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I have been a Phantom Phan for quite a few
years now, and a diehard one at that. I have never had the chance to see the show---but
trust me, had I the /slightest/ chance, I would've been there in a flash.
I have listened, however, to many different recordings of singers in the past, over and
over. I have listened to Colm Wilkson, Anthony Warlow, Paul Stanley and several others on
foreign recordings among others. However, out of all those, only one gave me absolute
chill repeatedly.
Admittedly, Warlow is very good and he does give me chillbumps--every once in a while,
when I'm listening very closely.
However--only ONE has given me chillbumps and shivers EVERY time I listen to his voice
ring. And that is Michael Crawford. His voice seeps into you and lifts you without your
immediate knowledge. He creeps up your spine and entangles into your mind, holding you at
his absolute will. And I know my memory has not failed me this time--that's exactly what
Erik himself did to those that heard him.
I have also heard Antonio Banderas sing the theme song from the "Celebration!"
video. And I honestly remember sitting and staring at the screen, completely unmoved.
Truthfully, and no disrespect intended, I cannot imagine Banderas singing "I gave you
my music..." with the emotional impact and tear staining that Crawford did. It is
beyond me.
Crawford's "Sing for me, my Angel of Music!" is VERY powerful and drawing. I
remember the very first time I heard it too. I was in my eighth grade choir class, and we
were listening to the recording. Now obviously in Middle School, you're only going to
notice the major things in a piece, such as Christine's operatic vocal notes at the end of
the song. Everyone, including myself, was amazed by it.
But I was also even more amazed by something else.
It's so clear to me... I remember being completely startled by Crawford's (for it was the
OLC we were listening to) "Sing once again with me, our strange duet..." and not
being able to move a muscle. This was the first piece of musical theatre I had ever really
listened to and the first piece of POTO I had ever heard. I was stiffened by Erik's total
power over me, even the person sitting beside couldn't figure out what was wrong. I
wouldn't say a word. Total power.
From that moment forth I have become a lover of musical theatre and the musical, POTO. No
one has stopped me since. From there I went to other's as "CATS" and
"Jekyll & Hyde" and "Miss Saigon" and others too, but Erik still
holds that mysterious power over me, and always has.
It was your music.
It was Crawford's voice.
Please, Lord Lloyd Webber, listen to your public as they are telling you what they
desperately want. Millions and millions are shouting at you pleas, and are hoping that you
will keep your 1990 promise. You promised the "original integrity would be
maintained." That's what we all want. We do not want anything else.
Please Lord Lloyd Webber, don't shove us away. We keep asking over and over, you can't be
mistaken on what we want.
Thank you for your time,
Sherri |