Renée Zellweger performing Over Over Rainbow as Judy Garland is so epic that we asked …

August 30, 2019, 11:11 | Updated: August 30, 2019, 12:04

Renée Zellweger is expected to play Judy Garland in Rupert Goold's biopic about the beloved singer 'Over the Rainbow'. But how do his pipes hold?

Renée Zellweger will play Judy Garland in Rupert Goold's biopic in 2019 Judy

We had a glimpse of Zellweger playing Judy in the movie's official trailer (see above) and hearing short excerpts of her singing.

And now, the first single from the official Judy the soundtrack is over. Released today on Decca, 'Over the Rainbow' is a three-minute presentation of Judy Garland's most famous song, heard by Zellweger's voice.

We have called on Catherine Bott, presenter of the professional soprano and Classic FM, to analyze Zellweger's singing on the new track …

Read more: Does Renee Zellweger really sing Judy Garland in 'Judy'? >

First of all, how is Judy Garland's voice so special?

"It's often said that the key to Garland's mystique is her vulnerability, evoked in this all too human vibrato, which became very shaky, because unlike Dorothy, she was getting older and more damaged by life," says Catherine about the recent movie star.

"But without ever drawing attention to her, she's a deeply musical singer, endowed with a flawless technique – this forward one octave leap on" Somewhere "just stays on the money even in the live recording of 1960, at the time when "Over the Rainbow" had become such a record .Independent signature number, it is amazing that she always sings with wonder and total involvement.

"Garland made this song almost impossible to cover by anyone else – she has it forever."

How good is the version of 'Over the Rainbow' by Renée Zellweger? Judy?

So what does Renee Zellweger do in the new biographical film covering Judy's last tragic visit to London?

"All right, actually," said Catherine. "Obviously, she listened a lot and she opts for a breathless, slightly nasal sound, producing each note with confidence and precision.

"It's a convincing evocation of how the burned star might have sounded at The City Chat in 1969."

Rhythmically, Catherine notices a difference.

"Zellweger does not have Garland's miraculous instinct to sit on the beat, but it's more than a performance" who knew an actress could sing? "Hearing this version, I'm really looking forward to seeing the movie."

So it's a professional boost and it's yours. You can listen to Zellweger's complete performance in the track below.

Why is it The Wizard of Oz so widely loved?

As for many, Judy Garland – and more particularly her role in The Wizard of Oz – occupies a special place in Catherine's heart.

"Listen to Judy Garland, 16, singing" Over the Rainbow "in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz is a deeply emotional experience: not just because we can all identify with Dorothy's melancholy, stuck in Kansas, but because something is almost incomprehensible.

"How can someone so young look so mature, almost tired of the world?" Where did she get that deep voice, and who taught her how to use such a phrase, playing with the rhythms of the music to make it sound like those thoughts over the rainbow do not did that pop up in her mind while she was singing?

Listen to the original version of 'Over the Rainbow' by Judy Garland below.

Renée Zellweger's Judy, the soundtrack of the film, is broadcast worldwide on September 27, 2019.

In addition to "Over the Rainbow," the film will also feature "Get Happy," which is a duet with Zellweger and Sam Smith, and "Have a Happy Little Christmas," with Rufus Wainwright.

Judy will be released in cinemas on September 27, 2019 in the United States and October 2, 2019 in the United Kingdom.