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 (2007 film) both felt the number did not adequately advance the plot. As a result, "Mama" was reluctantly dropped from the film during pre-production, although it is used by Shaiman as an instrumental number when the "Corny Collins" kids dance the "Stricken Chicken". A special version of "Mama" was recorded for the film's end credits in May 2007, during the final score recording process, which featured vocals from each of the three women most famous for portraying Tracy Turnblad: Ricki Lake from the 1988 film, Marissa Jaret Winokur from the original Broadway cast, and Nikki Blonsky from the 2007 film. Harvey Fierstein,