Stephanie J. Block performs "Never Neverland (Fly Away)" at Scott Alan's CD Release event for 'Dreaming Wide Awake' on January 7, 2008. CD available on CDbaby.com/scottalan and iTunes.
BACKSTORY: So, I had done a Benefit Concert with Shoshana Bean called 'The Kitchen Sink.' It was my first professional gig in the city. Stephanie J. Block was there. I had JUST seen her a few days prior in Boy from Oz, but I was to scared to say hi to her at the Concert. Intimidated.
Yet, that's what email is for. I went to her website and emailed her a letter, exactly how I had touched base with Shoshana. I didn't think she would respond. (Side note, I have ALL of these emails saved still. Sad, right ?!?!). Well, she did respond, and said she loved the song Shoshana sang at the Concert and has a benefit coming up for BroadwayWorld.com called 'Standing Ovations' and has to sing two songs and it would be great to sing something new. So, we scheduled to meet later that week at Shetler Studios.
So, we meet and I am shaking and start playing her some songs and she is so sweet and keeps going 'Yes, this is beautiful, I'll take this one.' I played her Goodnight (the song Liz Callaway sings on the CD) and she said 'this is the one.' So, she made her decision, but, in a weird twist of fate she said, just in case, do you have anymore ? I literally had played her EVERYSONG ... Well, there was one more ...
Never Neverland (Fly Away) was a very personal song for me and I hardly ever played it for anyone. Everyone I DID play it for passed it over very quickly, so I was even skeptical to play it for Stephanie.
Well, I did, and she loved it. So, she took Goodnight and Never Neverland home with her. She emailed me a few days later to let me know the director of the Concert asked her to sing two more well known songs but was going to try and sneak in one of these sings, if possible. She still didn't know which one. Well, the concert came, and Stephanie sang her first song and then an intermission came and I thought 'well, hmmmm, maybe she isn't singing my song after all.' Truth be told, I was going to leave.
I am so glad I didn't. Stephanie came out, I had my tape recorder ready, and her performance changed my life forever, literally.
Some songs are meant for a performer. This song was one of my trunk songs, and Stephanie made it a spotlight song of mine. Everything happens for a reason, when it's meant to.
I am a very happy person because I just met Stephanie finally on Friday night!
Shoshana and Stephanie-- my top two Elphabas ever? Good gracious. This is like some fantastically wonderful dream... except everyone still has their clothes on. =P
Seriously though, the song is beautiful. Stephanie sings it with her usual powerhouse of heart and soul. Completely reminds me why I'm so hopelessly smitten with her.
Loved it! A+
that Backstory changed the whole song for me! I really loved the song before but now... wow, it has so much meaning... beautiful song!
she is amazing.
Love Love Love this song!!! Thank you Scott Alan for this great piece of Music with Lyrics that couldn't be more true!
amen. well said :) sjb is amazing!
i completely agree. although i do think that idina is an amazing performer in her own right as well. but in my opinion steph is really just amazing and yeah...in a league of her own.
me too .... i wish shoshana and sjb would come to england .... :) x
would have LOVED to be there that night. but i live in england hahaa so i guess it just wouldnt have hapenened!
AMAZING. X
i love that shes making jokes and has the whole auidence laughing and in a split second, she completly transforms and gets in the mindset of the song.
i love SJB.
My favourite recording of this song!! :-) Love her!!
This is probably one of the most gorgeous songs ever. I seriously can't even go to sleep without listening to it at night. and if you guys haven't seen it yet, go see her in 9 to 5! shes AMAZING! SJB=LOVE!
SJB is my inspiration as a performer! And its true...I have seen four Elphabas, including Idina, and all were amazing...but SJB was far and above the others...she OWNED the role as if it was her own- which it was, before "the business" got in the way. I'm glad she got her chance later on because she was incredible- she brought me to tears like no other actress could as Elphaba. She is so brilliant, and so classy.
gives me chills and makes me tear up pretty much every time i watch it.
Gosh - for the first half I would have sworn I was listening to Jodi Benson.
Both are great. Love Stephanie.
I know someone who was also in the workshop for Wicked. There are no guarantees.
Stephanie was "pushed out" by Universal pictures. They were the financial backers for the musical and they wanted a big name star. Idina was just nominated for "Rent", so they chose her. Everything was written for SJB and as far as I'm concerned, Idina is not the same caliber singer/actress as SJB. SJB is in a class by herself and should have been the original Elphaba on Broadway. People who have never seen SJB perform have no idea what they are missing.
If its the sheet music can you send it to me...or if its a karaoke CD can you tell me where you got it? thx!!! :)
Does anyone know where I can find the karaoke version of this song? Thank!!! :)
Scott Alan did.
I always wonder when the musical theater scene changed from singers to yellers. Was it in the 60's or 70's or later. I miss the singers. Don't waster your time responding, I delete any resonses to my youtube comments without reading them.
god i wish i were a sop. =[[
xxx
holy crap. serisously, read the wicked grimmerie, you'll then understand. for god's sake, it's on wikipedia! Stephanie ORIGINATED the role of elphaba, but got sick or something, and the role was given to Idina Menzel. Idina DID complete most of the workshops, but Stephanie ORIGINALLY did them. Stephen Schwartz WROTE the music for SJB, but, blah blah blah - Idina got it.
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We NEED her in the westend!!
INNNNNCREDIBLE.
i loveeeeeeeeeee SJB
I am a very happy person because I just met Stephanie finally on Friday night!
Shoshana and Stephanie-- my top two Elphabas ever? Good gracious. This is like some fantastically wonderful dream... except everyone still has their clothes on. =P Seriously though, the song is beautiful. Stephanie sings it with her usual powerhouse of heart and soul. Completely reminds me why I'm so hopelessly smitten with her. Loved it! A+
that Backstory changed the whole song for me! I really loved the song before but now... wow, it has so much meaning... beautiful song!
she is amazing.
Love Love Love this song!!! Thank you Scott Alan for this great piece of Music with Lyrics that couldn't be more true!
amen. well said :) sjb is amazing!
i completely agree. although i do think that idina is an amazing performer in her own right as well. but in my opinion steph is really just amazing and yeah...in a league of her own.
me too .... i wish shoshana and sjb would come to england .... :) x
would have LOVED to be there that night. but i live in england hahaa so i guess it just wouldnt have hapenened! AMAZING. X
i love that shes making jokes and has the whole auidence laughing and in a split second, she completly transforms and gets in the mindset of the song. i love SJB.
My favourite recording of this song!! :-) Love her!!
This is probably one of the most gorgeous songs ever. I seriously can't even go to sleep without listening to it at night. and if you guys haven't seen it yet, go see her in 9 to 5! shes AMAZING! SJB=LOVE!
SJB is my inspiration as a performer! And its true...I have seen four Elphabas, including Idina, and all were amazing...but SJB was far and above the others...she OWNED the role as if it was her own- which it was, before "the business" got in the way. I'm glad she got her chance later on because she was incredible- she brought me to tears like no other actress could as Elphaba. She is so brilliant, and so classy.
gives me chills and makes me tear up pretty much every time i watch it.
Gosh - for the first half I would have sworn I was listening to Jodi Benson. Both are great. Love Stephanie. I know someone who was also in the workshop for Wicked. There are no guarantees.
Stephanie was "pushed out" by Universal pictures. They were the financial backers for the musical and they wanted a big name star. Idina was just nominated for "Rent", so they chose her. Everything was written for SJB and as far as I'm concerned, Idina is not the same caliber singer/actress as SJB. SJB is in a class by herself and should have been the original Elphaba on Broadway. People who have never seen SJB perform have no idea what they are missing.
If its the sheet music can you send it to me...or if its a karaoke CD can you tell me where you got it? thx!!! :)
Does anyone know where I can find the karaoke version of this song? Thank!!! :)
Scott Alan did.
I always wonder when the musical theater scene changed from singers to yellers. Was it in the 60's or 70's or later. I miss the singers. Don't waster your time responding, I delete any resonses to my youtube comments without reading them.
god i wish i were a sop. =[[ xxx
holy crap. serisously, read the wicked grimmerie, you'll then understand. for god's sake, it's on wikipedia! Stephanie ORIGINATED the role of elphaba, but got sick or something, and the role was given to Idina Menzel. Idina DID complete most of the workshops, but Stephanie ORIGINALLY did them. Stephen Schwartz WROTE the music for SJB, but, blah blah blah - Idina got it.