[Lady Jemima]

I was just listening to Michael Ball sing 'Memory', and I love his voice and emotion. One of my other favorites is a young (not older) Elaine Page, whose rendition brings tears to my eyes every time. So I thought it would be interesting to see who your favorite artists are for the song?

[Pounce]

I've mentioned it before but I really like this version by Epica.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=0_82DocRU18

It's not sung Broadway style but still she sings it so sweetly. And I really like how the pianist plays "Memory", especially his short solo playing those chords.

[darkmage]

My fave version is Andrea Boegel's from the Hamburg cast album. She has a gritty voice that makes her sound old, and the character comes through loud and clear. Ute Lemper in the Vienna version just sounds way too young--and I don't like that translation anyway. Thank God they got Elaine Page to do the DVD...

I don't like non-cast versions of Memory, to be perfectly honest. The song doesn't make much sense when taken out of context, much like "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina." I've seen it listed as a LOVE SONG of all things.

[Belle]

Chrissie Hammond's performance, without a doubt. SHE IS A GODDESS! But I don't think she's been recorded... Her voice has an edge reminiscent of Bonnie Tyler, that rough, smokey edge, very rock. This is a character who's lived, seen the good times and the bad, she knows what she's missing. She's gone from the top of life to the bottom. Next to her, anyone else seems to just be singing a pretty song.

[Moongewl]

I've never much liked Memory as a stand-alone either. I think it might be because everyone I've ever heard sing it has sounded too "young" to comprehend it. It's not supposed to be pretty(good word choice there Belle), it's supposed to be painful. We did a choral arrangement of Memory in ninth grade, and I really didn't want to have to sing it. It completely loses its meaning that way.
You know, I wish someone could record Memory with the Tim Rice lyrics(someone else will have to dig them out for those who haven't seen them, as I'm too lazy to go hunting). Even if they're not great, it would still be interesting to hear those words sung.

[lesmisboy]

Betty Buckley sings it beautifully. And I loved Josie Walker singing it, lovely voice x

[Alonza0]

I second (third?) the stand-alone hatred. The artist always seems to think they have to make the song their own, which always end up making the song sound very cheesy. And Michael Ball? Words cannot express my cringing. As for my favotie, don't know that I have one. Will post if I get one.

[Rumpleteazer4760]

[littlgriz1]

mine is betey bucley

[High-baritonne]

My favorite version of Memory is the original Italian version for tenor with 17 tenor C's! Heard it live last Wednesday, bound to cry!

[Rumblepurr]

"Memory" - Lyrics by Tim Rice

Street lights
And the darkness between them
Like the good and the bad sides
Of a life almost done.
Shake the memory
All my passions returning to me
None forgotten
No, not one.

One life
Is there only the one life
That we lose in the living
In an endless decline?
No complaining
For no one else has seen what I've seen
One existence
Only mine

Don't look back no don't look back
So hard to heed that warning
Such temptation but the past is past
And the night makes way for morning

Daylight
I won't care if it finds me
With no breath in my body
With no beat in my heart
For I'm certain
That now I know what happiness is
Wish I'd known that
From the start

Touch me
Is there no one to touch me
It was easy to love me
In my glamorous past
As I leave you
A shadow of the light I once was
May my memory
Sleep at last

[jcstar]

Without a doubt, Gay Marshall's version. It's heartwrenching.

Andy.

[Pounce]

Strange that some of the words in Rice's lyrics fit with the original song. I think "Daylight", "Touch Me", and even "warning" match up. Would ALW give a few word 'markers' in the song for the lyricist to have to include at certain points?

[Rumpleteazer4760]

I noticed that when I sang the Rice lyrics along to one of the Betty Buckley recordings. Try it sometime, it's really neat sounding!

[RTTugger1977]

While I'm not the biggest fan of this song (especially since this downer of a song is strategically placed after "Mr. Mistoffelees"--talk about a comedown), I must say that I do enjoy two versions of it: Michael Crawford's version, and Betty Buckley's version circa 1993--the one on "Children Will Listen".

[Rumblepurr]

After writing an article on TSE and then on the lyrics to CATS, I cultivated a great deal of respect for Trevor Nunn and Richard Stilgoe. They researched TSE's poems dealing with the "Practical Cats" and some of TSE's early poems. Although penned from parts of TSE's poetry, the lyrics to MEMORY barely compare word-for-word. However, the lyrics "sound" like what TSE would write, and, in my opinion, that is the magic of what we hear in this song.

Tim Rice's lyrics are very much like the Grizabella poem -- stark, cold and grimy like the life Grizabella seems to project through the lyrics. If what RTTugger1977 says about this song being a downer in a general sense, then the Tim Rice lyrics would be even more so.

The only thing I noticed when I went through the TR lyrics - the transition sung by Jemima/Sillabub and by Grizabella seems to be missing. I am not 100% sure of this, but it does not seem to be there...

Rumblepurr
The Writer Cat.

[candleshoe07]

Laurie Beechman's rendition of 'Memory' is definitely my favorite!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tB4JrDNj3Tw

[Yip1982]

I would probably like to mention Buckley's earlier recording of the song on the OBCR. But rather, the single version on the Selections CD. Yes I know you may think it sounds rushed, but it sounds so supple and flowing, and her voice has that duskiness, vulnerability and strength that I would probably like from a Grizabella at this point in the show.

[Lady Jemima]

[Alonza0]

Oh, I am partial to some of his stuff (but no, not his pop/country... ewww...) but I really wanted to throw up when I heard his Memory. Too over-sung.