Jane Powell - JE VEUX VIVRE from Gounod's "Romeo and Juliet"

Having completed her 81st year on 4/1/10, here's the lovely Jane Powell singing "Je Veux Vivre," from Gounod's "Romeo and Juliet." Talented José Iturbi is at the piano, and her beautiful mother, here portrayed by amazing Jeanette MacDonald, sisters played by Elinor Donahue and lovely Ann E. Todd complete the picture!
DISCLAIMER: All rights reserved to the production companies and music labels that distributed and produced the music and performance respectively. I do not own the copyright so said video and, and I've only added the footage as a tribute for historical, entertainment, and creative purposes with no financial gain. Copyright infringement not intended.
"Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use."
This is a clip from "Three Daring Daughters," from 1948. It can be purchased at iTunes, Amazon and other sites.

[@donbowles6386]

awesome voice, something you don't hear in Hollywood anymore, beautiful lady.

[@RubensTop2023]

R.I.P Jane Powell.

[@bonnies1234567]

Ever since I was a teenager, I have loved Jane Powell's bright and beautiful voice and bubbling personality. But I believe her style is more "showy" for the movies of the day. I believe Jeanette Macdonald's quality and interpretation is more operatic and classical. I admire them both.

[@DavidSmith-kc4hz]

Your observations are quite right. To each her own. As mentioned before Netrebko is a much more advanced singer than our sweet and treasured Jane. One can appreciate all styles and levels of singing without involving any kind of critique, that is the fun of entertainment. We may enjoy dozens of singers in many varieties.

[@setawallace2279]

I utterly enjoy the songs she sings and her singing. What an amazing voice.

[@MrSkylark1]

Certainly a lot finer than the operatic sopranos today

[@stephenjoeagi]

Wonderful. One of the great MGM stars. She gave us so much joy !!! Thanks for posting.

[@setawallace2279]

What an Amazing voice . I love listening to all her singing

[@dileepaappuhamy4017]

Thank you so much.

[@varadero1839]

My knowledge of French might be written on the head of a pin! If you've read some of the other comments, you'll feel in good company. Your message is certainly unique in that it recognizes that Jane was an incredible soprano! I suspect she was around 16-18 when this was filmed. I think Jose Iturbi was instructed to act very surprised as Jane sang! Truth is, regardless of the French pronunciation, her talent really was incredible for one so young. Thanks so much for writing!

[@dianavictoriaaljadeff8949]

Jane Powell like Deanna Durbin and Ann Blyth was an excelent soprano and she sang the french aria from Romeo and Juliet(Gounod) beautifully wirh Iturbi in the piano.

[@varadero1839]

Diana Victoria Aljadeff Thank you so much for your mention of lovely Jane Powell. I've been a big fan since childhood, and am proud to say I've many more of her performances here. When you've a chance, please look for them on my channel! Best wishes, varadero

[@amparovaldiviafernandez7587]

Julie Andrews was a excelent soprano singer, if you search : Julie Andrews Je veux vivre. Julie Andrews sang this song too.

[@DavidSmith-kc4hz]

Yes! Julie was a coloratura she she was 14/15 on TV.

[@reyalpEleluku]

Miss Todd, the young lady in the brown top, played Asa Yoelson's childhood friend in the Jolson Story. I am impressed with her playing-of-the-part when ever she was on screen.

[@WakandaBabe]

I used to love her movies!

[@varadero1839]

+ohsnapiam59 I hope your "used to" isn't so far in the past! I'm a Jane aficionado, and hope you still enjoy her to this day! I've posted this, and many other wonders from lovely Jane. Please, keep the faith! May her lovely voice ring on to keep us all enthralled! So glad to hear from you! varadero

[@AndrewRudin]

And Jeanette looks pretty terrific here.

[@varadero1839]

I'm happy to hear from you Bonnie Scali! I love them both also, but find it difficult to compare the two. As brilliant a performer as Jane was at that time, she could hardly compete with the amazing Jeanette Macdonald. She had to grow into her voice. I suspect this may have been one of Ms. M's last films with MGM! Think they were moving her out for Jane, Kathryn Grayson and so on. I'm honored to hear from you and very grateful for your comments!

[@DavidSmith-kc4hz]

Happy Birthday to dear Jane who will be 87. I send her all my love.

[@varadero1839]

Hi Mr. Smith, Thanks for writing! I'm nuts about Jane and hope you'll look at some other clips with her that I've uploaded! She's the BEST! One other notice for you; I think Jane is actually 88 today! I may be wrong. Best wishes, varadero Check her out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o3uxgmh-rd6Wmqc

[@DavidSmith-kc4hz]

Yes! 87 was a mistype. I have every one of Jane's 17 films on tape. Sweetest girl anywhere. Loved her since 1947. Read her book? David.

[@varadero1839]

Hi again, I haven't read it, but will definitely look for it! Thank you. varadero/john

[@DavidSmith-kc4hz]

Date: Tue, 4 Apr 2017 11:52:06 +0100 Subject: Re: Happy Birthday to dear Jane who will be ... There are some nice pictures in the book including Jane and Debbie cutting their joint birthday cake on the set of Two Weeks with Love. David

[@moshn2002]

Great !! thanks JM !! I absolutly second Stephen's and easyoldbear's comments

[@varadero1839]

@VoiceOfAnAngel1 What a joy to hear from you 2x in one day! I'm really grateful! My knowledge of foreign languages lean to Spanish and Portuguese. The former I speak daily, while the latter, is now only every so often. All my Brazilian friends have gone elsewhere. Wish I knew French! It's so beautiful, but I've always been fearful of trying to learn yet another "romance" language. Only lately I've been accused of speaking "Portanol!" Can't find the tilde! Happy to know you!

[@tomandnic77]

Great rendition. I wish the sound recording was a little better so that we could hear all of the rich tones in her voice un-muffled, but it's still great.

[@varadero1839]

@moshn2002 Thanks friend mosh! Jane's a delight! I think she's just about the same age as another favorite of mine, Ann Blyth! Grateful to you for your comment!

[@varadero1839]

@stephenjoeagi You're welcome! Jane is unique; obviously she's one of my favorite performers. Great to hear from you!

[@johnclarke5459]

At 14 I haunted the movie theaters where la Powell held forth. Much later i found that she was a creature of the MGM factory! Deanna Durbin was all so right to ditch Tinsel Town.

[@VoiceOfAnAngel1]

The missing lines here and there disoriented me, but I love her voice! It's so...clean. : D

[@user-oo1nu8dl8i]

Прелесть эта Джейн

[@s.w.126strawberry6]

❤️❤️❤️😍

[@VoiceOfAnAngel1]

@varadero1839 Thank you for posting this. Her voice is clean, yes, but also bright. She sounds young - like Juliette should. : ) Not only do I speak French (as my second language), this is one of my favorite arias. I've lost count how many times I've listened to various singers perform it. Therefore, it's really easy for me to notice the missing lines. Really, though, I think it's the knowledge of French that makes it obvious to me. lol.

[@varadero1839]

@VoiceOfAnAngel1 Hello, and thanks so very much for your notice! Not very familiar with many of the lines from this piece, I'm just a huge Jane Powell fan! Like you, I've always loved her voice. Best wishes to you!

[@varadero1839]

@easyoldbear You're right on the money! Thanks easyoldbear for your knowledgeable comment. Best regards!!

[@johnderham2829]

She was 19 when she sang this she is 90 on April 1st

[@varadero1839]

Thanks Mr. Derham! I knew she was nearing 90, but didn't know it was so close! Last I knew she was living in Manhattan! Wish I knew where; I'd send flowers!

[@DavidSmith-kc4hz]

Just to add Elinor Donahue grew up to become a cookery teacher ad demonstrator I seem to recall.

[@varadero1839]

@Randalina1 Honestly, I agree with you! I'm a huge Jane fan, but here she was still a teenager. I know her voice only got better with age. Ms. Macdonald was superb in everything she ever did, but, given the age difference, had a lot more training than Jane. Randalina1, I love their duet of the Grieg song in this, but I can't upload it, and don't know if it's still up here. It's heartbreaking!

[@kathy2trips]

This sounds just like "The Jewel Song" from Faust.

[@varadero1839]

@andrebontemp Hello! I'm glad to hear from you, and you're not the 1st to comment on Ms. Powell and her less than understandable French. For me, being such a big fan, she might have been singing in Tagolog! I'm thinking that given her age, and that MGM cranked her out almost as often as Judy Garland, she just did her best. Probably whatever studio vocal coach, under the gun just said what the kids say today: "Whatever." If it made Papa Mayer, "LBJ," happy all was well. Thanks for writing!

[@andrebontemp]

hi varadero Thank for your kind remark it was not in my mind to dimish the talent of Miss Powell so far a lot of opera singer are doing worse with french . So no harm done BYe friend

[@RodneytheOperaRat]

*Bravissimo💙🩵🤍*

[@1SECRETBILLY]

The pianist had his hands full keeping up with the songstress, nice!

[@VoiceOfAnAngel1]

@varadero1839 That's cool that you speak Spanish and Portuguese. My elder sister speaks 6 languages: English, Spanish, French, Russian, a little Italian, and a hint of Portuguese. Right now, I only speak English and French, but I hope to learn Japanese and Swedish someday. lol. I think having a musical ear coincides with having an ear for languages. Further proof: my sister also plays the violin beautifully. *sighs* I love singing, obviously, but I'd KILL to play the violin!

[@dianavictoriaaljadeff5302]

Now she is 89 years old and still beautiful.Jane sang opera in her films but not on stage as did Jeanette mc Donald who sang Romeo and Juliet and Fausto onstage and Katryn Grayson who sang La Boheme ,La Traviata and Madame Butterfly. but they werent as succesful as they were in their films and rerturned to the musicals and operetas.Powell as Barbara Cook and Julie Andrews didnt want to go to te opera stage because its very different. Renee Fleming is only singing musicals now not opera and Kelli O Hara sings opera when she isnt in a musical season;When Maria Callas saw Barbara Cook in Candide and Julie Andrews in My Fair Lady couldnt understand how both Cook and Andrews could sing these dificult songs eight performances a week.Because nobody can sing an opera performance every day without problems. .In the movies they sang operatic arias that were recorded before as also are the operatic scenes..

[@yogajedi3337]

Renee Fleming is not on the level of Julie Andrews. Nowhere close. Julie realised barking was not her cup of tea so she closed the door to such a career.

[@VoiceOfAnAngel1]

@varadero1839 @varadero1839 @varadero1839 I'm dying to get a voice teacher, but I have no money. Basically, I'm self-taught. Upon hearing a CD of Christmas carols that I recently did with my dad, my grandma classified me as a lyric soprano (possibly coloratura). : ) I already felt that I was more of a lyric, so I was happy that she confirmed my suspicions. Ironically, I've always gravitated towards the lighter voices. I like dramatics, but I LOVE lyrics. One of my favorites: Barbara Bonney.

[@MiyLei]

VoiceOfAnAngel1 Hi, my mother is an exceptional classically trained voice teacher. She's preformed all over the world, even at the presidential inaugural ball years ago and also at Carnegie hall just last year. I get my voice lessons from her. I have been classified as a Lyric Coloratura. Nadari Hockenhull. You can Google her. She sometimes does Skype lessons. She does charge but it is something to look into even if you don't have money. :)

[@VoiceOfAnAngel1]

@varadero1839 @varadero1839 I'm also lucky that my grandma (on my dad's side) is an excellent voice teacher. Unfortunately, I live in a different state from her now. I'd like to train with her someday. The only voice experience I have is three years of high-school choir and 10 lessons from my grandma in one week when I was 17. Sheesh! I'm almost 22 now! xD

[@VoiceOfAnAngel1]

@varadero1839 Oh, and my mom speaks 4 languages: English, Russian, Spanish, and French. Haha. My dad and my three other siblings could probably be good at languages, but that's not where their interests lie. My dad has an AMAZING ear. He's played the piano since he was eight; he has played professionally (and composed) for over 30 years. I'm lucky enough to have him as a piano teacher. Unfortunately, I don't do his teachings justice. Hehe. I don't practice enough. I lack motivation with piano.

[@uroojshakeel9942]

Where can I see the whole movie. Can someone give me the download link.

[@varadero1839]

HI! I posted this and it's from 1948, "Three Daring Daughters." Wish I could help, but I can't find a link to the complete film anywhere. Keep checking; it'll be on TCM one of these days! Best wishes.

[@uroojshakeel9942]

@@varadero1839 hmm ok thank youuu.

[@varadero1839]

@Strangerinawort Hi! Just wanted to say hello, coupled with an apology. Your "wow" comment seems to have been posted 4 months ago. If I'd seen it then I'd have responded as soon as I could. All I want to say is "thank you!" I'm assuming that your "woooww" is meant as a compliment; I hope so. I don't know why I've never seen your post before. If I have, and commented, then I'm ready for a severe chastisement at your hands. Best to you!

[@AntonioPaterno]

The final "Bravo!" (masculine, instead of "Brava") is really hilarious :)

[@voltape]

If they were talking in Italian, yes. But Iturbi is a Spaniard. In Spanish it is bravo! for a man or a woman. Same is in English

[@AntonioPaterno]

In Spanish and English is "Bravo" as this is an italian word, and "Bravo" in Spanish means "Brave" in English. Besides English doesn't use different endings for masculine or feminine, that's way they think Italian word "Bravo" is for both

[@CarloQuinto]

Brava! She and Deanna Durbin put singers Like the famous JS to shame and JS couldn't pronounce French either. Listen to Anna Netrebko for a lesson not only in French but belcanto and belacting as well

[@Randalina1]

great video, but as good as Jane Powell is I think Jeanette Macdonald's (the mother in this clip) version from Rosemarie is a bit better.

[@boothtarkington2681]

Here French articulation may not be good BUT SHE KNEW HOW TO SING UNLIKE THOSE WHO POSE AS SOPRANOS TODAY

[@ComradeGabroo]

Franclish

[@andrebontemp]

the voice is good but her french( not being unkind cause I like Miss Powell) is far from beeing understandable believe me I'm french. She did'nt have a good coach in french probably!!!

[@tsheavenly]

Sounds like she's singing gibberish

[@johnclarke5459]

Yup!

[@yogajedi3337]

One of the reason why this type of pretty singing nowadays is almost non existent.