Take Me or Leave Me - Tracie Thoms and Nicole Scherzinger

"Take Me or Leave Me" from RENT at the Hollywood Bowl, August 6, 2010. Featuring Tracie Thoms and Nicole Scherzinger

[@dirttowater]

Tracie literally sounds like she does on the CD. True talent. Props to Nicole though, she really held her own in a song sung by one of the greatest Broadway performers in the world.

[@katere6893]

If your referring to Idina Menzel, your completely correct!!

[@dirttowater]

lol of course I'm referring to Idina... she was the original Maureen

[@SgtSplatter782]

dirttowater Idina is the benchmark that every Maureen will be measured against.

[@mayamcgee729]

Tracie Thoms is the ONLY joanne😍😍

[@karasmith8235]

She sure is!

[@OwainMilliken]

I think that every time I've seen rent it's been her

[@jadesadventures528]

agreed. i love that she is always in everything for RENT

[@MrBrandonKnowles]

maya papaya She really is. The ONLY Joanne

[@superchick99]

I realize everyone's talking about Idina and Nicole, but can we take a minute to appreciate Tracie! Ugh always SO good!

[@SelphieFairy]

prob cause with tracie there's nothing to debate (ie. she's good.) :P

[@kishah3119]

There's no one better than Tracie in this role.

[@kishah3119]

+Kisha H I love Idina better too though.

[@lynnem5792]

I've seen a number of different versions of Rent, and Tracie is the best Joanne ever.

[@kellyalves756]

I came here for Tracie. ❤️

[@abigailhannah2093]

I am a HUGE Idina Mendel fan and while I do agree that no one can do this song like Idina, Nicole's vocals were definitely stellar in this song and production of RENT. She played the part of Maureen very well. I give credit were credit is do and as a vocalist myself I know these songs are not the easiest to sing. Take me or leave me can be especially challenging and Nicole delivered. GET IT GIRL!

[@whoayoitslaur]

Nicole Scherzinger is so freakin underrated, ugh, gosh. I love when she does things like this, always makes people sit up and take notice.

[@TheOlympicBanana]

Some performers have trouble balancing acting and singing, focusing too much on the singing with sub-par acting or vice versa. But, damn, Tracie nails it every time

[@naomirose5616]

I love Idina, don't get me wrong, but I feel like Nicole really got the whole "I've always been hot & flirty" thing down, also TRACIE MY GOD WORDS CANNOT AND DO NOT EXPRESS THAT TALENT

[@DannMann8]

Nicole KILLS this... she's such an underrated performer

[@LILGAGA1234]

Tracie Thoms was born for this role. God, I love her!!

[@michellemagallon5172]

Jesus, Tracie is absolute perfection

[@fullhousecast420]

tracie thoms will always be joanne in my mind

[@meganbeth9280]

Jesus Christ can she ever sing. Say what you want about her acting that voice is unreal. Flawless.

[@skmannes]

Nicole would've made a PERFECT MIMI!!!

[@sweeety969]

Samantha Vaughan talk about art imitating life!

[@ryantorres8355]

Not my favorite Maureen, but damn, she can sing the hell out of this song. I really wasn't expecting aynthing from her, but I was wrong. Way to go Scherzinger!

[@paigewyatt502]

This was amazing from both girls, but this was one of the most breathtaking vocals I've heard from Tracie Thoms

[@OracleAnne]

I love Idina as Maureen, but I love Nicole's take on the role too. Amazing.

[@musicloverpr]

Tracie Thoms is so great.

[@13deathKISS]

Whoa!!! Nicole's voice fits so well with this song along with Tracie's!! XD This is amazing how well the two sounded. Their voices were so powerful!

[@schnitzel1024]

They both DEFINITELY did that.

[@selina5598]

I think we can all agree that no matter who is Maureen and so far on youtube there's been Idina, Nicole and Eden, Tracie is Queen Joanna

[@littlemisslizilon]

Their chemistry is actually so on point. One of the best scenes in this production!

[@igorarnaud]

Nicole: Lack of acting skills, but her voice WOW, impressive. Took to another level.

[@puellamagica3359]

holy shit that was incredible. a stadium-shattering performance if there ever was one

[@user-jy8zb2wc8l]

One moment while I sigh happily over THE Tracie Thoms of original Rent

[@karasmith8235]

Tracie wasn't in the original cast. She was in the movie, the final cast and this. However, she IS Joanne. No one else will ever play the role as well as she does

[@00Licorne00]

Nicole is a great singer wow

[@DeStRyRoCkS10901]

I will always want the Idina and Tracie duo!

[@BNYClarke]

Nicole's vocals were FIERCE in this.

[@VampiresBleedingLove]

Obviously Tracie and Idina have better chemistry as they've had more time together and have known one another for a long time now. But Nicole, Tracie and everyone else involved in this production only had 1 week to rehearse everything - which is why there were still minor glitches during the 3 days they performed at the Hollywood Bowl. If they were given more time together to practice, I believe the chemistry would've been there.

[@jimmytwostones]

Wow, I've been youtubing as many versions of this as I can find. Vocally this is no.1 so far.......Amazing.....Being there would have been too much.

[@ArielLinee]

I love Tracie! She always brings a smile to my face when she plays Joanne

[@camerlengograziedio]

Nicole was unbelievable and so amazing!

[@Elikolani91]

Nicole can sing everything!! she's the best:)

[@applesauceiloveyou]

I know that most singers can actually sing. People always say that everyone's using autotune but obviously there has to be some talent there.

[@VampiresBleedingLove]

Plus Tracie already knew the part well - while Nicole had to learn it all in a short period of time and that year she was still doing Dancing With The Stars and filming for Men In Black 3 and finishing her solo album at the same time so you can't really compare her to Idina who's had more experience and time with the role of Maureen.

[@gizee99]

Best version I've heard

[@maryhales4595]

The perfect combination for this song will always be Tracie Thoms and Idina Menzel.

[@wickedly4]

acting wasn't great on Nicole's part. But her voice was GREAT.

[@emilyprentiss7888]

this version was so awesome

[@oliviaw5074]

Tracie sounds amazing here!

[@lissa28]

That actually may be the best Take Me or Leave Me I've seen to date.

[@Elisaroseps]

Um, everyone does realize that Nicole just belted an F in this, right? Fucking. Amazing.

[@blackvixen27]

I love it how Nicole tries to not overpower Tracy's voice.

[@Argeaux2]

First time I've ever seen this version and it was SO GOOD!! Fantastic rendition of the song.

[@lynnem5792]

Nicole singing like this and doing Phantom of the Opera and Cats makes me wonder why she wasted any of her time doing generic pop crap with the Pussycats Dolls. Anyone could have done what she did with that group, but she's clearly better than people think.

[@cupcakes1087]

These two are gold.

[@MsCarnelianRed]

That was wonderful. Just....I never knew Nicole played Maureen....Im going to go cry tears of joy now -sniffle- Just wonderful

[@sophandlinzsing4889]

I have always luved this song and now I love it more!!!!

[@iheartchoo2]

Okay I did not know nicole could sing/perform like this!!!

[@ashleighelizabethmurray3893]

tracie is the best joanne you can get not only is she's in millions of different rent shows but she was amazing in the movie

[@abigailkrauss437]

Girl I got chills..

[@BulletsInTheHeart]

Guys. is that the lead singer of the Pussycat dolls, or am I crazy?

[@TaylorOnlineblog]

+Candy Wiklun yes it is

[@catherine52525]

+Candy Wiklun yes! its nicole scherzinger

[@Kinochan28]

"Kiss Pookie" gets me everytime hahaha

[@KristynVlogs]

Great performance... though there will never be a replacement for Idina, I'm thoroughly impressed with Nicole!

[@naomiwatson230]

wow! there just isnt any words to describe how amazing tracie thoms and nicole scherzinger are. if i said this was amazing, that would be an understatement.(y)

[@StripesofShay]

oh my god she's my new favorite maureen.

[@priscillalvzkatyperry9140]

StripesofShay same here the only for me is Nicole scherzinger

[@MarvinSteinbeck]

Perfect job Nicole!

[@jaquen1977]

That's the hottest Maureen I've ever seen. And her voice? Gives Idina a run for her money, singing wise. Unfortunately her acting outside of the song wasn't much to write home about.

[@Argeaux2]

jaquen1977 you should see her do Maureen's performance piece. She freaking nails it. I think the problem here is with the staging/direction. The actors are too far apart. These characters need to be up in each other's face so you can feel the real love you/hate you tension.

[@zoobinouchi]

THAT'S the real Joanne! She is just amazing!

[@meangirl714]

omg its tracie!!!!!! thats awesome they have her as Joanne, and its interesting seeing Nicole doing broadway! but this part was made for her!

[@ThatBlondeChick08]

Nicole did better than I thought she would but I'm still in love with Tracie Thoms :)

[@EbonyFarashuu]

Best song in the whole movie!!!

[@DaxShaw]

Nicole Scherzinger is so underrated.

[@catarinaoliveira519]

nicole's voice is amazing but i wasnt thrilled by her acting, her caracter just wasnt romantically conected to the other woman who was singing with her

[@danielmitchell5184]

I like Nicole's take, on the Maureen character. While I'm a huge Idina fan, I think Nicole did a damn good job.

[@isthatchrisk]

TRACIE THOMS is AMAZING!!!

[@ababuna99]

Hmm...Pleasantly surprised by Nicole's performance. No words for Tracie... She is just incredible!

[@ffchrissie]

Tracy really had the advantage going into this though cuz she did the movie AND played Joann on Broadway as well lol But Nicole is amazing too!

[@valeriamedrano4105]

I love Tracie so much!!

[@Titaatz]

best performance in the production

[@evanescencerocks24]

thanks for posting!!! you had great seats and your so lucky you got to see them perform!! im so jealous!!! :(

[@theevilqueenreadstoo]

Noone can do it better than Idina, but Nicole did a pretty good job ^^' GO for it girl!

[@09cokeefe]

damn Nicole is phenomenal!

[@ZachariaVic]

Nicole is just fantastic. im totally speechless....

[@capollorod]

no auto-tune. pure talent. Me Likee.

[@camillehom_]

What an excellent performance :)

[@verprtectivefangirl2238]

I like Nicole as Maureen but it doesn't seem the same without Idina as Maureen! Idina just does it perfectly

[@nnicholee]

That's because Idina was the actress who got to determine Maureen's personality.

[@nnicholee]

That's because Idina was the actress who got to determine Maureen's personality.

[@kokoricharmed]

Tracie Thoms kills this song every.single.time. SHE IS Joanne.

[@05726003]

Nicole's voice is amazing...

[@paigewalker8035]

THIS is Maureen.

[@chelseau87]

AGREED! I can't see anyone else playing her!

[@danizhou7571]

nicole should really do more musical theatre! she's amazing at this and at phantom of the opera and evita.

[@Jaida857]

Holy crap that was fantastic! Idina may still be my favorite Maureen, but that was wayyyyyyy too amazing.

[@natashagibbons4847]

WHAT?! Nicole...I. am. impressed.

[@yanafomin97]

she is great both of them are great

[@florencefan123]

Pleasantly surprised by Nicole's singing ability. She did very well.

[@ashleyfiglow]

Tracie is the best Joanne!

[@tommessenger5175]

I personally think Nicole wouldve been good as mimi idk

[@made0041]

I like the one with NPH and David Burtka, that's my favorite version! :D

[@NitrosGus13]

Woowwwww i think Nicole she is awesome..!!! Great moves,superb voice..!!! I am going crazy when she says about the tiger in the cage,cause she climbes on the table as a real one..!!! ;) What can i say about Tracey....I just love her..!!

[@LizHatcher2099]

Perfect just like the oringinal!

[@PowerGlove79]

wow, I had my doubts about Nicole, but she OWNS this song

[@yoyoitsem]

Tracie:D

[@kevinaustra]

really enjoying your videos! can't wait to see your next uploads

[@leighcharping7502]

Hello Tracie Thoms...damn.

[@cupcakes1087]

So good.

[@motab9907]

holy crap this amazing.

[@kferds19]

definitely. movie and theater can't be compared as far as vocals are concerned.

[@emmamueller3921]

Tbh I don't like Idina menzels voice and I love Nicole's

[@emmamueller3921]

Also I cannot properly express my love for tracie thoms

[@angelismx]

holy shit, Nicole fucking nailed this.

[@0824wishie]

nicole sounds AMAZING....when she's not singing her own songs. brilliant performance.

[@andrewoverton0]

flawless things.