This Is Me: 2

The Movie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjxugyZCfuw

"This Is Me: 1" took a look at the first ever presentation of this iconic song.  It was a workshop presentation for Fox to determine whether to give The Greatest Showman the go ahead for production.  Keala Settle's performance was, in my opinion, the meaning of the song, starting with her quietly, behind the music stand, wearing glasses, and leading to the remarkable climax.

The movie version shows the intent of the song.  It serves to put the world on notice that there are those of us who "march to the beat I drum."  And if you don't like it, world, pity.  The number is beautifully shot, the freeze frame of the chorus while she continues to sing, and their fall to drive home the song sent shivers up and down my spine.

Understandably, though, it lacks a certain rawness.  The song most certainly is the anthem it is meant to be and delivers the power it should.  But the "holy shit, girl" feel isn't there, whether because of the rehearsal and recording process or the director's call. 

I saw the movie first and was stunned and excited by this number.  I thought it was one of the absolute best things in the movie.  But I didn't really feel it, didn't truly get it, until I saw the that very first read-through, the singer discovering her song.


Graham Norton Pre-Oscars
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BNRBgxiS2c&t=302s

After the huge reception The Greatest Showman received, both Hugh Jackman and Keala went sent out to do publicity, and once the Oscar nominations were announced, Keala did several solo performances.  This meant singing the song as Keala Settle, no beard in sight.  It's so incredibly exciting to see how she played with it a bit without breaking the integrity of the song.  The song is powerful; Keala is powerful.  Shaping it and making it her song, not the Bearded Woman's song, not that number from that  movie, makes it explode with energy.  This is after the nomination but before the ceremony.

I've included the interview following her performance because I really do think it's the real Keala Settle.  Her story is still that of getting the part and not believing it or the words.  Jackman insisted that she sing it and that she be in the movie.


Oscar Performance
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6GrbAJq7tM

Deservedly, the song was up for an Academy Award.  Rightly, it was sung by the original artist.  And I think that it also shows that she was able to fashion the song more to Keala's comfort.  The song, of course, morphed into A Big Production Number, as it should...Hollywood, the Oscars, and all.  What I like about this, though, is that she manages to get that catch in her throat for "This is brave, this is bruised, this is who I'm meant to be."  She was fighting back the tears in the workshop version; in the Oscar version, she brought it back and the song was all the better for it.

There may be a third blog in this series, where the song has gone, the song without Keala, and how the song takes on a different meaning, depending on the singer.