I Can Hear the Bells I Can Hear the Bells "I Can Hear the Bells" is a song from the musical "Hairspray". It is sung by the protagonist Tracy Turnblad. Nikki Blonsky, who plays Tracy Turnblad in the 2007 film, was sick the day the vocals were recorded. After brushing past Link, the main lead on the Corny Collins Show, Tracy Turnblad starts to dream about what her life would be like if she pursued a relationship with him. These thoughts of a future wedding and perfect romance are idealized. Orlando Sentinel notes "the chorus members produce bells whose tinkling emphasizes the dream setting of
Hairspray (1988 film) the film's distributor, discouraged this concept, and it was eventually dropped. Instead Divine played Edna Turnblad and Arvin Hodgepile, racist TV station owner. A handful of scenes were cut while in post-production, some of which explained certain elements seen in the film. The first scene occurs before Tracy and Penny go the Parkville VFW record hop. Tracy is required to start her first shift working in the Hardy-Har Joke Shop. But after managing to scare away all her customers she is excused to go to the hop. The joke shop customers are still listed in the end credits of the