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
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
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.
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? >> ua-cam.com/video/JQ27l8y8zk0/v-deo.html I think she is very good.
@@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.
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.
And while not technically part of the show - how about the finale of the 10th Anniversary Concert where the collection of international Valjean's sings "Do you hear the people sing" in their native languages?
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
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.
What I love about turning, or at least what I find interesting is that Its so meaningful and shows such a change in the tone of the story, but is also kind of boring and sung by throwaway characters which leads to people either really loving or really hating it
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
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.
This! Javert's def the antagonist, but he isn't evil, He's just extremely lawful and can't fathom that the law is wrong or has oversights. And the idea that someone can break the law and still be a good person shatters his faith in the law itself and his whole belief system. He never hated Valjean, he just believed very strongly in the law and that breaking it deserves punishment. And its that conflict of Valjean breaking the law and being a good person that drives his eventual suicide as his entire world crumbles around him
Thank you for putting this together. My husband and I adore this show and have watched it many times together. We saw it on both the London and the Broadway stages. Alfie Boe is incredible in person. If you put Michael Ball and Phillip Quast in the 25th anniversary edition you would almost have the perfect show. Ramin Karimloo is another incredible performer. I think I would put the songs between Cosette and Marius higher up in the rankings. It doesn’t really matter, this show is the greatest ever done and it will live forever!
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.
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.
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.
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
Thank you for recognizing the inimitable talent and presence of Philip Quast. He gives a depth to Javert that humanizes that character and fulfills the musical's complexity beyond the usual good vs. evil dichotomy. For me, there will never be a better Javert. His suicide scene is absolutely epic. I too love Les Misérables above all others, and I really appreciate your ranking.
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 🙌
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.
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.
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.
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
thank you for this. my favourite musical, 10th is the best so far but I'm off to the mirvish theatre in Toronto in August so you never know. my favourite song, a little rain is so poignant
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 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 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.
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😊
❤️ ***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...✨🤗😍✨✨✨
Clearly shows the weakness of the 2nd act. I'm a Les Mis fangirl but it's undeniable, minus a few standouts (Bring them Home, Confession etc) the first act really is hard to follow. Best in history!
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.
Colm Wilkinson the best Valjean ever. Alfie Boe close second. Can’t understand why the confrontation was cut from the schools edition. It explains why Javert is like he is.
John Owen Jones! Oh i love all three, but John has the "storytelling" down, for example you are there with him as he finds Fontine, reads the letter, takes us with him on this sad mini journey, we the audience, learn so much so quickly, its just, there are no words
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!
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.
Love Colm. Went to the movie theatre to see it. When Javer was singing Stars, I kept whispering Jump Now! Michael Ball made me laugh when he sadly said that he can never be Marius again. Fessing up I cried at the end of the movie when Colm reached out his hand to Valjean. It's been amazing to see Lea grow up from Miss Saigon to Les Mix. 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
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.
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 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.
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.
@@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 ua-cam.com/video/4wnl3HTrANs/v-deo.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. ua-cam.com/video/vFnXaGzFrwY/v-deo.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.
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.
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
valjeans soliloquy is actually my favourite song, it's the most emotional one of the show for me, maybe i like it so much because i really only know it from whats on spotify, the performace you're showing here kinda lacks the drama imo
Javert isn't a villain. He is the most tragic character of the musical. His inability to change his world stance compered to Valjean change is the musicals main motive. And Javert is most definitely not a villain, but tragic person, the most tragic in the musical, even more tragic than Fantine.
Also, I don't agree of you ranking expositions songs above any of the character/world point songs. Dog eats dog is the song about cruel world. Beggars at he Feast is also, all time story about how bad and greedy people get on top. They must be ranked in front every exposition songs, because they sing about motives that exist in every time, even now, even before 5000 years ago.
Great job with this. But I just can't have "On My Own" be that far down on the list. The song just kills me every time I've seen this musical, but then, my original opinion of the song was formed when I saw the Broadway production a number of times, way back when I was a college student in 1988, and fell in love with Natalie Toro's version of Eponine.
YES! Finale at number 1 is something I can really agree with. I have an emotional connection with it and the way you just hear Colm Wilkinson's voice among all the others because it is just so unique is fantastic!
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
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.
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.
I don't think that Javert would have seen himself in heaven after committing suicide. He was a man with strict code that boarderlined fanaticism and zealotry. Committing suicide especially back during the time of Les Miserables, it was seen that you wouldnt get into heaven. Also Javert was my favorite character in Les Mis. Fun Fact: Roger Allam was in the reunion One Day More at the end of 25th Anniversary
I have seen Les Miserables serval times in New York and Londen, to say he, or she is the best I can't because I would feel guilty to all the others!!! But I am 79 years, now I can't travel any more but I have spent many years of my holidays In NY and London to visit musicals ... but I can/must say Les Miserable is by a distance the best musical. Thanks to all the singers "together you were just the best" wonderful, singing, and Joy, you have given 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
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.
I may disagree on a few points, and I don't think I have ever fallen asleep while watching this production. In fact, if I am not full out singing almost every song (unless I am in a theatre), it would be very rare. And my family would be singing it with me. :)
As much as I love the primary songs, what I find myself randomly singing to myself most often are those recitative themes, especially the ones associated with Valjean, Javert and Marius. There’s what I call “Valjean’s Rumination Theme” heard when he’s contemplating and going up and down a minor musical scale like he’s searching for peace but weighed down by reality (“And now I know how freedom feels…” and “You say this man denies it all”). Then there’s what I call “Police Theme” heard during the arrest scenes and used against Javert when being mocked by Gavroche before “Stars” and when captured at the barricade, it’s intimidating yet fun. There’s also what I call “Valjean/Marius Theme” heard when Valjean reads Marius’ letter meant for Cosette and during “Valjean’s Confession” which is such a hopeful, gentle, yet sad tune. The deliveries of “Pray for your Marius, he prays for you” and “For the sake of Cosette, it must be so” are really touching.
From the comments on the songs ranking and the choice of the top 5, I think you are very young. The two soliloquies of the two main characters are masterpieces and must be at least in the top 5, otherwise it means not having understood much of the story behind the musical (and, therefore, of Hugo's wonderful novel)
Thank you for this thoughtful reply. Hugo's intentions are timeless. Struggles of life and conscious will always exist. A person need some years behind him, to put things into proper context
I have listened to the 10th anniversary so many times that I can recite it front to back. Best version ever with the best of the best stage presences .
I like the 10th anniversary but I believe I prefer the 25th anniversary edition. Both have their perks and downsides but “The confrontation” soundtrack between Valjean and Javert in the 25th anniversary has such an energy to it and both the artists did a phenomenal job. That cast and anniversary edition holds a special place in my heart just from that song alone and with everything else it felt like a cherry on top lol
Generally, the placement of the songs is set by the narrative order of the actual novel. And no Cosette does not punch out the Thenardiers. What does not show in the 10th anniversary is that Marius is morally indebted to Thenardier because T saved Marius' grandfather's life by hauling off the battlefield.
I disagree that Javert is a villain. He is an antagonist for sure, but he's not evil. I would argue the only Villains in Les Mis are the Thenardiers, they actually show no ethical code and revel in hurting people.
On My Own will always be one of my favorites. It shows what a powerful character Eponine is, even though she is only involved in a few songs. Also love Leah getting a solo. I also think Bring Him Home is a more powerful song than Stars. Maybe because people who have never seen the musical have their heartstrings pulled by it & such a powerful vocal.
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! 🤦♀️
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.
Don't forget about phillip quast making his voice sound as if he's actually just jumped off a bridge
You are not wrong… but personally my favorite ever is “Monsieur don’t mock me now I pray”
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.
I have to say, Roger Allam was my favourite Javert by far! The original Javert is unbeaten, in my opinion.
Quast does a really good job as crazy zealot, I don't think anyone else brings that.
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? >> ua-cam.com/video/JQ27l8y8zk0/v-deo.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 😭
@@coolcatrizz ♥️
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.
Ruthie Henshall walks that fine line between desperation and grace better than I've ever seen.
Exactly
Red and black is a certified hood classic.
REALLLLLL
🎵It‘s better than an operrrrraaaaa🎵
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.
The fact that the almost all postive commentary starts at song 33 says how good this musical is.
Can I say this? Lea Solonga is just AMAZING!!!!
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.
And while not technically part of the show - how about the finale of the 10th Anniversary Concert where the collection of international Valjean's sings "Do you hear the people sing" in their native languages?
irish guy killed it
Yes!!! He did @@spoon2537
Phillip Quast is still the best. Over 30 plus years. He is magnificent
Was lucky enough to see him in Les Mis in Manchester - no one else comes close!!
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
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.
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.
What I love about turning, or at least what I find interesting is that Its so meaningful and shows such a change in the tone of the story, but is also kind of boring and sung by throwaway characters which leads to people either really loving or really hating it
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
@@ollietrevorrow7671 Dude Javert is my dream role, I love this show so muchhhhh. How'd the production go?
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
My top be would be…
5. Bring him home
4. A little fall of rain
3. I dreamed a dream
2. On my own
1. One day more
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.
This! Javert's def the antagonist, but he isn't evil, He's just extremely lawful and can't fathom that the law is wrong or has oversights. And the idea that someone can break the law and still be a good person shatters his faith in the law itself and his whole belief system. He never hated Valjean, he just believed very strongly in the law and that breaking it deserves punishment. And its that conflict of Valjean breaking the law and being a good person that drives his eventual suicide as his entire world crumbles around him
@@gamer9smith In D&D language, Javert is Lawful Neutral, and Valjean is Chaotic Good
@@russellgeisthardt9828Thisss!!!!
Thank you for putting this together. My husband and I adore this show and have watched it many times together. We saw it on both the London and the Broadway stages. Alfie Boe is incredible in person. If you put Michael Ball and Phillip Quast in the 25th anniversary edition you would almost have the perfect show. Ramin Karimloo is another incredible performer. I think I would put the songs between Cosette and Marius higher up in the rankings. It doesn’t really matter, this show is the greatest ever done and it will live forever!
Philip Quast really set the bar with Stars. I cannot listen to any other version anymore.
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!!!
I can’t imagine why they cast Nick Jonas in that role. He’s not in the same league as the others.
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.
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
Thank you for recognizing the inimitable talent and presence of Philip Quast. He gives a depth to Javert that humanizes that character and fulfills the musical's complexity beyond the usual good vs. evil dichotomy. For me, there will never be a better Javert. His suicide scene is absolutely epic. I too love Les Misérables above all others, and I really appreciate your ranking.
Perfectly rated!! #1 and #2 always gives me the chills!! Well done
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 🙌
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.
Love the Stars recognition and this ranking!
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.
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.
Imo Dog eats Dog is saved by the final part, i absolutely love the "I raise my eyes to see the heavens" haha
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
personally i love Turning. "no one ever told them that a summer day can kill" is just a wonderful line
thank you for this. my favourite musical, 10th is the best so far but I'm off to the mirvish theatre in Toronto in August so you never know. my favourite song, a little rain is so poignant
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.
The 10 ann.is a MASTERPIECE! Les Mis is best Broadway show ever.
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!
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.
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😊
❤️ ***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...✨🤗😍✨✨✨
Clearly shows the weakness of the 2nd act. I'm a Les Mis fangirl but it's undeniable, minus a few standouts (Bring them Home, Confession etc) the first act really is hard to follow. Best in history!
Come to Me brings me to tears almost every time
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.
I can not believe you have a Heart Full of Love where it is but otherwise great video hahaha
Saw this show when I was 29. Took my daughter to see it for her 21st birthday. I’m now 64 and still listening. Colm Wilkinson is superb. 💙💙💙💙💙
I'd love to see more song rankings from you.
Colm Wilkinson the best Valjean ever. Alfie Boe close second. Can’t understand why the confrontation was cut from the schools edition. It explains why Javert is like he is.
THIS!!!
John Owen Jones! Oh i love all three, but John has the "storytelling" down, for example you are there with him as he finds Fontine, reads the letter, takes us with him on this sad mini journey, we the audience, learn so much so quickly, its just, there are no words
My personal top 6:
1. BRING HIM HOME
2. ON MY OWN
3. ONE DAY MORE
4. DO YOU HEAR THE PEOPLE SING
5. WHO AM I
6. A LITTLE FALL OF RAIN
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!
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
Love Colm. Went to the movie theatre to see it. When Javer was singing Stars, I kept whispering Jump Now! Michael Ball made me laugh when he sadly said that he can never be Marius again. Fessing up I cried at the end of the movie when Colm reached out his hand to Valjean. It's been amazing to see Lea grow up from Miss Saigon to Les Mix. 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
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
Thanks for doing this! Amazing!
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 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.
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 ua-cam.com/video/4wnl3HTrANs/v-deo.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. ua-cam.com/video/vFnXaGzFrwY/v-deo.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.
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.
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
Love a ranking with stars as #1 😍🤩
valjeans soliloquy is actually my favourite song, it's the most emotional one of the show for me, maybe i like it so much because i really only know it from whats on spotify, the performace you're showing here kinda lacks the drama imo
Javert isn't a villain. He is the most tragic character of the musical. His inability to change his world stance compered to Valjean change is the musicals main motive. And Javert is most definitely not a villain, but tragic person, the most tragic in the musical, even more tragic than Fantine.
Also, I don't agree of you ranking expositions songs above any of the character/world point songs. Dog eats dog is the song about cruel world. Beggars at he Feast is also, all time story about how bad and greedy people get on top. They must be ranked in front every exposition songs, because they sing about motives that exist in every time, even now, even before 5000 years ago.
Great job with this. But I just can't have "On My Own" be that far down on the list. The song just kills me every time I've seen this musical, but then, my original opinion of the song was formed when I saw the Broadway production a number of times, way back when I was a college student in 1988, and fell in love with Natalie Toro's version of Eponine.
YES! Finale at number 1 is something I can really agree with. I have an emotional connection with it and the way you just hear Colm Wilkinson's voice among all the others because it is just so unique is fantastic!
the day i find out Ramin Karimloo plays Eljoras was lifechanging..
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
Thank You so much for this!!! My Favorite Also. I listen or watch it almost Daily! :D
Ramin is so good.
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.
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.
The music is so powerful it brings tears to my eyes every time
Le morte du Fontine in the original French is such a masterpiece
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.
I hate that javert doesn’t get included in the finale implying the he goes to hell. This is sad to me because he was my favorite character.
Yeah, I do like how he is included in the 25th anniversary concert. He's my favorite character too.
i never thought of that! woa
I don't think that Javert would have seen himself in heaven after committing suicide. He was a man with strict code that boarderlined fanaticism and zealotry. Committing suicide especially back during the time of Les Miserables, it was seen that you wouldnt get into heaven.
Also Javert was my favorite character in Les Mis.
Fun Fact: Roger Allam was in the reunion One Day More at the end of 25th Anniversary
Kudos for using text instead of a voice-over despite the copyright risk.
I have seen Les Miserables serval times in New York and Londen, to say he, or she is the best I can't because I would feel guilty to all the others!!! But I am 79 years, now I can't travel any more but I have spent many years of my holidays In NY and London to visit musicals ... but I can/must say Les Miserable is by a distance the best musical. Thanks to all the singers "together you were just the best" wonderful, singing, and Joy, you have given 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
every song in this show is perfect, to me
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.
Les Miserables is my favorite musical too
I may disagree on a few points, and I don't think I have ever fallen asleep while watching this production. In fact, if I am not full out singing almost every song (unless I am in a theatre), it would be very rare. And my family would be singing it with me. :)
The prologue is the most captivating though from the release to Valjean tearing up his parole papers
As much as I love the primary songs, what I find myself randomly singing to myself most often are those recitative themes, especially the ones associated with Valjean, Javert and Marius. There’s what I call “Valjean’s Rumination Theme” heard when he’s contemplating and going up and down a minor musical scale like he’s searching for peace but weighed down by reality (“And now I know how freedom feels…” and “You say this man denies it all”). Then there’s what I call “Police Theme” heard during the arrest scenes and used against Javert when being mocked by Gavroche before “Stars” and when captured at the barricade, it’s intimidating yet fun. There’s also what I call “Valjean/Marius Theme” heard when Valjean reads Marius’ letter meant for Cosette and during “Valjean’s Confession” which is such a hopeful, gentle, yet sad tune. The deliveries of “Pray for your Marius, he prays for you” and “For the sake of Cosette, it must be so” are really touching.
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 Les Miserables on Broadway in 1989. Nothing compares and "nothing ever will."
From the comments on the songs ranking and the choice of the top 5, I think you are very young. The two soliloquies of the two main characters are masterpieces and must be at least in the top 5, otherwise it means not having understood much of the story behind the musical (and, therefore, of Hugo's wonderful novel)
Thank you for this thoughtful reply. Hugo's intentions are timeless. Struggles of life and conscious will always exist. A person need some years behind him, to put things into proper context
I have listened to the 10th anniversary so many times that I can recite it front to back. Best version ever with the best of the best stage presences .
I like the 10th anniversary but I believe I prefer the 25th anniversary edition. Both have their perks and downsides but “The confrontation” soundtrack between Valjean and Javert in the 25th anniversary has such an energy to it and both the artists did a phenomenal job. That cast and anniversary edition holds a special place in my heart just from that song alone and with everything else it felt like a cherry on top lol
Generally, the placement of the songs is set by the narrative order of the actual novel. And no Cosette does not punch out the Thenardiers. What does not show in the 10th anniversary is that Marius is morally indebted to Thenardier because T saved Marius' grandfather's life by hauling off the battlefield.
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
Simply Brilliant
"at the end of the day" you want to re write this musical, I fear, ever so subtly :)
Everyone was absolutely phenomenal in the 10th Anniversary version and for me it is the best cast.
One thing i realized in this video is that i have more positive opinions on things than some
I disagree that Javert is a villain. He is an antagonist for sure, but he's not evil. I would argue the only Villains in Les Mis are the Thenardiers, they actually show no ethical code and revel in hurting people.
Excellent ,, Really enjoyed that .Thank you
Thanks for all this, but also Lea Salonga did Mulan and Jasmine, not Pocahontas.
Yeah but Judy Kuhn (Cosette) was the voice of Pocahontas.
On My Own will always be one of my favorites. It shows what a powerful character Eponine is, even though she is only involved in a few songs. Also love Leah getting a solo. I also think Bring Him Home is a more powerful song than Stars. Maybe because people who have never seen the musical have their heartstrings pulled by it & such a powerful vocal.