The reason SLR "didn't have much of a voice" is because she understood that Deena is NOT supposed to be that great of a singer. Hence the tension that is created by making her the lead singer over Effie. SLR actually can sing much better than she does in DreamGirls but she fully knew that with her singing less is more.
Linda Leilani Brown's Deena made the connection to Diana Ross far more believable. Not only did Linda sound like Diana Ross, but she looked like her too!
One of the best Deana was in the original company. When Sheryl Leigh Ralph left, Brenda Pressley took over for her. Brenda was the first person to take over for Effie when Jennifer left the show to go out to LA, She later played MIchelle when Lorretta Devine left for 4 months to do the summer show at Radio City and Terry Burrell moved up to Lorrelle Brenda played Michelle and before Lorretta came back. Miss Ralph left and Brenda took over the role of Deana. Brenda was the best acting and singing Deana. She made clear much of the story line that was lost with several of the ladies that played Deana. They did bring Linda leilani Brown in because Roz Ryan was going to do a showcase of Big Deal and Brenda was still understudying Effie. Ms Brown went MIA and Brenda played Deana for 5 months. When Roz finally went to do the Fosse Showcase they called in Debbie Burrell in to play Deana because Brenda was going to have to play Effie. ONe night in May Debbie was sick and and Kecia Lewis, who was brought in to understudy Effie, was sick as well and Brenda was listed as playing both Effie and Deana. When the show closed Brenda went on to play Grizzabella in Cats. She stopped the show the first night she played that role. She is one of the most complete performers Dreamgirls ever had and one of the most humble.
This is comparing LIVE Broadway performances against recorded and edited vocals for film. There is no way this can be a competition in any form. Most are just using this as a popularity contest, and it should not be. All the women were the best for the part, just best for the different times and venue.
Linda's my favorite Deena. She added some pizzaz and star power to the part without oversinging it and being too strong for the part. Definitely made Deena POP!!!!!!!
@babyboi1002 I'm so glad someone agrees with me. SLR made Deena come to life like no one has done since. I' m sorry I can't stand it when Deena is played as a Diana Ross clone.. It's oneof the things that irritated me with the film.
It’s doesn’t make sense when the Dennas are riffing and stuff...if Deena had a voice like that then she could have been the lead from the beginning no problem lol
This song is Deena's FIRST time out front....she should do well but not be polished or perfect or in command. She still NEEDS the other two for support and sound. "....and I couldn't have done it alone..." is a TRUE STATEMENT at that time which helps the audience bond with her then turn their backs on Effie as she becomes difficult and defiant. They are brilliantly written characters and NOT two dimensional which is a huge trap for this show.
@josephjmg18 - The role of Deena as composed by the late Michael Bennett was intended to reflect the light, lyrical quality of Diana Ross. That is why Sheryl Lee Ralph was the lead & Phylicia Allen-Rashad was chosen as understudy. In the script, Deena's own mother comments on the weakness of her voice & her husband refers to her as a songbird whose voice had no personality. The opposite extreme would be casting Janet Jackson to play Patti Labelle. And for the record I'm a trained dramatic tenor.
You type like I am dis'n Live Broadway, I am a huge Broadway fan. However it is apples to oranges and yes some nights are perfect and some are not. A movies sound track is edited and filtered to perfection, Broadway is real and you can feel the passion. THEY ARE DIFFERENT, and both worthy in their own right.
How much more simple can it be, a LIVE performance with audience vs. a RECORDED with no audience. They would have to be approached differently no matter what. One is nothing like the other. Different women, different fantastic performances, IMO
Research the role of Deena her voice is supposed to have no personality. That is they way Effie, her mother and her husband described her voice and this is the way Michael Bennett intended it.
@josephjmg18 If you are only 25, I wonder how you can make this assessment. I saw the original MANY times and it was very authentic and the show does not ONLY take place in the 60's. I even had the thrill of being backstage during a performance at the Imperial! What fun. Flying wigs and gowns everywhere!
I remember reading some old DC history that Micheal Bennett was thinking of replacing SLR with pre Miss America Vanessa Williams. Does anyone know the legitmatcy of this? I think Vanessa Williams would've made a faboulous Deena
I'm not sure Deena voice is supposed to have no real distiniction. I'm just thinking abou tthe character upoun it was based :Diana Ross. Miss Ross voice did have a distinctive nasal tone and sound,in fact she had more of a sound than a voice. Honestly vocally the best Deena to do it was LLB , because she has the nauences of Miss Ross, even though my favorite Deena is still SLR
SLR made me want to be Deena, to me she is the Defintive DEENA JONES/ My reason being not just because she orginated the role but she was able to what no one has done since her. That is make Deena more than just a Diana Ross knock off. Yes we get it that Deena is inspired by Diana but SLR made her seem not like a Diana clone but her competion,Especially during the opening act 2 "Diana needs some competion" I love it Miss Ralph
Deena's husband describes her voice as having no distinction it was meant to have a "pop" sound. A black singer with a "pop" sound was unique, but the voice itself was not.
@youndatmonkee I take nothing from LLB as Deena I think she did a wonderful job. Funny enough SLR has come out and said that she WAS trying to look and sound like Miss Ross. Y'et, for some reason SLR always seemed more than just a Diana to me. I do believe because LLB looked and sounded a bit nasal in pitch like Diana that it was so easy for me to just chalk her up as a Diana immitator at times, but I think LLB turned it out as Deena too.
I dont think Deena's voice is meant to have no distinction. You have to look at the person upoun who shis based upoun vocally and physcially..DIANA ROSS. Diana's voice at the time was very distinctive in that everyone of her era had a fiery gospel voice(Patti, Arethea, Gladys) and she didnt so she stood out. Yes vocally Beyonce was ill casted. Voice too powerful and colorfull, but hey shes big ticket draw.
@josephjmg18- I'm fully aware of the footage & her voice is still ill-suited for the role. Too many trills & her voice doesn't meet even the other character's descriptions of what it should be. Deena was almost all charisma & had a voice without true distinction & that is NOT Beyonce... holding back or not. A voice like Janet Jackson or Jennifer Lopez would have fit better. As far as my training is concerned it means that I'm competent enough to discern the differences & I 'll leave it at that.
This page is full of comments pitting and dis'n 1 against the other, in your own words, "to mention Beyonce's name and artist in the same sentence" "delusional""live performances can compete". I'm just saying, they war all wonderful for their time and venue. just my opinion.
Exactly Deena voice was supposed to be a pleasent sound, nothing extrodinary just nice.Her voice and look are supposed to be more exceptable to a white audience.
@legedaryone I agree, But Sheryl Lee and Leilani are two different performers... Leilani simply looked like Diana, she did all off the same choreography that Sheryl did. I think people always mistake Leilani looking like Diana for her acting like Diana... There is a huge difference. Sheryl was answered back to critics, who said she had a weak voice, "I was ACTING! ACTING!"... Sheryl is fierce as Deena! But Leilani added alot also. The 2nd Act II WE all know was created around her!
The reason SLR "didn't have much of a voice" is because she understood that Deena is NOT supposed to be that great of a singer. Hence the tension that is created by making her the lead singer over Effie. SLR actually can sing much better than she does in DreamGirls but she fully knew that with her singing less is more.
jay love Someone who actually understood. Thank you
Linda Leilani Brown's Deena made the connection to Diana Ross far more believable. Not only did Linda sound like Diana Ross, but she looked like her too!
One of the best Deana was in the original company. When Sheryl Leigh Ralph left, Brenda Pressley took over for her. Brenda was the first person to take over for Effie when Jennifer left the show to go out to LA, She later played MIchelle when Lorretta Devine left for 4 months to do the summer show at Radio City and Terry Burrell moved up to Lorrelle Brenda played Michelle and before Lorretta came back. Miss Ralph left and Brenda took over the role of Deana. Brenda was the best acting and singing Deana. She made clear much of the story line that was lost with several of the ladies that played Deana. They did bring Linda leilani Brown in because Roz Ryan was going to do a showcase of Big Deal and Brenda was still understudying Effie. Ms Brown went MIA and Brenda played Deana for 5 months. When Roz finally went to do the Fosse Showcase they called in Debbie Burrell in to play Deana because Brenda was going to have to play Effie. ONe night in May Debbie was sick and and Kecia Lewis, who was brought in to understudy Effie, was sick as well and Brenda was listed as playing both Effie and Deana. When the show closed Brenda went on to play Grizzabella in Cats. She stopped the show the first night she played that role. She is one of the most complete performers Dreamgirls ever had and one of the most humble.
Arnetia Walker as Lorrel give me LIFE!
Fun fact: Arnetia is the only person to play all 3 Dreamgirls professionally
SLR and LLB are the Best Denna's hands down🙌
This is comparing LIVE Broadway performances against recorded and edited vocals for film. There is no way this can be a competition in any form. Most are just using this as a popularity contest, and it should not be. All the women were the best for the part, just best for the different times and venue.
Linda's my favorite Deena. She added some pizzaz and star power to the part without oversinging it and being too strong for the part. Definitely made Deena POP!!!!!!!
@babyboi1002 I'm so glad someone agrees with me. SLR made Deena come to life like no one has done since. I' m sorry I can't stand it when Deena is played as a Diana Ross clone.. It's oneof the things that irritated me with the film.
i LOVED the version that was at the end of the video....a little fast paced....but the BEST version by far
It’s doesn’t make sense when the Dennas are riffing and stuff...if Deena had a voice like that then she could have been the lead from the beginning no problem lol
This song is Deena's FIRST time out front....she should do well but not be polished or perfect or in command. She still NEEDS the other two for support and sound. "....and I couldn't have done it alone..." is a TRUE STATEMENT at that time which helps the audience bond with her then turn their backs on Effie as she becomes difficult and defiant. They are brilliantly written characters and NOT two dimensional which is a huge trap for this show.
was arnieta walker in dreamgirls in 1983
@josephjmg18 - The role of Deena as composed by the late Michael Bennett was intended to reflect the light, lyrical quality of Diana Ross. That is why Sheryl Lee Ralph was the lead & Phylicia Allen-Rashad was chosen as understudy. In the script, Deena's own mother comments on the weakness of her voice & her husband refers to her as a songbird whose voice had no personality. The opposite extreme would be casting Janet Jackson to play Patti Labelle. And for the record I'm a trained dramatic tenor.
You type like I am dis'n Live Broadway, I am a huge Broadway fan. However it is apples to oranges and yes some nights are perfect and some are not. A movies sound track is edited and filtered to perfection, Broadway is real and you can feel the passion. THEY ARE DIFFERENT, and both worthy in their own right.
How much more simple can it be, a LIVE performance with audience vs. a RECORDED with no audience. They would have to be approached differently no matter what. One is nothing like the other. Different women, different fantastic performances, IMO
Research the role of Deena her voice is supposed to have no personality. That is they way Effie, her mother and her husband described her voice and this is the way Michael Bennett intended it.
Linda Leilani Brown wins my heart
@josephjmg18 If you are only 25, I wonder how you can make this assessment. I saw the original MANY times and it was very authentic and the show does not ONLY take place in the 60's. I even had the thrill of being backstage during a performance at the Imperial! What fun. Flying wigs and gowns everywhere!
So I guess its safe to say if Bennet was alive Beyonce would've been casted as Deena,if had anything to do with the film version.
@MyNameIsBryann , definitely the most energized version. I could do cardio to that pace, LOL!!!
I remember reading some old DC history that Micheal Bennett was thinking of replacing SLR with pre Miss America Vanessa Williams. Does anyone know the legitmatcy of this? I think Vanessa Williams would've made a faboulous Deena
I knew that MB felt that way because Sheryl Lee Ralph said it when Beyonce was casted in the film.
still the original, live and studio, FACTS
One more thing, the pic on your profile is just to frigg'n cute for words!
I'm not sure Deena voice is supposed to have no real distiniction. I'm just thinking abou tthe character upoun it was based :Diana Ross. Miss Ross voice did have a distinctive nasal tone and sound,in fact she had more of a sound than a voice. Honestly vocally the best Deena to do it was LLB , because she has the nauences of Miss Ross, even though my favorite Deena is still SLR
Amazing once again~~!!!
SLR made me want to be Deena, to me she is the Defintive DEENA JONES/ My reason being not just because she orginated the role but she was able to what no one has done since her. That is make Deena more than just a Diana Ross knock off. Yes we get it that Deena is inspired by Diana but SLR made her seem not like a Diana clone but her competion,Especially during the opening act 2 "Diana needs some competion" I love it Miss Ralph
beyonce was great stop hating people!
THANKYOU !! Somebody else besides me gets it!
Deena's husband describes her voice as having no distinction it was meant to have a "pop" sound. A black singer with a "pop" sound was unique, but the voice itself was not.
@youndatmonkee I take nothing from LLB as Deena I think she did a wonderful job. Funny enough SLR has come out and said that she WAS trying to look and sound like Miss Ross. Y'et, for some reason SLR always seemed more than just a Diana to me. I do believe because LLB looked and sounded a bit nasal in pitch like Diana that it was so easy for me to just chalk her up as a Diana immitator at times, but I think LLB turned it out as Deena too.
Ps, the title of this video is "BATTLE of the Deena's. FYI
I dont think Deena's voice is meant to have no distinction. You have to look at the person upoun who shis based upoun vocally and physcially..DIANA ROSS. Diana's voice at the time was very distinctive in that everyone of her era had a fiery gospel voice(Patti, Arethea, Gladys) and she didnt so she stood out. Yes vocally Beyonce was ill casted. Voice too powerful and colorfull, but hey shes big ticket draw.
Sheryl Lee ralph was and is the best
@josephjmg18- I'm fully aware of the footage & her voice is still ill-suited for the role. Too many trills & her voice doesn't meet even the other character's descriptions of what it should be. Deena was almost all charisma & had a voice without true distinction & that is NOT Beyonce... holding back or not. A voice like Janet Jackson or Jennifer Lopez would have fit better. As far as my training is concerned it means that I'm competent enough to discern the differences & I 'll leave it at that.
Because Loretta was a lot thinner then...
It was under Bennet's direction but because he didn't want a light skinned Deena maybe why she didn't get it.
This page is full of comments pitting and dis'n 1 against the other, in your own words, "to mention Beyonce's name and artist in the same sentence" "delusional""live performances can compete". I'm just saying, they war all wonderful for their time and venue. just my opinion.
@youndatmonkee It's not that...There are a lot of pictures of her in the past that look exactly like her, but this one doesn't at all..lol
I prefer Sheryl lee Ralph. She best epitomizes Deena. Not a big voice, not flashy, but pretty. Beyonce and Leilani oversang the role.
@dudewheresmydignity That's what I was thinking...lol
@babyboi1002 how did u find the original live recording of DreamGirls?? Do you have the play as well?
How are you going to compare a movie soundtrack recording with autotune etc... with the live vocals from a play.
I was not comparing the vocals but the style and arrangements.
Exactly Deena voice was supposed to be a pleasent sound, nothing extrodinary just nice.Her voice and look are supposed to be more exceptable to a white audience.
Bee is just my fave (:
We all know who was the best Deena vocally (Beyoncé)
I’m not hating, and that doesn’t mean that the other two were bad singers 😊
who is the effie with llb, i thought it was j hol before i clicked on it n seen the actual picture
@legedaryone I agree, But Sheryl Lee and Leilani are two different performers... Leilani simply looked like Diana, she did all off the same choreography that Sheryl did. I think people always mistake Leilani looking like Diana for her acting like Diana... There is a huge difference. Sheryl was answered back to critics, who said she had a weak voice, "I was ACTING! ACTING!"... Sheryl is fierce as Deena! But Leilani added alot also. The 2nd Act II WE all know was created around her!
I love that shade to Beyoncé lol