencio8133]

You can't compare Lea with the others is a really Big difference

[@ep8755]

Honestly, I think Julie is the best combo of vocal ability and acting chops for this role. Comedic timing is incredibly important for Fanny, and you need that sensibility along with great singing to make this role work. One without the other isn't enough.

i agree

[@broadwaygeek8975]

Lea is great at acting this role though 🤔

[@Leamichellefan2244]

@@broadwaygeek8975 yes, she is.

[@balesjo]

Each actress has a different interpretation, which is great, as they're making the role their own and not a copy of Barbra Streisand. I think of the four, in descending order, are: 1. Lea Michelle, 2. Julie Benko, 3. Ephie Aardema, and 4. Beanie. Ephie Aardema sounds like she has a voice that can handle the part, but probably doesn't get the exposure to make the role her own. She does have a beautiful voice. Beanie has the comic chops, the voice is good, but the role needs an artist with an exceptional voice. Julie Benko currently is the one that should keep Lea Michelle on her toes!

[@bwaybaby618]

Can you imagine the amount of talent it took to be on stage with Beanie and convince the audience that you believed her Fanny was the greatest star? 😂

[@Leamichellefan2244]

My thoughts exactly I mean heaven bless all of them they had to work overtime.

[@CountryCowboy008]

He should have won a Tony for that fact alone! 😅

[@Leamichellefan2244]

@@CountryCowboy008 tell me about it, my lord the amount of acting that must have taken that pore man.

[@oliviabb73849]

It’s bad. Like. Really. Bad. All of it. The poor cast forced to perform with her. Like damn. (Slime tutorial full below…can’t believe it’s finally here) kzbin.info/www/bejne/an7OZX2Vo9qfqtk

[@Leamichellefan2244]

@@oliviabb73849 nothing hasn’t even been out that long. People are already roasting it. I don’t know whether to put it on my like list or dislike it but yeah that’s bad that’s not good.

[@erin5930]

Honestly, I don’t know that it’s fair to compare Lea to the other actresses - it’s like grabbing a few seasoned, professional runners, introducing them to a group of really talented amateurs, and then asking them to race. She fell in love with this role 15 years ago, got a chance to perform some of the key songs multiple times, and has basically been groomed for the part. You can tell she put a lot of work into it to make it her own (as she is NOW, not when she was Rachel Berry) while still borrowing a few things from Barbra’s performance (instead of making it noticeably awkward by actively avoiding the Barbra comparison). Her comedic timing is perfect, the decisions she made about who Fanny is reflect in her speech (especially the speed) and actions clearly, and she measures out Fanny’s insane, over the top self confidence with real sincerity, which makes Fanny someone worth rooting for instead of just really annoying. And her voice. Well. ANYWAY that’s not to say that the other runners aren’t good - they’re just up against people that have spent most of their time for their whole lives honing the skill they have until they weren’t just good - they were great. Lea’s been workshopping this since she was barely over 20, and she’s now 36. She’s had time to tweak and grow and create the character in her head several times over. It was always going to be the perfect role for her.

[@benjaminmanoy2397]

should beanie even be here lol

[@Leamichellefan2244]

In reality, no.

[@ruelcarriaga8268]

that Beanie girl 😬….the criticisms were fair FAIR if u know what i mean.

[@darakatzenstein]

Beanie’s version sounds like the best high school production you’ve ever seen…

[@josephl8176]

I’ve heard better

[@claytonzzzzz]

@@josephl8176 😂😂

[@CountryCowboy008]

Don’t insult high schoolers like that.

[@belrapture]

It’s simply Lea.

[@chachabunny123ut]

Does anyone have them fully and not cut up? I’d love to see Lea’s full rendition as well as julie’s

[@gabbyvelasquez3767]

Lea is truly the best. Perfect mix of acting chops, the VOICE and she makes it her own just enough while still giving us Barbara. Julie is second, great voice and she's funny tho i found some her decisions with the lyrics a little weird at times. Ephie is sweet but needs more time to make it her own. Beanie is very nasally and can't hit the notes her understudy's are hitting and thats embarrassing. She should have understudied Julie Benko not the other way around.

[@Iloveflower2024]

Julie is my fave. ❤

[@felixis89]

1) Lea.... 2) Ephie 3) Julie 4) Beanie Lea sounds incredible - I believe her! Ephie has a really lovely tone. Forgetting her odd choices with some of the lyrics, I was quite surprised by how bad Julie sounds after what I've heard of her - it was actually painful to listen to in some parts. Beanie... well the less said there the better

[@luadyp]

People need to stop pushing Julie Benko, even If she does a good job but she clearly overdo and doesn't have much control sometimes. Lea can Sing this ALL soundtrack backwards and differents styles...and people know It.

[@Leamichellefan2244]

Exactly thank you, its all because they hate lea and sadly that’s the begining and the end of it.

[@benballs7621]

did anyone else notice that the bands timing was off for the third girl (sorry i don’t know her name) when she sang “here i am”

[@smashtrash9297]

Ephie’s clip was from an outdoor performance and she was using an instrumental track instead of a live orchestra.

[@h.c.8731]

Julie Benko is the Understudy for Fanny Brice. Ephie Aardema is the swing for Fanny Brice (and a couple other characters).

[@smashtrash9297]

Julie is the Standby/Alternate for Fanny, Ephie is the understudy for Fanny and Mrs. Meeker. Neither Julie or Ephie are swings.

[@ellengill360]

Beanie was better than I imagined, given the comments. They're all good. Lea is wonderful. Barbra still the best. The songs were written for her.

[@Leamichellefan2244]

I can’t believe someone put up and full bootleg of feldstine, why would anyone want to emortalize that? I just hope somone does one with lea.

[@cw8051]

Do you happen to Beanie singing people or the music that makes me dance?

[@LazyFilmMaker]

Sorry Beanie, the song is called 'I'm the Greatest Star' not 'I'm the Okayest Performer'

[@Leamichellefan2244]

Exactly freaking exactly.

[@federicabaratta7145]

People are enthusiastic of Lea, they made like 1.6 million since Lea took over while before the show wasn’t working, that means something, doesn’t it? The other three were amazing but Lea is just better than them and it’s time for people to accept it

[@rhondafindling320]

when you're paying hundreds of dollars for a ticket you want to be transported and watch a believable story and Lea Michele sells the story as an actress/ character and as a singer.She makes us beleive shes Fanny Brice and the glamorous man of the world /gambler Nicki Arnstein falls in love with her. I saw it last week and Im also a big fan of Barbara streisand and know all the lyrics and Lea was fantastic. It was exciting to see her bring back the show from sinking. It was bedlam around the stage door when it was over- with police barricades and a half a block of people trying to get pictures of Lea and her autograph.

[@Leamichellefan2244]

I could hug you for this because you’re absolutely right.

[@Leamichellefan2244]

@@rhondafindling320 know if that doesn’t tell you that she’s the right choice I don’t know what does.

[@benjaminmanoy2397]

beanie sounds like somebody from family guy

[@LazyFilmMaker]

That's a clear insult to Family Guy, most of the actors are trained in Broadway

[@bsummers1386]

After hearing all this, beanie was definitely miscasted

[@Leamichellefan2244]

Just out of pure curiosity, have you read any of the excuses people have been and are still making for her?

[@bsummers1386]

@@Leamichellefan2244 no I’m basing it on vocal range. I think it’s shitty that she was bullied for her weight but she just didn’t have the vocal stamina for such a commanding roll.

[@Leamichellefan2244]

@@bsummers1386 I agree with you she absolutely didn’t but if you will permit me to play Deadpool‘s advocate, for just a moment, if she could sing, her weight wouldn’t even be talked about and we both know that. I meant devil, sorry

[@stafonvoncamron]

How did Beanie Feldstein even get the role?

[@Leamichellefan2244]

I can answer that for you in just one word, daddy.

[@petal1622]

@@Leamichellefan2244 nepotism would be the word

[@Leamichellefan2244]

@@petal1622 you’re not wrong you’re definitely not wrong because God knows the word isn’t talent.

[@petal1622]

@@Leamichellefan2244 i mean i don't think she's that terrible, but for a leading lady in a role that requires power vocals? undeniable miscast.

[@Leamichellefan2244]

@@petal1622 i’m sorry I just don’t think she can sing but I agree with you about the miscast part.

[@niclesnyc]

#1 LEa #2 Ephie #3 Julie #4 Beanie (horrible)

[@geaj]

Got tickets to see Julie in December!

[@dianabway]

I mean, Lea is the most vocally talented of the three, but I still prefer Julie as she has a voice fit for the role and can blend the comedic aspects into the song with ease (I'm going off her preformance of "I'm The Greatest Star" in Bryant Park). I feel Ephie has a good voice, but plays the role too subtly. And poor Beanie, as much as I respect her as an actress, the song and comedic aspects come off as really awkward.

[@Leamichellefan2244]

Do you know what I’m just gonna say it because I’m sick and tired of this, Julie is OK. I’m glad she’s got every Thursday but there’s a reason she’s not the lead and Lee is Lee sells tickets and she’s amazing if they had wanted Julie is the lead they would’ve given it to her but they didn’t so they clearly don’t get over it. Lee is funny girl and she’s the best.

[@miamiracer]

I was listening without looking at the photos and every time I was impressed it was Julie singing. The others all did a good job. Lea indisputably has a great voice and has been practicing for this role for a long time.

[@MIS315]

Could someone tell me how Beanie got cast in the first place 🤨

[@Leamichellefan2244]

Money and daddy, simple as that.

[@LazyFilmMaker]

She's Jonah Hill's sister...

[@Leamichellefan2244]

@@LazyFilmMaker that and she checks off Wolk diversity boxes hence why she had no freaking chemistry whatsoever with Mr. Karimloo.

[@MIS315]

@@LazyFilmMaker yeah but what's that have to do with it

[@MIS315]

@@Leamichellefan2244 diversity? How so

[@Leamichellefan2244]

People are still making excuses for feldstine, my lord.

[@LazyFilmMaker]

The fact that they had to lower the standards for Feldstein is ridiculous!

[@Leamichellefan2244]

@@LazyFilmMaker tell me about it freaking tell me about they lowered the key. They slow down the tempo. They took out all the best notes and she still couldn’t do it but yet if you dare to say she’s garbage because of these obvious problems, you’re hateful.

[@juliaharrington2229]

ur literally obsessed 😂 we get it, ur in love with lea but u look weird asf with 10 comments on here spread out by months. lea doesn’t give a fuck about u

[@Leamichellefan2244]

@@juliaharrington2229 its called trueth, learn to live with it honey.

[@LazyFilmMaker]

@@juliaharrington2229 and Beanie doesn't give a fuck about you either

[@susanalopez5052]

I think Julie is the best, Leas rendition is powerful and perfectly sung but I think it lacks the charm and comedy, it works better for don’t rain on my parade but this song is Julie’s for me, she takes me on a roller coaster of emotions and makes the song her own without loosing the powerful vocals. Elphie is cool too but feels greener on the role but shows potential to grow into it. And that’s all

[@rhaley413]

Wow it’s pretty evident that Beanie had no right to be the lead of this show. I think she’s a good actress but this is not for her. She’s the weakest one here and I’m in baffled why they even allowed to open with her

[@Pastadudde]

I like Julie, but I think she is over-mugging it with the random voices / impressions in this song. also JFC, the part where Beanie imitates the flute is just downright cringe.

[@Leamichellefan2244]

Thank you, Julie is good, but she just over does it as far as felt fine. The whole thing was a mess but the flute yikes and I don’t mean yikes in a good way.

[@Leamichellefan2244]

Feldstine was the worst out of the 4, anyone with a good set of working ears can tell that.

[@fabiancaius]

😍

[@zackevans1103]

Julie is really overdoing it.

[@Leamichellefan2244]

Oh thank god its not just me who thought that.

[@mshalo1822]

She definitely overacts, and it’s unpleasant to listen to.

[@Leamichellefan2244]

@@mshalo1822 I prefer lea, just my personal opinion.

[@ipswich728]

You’re right, but maybe it’s a little intentional ? Fanny Brice was full-tilt vaudeville, so it makes sense that she’d be over the top on or off-stage.

[@Leamichellefan2244]

@@ipswich728 I still think lea is the only one who seriously cells this role, just my opinion.

[@Leamichellefan2244]

Why is Lea the only one singing at the proper tempo?

[@bethanyvarre9142]

I know they had to change the music for Beanie, makes me wonder if Julie and Ephie are singing in that same style for the show.

[@Leamichellefan2244]

@@bethanyvarre9142 they are, you can hear it.

[@jensthreads]

Julie

[@JohnnyYCWang]

Do you have the original recordings of each of them and not the sliced one? 😬

[@helloworld17778]

unpopular opinion but i dont think beanie feldstein is as bad as everyone claims her to be lmao. yes her voice is thin and she can't belt but she really got the humor down. she just couldn't do dont rain on my parade because of how much power it requires but she was quite nice on slow ballads like who are you now. i find julie benko's rendition distracting tbh when everyone else loves her imo ephie was the best vocally but she can be quite safe and boring

[@robertr798]

If an actor can’t come close to handling the character’s signature song, as you’ve just admitted is the case, they shouldn’t be playing the role.

[@Leamichellefan2244]

@@robertr798 thank you flipping thank you exactly my thoughts.

[@Pastadudde]

they literally had to slow the fucking tempo down so she could catch her damn breath. oh wait, why? because SHE CAN'T SING TO SAVE HER LIFE!

[@bsummers1386]

You can hear her strain and she has no controlled vibrato. I’m kinda shook she was even casted

[@bsummers1386]

@@Pastadudde omfg I didn’t even notice that. They totally did!

[@gali3223]

Julie is the best

[@udifloriao4556]

1. BARBRA 2. BARBRA 3.BARBRA 4.BARBRA

[@dd2394]

Julie is on par with Beanie, not great control, Lea is in a class apart from the other three.

[@Leamichellefan2244]

Finally, someone who doesn’t just blindly think that Julie should be the lead in the show and not lea.

[@Leamichellefan2244]

You’re gonna love this, Julia supposedly a singing teacher so the fact that she has no control is bad.

[@Leamichellefan2244]

If people are really gonna sit here and say that an understudy and a standby are better than the actual actual star then you guys have problems now if you want to say, she’s better than if you wanna say they’re better than Feldstein then by all means, go ahead and say it because it’s the truth now if he should be the standby in my personal opinion because she’s just that good Julie is Take it or leave it but Lee is the greatest star. There’s no denying that.

[@chaseramelphillips1136]

If Lea Michelle wasn’t Lea Michelle, I would see either of the understudies over her. Their sound and tone just transcend me to the time period of the show.

[@broadwaygeek8975]

I find Julie very distracting, she tends to overdo it. Too many instances of speak-singing and I don't get the impression at all that she's a STAR. The understudy is good though.

[@NeonKodiak]

Forreal? Different strokes for different folks, but personally Lea is a head above the others on sheer vocals and acting setting aside her "name recognition"

[@Leamichellefan2244]

@@NeonKodiak if you’ll forgive me for saying, so, I think Lee is ahead of the others with the whole deal but that’s just me.

[@Leamichellefan2244]

@@broadwaygeek8975 serious question am I the only one noticing Julie has a very, very bad habit of screaming especially when you’re not supposed to and she’s supposedly a singing teacher tell me I’m not the only one who noticed that.

[@Leamichellefan2244]

Can people stop pushing banko please, she’s the understudy and that’s not changing, sorry not sorry.

[@bibimiller5574]

We all know about beanie, but based on this, elphie’s performance is kind of boring. Not particularly funny

[@lesleyegbert4807]

How is it that the two understudies blew the two "stars" out of the water?

[@priscilliambemba8888]

Please ? They were good but the will never outperformed Lea Michele (I don’t even like her but she is objectively the greatest star of the 4)

[@LazyFilmMaker]

Beanie was basically handed the part due to her name and money, not to mention they had to change the music to better fit what little she could do. While Ephie and Julie had to work their asses off just to be understudies. Lea also worked hard and hone her craft to get there! Beanie wouldn't even be in the ensemble based on her skills alone.

[@Leamichellefan2244]

@@LazyFilmMaker exactly, and if he will forgive me for a personal opinion, I feel like if he worked a hell of a lot harder than Julie did because Effie has good breath control. Where is Julie, who is supposedly a singing teacher is all over the place and is really not that good. oh, and I meant to say you not here, sorry dictation hates me.

[@Leamichellefan2244]

Short answer, they didn’t beanie is garbage Julie is Miss Effie. If you ask me should be promoted to standby because she’s that good Lee is the greatest star.

[@mikestevenson576]

Bea Arthur did it best and you know it.

[@kinskins100]

Beanie is no where near as bad as they made her out to be

[@rambambobam1268]

True. She’s worse 😬

[@kinskins100]

@@rambambobam1268 if you think she is worse, then you wouldn't say true to my statement. My statement is worded in such a way that you could not do that and make sense.

[@rambambobam1268]

@@kinskins100 😂😂 sure Jan. Tell that to my ears I went and saw beanie and it was horrible. Love her as an actress but she’s no singer. Maybe with practice.

[@kinskins100]

@@rambambobam1268 that's fine that you feel that way! I'm just saying your comment didn't make sense

[@rambambobam1268]

@@kinskins100 didn’t make sense to you babe. 😘😘

[@shimmeringfairydust3275]

Lea’s too shrill - there are plenty of singers out there with fuller, clearer voices. A good college style singer, no more.

[@stephaniestanley8041]

Why is Lea's version sped up? It's off. It needs to be savored, not rushed.

[@gabbyvelasquez3767]

pretty sure they actually slowed down the original tempo for beanie and lea is doing the original

[@Leamichellefan2244]

@@gabbyvelasquez3767 that’s exactly it, this person is a the hater so of course they have it backwards.

[@benjaminlopezisgreat]

None of them do much for me

[@jajoe4897]

Me neither, brother! And you CAN sing!

[@EduardoMoraless]

1. Lea 2. Ephie 3. Julie 4. Beanie

[@allewhite02]

1. Lea 2. Ephie 3. Beanie 4. Julie