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| Escalante |
Cosette's Solo- Let's write itOkay so on many of the recent topics people have suggested that Cosette have a solo that further explores her character or explores her relationship with Jean Valjean. Let's assume for a future revival of Les Mis it has been decided that Cosette will get her long awaited solo.So where would you place this solo in the show? What melody would it have? What would the solo be about? And if you are good at writing lyrics- write it! 
(I'll post my ideas later. I have to get back to work before they fire me  )
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| Quique |
It would be great if it would have a completely new melody, much like "I Saw Him Once" does, but with a completely different theme. What's the use of singing about Marius yet again? She sings about him in "In My Life" already. I agree that it should be about her relationship with Valjean. | ||||||
| curlyhairedsoprano91 |
I actually ADORED your idea of using the OMO melody for Cosette. It would be incredible if it was used for a song about her father ...it's so much more fitting, considering that it was the melody used for Fantine's death, which is what united Valjean and Cosette.
I would put it in Act II, after "tomorrow to Calais and then a ship across the sea" (meaning, after she finds out that they have to leave). Probably in something of an opening to Act II, basically where OMO generally is. I would figure it wouldn't be quite about Marius, but it would be about how her meeting Marius has made her question her loyalty to Valjean. It would be sort of like "In My Life," but more "serious business" because of all the conflicting feelings ... love, having to leave love, different sorts of love, growing up, etc. If my ideas were translated into a song such as that, I would cut "In My Life" and reinstate "I Saw Him Once." I think that would give Cosette's character more growth, as we see her change from someone whose future is only imagined to someone whose past and future are conflicting in front of her. Edit: Obviously, we would put the melody in a key well higher than is Eponine's song, so that it's singable for someone like me (  ), and do enough with the orchestration so that it doesn't have to be a belty show-stopper. Cosette cannot belt. Ever.
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| music is my life!!! |
lets develop i saw him once o it's longer and gets to the bit in in my life where JVJ goes "Cosette, you were such a lonely child". Maybe she could have her 'Every Day' melody for her solo in a bit.... *thinks then gets on sibelius* | ||||||
| Fantine |
You could re-use the "In my life..." bit for the On My own melody, like:
"In my life, pretending he's beside me" (replace pretending he's beside me with something fitting for Cosette) |
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| Escalante |
These are beautiful ideas guys! Now I really wish that Cosette had that solo. Using the OMO melody is also really good because Jean Valjean sings it at the beginning of the musical: "Freedom is mine." And when Cosette sings the melody to "You will live, Papa you're going to live" at the end of the play it would be even more emotional since she had already sung a song to that melody- perhaps illuminating her feelings about Jean Valjean. Fantine I loved your idea for the opening lyrics. And curleyhairedsoprano91, I really like where you placed the song. That is a perfect place to put it  The only thing is that I really don't like the song "I Saw Him Once" I think that "In My Life" should be kept because then Cosette's solo could just expand on those ideas. You know it is kind of funny that we are thinking of using OMO's melody because in the song "In My Life" Cosette actually says "What's the matter with you, Cosette have you been to much on your own?" 
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| eponine5 |
The beginning of Act 2 would be a good place to put it. Perhaps she could have her solo before Valjean is given the letter, since that part is set in Rue Plumet anyway.
Maybe it could kind of correspond with the chapter 'Dawn' in 'War Between Four Walls' from the book - thinking about Marius, noticing the sounds of the barricade (but not knowing what they are), but worrying about what is happening. And then conflict with Valjean could be added from there. I don't think that the music should be taken from another part of the score, she needs her own melody. A place in the first half of Act 2 would make her character in the show much more significant. |
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| lesmisloony |
soprano! Yours was amazing! You should toootally post it. | ||||||
| curlyhairedsoprano91 |
Thank you! I may get around to posting it. (Yes, I wrote lyrics and melodic themes.) Fantine, I actually did use the words "in my life" in the "on my own" phrase. |
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| Escalante |
I really like this idea. She could sing the song at the opening of Act II and since the song would begin with her hearing the sounds of the barricade, those sounds could continue at the end of her solo- which would transition nicely into Here Upon These Stones If the melody from OMO is used, during the bridge of the song she could talk about how even though she can't bear to leave Marius- she also can't abandon Jean Valjean- it would be cool if at the end of a lyric to reveal this- she echos what Jean Valjean says to her at the end of the musical- using the same melody: "I'll obey- I will try." Soprano- you simply must post your lyrics Please!
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| lesmisloony |
One of my favourite scenes in the Book is the one where Cosette wakes up on the morning of June sixth and blithely wanders around getting dressed, opens the window, and suddenly bursts into tears.
Not saying that should be the song. Just sort of... pointing that moment out. |
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| Melpomene |
What about using a small portion of I Dreamed a Dream, to tie her to Fantine? | ||||||
| Fantine |
You could do something like 'I dreamed about.....' etc. Soprano, I'm very curious! |
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| curlyhairedsoprano91 |
I would post it, but I haven't quite finished it yet. I'm sort of stuck on the last verse... but it's coming along! |
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| What you own |
[quote="Fantine"]
I was thinking the same thing! I'm curently reading the brick (I have to keep a dictionary at my side at all times in order to know whats happening. And I got very mad when Nemorin was not in there.. but anyway....) And was so surpirised when I was reading he book how much differnt she is in the book then how she is portrayed in the muiscal. She certainly needs a song of her own. Can't wait to see how yours comes out Fantine! |
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| SomeoneLikeYou |
Not until I play her, that is! 
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| What you own |
No Cosette can not belt. Since Cosette is a soprano. Belting is very hard for a soprano. Since to my understanding. (correct me if I'm wrong. But please don't attack me. According to my understanding belting is something like useing the upper register of your chest voice. Something like that.) I guess Coseete could fake belt? But.... Sorry if that was all said sarcastlicy. |
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| Fantine |
Seems to me that SomeoneLikeYou was just joking. | ||||||
| curlyhairedsoprano91 |
I hope she was joking. Tha's all I'm gonna say.
In response to What You Own: it would be almost physically impossible for Cosette to belt everything she sings ... i.e., she couldn't belt the high Bb at the end of AHFOL and she couldn't belt the high C at the end of the reprise and most of IML couldn't be belted. However, it would be possible for some of the lines to be belted. Like, "does he see what I see? Does he feel what I feel?" is the exact same melody as Eponine's "every word that he says is a dagger in me," and Eponines always belt that. What I mean by "she can never belt" is that it would be out of character and it would be annoying and I would hate it and go all homicidal on peeps. |
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| lesmisloony |
No, Cosette should not try to belt. | ||||||
| curlyhairedsoprano91 |
Oh poor thing. |
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| Fantine |
I think the Dutch Cosette (Susan Seegers) belts during One Day More during the 'And I swear I will be true' part:
http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=jsSZ_lspN5g |
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| Disney-Bway27 |
I always thought "In My Life" could be sorta seen as Cosette's main solo. If you're not done, I think a little melodic reprise of "In My Life" could work...possibly. I dunno. Just my two cents. | ||||||
| SmallTownIngenue |
That's such an unfortunate production.... |
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| EponineMNFF |
LOL Marius. |
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| lesmisloony |
^ I'm not kidding when I say I love him. | ||||||
| Fantine |
That is an underestimation... 
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| eponine5 |
Now we know what would happen if one day Jon Robyns performed in Les Mis as Rod. | ||||||
| OldDeuteronomy |
what about "I Saw Him Once" that was a GREAT solo for her. | ||||||
| Eponine23 |
I'd love it if that was put back in and expanded a bit! I got the OLC for Christmas and officially am mad at whoever decided to cut it. |
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| Catherine |
OT - ^ whenever I see your username I think Lexi's back but then I see it's a different number and it makes me sad.
Ahem. Ignore me |
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| Monsieur D'Arque |
Ahem... Cosette's solo.
COSETTE: Daddy... Can I have a solo for Christmas? You know I've been terribly good- True, my acting tends to be a little wooden, But Cameron Mackintosh said that it should. Please, Daddy! Even just a little solo for Christmas? I'd even settle for some recitative! So Daddy, make my Christmas wish come true So I can sing on Christmas eve! VALJEAN: No. COSETTE: Well, then... Can I have a boyfriend for Christmas? One who isn't the slightest bit gay? There aren't many boys who fit the bill round here, So you may have to look far away! Please, daddy! Can I have a boyfriend for Christmas? Even Eponine has one I believe, So Daddy make my Christmas wish come true, And I'll get laid on Christmas Eve! VALJEAN: Again, no! COSETTE: 'Kay, then... Can I have a beer bong for Christmas? It's so terribly boring in France! All the boys i know just want to- VALJEAN: Cosette! Enough with the singing! COSETTE: But Dadddddddyyyyyyyyyyyy.... VALJEAN: You're getting an ugly black frock again, and that's that! COSETTE: But all the other girls- VALJEAN: All the other girls are toothless whores, Cosette. COSETTE: Lucky them. VALJEAN: What? COSETTE: Nothing, Daddy. Just singing "Castle on a Cloud." VALJEAN: Oh. Okay. That's good. That's a good song for a young girl. (Beat.) Just don't belt. |
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| EponineBarker |
^Ahahahaha!!! Brilliant!
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