Every Les Misérables Song Ranked
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- čas přidán 6. 05. 2024
- Les Misérables is my favorite musical of all time. One thing I've wanted to do for a while now has been to rank all the songs and share my opinions on them. Now, for this video, I initially wanted to use more of the 25th Anniversary concert, but CZcams's copyright system wouldn't let me, so I had to make due with what I could and use more of the 10th, which sadly meant cutting my King Ramin Karimloo's performance of Red and Black 🫡.
Also, if you haven't seen Les Misérables there are massive spoilers in this video, so maybe go see it first.
Here's the link to the 4k print of the 10th Anniversary Concert I used. • Video
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:37 D Tier
02:22 C Tier
05:47 B Tier
11:33 A Tier
17:18 S Tier
Movies Featured in Video:
Les Misérables in Concert: The 25th Anniversary (2010)
Owned By: NBC Universal and Cameron Mackintosh.
Les Miserables the Dream Cast in Concert (1995)
Owned By: Sony Pictures and BBC Video.
Les Miserables (2012)
Owned By: Universal Pictures.
Les Miserables Live (2019)
Owned By: NBC Universal and Cameron Mackintosh.
Music Featured in Video:
Les Misérables in Concert: The 25th Anniversary Album (2010)
Performed By: The Les Miserables 25th anniversary cast
Owned By: NBC Universal and Cameron Mackintosh.
Les Miserables the Dream Cast in Concert Album (1995)
Performed By: The Cast of Les Miserables the Dream Cast in Concert.
This channel is not monetized and does not own any of the clips in this video.
Disclaimer: This video is under Fair Use: Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational, or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.
All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.
I think we can all agree on one thing. The 10th anniversary is the best version in existence.
The only flaw is they cut many of the story-driven songs out.
@jp3813 Also, I feel like Enjolras could have had a better costume. He needs his sleeves rolled up and his hair messy.
@@Thomas_H._Smith And Javert deserves his own mic in "One Day More" b/c his voice kinda gets drowned out in the "I will join these people's heroes..." part.
I favor the 25th-anniversary concert, with the exception of Nick Jonas, I am more than sure they could've found someone else for Marius, but it is what it is. I have watched all three concerts and the movie, and I still favor the cast they had for the 25th-anniversary concert.
@manuelmelendez3140 Yeah, I think that's my biggest problem with the 25th anniversary too. There were just so many better options for Marius. Ramin Karimloo, Hadley Fraser, Jamie Muscato, Killian Donnelly, heck Alistair Brammer is in this, and he only had like two lines.
Also, while I like the rest of the 25th cast fine, you just can't beat the 10th with Colm Wilkinson, Philip Quast, Michael Ball, Lea Salonga, Judy Kuhn, and Ruthie Henshall.
Do you hear the people sing isn't overrated, it's one of the most inspiring protest songs ever made and a masterpiece. People knew les mis because of it
It’s great but overrated
I couldn't agree more! I love Do you hear the people sing?
overrated doesn’t equal bad i suppose
I ‘ve hoped that “ Do You Hear The People Sing” would be sung in protest to the evil attempts to have our freedom of women’s rights to choose- it outdoors be so fitting
Sorry for that typo… I meant our women’s rights to choose abused and removed! 🤦♀️
Songs such as "Dog eats dog" are needed to calm down and relax between intense songs. It's impossible to be on tension all the time. It is necessary to rotate between tense and calm/cheerful songs. It is necessary to change the mood.
That's a good point, but The Sewers is still a pretty calm song that can transition between The Final Battle and Javert’s Soliloquy rather well, and Empty Chairs At Empty Tables starts calm before growing intense.
@@Thomas_H._Smith Everything cannot be perfect 😀 I have another question, what do you think about her singing? >> czcams.com/video/JQ27l8y8zk0/video.html I think she is very good.
@Artem-go5xf Oh, I love Eva Noblezada, especially as Kim in Miss Saigon.
I actually love Dog eats dog so much for no reason 😭
@@totally_not_mike ♥️
Ruthie's fading note during her death is one of the most hauntingly skillful things I have ever heard a singer pull off.
Wait, she does this herself? I always thought her microphone was just turned down and faded out. Wow that’s really impressive then!
@@ginnytonks6556 it's real, yes! Because she does it again during the epiologue!
It's a whistle tone that Ruthie is quite able to do with no electronic aid.
My favourite song will always be Empty Chairs at Empty Tables, there’s something hauntingly tragic and the music is absolutely phenomenal. I loved how the barricade boys show up in the background in the concert. When i finally got to see the musical lost i immediately fell in love when the barricade boys picked up the candles. Beautiful
I love that one too!
Same! I just watched the musical in Chinatown and that part had me in tears, alongside Gavroche's death 😢
I agree this for me is the No1 song from Les Mis, allthough I prefer the Eddie Redmayne version
I wonder why the 2012 film didn’t show the phantom figures during the “Empty Chair at Empty Tables” number. Like Janie says, this section is very emotive.
For me, Stars sung by Phillip Quest is the best of Les Mis. No one can equal that. He’s in a league of his own. 👍
Sigiendo el libro a los Miserables, cada personaje es descrito en su historía y en su humanidad para explicar porque es como es, cuales son las razones de su miseria, Javert es excesivamente recto. Víctor Hugo dijo “todos somos Miserables” y en su libro lo que hace es explicar como cada personaje llega a ser lo que es y todios cargan con sus miserias.
Totally agree!! Why they didn’t use him in the film instead of Russel Crowe is beyond me.
Stars is best. That is just the way it is. And nobody does it like Quast.
Red and black is a certified hood classic.
Ruthie Henshall walks that fine line between desperation and grace better than I've ever seen.
Exactly
Thank you so much for putting this together.....
"Empty Chairs" is a gut punch to me. I lost many friends during the late 60's; those that survived with me, are now being lost to me from old age and illness.
I'm 80 now, and I'll follow soon enough.
The music and words of "Les Miserable" takes one through all pissible moods and memories.
Turning is one of my favorite songs in the show (maybe even my favorite), and I'm shocked that it was so low! To me, this song represents the shift from youthful idealism to the reality of loss and crushed visions of the future, by taking one of the most upbeat songs in the show and turning (no pun intended) it into a funeral march. It also acknowledges why the revolution died in some ways- to the common people, their focus was on the everyday dismal rhythms of life, rather than some idealistic vision set forth by wealthy students. In addition, it sets the scene really well for Empty Chairs at Empty Tables, and I've always loved the staging that a lot of Les Mis productions do where the women in Turning set down candles to represent the lives lost, which are then blown out by the specters of the revolutionaries as Marius is singing.
Really?? For me that song is on last 😅
“Turning” is definitely in my bottom 3. I skip it every time now. It’s like nails on a chalkboard for me.
My top 5
5. Master of the house
4. Do you hear the people sing
3. Empty chairs and empty tables
2. Stars
1. Bring him home
as an actor recently in le mis (played javert) i completely agree
Mine is
5. Red and black
4. Javerts suicide
3. Begger at the feast
2. Master of the house
1. One day more
I've always said Bring Him home is the most beautiful song ever on Broadway, but One Day More is the best song in Les Mis.
Before commenting on the rankings, I think we should take a moment to appreciate the amount of time and effort which has gone into putting the video together - thank you!
What makes deciding on a ranking for Les Mis so difficult is that it has so many fantastic songs. There are probably 5-10 which, if they appeared in most other musicals, would be considered the outstanding one in the show - yet LM has a whole succession of them. I'd broadly agree with your rankings, but there are a few which stand out as being too high/too low. "Do You Hear the People Sing?" is definitely far too low - I'd put it in my top two or three. It's gained its own identity outside of the show - most of the people who sing it at protests have probably never seen a full performance of LM. The only other song I can think of which has achieved such fame beyond the show it came from is "You'll Never Walk Alone".
The other one I'd put much higher is "On My Own". The place it occupies in the plot, and the song itself, would make it worth a top five place to start with, but it's Lea Salonga's performance which really elevates it - as close to perfect singing as you're ever likely to hear. It's also quite possibly the most emphatic response to your detractors in the history of entertainment - by her own account, there were a bunch of critics who didn't think she should have been given the role and were "waiting for her to mess up". Instead of that she went out and delivered what is still, 28 years later, considered the definitive performance of the role and of that song in particular. She is the yardstick against which all others are measured.
I thoroughly agree with your statement on "On My Own", personally it is my favourite number of the show and has been 2nd on my spotify rapped for 3 years now. The character of Eponine is one of the most deepest and underated characters because what she goes through in the story is so incredibly powerful, how originally she was superior to Cossette and then years later Cossette comes back and takes her whole life away from right underneath her feet. Also her love for Marius is so empowering and beautiful and how she is willing to help him find another love and sacririce her happiness for his. All of this is incapsulised so beautifully in "On My Own" and A Little Fall of Raim for that matter which I would also rank higher, and all that alongside Lea Salongas performance is in my opinion the most powerful piece of theatre in the world, the emotion, the trauma of the character, her love for Marius, the power in her voice and the point during the musical that it is is so beautiful and incredible, and what makes it even more heart breaking is that the next time we see Eponine is the scene where she dies which makes her the perfect character
That little Colette kept her composure when the prop gun went off always amazes me.
I think it was one of the celebration balloons accidentally popping
Did you mean Cosette? Or is that a joke based on the song
I always assumed it was a stage light exploding. I read that somewhere.
First off, beautiful job editing. The only real beef I have is your characterization of the singer of Stars as a villian. In my eyes he is just the law without the benefit of mercy thru accepting salvation. The law is not mocked. It is true. But without salvation, it has no heart and is only to be feared. Stars sums it up beautifully.
Better to call him the antagonist rather than the villain.
My personal top five: 1) One Day More; 2) Stars; 3) Do You Hear the People Sing; 4) Empty Chairs at Empty Tables; 5) Master of the House
No bring him home is crazy
Les Mis is my favorite musical too and I'm also obsessed with ranking videos so I really enjoyed this! Also the Epilogue is my favorite too so I was so happy to see it at #1. It starts off with such a beautiful and heartbreaking Valjean solo, then as Eponine and Fantine come back in harmony and it builds to the entire cast reprising Do You Hear the People Sing, it's just perfect
As a Londoner, I am lucky to be able to see my favourite Musical anytime I want. I have seen it more than 20 times over the years, and I own almost all cast recordings.
For me, the 10th anniversary cast remain by far the best (way better than the 25th, with the exception of Ramin Karimloo who is little bit better) English version.
It is hard to rank songs, because it depends a lot on the preformer.
When Michael Ball or Jerome Pardon sing then my favourite song is "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables"
When Nick Jonas sings, then it is somehwre in the bottom half.
Lucky you. 👏
I saw the original cast in London when I was 21 … and can’t agree more. The original and the best!!!
As a massive Les Mis fan I might disagree with your order. We all have our favourites. But I am glad you put "A Heart full of love high up in your chart". I would swap 1 and 2 around.
Yes one day more>
One Day More is #1.
I agree with switching the #1 and #2 spots. Both are great “stand up and join the chorus from your seat” songs but the journey that One Day More takes you on is pure genius.
when my community chorus performs its memorial day service we include a ceremony called "the empty chair" which recognizes the loss of veterans. i encouraged our choral director to have us sing "empty chairs at empty tables" to follow the ceremony and although it refers to a french uprising, it honors all souls lost in battle
i was surprised by valjean's soliloquy being so low, i love the song a lot when sung by Alfie Boe, he gives it a lot of emotion, sings great, and it always gets stuck in my head on repeat
Thanks for doing this! Amazing!
A terrific video, and your ranking of the songs in Les Mis. it is strange that a musical that started off in French when translated into English which s the version now used for translating into other languages even on return to France. lea Salonga's version of "on my own" in the 10th anniversary DVD really is one of my favourites and then she went on to do Fantine in the 25th-anniversary DVD I could ask for no better.
Fantastic countdown, and your comments positively add to the quality of this video. Having seen it twice in London (with Alfie Boe), I agree with others, the 10th anniversary show was my favorite outside the live performances. And Lea Salonga - my favorite voice.
This was a really well made video and very enjoyable watch even if our opinions differ in many places (the main thing being that I personally really enjoy the Thenardiers but I understand why a lot of people don't.) mainly just leaving a comment in hopes that the algorithm boosts this really good vid 🙌
Can we all just observe a moment of silence in remembrance of the turntable stage? Oh how I miss it!
I’ll miss it forever, it’s quite a shame that it’s gone. 😔
I was so pleased to see this instrumental piece highlighted. It is beautifully orchestrated, the way the strings come in just as the stage turns and the light shines upon Enjolras.
Perfectly rated!! #1 and #2 always gives me the chills!! Well done
Love the Stars recognition and this ranking!
Thank You so much for this!!! My Favorite Also. I listen or watch it almost Daily! :D
Great job! Thank you.
Personally, i would've put valjeans soliloquy a lot higher. It's a ssong about a man whose been rejected and ostracised by society finally finding someone who understands and trusts him. John Owen Jones' performance of this in the 2010 recording was phenomenalas you could hear the desperation and confusion in his voice.
I don't like this song all that much but John Owen Jones is my favourite Valjean and I love his version of this song.
@jotunfalls4026 NGL, after I made this video, I finally listened to John Owen Jones's version of the song, and yeah he might had just saved it.
i agree with putting that song higher. its so common that convicts etc just dont know how to act in the " real world"
The fact that the almost all postive commentary starts at song 33 says how good this musical is.
I would reverse your order of the Finale and One Day More. The Finale is rousing but the way the different parts come together in One Day More is so amazing!
I loved this!! Awesome commentary 😁👌
Thanks for the ranking. I truly enjoyed watching, especially seeing Wilkinson as Valjean. (I live in Finland, and have only seen youtube clips of him being The Man). Fully agree on top 3!
in defense of dog eats dog: i think it provides some fascinating insight into thenardier's character. i get that it's long and i do honestly skip it as much as i can but it gives so much more insight into his character and we also see to what lengths he will do what he does ( and in turn the lesser fortunate of the "main" ensemble ). we see more "humanity" in him in the sewers rummaging through grossness and corpses. going from master of the house to this nihilistic philosophy of his just shows how much HE'S changed, but stayed exactly the same.
the same defense falls towards turning in my opinion too. les mis is a reactionary musical IMO. it shows the reactions and direct "consequences" of loss and love, and that includes the men who died on the barricade. plus, i think it provides a pretty good setup to empty chairs: off the cuff you get in this mindset of "oh, so we're grieving now", and we hear that from the people who feel that loss, and then we hear from someone we do sympathize more for by pure virtue of knowing him longer character-wise. i think it serves as an excellent segue into empty chairs.
overall, i think les mis is an ensemble musical, and a lot of the theming of les mis showcases the ensemble well, and highlights that they too have stories and lives. it's small peeks into their lives that make it feel like a much more hearty and lived-through musical, less bones and more meat.
I am so biast to the 2010 London cast its hard to see other Valjeans, John Owen-Jones is just so fenomenal
John Owen-Jones is my favourite valjean!!
Agreed. I actually watched a bootleg recording of the 2010 Tour synced up with the live cast album after I made this video, and oh yeah, John Owen Jones is phenomenal and definitely my second favorite Valjean after Colm Wilkinson. In fact, I'd actually say that his rendition of Valjean's Soliloquy brought that song up a good few places.
Also, while we're still on the subject, I'd also go so far as to say that this is my second favorite version of Les Mis after the 10th. Particularly Earl Carpenter and Gareth Gates as my second favorite Javert and Marius.
I@@Thomas_H._Smith I also really like the thenardiers in the 2010 version
I'd love to see more song rankings from you.
That was a lovely 25 minutes in my life. Thanks.
I have the exact same top 3 as you, i get instantly emotional listening to the finale. nothing gets better than that.
I did want to defend Dog eats the dog however, as I think of it as much more of a character song for Thenardier than a plot song. It's the only time we see Thénardier when he's truly intimidating and terrifying. The rest of the songs he's more of a comic relief, but here he's a villain. Also it's a song that shows yet again how perverse this (and our) world is, people like him making profit of off horrible tragedies. Besides, I just think it sounds really good.
I have seen Les Miz four times. Including tonight in Lincoln Nebraska. My first was 30+yrs ago. The best so far. Tonight’s was wonderful. More emotional in some areas but the cast in the first with Terrance Mann and that cast was phenomenal in there singing.
❤️ ***LesMiz*** is for me the most beautiful musical - closely followed by *Phantom* - of the versions that I own so far, despite the incredible equipment of the *25th Anniversary*, I still - and always - like the *10th Anniversary* and especially the simply irreplaceable *Javert* ❤️Philip Quast❤️ - I have heard and seen *Stars* by so many different artists, but nothing even comes close to ❤️PQ❤️, he is an incredible artist, it is such a shame that he is so little present... a voice like that should be heard much more often... but the *10* is also the most beautiful for me overall, I like the other versions too but the *10th Anniversary* is really my *Dreamcast* (please excuse my bad English, I come from Germany)
Just to continue to talk about how great Philip Quast is, he is now also a professor of dramatic arts at the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Sydney.
@@Thomas_H._Smith ✨✨✨Hello Thomas, thank you for your answer. Yes, I know that he teaches and has also worked with his students via chat during the peak of the pandemic. Of course, that is something that someone with such a voice, such talent, simply has to pass on. It just always makes me sad because I live in Germany and I'm sure I won't make it to Australia. I wish he were back in London. I definitely wouldn't miss that. But from his interviews and the many articles I found about him, he expressed several times that he didn't want to become "rich, famous and a - (how funny) a star". He wanted to sing and do it as well as possible and the recognition of his colleagues and also the audience was more important to him than being a celebrity. I read somewhere that he saw many of his colleagues/friends move to America, Hollywood, etc. and then had to watch their divorces and separations from their children. He is (last updated) still married to his first wife, Carol (Tart), since January 1981 and, it seems to me, very happy. That was, among other things, far too high a stake for him at the gaming table of life. He once said in a fantastic interview: - when asked what makes him happiest: My wife, my kids and fishing... That is one of the best answers ever to that question. Dear Thomas, thank you again for your post and forgive me for writing another **novel**, that's a bit of a problem with my ❤️ heart topics❤️ I just remembered that I once read an interview in which he said: he went to his casting and hoped for a place in the choir. Then he noticed that he had to sing from sheet music and was about to leave again because he can't sing from sheet music. But somehow someone held him back and he stayed *** and became the best Javert who ever chased a Valjean. ❤️❤️❤️ So, that's really it. It's so nice when you find someone who has similar interests and is so deeply into the subject that they know relatively unknown geniuses and can exchange ideas. So, sorry, and I hope you understand my bad English. I mentioned that I come from Germany and that English has only become half-established here. For example, I have a job on a PC where the programs only work in English. I get by relatively well, but 'older' colleagues in particular often have problems. Often the years that went to high school before German reunification, because back then Russian was always taught instead of English, which is of absolutely no use to the people concerned now. But our school English isn't much better either. So please be lenient, it's 80% self-learned. I wish you all the best and a wonderful Sunday...✨🤗😍✨✨✨
One of my definite favourites is every day/ a heart full of love (reprise), because its all about healing. My favourite part is cosettes first few lines.
Additionally I really like waltz of treachery, but honestly I love every song
@@Txlip_Love YES
Great work ranking all the songs! Especially loved the Sierra Burgess cameo.
Stars and Confrontation are my top fave songs. I could never rank all the rest, lol!
wow this video just sent me spiraling into an emotional mess !! i love les mis so much, this was a great video and i like the points youve made with each song placement. my personal favorite is Drink With Me, i think it's a perfect showcase of Grantaire's character in contrast to the barricade boys
you got a favorite cast/recording? i can't seem to pick which to watch/listen to everytime because there's such a huge selection
Definitely the 10th Anniversary. Although I will say, I wish I could just cut out Ramin and Hadley from the 25th and stick them in.
I would rank Come to Me higher than #18 because it moves me every time I hear it. As a parent (father), my heart breaks that Fantine’s last thought was a longing for her daughter to be with her. The love and sacrifice that a mother is willing to make for her child, which lead to the guilt and burden that Jean Valjean will carry and make amends for the rest of his life, all in this one song.
Thanks so much for this video! Loved hearing your opinions and yes “A Heart Full of Love” is a beautiful song and deserves where you put it in your ranking. I probably would’ve put “Runaway Cart” higher, I just love the interaction between Javert and Valjean. Do you have a favorite character in Les Mis? If so, who is it?
I really want to see the Les Mis US Tour again. I saw it and it was FANTASTIC! Beautiful show. The cast led by Nick Cartell (Jean Valjean), Preston Truman Boyd (Inspector Javert), Haley Dortch (Fantine), Gregory Lee Rodriguez (Marius), Christine Heesun Hwang (Eponine), Addie Morales (Cosette), Devin Archer (Enjolras), Matt Crowle (Thenardier), Christina Rose Hall (Madame Thenardier) were AMAZING!! Have you seen the US Tour? Les Mis is one of my favorite musicals, it is a beautiful masterpiece! Thanks for this terrific video
I'm glad you liked it. If I had to choose a favorite character, it would be Marius and Javert.
If I ever could be in Les Misérables, Marius is the part I'd most want to play. He gets to have all the romance songs, does a lot of fighting, lives (that's very important), and all in just seems like the part I could do the most justice.
But I have to say Javert is just such a great character. He is a phenomenal villain and the perfect foil to Valjean. He's calculating, relentless, tough, intimidating, but also extremely layered, and has the best solo in the whole show, hands down.
So Marius is my favorite, but I have to say Javert is the best.
Thanks so much for your response! Really well said
I have many disagrees but i loved the journey of watching and the commentaries, Les Mis is my favorite musical and is aways good to watch good content creat by fans like that. Also, nice editing.
I can not believe you have a Heart Full of Love where it is but otherwise great video hahaha
Love this. Thanks!
42: Eponine’s Errand
41: Little People
40: Castle On the Cloud
39: Turning
38: Beggars At the Table
37: Look Down (Beggars)
36: On Parole/The Bishop
35: The Robbery
34: The First Attack
33: Everyday
32: I Dreamed A Dream
31: The Runaway Cart
30: Dog Eats Dog
29: Valjean’s Confession
28: The Final Battle
27: Fantine’s Arrest
26: The Sewers
25: Building the Barricades
24: Back to the Barricade
23: In My Life
22: The Waltz of Treachery
21: A Heart Full of Love
20: Valjean’s Soliloquy
19: The Attack of Rue Plumet
18: Come To Me
17: Javert’s Soliloquy
16: Drink With Me
15: Finale
14: Little Fall of Rain
13: At the End of the Day
12: The Confrontation
11: Bring Him Home
10: Look Down
9: One Day More
8: On My Own
7: Lovely Ladies
6: Who Am I?
5: Do You Hear the People Sing?
4: Stars
3: Red and Black
2: Empty Chairs At Empty Tables
1: Master of the House
This was my very first musical I ever got to see and always holds a special place in my heart ❤️
Personally I don't know how you rated them, I wouldn't know where to start, but I agree with the top 3 they totally deserve to be up there. I kept changing my mind, one minute I thought Stars should be first, then I thought One day more, but I agree the ending in some ways makes it, like Look Down is a great opener. I just love the whole thing and its definitely one if not my favourite musical which is hard as there are some great musicals, but the music is just amazing and I don't think I could rank them.
The Epilogue 1000 percent belongs where it is. Thank you ❤
Stars is just the best. Especially with Quast. I agree that songs like One Day More and Finale are amazing and are kind of obligated to have the top spot but Stars is just perfect
Great work man!!
Michael Ward should heed the old ENGLISH SAYING. IF YOU CAN'T SAY ANYTHING NICE, DONT SAY ANYTHING!!!! LES MIS IS GREAT
Watching this video was a nice reminder of the magnificence of the music and singing. I stopped reading the comments b/c I found them to be toooo petty, annoying and critical and I generally disagreed with everything
So, thanks for taking me down memory lane with the songs😊
If you notice, several of the tunes are re-done with different lyrics - ONE DAY MORE is my #2 - Do You Hear the People Sing, of COURSE is my #1 fav! I recently saw the play in Los Angeles last Sept - BEST PERFORMANCE EVER!!! And then in Houston in January (a surprise b-day gift from my daughter!) I think that makes it 32 times I've seen the play, lost count of the times I watched the movie!
Loved your astute comments!
I would put Valjeans soliloquy above at the end of the day just because of Colm's exceptional performance
Javerst dead is not in your ranking isn't it?
Javerts suicide is a fantastic song and I would probably put in my top 10
I SAW it in Sao Paulo where I live and the Brazilian cast was also fantastic. I auditioned for pianist...but they were looking really for a tecladist
When I first saw the show in London, having listened to the soundtrack about 1.3 zillion times, I was shocked by Eponine's death, precisely because it came sooner in the show than on the soundtrack. Nice piece of preventing the soundtrack from being a spoiler.
Valjean's Soliloquy greatly increases the power of Javert's Suicide (which was the use of the tune found on the Original French Concept Album) by setting up the parallel between Valjean and Javert. I see you mention this later on.
Castle on a Cloud had better "main verse" lyrics in the Original French Concept Album, IMHO: "My prince is on his way already. I don't know what he will be like. But I know he'll come tomorrow. My prince is already on his way." I do like the bridge in the English version--Cosette has a vague memory of her mother, but doesn't know who she is. The French lyrics tie in with the OFCA's later song "In [my] life": "But you have been the prince of my childhood. Another should appear in my adolescence."
Come to Me is my favorite among the songs based on "L'air de la misere", and the English reworking is brilliant. In the OFCA, Fantine's death gets a reprise of the "misere" lyrics: "Misery, child of distress. Of all vice, and all feebleness. Misery lets out the beast in man, and the titmouse thus into a wild dog is transformed."
While repurposing "L'air de la misere" as "On my own" makes sense, and it's a great tune, I do rather miss Eponine's unrequited love song from the OFCA, "L'un vers l'autre". The intro to it gets used a couple of times for dialogue bits, and as the intro to "A little fall of rain", but the main tune got cut. I really liked near the end "But in a duet, others have no role; they are the audience."
A little fall of rain--great tune, and I love the way the chords fit sound on my guitar with flat finger tuning (G-D-d-f-g#-b). Maybe not much of an observation for people who use standard tuning, but I just love playing that one.
A heart full of love--the line "My name is Marius Pontmercy" is much more significant in the novel than the show lets on, since Marius' father, colonel Pontmercy, had gone off to war and his stepfather had told Marius nothing about him. When he later found out about his father, his introucing himself as Marius Pontmercy was an act of rebellion against his stepfather.
I dreamed a dream is a great song. The OFCA gave Fantine two big numbers, L'air de la misere and J'avais reve d'une autre vie, which was a bit redundant, but the English version of the show kept the right one for her.
I find it interesting how precisely the verb forms in part of the OFCA version of the finale were translated: "You will live, my father, you are going to live. Me, I want that you should live, do you hear?" "Yes, Cosette, forbid me to die. I would like to obey." Adding in Eponine and Fantine at the end was a perfect extra touch.
Dang, I never knew there were that many differences between the original French version and the English version. Very interesting.
@@Thomas_H._Smith I realized after posting the above that Fantine does have two big numbers in both the English and French versions, and they both have similar melodies (though the intro to "Come to Me" is taken from the finale rather than "L'air de la misere", whose intro is much closer to "On my own", and "L'air de la misere" lacks the bridge melody but instead repeats the intro after the first verse). I think it would be more accurate to view Come to Me as being derived from the epilogue melody than from "L'air de la misere".
Also, if you've not yet heard L'un vers l'autre, see czcams.com/video/4wnl3HTrANs/video.html (first search result for that title, and it contains translated lyrics in the comments). I'd be curious to know what you think of it. Giving Eponine a powerful show stopper seems fair given that the other main characters all get one, but L'un vers l'autre has a real sweetness I wish had found a place somewhere in the English version of the show.
@@Thomas_H._SmithI just found a complete recording of the 1980 French Les Mis, including material not present on the concept album. czcams.com/video/vFnXaGzFrwY/video.html
It turns out the 1980 show actually duet between Marius and Eponine to the tune of "L'air de la misere" which includes the 'bridge' which was present in On My Own, but not present in the first appearance of "L'air de la misere". While some of the omissions when making the 1980 concept album seem unfortunate, the loss of htis song seems far less tragic than the loss of L'un vers l'autre from later versions of the show. Something about the line [translated] "Happiness with them goes well, towards each other. A blind beggar in his heart can see it" just gets me.
Incidentally, that in that recording, "Ce n'est rien" [Eponine's death song] has a different rhythm on the "and rain will make the flowers grow" part than either the OFCA or the English version of the show.
Thanks! loved your side notes.
Philip Quast really set the bar with Stars. I cannot listen to any other version anymore.
Thank you! I really enjoyed your video and comments! I agree with most of your ranking! I also hate the Thenardiers. And I really love the TAC cast (specially Philip Quast). I'm curious about where you'd place the final song from the TAC with international Valjeans and the rest of the cast joining them. Would it rank higher than 'Dog Eats Dog'?"
I actually was debating including the 17 Valjeans encore, but eventually elected not to. If I did rank it, I think I would put it about on par with the original 'Do You Hear the People Sing' around 17 or so.
Glad you used the 10th anniversary, much the best in my opinion.
One Day More is incredible. But also On My Own is a masterpiece...Soliloquy...
"at the end of the day" you want to re write this musical, I fear, ever so subtly :)
One of the most brill musicals ever ❤❤❤❤
Simply Brilliant
I really can't rank these songs because I love them all and my favorites change based on my feelings in the moment, but there's one that always makes me cry and that's empty chairs at empty tables. And if you read the book it's worse, because you know every guy on that barricade as if they were your personal friend!
lovely video, i have the 10th anniversary and the 25th anniversary, even listening to this video, still brings tears to my eyes, some of the songs make me emotional
I disagree with what you say about dog eats dog to me it’s linked with bring him home and stars. Valjean believes in a merciful god javert a vengeful one and Ternardier doesn’t believe in anything but himself. I always head canon the turning women as the same women who were at the barricade. What you said about Stars Perfect no notes
My rankings (song count is a bit lower due to lumping some stuff together):
1. Stars
2. On My Own
3. One Day More
4. Epilogue / Do You Hear The People Sing? (reprise)
5. Empty Chairs at Empty Tables
6. ABC Cafe / Red and Black
7. Prologue (Look Down / On Parole / The Bishop / Valjean’s Soliloquy)
8. I Dreamed A Dream
9. At the End of the Day
10. The Final Battle / Bring Him Home (orchestral reprise)
11. Javert’s Soliloquy / Suicide
12. The Sewers / Dog Eat Dog / The Final Confrontation
13. The Attack on Rue Plumet
14. Master of the House
15. Bring Him Home / Dawn of Anguish
16. Nightfall / Drink With Me
17. Who Am I?
18. The Docks (Lovely Ladies / Fantine’s Arrest / The Runaway Cart)
19. Building the Barricade / Delivering the Letter
20. The Wedding / Waltz of Treachery (reprise)
21. The Bargain / Waltz of Treachery
22. In My Life
23. Fantine’s Death
24. A Little Fall of Rain
25. Valjean’s Confession
26. A Heart Full of Love (reprise)
27. Turning
28. Do You Hear the People Sing?
29. A Heart Full of Love
30. The First Attack / Javert Freed
31. Paris / Look Down (reprise)
32. The Confrontation
33. The Robbery
34. Beggars at the Feast
35. Castle on a Cloud
36. Javert at the Barricade
37. The Second Attack
The 10 ann.is a MASTERPIECE! Les Mis is best Broadway show ever.
For some reason, I find songs like "Lovely Ladies" and "Look Down (townspeople)" really fun to sing, though I suppose it's because I like to imitate the different voices while singing them. (I've pretty much got the 10th Anniversary's "Lovely Ladies" memorized.)
Also, I agree that the finale is the best one. I love how Valjean's death and Fantine and Eponine harmonizing together transitions to a lot of people singing a happier version of "Do You Hear The People Sing?", and it just fills me with a kind of hope that comes after sadness; it reminds me that though we may come across sad times (in Cosette's case, it's her father figure dying), we still have more of our life ahead of us, and that we can make happy memories in the future. I've pretty much decided that if that song isn't played at my funeral, I'm not dying.
I agree with most of your picks! I agree that the finale is the best song, followed by "One day more". However, the part that always makes me cry is when Jean Valjean dies at the end. When Cosette starts to cry, so do I! Anyway, amazing video about the best of musicals! And I also agree that Thernadier takes up too much time.
I would shuffle a few around a bit, but this is a good list. The only thing I would change is , anything Lea Salonga sings, is number one. She is the greatest, ever.
Thank you for your great work. Maybe we don't all agree on your choices, but the good thing is that everybody is thinking how he or she would make her list.
the day i find out Ramin Karimloo plays Eljoras was lifechanging..
For some songs like Turning, you also have to keep in mind the fact that it's a stage musical. Turning most likely exists to give the actor playing Marius time to change costumes.
I'm seeing it for the first time next week! I have 3rd row tickets, and in going on my own. I am so going to have the most magical time.
For me personally, Javert’s suicide in my #1. It shows how complex Javert’s character really is and the ending of the song is really what gets it for me.
Bring him home is a special and personal song for me......
I really like Carrie hope fletcher’s version of I dreamed a dream.....
and rain will make the flowers grow, such a beautiful but emotional song
Les Mis the best ever ❤ any song in it is amazing. How can you rank any of it all who have been in it or are in it just fantastic.
Les Misérables is not merely a chart-topping show, but rather a masterpiece-a sung-through musical. Some songs were not crafted for commercial success, but rather to propel the narrative forward. Read the book.
Confrontation and Who am I are in the top 5 for me - with the latter edging out the former for a better position 😅
Edit: but your list is strong! Well done
My top 5
5 - Stars
4 - On My Own
3 - Empty Chairs
2 - I Dreamed a Dream
1 - Bring Him Home
Bring Him Home by Colm Wilkinson in the 10th Anniversary special is absolute perfection. I have never heard anyone do it better.
The music is so powerful it brings tears to my eyes every time
I got the DVD of the 25th Anniversary performances, which I love, and a favorite part for me is the credits at the end, when the orchestra plays the theme music. Awesome.
The second time I saw Les Mis I thought Turning was in the play to fill time for prepping the next scenes. Dog Eat Dog explains how M. T has Marius 's ring that comes into play at the wedding.
I agree with the last song. I actually really like Turning.
I also really like The beginning of the Final Battle, especially with Ramin's voice. But I just love Enjolras, so I enjoy every snippet with him.
My favourite favourites songs are One Day More, Paris/Look Down and the end of the Epilogue from the point where Fantine and Eponine start singin.
I agree that Samantha and Aaron were the best in the movie version.
I have seen Les Mis four times, one time in English, which was great and three times in German, the last time this January in St.Gallen, which was also such a great show.
I prefer the 25th anniversary version over tze movie version and I really want to watch the one from 2019 now.
The only complaint I have with the 25th Anniversary concert is I don't care for Nick Jonas as Marius. Yes, he is a good singer. His acting left something to be desired.
25th Anniversary Concert was awesome. Was so lucky to be there. To see the original cast was terrific as I saw the original performance at the Barbican.
“Can it be you fear to die” ah yes, uplifting
I agree with you on the rating. Though I’d have love On My Own further up the rankings 😁😁😁😁
This is a good post. There is an effort to objectify the BASIS for the comment. CONGRATULATIONS! GREAT JOB!
Oh god I never realized eponines errand was a reprise of a little fall of rain. Oh god. Oh I can’t do this.
I saw the show in English and Hebrew and I love all the songs, just enjoy and don't try to find fault with songs, like I said, Just enjoy
I love it and always will !!