End of Being Alive - Comparison

What conclusion can we draw from this comment section? 80% of people consider their first Bobby as their favorite Bobby. I personally adore Raul's Bobby because of the intensity and rawness of the performance.

Raúl Esparza is most definitely the best IMHO. Such emotion in his beautiful, powerful, voice.

(listing in order of appearance in video) 1. Dean Jones. I could really feel the emotions that Bobby would be feeling in this scene with Dean's delivery. It seems to perfectly capture the essence of a thirty-something finally coming out of his shell. As Sondheim himself described this section of the song, it is "the flower blossoming" for Robert, and Dean Jones encapsulates that with every lyric. 2. Larry Kert. His delivery seems a little overly giddy as opposed to cathartic. This has the vibe of somebody performing on a big stage in some large venue as opposed to a man finally gaining the courage to face the world. He does do well with the singing though, so I will give him that. 3. Boyd Gaines. There's a certain boring quality to this performance. It sounds like it's almost fatally mid-range for him. He doesn't have much to belt with and, as a consequence, there is little vigor to be found in the performance. He sounds like he has the potential for a great performance, but there is so much standing in his way. 4. Adrian Lester. This performance is almost the anti-Larry Kert. Although the diction is stilted in some parts, he still manages to pack a profound emotional punch. Another thing I really like about this performance is the use of a unique orchestration to help better meld his voice into the orchestra, with the bari sax being written in that sweet spot in its range where it has its most powerful resonances. 5. John Barrowman. Even though he's basically a meme in some Broadway communities through the "John F@cking Barrowman" comments on almost everything he's involved in, his voice is still good. Despite this, he doesn't quite have much emotional flexibility, which I would imagine is why his skill is a divisive topic. 6. Raul Esparza. Just. Marvelous. This production introduces another possible interpretation on how to deliver things, that being a man desperate for affection after decades of running from it. Raul paints this beautifully, with his delivery of the stanza "mock me with praise" being one of my favorites to date. Everything about this performance, especially with the rest of the show, perfectly dictates the sort of person Raul is known for portraying, a cynical individual that grows a heart throughout the course of a work. 7. Neil Patrick Harris. There is a distinct nostalgia in NPH's performance, seeming to be a return to the original Dean Jones performance in terms of what it wants to evoke and he actually hits it home fairly well, with the orchestration turning what would otherwise be considered no more than a great personal victory into an apotheosis.

For me, the power, raw emotion, deep feeling of Esparza's version breaks me up every time I hear it, ever since I saw the performance, live. His expressions, feeling the truth in it for him (pretty sure he had gone through something like it in his own life), still knock me out. I had no idea Lester played this role, had a voice. I love him as a powerful actor, and I felt his performance was emotionally almost as powerful as Esparza's, though his voice was not as well controlled or as rich. Kert was the star when I first saw the show many years ago, and I liked him very much. His voice was wonderful, but emotionally not as rich as Esparza, by far.

i have a bootleg Sondheim tribute show from the 70's where Kert does "marry me a little', the original song for this scene, then segues into a very different scoring of Being Alive. The big difference is the pacing of the last verse. Rather than the lumbering scoring used for the dramatic emphasis Kert puts it into overdrive which his voice, unlike Jones, can handle. Its a mesmerizing treatment that gives the song a much stronger pop. Since i can't find it anywhere, i'll try to digitize it and upload.

I hate making comparisons, particularly as this song is almost fireproof. But since this is what your post is about , I still believe that Dean Jones nailed it better than anyone. That doesn’t mean the other performers don’t hit the marks, you wanted a number one. Thanks for asking, this song still does it for me every time I hear it.

Raul Esparza for me. Personally, he got robbed at the Tonys.

Raul esparza by far

I love Raul Esparza's version

Saw Mr. Kert perform Company! @ the Alvin Theatre in 1970 (just before it hit Broadway), so he was "really" Bobby. I love Raúl, but NPH did a hell of job too.

My godmother-Larry Kert. But in all fairness-they're all terrific. But boy, Larry,-who should have had the part to begin with and replaced Dean Jones-was Bobby. I mean, they wrote it about him..I was 6 or something and saw him to do it on Broadway and in London. And he was brilliant. And sexy and wonderful. I am grateful my mother took me and that I sat thru it silent. I was mesmerized.

Larry Kert. All are well sung but with Larry Kert, I have no choice but to think of his life while he is singing. IMHO,"the original run of "Company" may have folded if Kert did not replace Dean Jones two weeks into the Broadway run.As far as I am concerned,Larry Kert owns this song.

LARRY KERT GREAT PERFORMANCE

Pants down, Raul. Sold it. Owned it. Made me believe it. Love him.

How marvellous an idea ! Thank you !

It is not fair to show some videos and some not. But having seen the video of the original soundtrack recording with Dean Jones, I don't know that anyone will ever beat him, in my opinion. Beautiful voice, spine tingling emotional performance.

Dean Jones for me. Wow, how did Raul do that 8 times awake?

Larry Kerr for me! Saw him do it in NY early 1971 ....I was in high school at the time, and was aware I was seeing a show that was "important" , but also didn't really understand it...Lolol .....had the same reaction to Night Music 2 years later.....I knew it was cool as hell, but the intricacies of "grown up" relationships mostly flew right over my head 😎😎😎

Larry. Kert.

Dean & Larry were the Best. I cannot separate the two. Just Amazing & Extraordinary.