What Have I Done?

6/9/19

A little Les Mis for the subconscious?

But of course!

Perhaps the best moment of the whole (now classic) musical.  This is Jean Valjean's epiphany when he decides to change.  Oh goll I'll tell you the story, but shame on you if you aren't already familiar.

Jean Valjean steals a loaf a bread for his starving family.  Valjean goes to prison for 19 years.  He's released on parole.  As he struggles to find work, he's taken in by a priest who feeds him and lets him stay the night.  During the night, Valjean in desperation steals the priests silverware but is caught.  When the police take him back to the priest, instead of punishing Valjean, the priest offers him silver candlesticks as well-- pretending that he had given Valjean the silver as a gift. 

Valjean changes from this experience.  It's the perfect story of redemption.  How love and kindness changes people.  I am very moved by it every time I see it happen on stage, or when the story of this priest's kindness is recounted in whatever fashion.  The story is very famous, as you know! 

I have a new goal that I'd like to read the full, complete, unabridged version of Les Miserables.  I know my mom did and said she loved it.  I think it's an inspiring story. 

Anyway, here's the song, "What Have I Done" which is Valjean's epiphany.  I've chosen to share Colm Wilkinson (who originated the role and plays the priest in the 2012 film)   Hugh Jackman's acting is powerful in the film.  I really love this song.

Side note, since my blog is the closest I'll ever have to a journal, I enjoyed watched our son Peyton as the priest in a teen production of this classic musical.  Here's a little (not so great) snapshot I got of him during the show.  He's the best singer.  I love to see him perform.  And obviously seeing this production inspired today's post. 

Look Down

Well here I am blogging again.  How have you been?  Well that's neat.

So apparently my subconscious really really likes musical theater these days.  There was a time, yea, many a year ago when all I cared about was musical theater, so I suppose my punishment is to have to blog about songs from various musicals from time to time...

...and that's not to say that I hate musical theater entirely!  But I never listen to it unless I'm at a musical.  I just don't find it enjoyable to casually or actively listen to it unless I'm in a theater.  

So, forgive me if it feels like overkill, but here's "Look Down" from LES MISERABLES:

This, of course, is the opening scene of Les Miserables.  You probably know the story, so I won't bother with details.  These guys are in prison, blah blah blah, life's hard, blah blah, they wish they were free, blah blah, Jean Valjean was jailed in spite of a minor crime blah blah, Javert is a weenie blah blah blah.  

*SHIFTING GEARS*

So if you follow this site, you know that I find great joy in giving away semi-mediocre compilation discs with all the songs I've blogged about here.  Truly, I look forward to it and can't wait until I've have just a few more to fill my latest compilation.  These compilations are limited to rock/pop songs and I've never used musical theater.  Well, I've decided the next contest coming up will include the latest compilation (Volume 8!) along with a Best of Showtunes compilation disc.  Won't that be rad?  

So, my apologies if you're sick of these musical theater posts.  Most of the day I had that "Happy" song by Pharrel Williams going through my head so maybe I spared you from that annoying song (sorry if you like it.)

So, where was I?  Oh, "Look Down" yeah, that was the song stuck in my head.  Isn't it a sad song?  Poor Jean Valjean having to work all those years while in prison *SPOILER* things get better for him though.

OK, have a good night.  I sure had a great time talking about this song.  

One Day More

Wow have we been busy these days!  This post is late, a few weeks ago I woke up on a Wednesday (my new song day) with this song playing in my head:

 

 

 

 

 

Probably the most dramatic moment in Les Miserables, already a dramatic show, this song features several key characters as they anticipate the next day's events.  It's such a neat song!  (I'll let you, dear reader, decide whether or not the last sentence was sarcastic)

 

And sadly, I tried to round up my kids to get a Cash family production of this song together.  Sadly, we have not had the time, with Megan working at nights and me away for a business trip.  If time permits, hopefully we will throw one together...

God bless us every one.



On My Own

Today's post is probably one of the reasons that I took a 3 week long break from this blog. 

The music from Les Miserables is so darn catchy!  There was a time (high school) when I listened to Les Mis almost every day.  I couldn't get enough of the poppy 80's musical theater power ballads that Les Mis had to offer.  I wonder if REO Speedwagon has ever tried to cover a song from Les Mis?  They should.

So, I guess what I'm getting at, is that even though I haven't listened to the music from Les Miserables for more than 10 years, I finally saw the movie a few weeks ago and the gull darn music is not leaving my brain. 

Here's "On My Own."  You know it, you probably love it.  Here you go. 

Since the resurgence of this beloved musical, thanks to Hollywood, something has come up a few times for me as I talk to people about this show.  It concerns how to classify Les Miserables.  Is it an Opera?  Is it Musical Theater?  Or is it in its a class of its own?  This may not be a common discussion for most people, but being married to an Opera singer, people sometimes ask me, "has your wife ever perfomed in Les Miserables?"  Of course, I always respond with "no, Les Miserables is not an Opera."  And then I get this:  "But there's no talking!" 

I'll try not to rant- I don't claim to be an expert on music.  If anything I'm a certified music obsessive spazz, nothing more.  Nothing less.  But this is how I see it.  Opera, or a better way of putting it, classical singing, has everything to do with the style of singing you're doing!  Opera singers have gotten their voice to the level where it cannot get any stronger.  They are the best singers in the world.  Yes, many of the singers in Les Miserables are great singers, but few of them could fill their voice in an auditorium without a microphone, or belt out the high notes to the queen of the night aria or do this.  I assure you that cute little Cosette's character from Les Miserables would explode if she even attempted to sing either of these songs.

 

So there are my thoughts on the matter.  Now are you wondering whether or not I liked Les Mis?  The answer is "yes."  Much more than I thought I would.  I just don't consider it an opera.