I then told them I wanted to hear their comments first, and told them the names of each singer. The comments were all well thought out, whether one agreed with them or not. And I would say each singer had people for whom their version worked. Just as example, one person found Bernadette's version very melancholy and a bit dark, found Liz's version very positive and warm (and that didn't work for this person), found Dianne's version to labored and jazzy, but liked Theresa McCarthy's best because it sort of fused the parts he'd liked about Liz and Bernadette.
Another found Liz's version the one, because they felt it really catured the essence of the song and felt that the character who is singing it really came through - someone who has, just before the song starts, says in response to someone saying "But you haven't seen the sun in thirteen years," "don't pity me - I have my memories." And Liz doesn't play the pity, which Bernadette does. Bernadette's version is almost angry, and that's certainly a choice, but it doesn't work for me because it goes against the character who's singing it.
For me, Liz is the only one who makes the song not maudlin and yet who keeps its essential beauty and underlying sadness intact. She's also the only one who's really playing the specificity of the word images. Of course, having directed that performance, I'm partial to it, because we were very specifically trying to make it about the character who's singing it.
The Reeves version is fascinating in its own right - the slowest (by a minute - the others are all within seconds of each other), it does create an interesting atmosphere, and Miss Reeves certainly understands the song, but it's not really ABOUT the song with her - it's about her voice. And it's not musical theater.
As for Miss McCarthy - she has a lovely voice, but I feel there's nothing there in terms of her and the song. The person who liked her because it seemed she was using the best of Liz and Bernadette was spot on - that's exactly what it sounds like - like she had listened to both versions (more Liz than BP), and taken the phrasings she liked. But, there's no heart, no soul, just a pretty voice singing words.