Memory Elaine Paige FIRST TIME REACTION | Analysis and Reaction

[@Kiwi_Tea]

The PURITY in the younger girls voice...makes me tear up every time.

[@nickhiggsthesinger]

Me too!!

[@tomheinle1049]

Elaine is the "Voice" for this song. No one will ever top this performance. Any covers are mere pretenders.

[@suhndog]

Such wonderful and deep expressiveness! I cry every time I watch/listen to this song. In a cold world as we have today, I wish more folks would grab-hold and learn to feel again..

[@callan9767]

Elaine Paige’s pristine vocals and acting chops are a killer combo that few can match. Great reaction! Also recommend checking out her Olivier performance as Edith Piaf, and pretty much any of her performances as Evita and/or Norma Desmond. She’s everything.

[@kaylovesdisney4582]

I had this on VHS when i was a kid and was obsessed with it. My mum would come in to the room and say "this is silly.....why are they dancing around as cats...and then they put giant shoe boxes on their heads and sing about dogs?" Then, in 2003, we saw the 2003 UK Tour (Mum and Dad got me tickets for Christmas 🥲)....and her entire opinion changed...and by the time we got to this moment...she got it!!!😊 This proves that CATS is a piece that is meant for the stage.....it's not meant for CGI...and you can't just pick up bits here and there. You need to see it live to fully appreciate what this show is trying to achieve. We were so lucky that the cast of the 2003 tour were the same level as what we see here in this recording. They were incredible!! Sadly, my Mum is no longer with us 😢💔...but I forever treasure that memory of going to see CATS together.

[@soundofnellody262]

wow, her acting is amazing. 🥺

[@LongandWeirdName]

She is the example I always use for the difference between an artisan/skilled worker who can deliver the notes and an artist/emotion evoker. The vocal imperfections, the voice breaks, the breathiness... she knows how to make you feel every spine bone on this skinny old cat's back, every bald spot in Griz' fur, her reactive recoil if you try to touch her unexpectedly, caused by being hurt too much, the apathy/melancholy of years of neglect and hunger, the longing, or even desperation, for another chance that she wouldn't waste this time. Not many can do that.

[@relamour55]

Your analyses are super helpful. It helps that you've got personality that communicates beautifully.

[@lynngarrow7077]

She always makes me cry

[@binslick1000]

Elaine Paige's vocals are fantastic. Please react to Don't cry for me, Argentina. Also by Elaine Paige.

[@alexioverdo5225]

Elaine Page together with Barbara Dickson still share the record for the best selling single ever in the UK recorded by a female duo .It's the the no1 smash "I know him so well" from the 1984 musical "Chess" composed by ABBA's B.Anderson/B.Ulveaus and T.Rice.This also got in the Guieness Book BTW the song was also covered later on by Barbra Streisant but also by Whitney Houston (duetted with her mother Cissy).

[@Fluffyfoodog]

It's 9am on a Thursday, I'm at work and balling my eyes out at my desk.... Because I will always cry at this performance. This version of Cats is so good, it's available on you tube in parts I think. I will never forgive the movie for chasing people away from this musical, it already had a bad rap for being 'cringe' and being mostly a series of character introductions held together by the whisper of a plot, but it's so fun and energetic, and the dancing and songs are fantastic. It's just a musical to just let yourself go with the flow and enjoy, rather than the more typical musical that's plot/character driven.

[@beempathetic17]

Couldn’t agree more! I saw a clip of Bustopher Jones from the movie and I’m sorry but if I’m honest, it made me want to puke.😭😤 I grew up watching the recording of Cats on the stage from the library. This song has often brought me to tears it is so heart wrenching. Elaine’s performance is top tier in every aspect!❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@tommoncrieff1154]

There are multiple versions of the lyrics of this song which was based on a few lines and ideas of TS Eliot. Sir Trevor Nunn, the director, wrote and re-wrote the new additional lyrics during the opening weeks of the first run. Elaine Paige had only just stepped into the role at the last minute after Dame Judi Dench sprained her ankle, and had enough of a task to learn and interpret the biggest song in the show; she found it difficult to sing multiple versions with very similar but not identical lyrics as they tried to get it exactly right. The show was such a smash hit that TS Eliot’s widow, a literary editor who granted permission for the musical, earned more from the lyrics than from every other work of Eliot’s and from her lengthy distinguished publishing career added together.

[@rationalsanethinker5753]

Thanks for the fascinating backstory. But ... Judi Dench can sing?!

[@jofo3197]

Thanks Nick for explaining. Very insightful.love this emotional song from the heart. It ahould appeal to all High Sensitive Persons. Her emotions guiding the text draws into her as a human being.

[@HahnJames]

I love music and sincerely wish that I had a voice suited for vocal music. I noticed the other day that none of the trees in front of my apartment have any birds in them anymore. I hope their leaving wasn't my fault. I greatly appreciate how you walk us through what's going on with singers in vocal scores. As I know extraordinarily little about vocal performance, I am learning a lot and you're fun to watch. This poor bedraggled cat gave voice to how I've been feeling all day ...until I watched this video. As the new day dawns, though, she moves from focusing on the past to living in the present, in the moment. That's were happiness is.

[@tomheinle1049]

I think that meter you discussed when she sings Happiness is bringing the acting of the part to the front. Evidence of a singer acting rather than an actor singing.

[@shadokat]

Such a tear-jerker! I've never seen *Cats* but this performance is perfection.

[@beempathetic17]

I definitely recommend finding the recording of the stage production, I’m not sure where you can find it other than in dvd form from your local library. I also can’t warn you strongly enough to avoid the movie version!!!

[@PADARM]

Elaine Paige is Grizabella, She acts with her gaze. The music itself is wonderful but Elaine's performance is on another level. Great reaction

[@SCharlesDennicon]

Good job man. You made me love that song even more.

[@agent941]

i love cats. not cous it’s nessesarily the best musical. but it’s what introdused me to musicals. and this song was the first time i ever got goosebumps from a song.

[@untectings]

I went to see Cats back in 1985 when I lived in Toronto can't remember who played Grizabella

[@hippopotamusbosch]

Has anyone tried streaming plays on Broadway HD? It looks like they have live recordings of stage productions.

[@aliciasilvester8594]

OH my goodnessss!!!!! THIS version and BETTY BUCKLEYS are my absolute favorite!!!!

[@janetlawson4482]

I was fortunate enough to see Betty Buckley in the Broadway production, it was incredible, I had seen A Chorus Line and several other musicals, but CATS was by far the Best. The London Production on video is incredible, I can’t count how many times my kids watched it, or me for that matter. I was able to take them when they were adults and they still knew the entire program by heart. The live version does include a very operatic scene, but it wasn’t included in the London video. It’s very unfortunate that there wasn’t more attention to detail in the movie version, I they could have at least had them wearing ballet flats instead of human feet, it didn’t work.

[@thomascurtin9714]

'Memory' is iconic, yes. If you want to react and lose your heart to, IMO, one of the most beautiful emotion evoking sonnets in modern era musical theater, I invite you to explore 'Love To Me' from The Light In The Piazza composed by Adam Guettel (who idolized in his youth and in in this musical worked to exceed Sondheim). But for five measures at the end of the song (4/4), the piece is composed 5/8+4/8 (effectively 9/8). If you're a tenor in your 20s, you should be committing violent crime to be cast and sing Fabrizio, just for this song.

[@garylife5320]

Great reaction! Love Elaine and Betty are my faves. followed closely by Liz Callaway. Originally Dame Judi Dench was supposed to play Grizabella in the original cast but was injured not too far in advance of the show and Elaine stepped into the role. It would have been totally different if Dame Dench would have originated the role.

[@tommoncrieff1154]

Dame Judi

[@ryanc5517]

Nick, with the Olympic Games about a month away, how about reacting to a couple of videos that people associate with the Olympics. One Moment in Time by Whitney Houston and Power of the Dream by Celine Dion. With the madness permeating all over the world, a couple of good power ballads to cleanse the spirit.

[@rationalsanethinker5753]

How about this? kzbin.info/www/bejne/aWnHpKiCbZZ1a7ssi=tX9qbs4_2tTGj7mE

[@karenbiotec]

I would absolutelly subscribe to a "Broadstream" if there's one someday! Hope someday I can go to NY to watch a Broadway show at a theater 🤩

[@beempathetic17]

Same here!!!

[@uncommonman]

You must listen to Helen Sjöholm singing "Du måste finnas". Just make sure you have the version with English subtitles.

[@uncommonman]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/rJyaZ5KfptxghsUsi=Kvp8-bayhP-JQXUX

[@ryanc5517]

Is this considered a "torch song"? Can you react to some popular torch songs (ABBA's Winner Takes it all comes to mind)? Also a torch song with a male lead?

[@garylife5320]

In theatre, this is referred to as an 11 o'clock number. Other famous ones are What I Did For Love from A Chorus Line, Cabaret from Cabaret, Back to Before from Ragtime, and This Nearly Was Mine from South Pacific., Hope that helps.

[@will8026]

Really moving video! Would love you to do a harmony building series on the opening movement of the Vivaldi MAGNIFICAT and the ET INCARNATUS EST and CRUCIFIXUS of his CREDO RV 591, please/

[@tobyhenderson4637]

Please can you react to one of The Bass Gang's recent releases - If I Had A Heart Ft. Ekaterina Shelehova. It has insane harmonies and a big mix of different bass techniques, and even some overtone singing - you'll love it I'm sure!

[@bengarrionphoenix4207]

It's called national theatre live...

[@bwaychick20]

I would love for you to react to Jenn Colela singing “Me and the Sky” from Come From Away.

[@oxoelfoxo]

plie in singing!

[@oxoelfoxo]

this is the only song from the musical that i've heard. are none of the other songs popular?

[@uncommonman]

Yes, but no... The genre isn't popular but those who like the genre would have heard more songs from Cats. Memory is the most radio friendly imo.

[@monolit73]

Interesting, I didn't know. Elaine Paige was born on March 5th, which is also my birthday. But this reminded me of another coincidence that was more significant to me. On May 31, 2003, a very interesting event occurred. On this day there was an eclipse of the Sun and on this day a new star was born, eclipsing the Sun with its birth. Agree, the combination is more than fateful. On this last day of spring, Diana Ankudinova was born. And on the first day of spring this year, another significant event occurred. On March 1, the World Premiere of the new part of the famous blockbuster Dune begun. - Dune Part 2 What could be better than the combination of the best vocals in the world and the best soundtracks in the world of cinema in a great show!? Please react to a grandiose performance (very big show, more than 100 musicians on stage) - Diana Ankudinova. Art of Hans Zimmer Soundtrack from the movie Dune The first Dune film, released in 2021, received 6 Oscars out of 10 Oscar nominations. Hans Zimmer - film score composer and music producer. He has won two Oscars and four Grammys, and has been nominated for three Emmys and a Tony. Zimmer was also named on the list of Top 100 Living Geniuses. Full video name: Diana Ankudinova. Art of Hans Zimmer Soundtrack from the movie Dune (the best version from St. Petersburg) This video is from Diana's second official channel - "Diana Ankudinova Life" This channel only features live performances by Diana and there are no copyright restrictions.

[@heathergarnham9555]

Grizabella the Glamour Cat

[@kimbaudart6036]

I need a subscription to Broadstream asap...

[@hippopotamusbosch]

I watched a production of Cats and left before the intermission. The plot was too elusive for me.

[@heathergarnham9555]

That's kind of the point, there isn't a plot, it's a collection of cats telling their stories. It's based on a book of poems.

[@christophervisavati8983]

My favorite version is Bette Buckley. I would like to see you do a reaction to Ren’s Hi Ren. I know it isn’t in your wheelhouse.

[@elizabethennis1916]

Can you please react to BTS? Id love to get your thoughts

[@bertusvanhal8855]

I love to hear Elaine Paige singing but this song [for me] is Barbra Streisand's version, the Best, if i listen intens to her singing this song i get tears in my eyes .... so Very Very Beautiful.

[@ЛарисаЭммас]

Класс! Если хотите посмеяться, то рекомендую вам отреагировать на мини- опера- пародия к русскому мультфильму Пиф-паф. Это мультфильм о том, как детскую считалку про зайчика можно исполнить в разных музыкальных жанрах. К мультфильму специально была написана опера. Оперный певец никак не мог озвучить мультфильм потому что все время смеялся)))) слова оперы:: хор: ой ты травушка муравка луговая, ой ты заячья сторонушка родная. Мы уверены что поздно или рано выйдет зайчик погулять на поляну. Раз, два, три, четыре, пять. Вышел зайчик погулять. Заяц: я вышел в лес гулять. Мне боязно и страшно. Моя душа предчувствием полна. Хор: предчувствия его не обманули. Охотник: ах вот вы где! Вас мне и надо! Вы съесть изволили мою морковь! Хор: какой позор! Рождает спор. Заяц: я не ел морковь! Охотник: к барьеру! Хор: сейчас прольется чья-то кровь! Заяц: ах неужели навсегда закроются мои косые очи и не увижу я тебя моя любовь! Моя любовь моя морковь! Навек я твой моя морковь! Охотник стреляет. Хор: ой, умирает зайчик мой! Заяц: принесли меня домой, оказался я живой. Хор: и еще неоднократно выйдет зайчик погулять! Обязательно послушайте. Шедевр мультипликации kzbin.info/www/bejne/laKwgqd_jpKdaq8si= kzbin.info/www/bejne/h56ooq1qnqiAiaMsi=_7SNs1VcRxOEuoJ8

[@veselakhmarka]

Good performance, but I like Dimash's version better. Sorry, I'm a crazy lover of Dimash.

[@planetwatch0000]

There's a big difference performing it on stage night after night rather than some showboating knock off. Sorry. Hard to put the likes of Elaine Paige in the same space as this Dimash guy. Paige IS musical theatre.