The Storytelling Anthem of Dear Evan Hansen
"For Forever" is a masterclass in contemporary musical theatre performance. Written by Pasek and Paul for the hit musical Dear Evan Hansen, the song serves as a pivotal narrative moment where the protagonist fabricates a memory of a perfect friendship. Musically, it is an endurance test, building from a gentle acoustic guitar ballad into a soaring, cinematic pop-rock anthem.
Ben Platt's original performance is famous for its intricate vocal dynamics—using a fragile, conversational tone in the verses and exploding into a full, resonant belt in the climax. Let's break down how to tackle this technical giant.
AI Coach Tip: Conversational Tone
Do not "sing" the first verse too beautifully. The AI detects if you are over-projecting. Keep the volume around mezzo-piano and focus on diction, as if you are simply telling a story to a friend.
Phase 1: The Verse (0:00 - 1:45)
The song begins in G Major. The range here dips down to G2 ("End of May..."). For Tenors, this is comfortable, but you must ensure the low notes don't sound fry-heavy or weak.
The Technique: Use a "speech-level" mix. When you hit the falsetto flips on words like "sun" or "come," keep them light and airy. Ben Platt uses a distinct "cry" in his voice here to convey vulnerability.
Phase 2: The Build (1:45 - 3:30)
As the lyrics move to "And we keep driving," the energy shifts. You need to start adding more chest resonance to your mix. The melody starts hovering around D4 and E4.
- Breath Support: The phrases get longer here. Ensure you are taking low, diaphragmatic breaths to sustain the lines without gasping.
- Vowel modification: Narrow your vowels slightly on the E4s to prevent shouting.
Phase 3: The Climax (3:30 - End)
The song modulates and builds to its massive conclusion. The line "All that it takes is a little re-invention" pushes the voice higher, culminating in the sustained belt on "Two friends on a perfect day."
The money note is a sustained B4. To hit this safely, drop your jaw and use a "yell" coordination with a high soft palate. Imagine the sound projecting out of your forehead rather than your throat. Do not squeeze the consonants; jump straight to the vowels.
Frequently Asked Questions
The highest belted note is a B4 (on "perfect day" and "forever"). There are optional harmonies that go higher, but the lead vocal peaks there.
It is very challenging for a Baritone due to the sustained tessitura in the high 4th octave. However, using the Singing Coach AI app, you can transpose the track down -2 or -3 semitones to make it shine in a lower voice type.
Cracking usually happens when you carry too much "heavy" chest weight up. Try practicing the climax on a "Ney" or "Mum" sound first to find the right mix placement before adding the lyrics back in.
