I'm Still Here [Follies ~ Broadway, 2011] - Elaine Paige

A jaw-dropping performance by the amazing Elaine Paige as Carlotta Campion in Follies. I expected too much from Elaine tbh and I'm not disappointed! She still has it! So glad the show transferred to Broadway. Enjoy!

[@naknimiyangaj]

Of the many renditions of this song, Ms. Page is the one who most completely sings the notes without losing the drama.... her eyes and facial expressions plus her actual singing convey the pathos and the humor so well. Brava, Ms. Page!

[@johndalton3180]

Saw this about 12 times in NY and LA. LOVED getting to see La Paige BELT.

[@tubecritic290]

This is how this amazing song should be sung. So this very show with Elaine on Broadway, she brought the house down

[@sweeney60]

i think this is the best acting ive ever seen from elaine, shes done many dramatic roles, nice to see her in something more comedic.

[@Pww642]

I have listened to this song a million times and I’ll never get over how it’s like an entire autobiography and history of the mid 20th century boiled down to five minutes. It is so dense and allusive that you could spend hours picking it apart to understand every cultural touchstone.

[@VidRackoff]

I saw this in LA. It was a really good show. But this five minutes blew my mind. Like, the writing, the performing… This is the absolute pinnacle of this art form.

[@tommoncrieff1154]

Me too, in LA. Agree totally.

[@bettyburt9197]

I love this interpretation of this song. We've all seen it done in a classy, ironic, knowing way about a million times. This is a real character study - it's not Elaine Paige singing about her life, it's the character in the play. She's not classy. She's still here because she's a fighter. It's raw and gutsy and it made my palms sweat. I never thought Paige would suit Sondheim but in my opinion she totally nails this.

[@DistantCousin]

You're exactly right, and this is exactly the criticism that Tracie Bennett has faced in the current London production - as she said in a radio interview, songs like this have SUCH a life outside of the show and are concert and cabaret staples - they have been endlessly tinkered with, and this and her performance are taking it back to the original acting performances of the song - not a diva's showstopper. This performance retains an authenticity, as probably directed

[@paulfaulkner5786]

It probably didnt hurt that Sondheim worked with Elaine quite a bit directly. She has said it changed her performance completely.

[@jgregveneklasen2657]

@@DistantCousin Except it was originally tailored for Yvonne DiCarlo, based on her career, and the fact that the original song for her wasn't "zinging". So Sondheim created this and tinkered on it with DiCarlo so it fit her like a glove. And was absolutely a diva's show-stopper. Apart from the leads, Sally, Phyllis, Ben and Buddy, everyone else's one number are (former) star turns.

[@DistantCousin]

@@jgregveneklasen2657 yep. I know. I saw the last London production twice! 😉

[@officialmichaelcarrasco]

I saw the Broadway AND LA Cast and she smashed it on both coasts! It was a showstopper for sure!!!

[@humbajor9931]

Damn! She could sing and the best version of it I've ever heard.

[@jrbaskind]

She just knocked my socks off!

[@DG-us6rh]

She gets one solo for the whole show, and damn, she owns it

[@gwynethh9524]

Hiya Sam...consider me sold :)

[@TheBabysittersReview]

+Sam Lee Well, they did give her another sad number but 1,800 people laughed their asses off so they cut it

[@JackMason-oq8lf]

Yvonne DeCarlo was included in top billing.

[@JackMason-oq8lf]

Phyllis and Sally got one solo each. I would say they both nailed it. Several others with solos ended up in the reviews.

[@jcnyc9087]

Interesting set up and staging; the unfailing Elaine Paige nails it!

[@orion8835]

THIS RENDITION IS so entertaining AND REALLY FULLY SUNG WHICH IS REFRESHING. PAIGE IS HILARIOUS.

[@menashadude]

have a terrible confession....I saw her sing this live. I am 43 years old...I was in 6th grade when I discovered Evita and listened to it over and over and over. I have enjoyed Elaine Paige since the the early eighties, truely. So there I was sitting at my first broadway musical (in heat to see Bernadette Peters) however I am sitting (very blessed and luck of extreme fate) next to the partner of Terri Barnett, Donna, who was as gorgous a human being as the jewelry she was wearing! All Heaven

[@briansilkworth5486]

Holy cats! What a voice. Just marvelous.

[@francerobert58]

Oh my GOD what a star!!!! I just love her!!!

[@laurencebrooks7699]

One of the best performances of this Sondeheim classic.

[@johnyzero2000]

Dammit she was overlooked!

[@StreepMirrenSmith]

This woman is my idol. Thank God she is still here!

[@calguy85]

I saw Elaine in this role at the Ahmanson in LA a few days ago and she was ELECTRIC. When she drove through that last note and sustained it all the way through, the audience was literally jolted out of their chairs. Brilliant.

[@tmf866]

When I saw her on Broadway, I was in the second row right in front of her with nobody in the seat in front of me. I could hear her without the amp. She was astonishing.

[@jgregveneklasen2657]

She sure was, I was amazed, truly. God, I'm glad I ponied up the $$ to see that production, it was the first and last time the show will have a full orchestra, dangit.

[@jgregveneklasen2657]

@@tmf866 WOWSA!!

[@darreylhenderson702]

I saw the show at the Kennedy center in dc, then on broadway, and then finally in LA. By the time the show came to LA, Elaine was absolutely on fire. She was stellar in the other runs of the show, but my God! Her LA performance was the top!

[@DistantCousin]

Elaine is a force of nature!!

[@kayedeedid]

in the last 24 hours, I've watched Elaine Stritch, Carol Burnett, Yvonne DeCarlo, Ann Miller, and Elaine Paige sing this song. While Elaine Stritch's is a strident near scream throughout, Ann's was pretty classy, Carol's will surprise you with her ability, Yvonne's is the original, but Elaine Paige's actual ability to SING and sing BIG makes this a really good performance of this song.

[@deshaunx776]

Dedra Kaye KeHart If you're looking for pretty vocals, Elaine Stritch won't impress you and it is nice to hear the actual melody belted out by Ms. Paige. The thing is, this song wasn't written to be sung beautifully. This song is a painful recalling of one's life journey. Stritch is the only one I've heard DELIVER this song in a way that makes me feel the meaning of the lyrics.

[@Carmelide]

Dedra Kaye DeHart Eartha

[@RickCarter-kb6vp]

Page does a good version ... but Elaine Stritch, Julie Wilson, Tracie Bennett are the gold standards of this great Sondheim number- a tribute to older women.. Stritch lived and embodied this song.. Wilson brought a wonderful cabaret sensibility to it .. and Bennett made it Garlandesque.. all worthy renditions.

[@RickCarter-kb6vp]

Tony Turner Yes Tony that is a great performance ... Dame Shirley Bassey did great performances in 2009 and 2014 as well - 2009 is big brassy Bassey and 2014 is more restrained and a bit more intimate.. it is definitely Sondheim’s ode to a woman of a certain age..

[@RickCarter-kb6vp]

Tony Turner I saw those clips of Diahann Carol .. she was a terrific singer and actress and beautiful ... such a trailblazer... so sure of herself.. Shirley Bassey in her prime had such a gift.. but my impression is that Britain never appreciated her as fully as they could have because she is Black woman coming up at the wrong time in the wrong medium.. look how well Audra McDonald has been able to have a far more expansive career on broadway and I could see her playing Norma Desmond in a revival on Broadway 15-20 years from now...

[@liarcheckmate]

Just happened on this as I was listening to the Follies album. I saw this opening night in NYC and at that point I had NEVER heard the song and I was blown away. Just watched it again and it did it AGAIN. Her toughness makes it terribly moving. And for my tastes her voice is just fine.

[@aarontakesbroadway]

I love the way she transforms this song and completely makes it her own! Love the anger and regret she brings to the role! Marvellous! 😍🤩🤗

[@beverlyseaview8623]

Great voice very powerful voice and technique goes from low to high to a whisper to a belt believe you me this woman can still belt.xx

[@noahpattillo7104]

Terrific, one of the best performances I've seen in a long time.... Wow!

[@MrPoto00]

Wonderful actress and singer!

[@joannecarroll1]

I can't believe EP didn't get nominated for the TONY!!!!!!!!!!

[@joannecarroll1]

I went to NY to see her - she does the showstopper singing this song! I'm still hoping for a taping - I'd love to have great memories of EP in the show. Thanks so much for posting your video - it's great!!

[@Moiturette]

Eight times! That's amazing. I saw it twice, and I flew from Australia to see it. I wish it was still on. It could easily have done two years at the Marquis Theater.

[@stuartbee5716]

great comic timing, great voice and stage presence- thanks for posting xo

[@MsWho132]

She's still got it!!!!!! Love her!

[@hefinrosser8685]

A true musical theatre queen xx outstanding as always xxx

[@Gaffahead]

Best comment ever on Elaine Paige's take on Carlotta!

[@caseyjay231]

she is simply amazing.

[@old.not.too.grumpy.]

I saw EP do Evita and Piaf in London, two very different but demanding roles she was brilliant in both. Although she has retired from the stage she does a radio programme that's broadcast ever Sunday afternoon on BBC Radio2 where she plays music from stage and screen. She is one of the true greats of British musical theatre.

[@wikiwikiwhat09]

So much energy in this performance. This is what theatre should do. Reach out and grab the audience til they listen. I'm not even a EP fan, but gotta admit this is fantastic.

[@davidcassaday6076]

SOOO BRILLIANT.. Saw this performance SEVERAL TIMES.... Ms Paige was B R I L L I A N T!

[@joejojo6]

What an amazing voice , great performance.

[@megansinclair2416]

That was an awesome moment!

[@snaglet2284]

Sublime Bravo pandemonium fabulousness indeed thank you Stephen Sondheim and Elaine.

[@earlady66]

Thanks so much for this! Isn't she wonderful? She sounds fabulous and looks beautiful! This is definately a keeper!!!

[@Gaffahead]

Amazing, isn't she? Just last night I was listening to my audio of the closing night of Follies in London (1987) and I swear Eartha's "I'm Still Here" is on repeat for no less than 5 times. The audience went nuts after her showstopping performance. The applause went on for like forever... :)

[@kala6665]

Eartha did her own take on it as only she can do, and it works. It works very well, aided by her own personal struggles in her career the song becomes even more meaningful. Elaine blossomed in this role. By the time it hit L.A. she was at her peak not only during this number, but each time she was on stage. Love you Eartha, and it was a joy to have you join us for Jewish holidays with Jeanne Pomiere and family.

[@JackMason-oq8lf]

That applause was more for Eartha than the song. That song was the story of her life. And there she is, still standing, exhibit #1.

[@lucyfer4420]

This is OVERWHELMING ! even though this has been sung millions of times.....Elain Page's rendition is OUT of this WORLD! I was going to say: How Lucky you were to beign there that night and get to record this particular performance but....hey! what if she deliveres this top rate performance every single night? what if this one is not one of her best? what if........I better stop here. I'm shiivering now.

[@sfyc]

EVERY night! She was phenomenal!

[@samiun2]

Wow. Love this

[@JerkyPuck]

This song is NOT supposed to be subtle....the lyrics themselves suggest that. This is a broad who has been there and done that and she's finally gonna let it out. I think Elaine does a fine job on it.....as for those who hate on Stritchy (who does it best yet has never played the part) keep in mind that this is musical "theatre" not a concert hall. The importance of acting FAR outweigh's the importance of singing on Broadway.

[@JackMason-oq8lf]

Merman became the textbook Broadway musical star, yet she was a dreadful actor. That kinda came to light when Angela Lansbury took on Mama Rose.

[@BarryCorbett-x9m]

Not a big fan of Page and HATE most of Sondheim, but she is good here...

[@joannecarroll1]

I didn't think about 2012 - but I think she would & SHOULD BE. They need to see that they overlooked Elaine. I can't see who was nominated getting nominated over her!!!!

[@christophercobb249]

Now that is how you act a song! Damn.

[@chookaschookas444]

Such a classy performer

[@ThaiHainanese]

Amazing, best version ever

[@fandodo223]

Love EP!Wonderful Actress!

[@KarenFreid]

I didn't see Elaine Page in the show -- but I thought with this performance she did a fabulous 'helluva job" with the song. I loved her cocky attitude -- felt she delivered it fantastically -- And regarding her voice for this song -- it's an 'acting song' and she produced the power and mood she needed behind it -- we don't need Renee Fleming for this. Also, the fabulous Elaine Stritch also acted the song with power rather than vocal range.

[@stuartbee5716]

Karen Freid the time elaine stritch sang it at the white house and repeatedly forgot the lines is tragic to watch

[@idparkinson]

Goosebumps!

[@lloydarriola3481]

Oh, I quite like this!

[@neilfeigeles8944]

Wow, the first half of the song did not prepare me for the last third, astonishing. I saw her in NYC when she starred in Sunset Blvd. I made a pre,iose to myself if she ever performed in NYC on Broadway, I would go, and well, she did not disappoint. Every song she sang, she received a standing ovation, I have never experienced anything like that, and she was greater then I ever dreamed. or hoped. One of the highlights on my life.

[@Harringtonml54]

The performance of this number I most admire was given by Polly Bergen. She was nominated for the Tony and fully deserved to win. Her take on it was astonishing, and she delivered the entire last part as she was exiting the stage, adding a dimension to the lyric that gave it an amazingly effective irony. As she sang her last "I'm still here .." --she wasn't still there. Great, inspired work.

[@LloydAntonyLB]

The original Evita and Grizabella knows what she’s singing about!

[@dummygeek]

HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAR her "HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE" OMG blow me away!!!

[@XX-gy7ue]

SPECTACULAR

[@williamssandra100]

Your right Brent Fabian Rayburn ..her charector is telling her credit's she is NOT a has been/washed up nobody, that's what the lyic is saying And it's not supposed to be suble,,it's clearly comical as well..And as for her acting She was wonderful the crowd went wild I had the pleaser of seeing /meeting her in follies and after the show; I think she is a very charming woman she was very gracious to her fans chatted with us signed autographs and let us take picture's with her before she left

[@johnyzero2000]

Someone please tell me how the fuck she wasn't nominated for a Tony award?!

[@teeniebeenie8774]

she is the best in ev thing she do !!!!

[@myamygdala7]

What an amazing song! Glee brought me here, too!

[@Synesthesia_n_Sugar]

The video gives some idea of how great she was, but not quite. She can't be five feet tall, but she has the most amazing stage presence you could possibly fathom. I never knew enough about her to know why people made such a fuss until I saw her live doing this. Love this show so much.

[@jgregveneklasen2657]

Exactly, you expressed this just right.

[@JackMason-oq8lf]

She was a big deal musical star in London's West End. She introduced the character Grizabella, and sang the one good song from that show, written by a British man. In New York, that role was sung by Betty Buckley. The dueling divas are still the stuff of bar room brawls.

[@JackMason-oq8lf]

I saw Buckley. She was down for the count, full of sadness, not perky. And note perfect.

[@ydnas639]

I was lucky enough to see this production in DC, but I also saw the original production in New York. Misses Page and Kitt are both amazing performers but Yvonne De Carlo nailed this song. Listen to the original cast album. You'll hear the difference.

[@menashadude]

Then in the middle of the this song I realized who was performing! Who was singinging?!? OMG, Elaine Paige. I was dumbfounde..I had heard my brother say to me that day....oh, wow ..you're going to see Elaine Paige..I ignored that...because all I could think about was Bernadette Peters. I was fixated....enamored. Danny Burnstien gave me the third punch of the night.Jan Maxwell lead the knock out..Everyone I met in manhatten told me tha "This is the one" if your going to see a show, this was it!

[@flannerymonaghan-morrs4740]

Should the national theatre production transfer over here, I would like to see her as sally.

[@psperrazza]

WOW!!!

[@johnyzero2000]

How the hell did Elaine Paige not get a Tony nomination for this???!!!!

[@tmf866]

It was a revival, she wasn't eligible.

[@fergusmurray1828]

Thomas Farrell What? That’s never been a thing?

[@richardmayora1289]

@@tmf866 She was eligible. And they made a mistake.

[@sammy7819]

Love this, Stephen Sondheim brought me here

[@KateBushDepot]

@sweeney60 I agree. This is my favorite performance of Elaine so far. This lady can do anything really. How I wish she could do two more roles before she retires: DESIREE in A Little Night Music and ROSE in Gypsy!!!

[@fergusmurray1828]

Should’ve done Rose instead of Peters. I think Elaine might’ve fitted Mendes’ vision better also.

[@VidRackoff]

Also, I feel like it’s implied in this production that her fanboy cater-waiters are gay. And there’s something extra special about that relationship between her and her gay fans, which echoes Elaine Paige and her fanboys. Pretty cool and specific.

[@Macrogue65]

Force of nature.

[@robertw8861]

Nailed it!

[@cscottzimnamaste]

Belligerent, bitchy, bitter. Certainly a departure from previous iterations, Paige hits on Carlotta's defiance and gives us plenty of it, and only that. For me, it's a note-perfect, if one-note performance. And I adore EP.

[@brianeduardo1234]

thank you for that reply.... will check it out... all the best

[@JoanBette]

Belting for the gods!!! Saw this live and she stole the whole show with one song..

[@paulcanaday-elliott9834]

Keyvin Rink, me, too. Totally agree.

[@teeniebeenie8774]

ALWAYS MAGNIFICENT LUV U BABY

[@mikegoupill7328]

What a shame that JUDY wasn’t alive and well enough to tackle this Sondheim masterpiece.She would have,as she has in the past,created show business history.

[@sweeney60]

thank you so much. ;)

[@acgogoacgogo8854]

Just sublime. Elaine Page is perfect. However it looked like she was headed for a wardrobe malfunction. I'll bet she would have just kept on singing. The show must go on. The girl's a trooper.

[@habatyu]

This is really good. But my favorite, even topping the original, in my opinion, is really Elaine Stritch. She's so good.

[@traciforsythe4362]

Yay I’m the 1000% like

[@sweeney60]

@KateBushDepot Did you know that Bea and Elaine were both considered for the part of Dorothy on the Golden Girls. Not only that but After Bea played Vera on Broadway in Mame, Elaine then did the national tour of Mame playing the same role. Amazing the parallels in their careers.

[@menashadude]

They were right...I will never forget that night.....especiallly Donna...Wow. (sorry for all of the typos.)

[@tracer740]

cam11971- Indeed it was and how she shone!

[@sweeney60]

my opinion is that many of the women before had subtlety and it made them great, but I think it was both a directing and acting choice to set this portrayal apart from the rest. Its far more cynical than the others and she comes off more bitter and even cocky. But it makes sense, this woman went through the hardships of show business and never had it easy and still doesn't. She has paid her dues. It's different but totally in character.

[@michaelmiller1215]

Wow

[@jamiekeister9803]

Only Stephen Sondheim could turn the word “career” into a verb. And man, did he know how to write for woodwinds.

[@sweeney60]

she seems like a woman who doesn't want to let go of her sex appeal as she ages and it works for the character.

[@joehnlein]

as brilliant as the entire performance is, my favorite part was "i've loved you since i was a little boy!" ..."shit" #brilliant.

[@jayhartbarger2793]

sad she is so little known in America

[@strobe155]

I sing this song in the bathroom mirror every morning....

[@lucyfer4420]

I'd die to know what this would have sounded in Judy Garland's voice........

[@HeresWhatJonathanSaid]

+Lucy Fer I've said that before too. It's the perfect song for her.

[@Ben63451]

It would be thrilling perfection...

[@samueltucker5253]

Tracy Bennet is playing this part in London at the moment and she played Judy in the musical of her life the voicals are identical! It was like watching judy.

[@michaelmiller1215]

Lucy Fer Too amazing for words! And too autobiographical also!

[@erizabeta]

Very interesting to see this played with more passion and less of the rueful reminiscences.

[@brianeduardo1234]

thank you I will.

[@PiecesOfRainbow7]

MEEEEEMORYYYYYYY

[@DistantCousin]

Very true!

[@KateBushDepot]

Of course it's so much better live but frankly, I can tell how amazing she is even by simply watching a bootleg video with all its imperfections/limitations.

[@cam11971]

Yvonne de Carlo is the best, the song was even written for her

[@sweeney60]

@KateBushDepot that kind of goes with Bea Arthur too, she wanted to play rose, but got too old and then died before she got the chance

[@Gaffahead]

Not necessarily. The three best Carlottas ever imho are Yvonne de Carlo, Eartha Kitt, and Ann Miller. Yvonne and Eartha are in their late-40s to early-50s when they were cast, and I believe Ann Miller is about 75 (close enough). It doesn't matter whether you lived through the Depression, Gandhi, or whatnot - it all depends on how well you acted the part, and all of those ladies I mentioned really felt it.