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olly

How Good Is Les Miserables Compared To Miss Saigon?

I've been told that it is very bad in comparison to Les Mis (music-wise). What do you all think? Is it a good production, emphasizing on the music?

People who love Les Mis, I've found, dislike Miss Saigon. However, I'm sure there are people who love it who also love Les Mis.

Would you all suggest to go see it if I am obsessed with Les Miserables?
Kragey

I don't think Miss Saigon is crap, but I do prefer Les Miserables.
happyguava

I love both of them. I probably like Les Mis better, but I really do love them both.
OutTonight

Neither one of them are even close to crap; I love them both equally, though I must say that I would rather pass the time in a 3 hour car ride, for example, listening to Miss Saigon. That's just me, though.
Aimee

Olly if you change option one to remove the crap bit about MS then I'd vote for it but as it is I can't vote as I do much prefer Les Mis but like MS.

I'm not saying to change it, just if you do you'd get my vote.
olly

[color=green]Sorry Aimee, I can't edit the poll for some reason...[color=green]
Aimee

olly wrote:
[color=green]Sorry Aimee, I can't edit the poll for some reason...[color=green]
I hope you don't mind, I did it for you. Wink

Now I'll vote. Smile
olly

Aimee wrote:
olly wrote:
Sorry Aimee, I can't edit the poll for some reason...[color=green]
I hope you don't mind, I did it for you. Wink

Now I'll vote. Smile


[color=green]No, that's fine
EponineGiry

The first one. I love Miss Saigon, but Les Mis is better.
liza_minelli

Hmm... well considering I havent really actually seen Saigon all the way through, just the first hour, listened to the soundtrack + studied the music, its hard to say. Especially since I can recite Les Mis backwards, lol.

I'd say Les Mis by a teeny bit. It's overall better in that the kind of in between-y bits joining up the big numbers are better than in Saigon, though I'm tempted to say Saigon just for Now That I've Seen Her, I Still Believe and Bui-Doi...

Confused .. Good Question

xx
The Very Angry Woman

liza_minelli wrote:
Hmm... well considering I havent really actually seen Saigon all the way through, just the first hour, listened to the soundtrack + studied the music, its hard to say.


There is no soundtrack of Miss Saigon.
liza_minelli

The Very Angry Woman wrote:
liza_minelli wrote:
Hmm... well considering I havent really actually seen Saigon all the way through, just the first hour, listened to the soundtrack + studied the music, its hard to say.


There is no soundtrack of Miss Saigon.


http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00005YQ22/qid=1141681792/sr=1-3/ref=sr_1_0_3/203-1108922-8429520

That one's not actually the one I've got, I got mine in HMV but believe me theyve got it
Moci

liza_minelli wrote:
The Very Angry Woman wrote:
liza_minelli wrote:
Hmm... well considering I havent really actually seen Saigon all the way through, just the first hour, listened to the soundtrack + studied the music, its hard to say.


There is no soundtrack of Miss Saigon.


http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00005YQ22/qid=1141681792/sr=1-3/ref=sr_1_0_3/203-1108922-8429520

That one's not actually the one I've got, I got mine in HMV but believe me theyve got it


Soundtracks go with films, theatre productions captured on CD are known as cast recordings as they document a live performance, not a pre-recorded track as in films. Hope this helps. Very Happy

Which 'Miss Saigon' cast recording do you have by the way? The Original London Cast (OLC) or the Complete Symphonic Recording (CSR)?
LesMisForever

Hello

As to the question. I think they are musically similar, but Les Miserables is much more powerful, and got much better lyrics. Les Miserables also deals with more universal issues.

When i first listened to Miss Saigon i really loved it big time, but with time it kind of lost little bit of its appeal to me, but i still like it a lot.

(I voted for choice number one)
Hans

Les Mis is far better.

Miss Saigon is emotion porn of the worst kind.
Superstar83

I like both a lot, though LM is my favourite.
liza_minelli

Moci wrote:
liza_minelli wrote:
The Very Angry Woman wrote:
liza_minelli wrote:
Hmm... well considering I havent really actually seen Saigon all the way through, just the first hour, listened to the soundtrack + studied the music, its hard to say.


There is no soundtrack of Miss Saigon.


http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00005YQ22/qid=1141681792/sr=1-3/ref=sr_1_0_3/203-1108922-8429520

That one's not actually the one I've got, I got mine in HMV but believe me theyve got it


Soundtracks go with films, theatre productions captured on CD are known as cast recordings as they document a live performance, not a pre-recorded track as in films. Hope this helps. Very Happy

Which 'Miss Saigon' cast recording do you have by the way? The Original London Cast (OLC) or the Complete Symphonic Recording (CSR)?


Ooh okay thanks Very Happy ... ive got the OLC one
javertsw

I think there is something missing from Miss Saigon.
Maybe because its all about Kim. I know they do get a little political in Bui Doi, but it's not much. And I don't really like Kim, so you kind of get sick of her.

Also, it's nowhere near as good musically.
RyanJ

I like LM, never heard MS. I voted the first one only because it was the closest choice.
diva!

i think miss saigon serves a better purpose than les mis

i mean, i think it is more appealing to the masses than les mis, and as writers are normally all about getting lotsa different people into the theatre, id day miss saigon is better. its also far more marketable because it revolves around its love story, as that is the kinda thing people will pay to see (a sad truth)

however, probably for the hardcore musical fans- les mis is probably better Smile
LesMisForever

diva! wrote:
i think miss saigon serves a better purpose than les mis

i mean, i think it is more appealing to the masses than les mis, and as writers are normally all about getting lotsa different people into the theatre, id day miss saigon is better. its also far more marketable because it revolves around its love story, as that is the kinda thing people will pay to see (a sad truth)

however, probably for the hardcore musical fans- les mis is probably better Smile


Hello

While i respect your opinion, i believe it is totally wrong. If "Miss Saigon" was more appealing how comes it closed after 10 years while "Les Miserables" is still playing, and was produced more than any other musical around the world?
javertsw

I disagree too.

And Les Mis doesn't just revolve around one love story, as Miss Saigon does, but many. And its not just romantic love, its many different kinds of love.
Miss Saigon doesn't deal with enough issues.
Les Mis can appeal to anyone, because anyone can see themselves in at least one of the characters- even if your situation is only minor in comparison.

And exactly, LesMisForever, Les Miserables is more appeals to the general public more because it has lasted longer- only so much of the audience is made up of musical theatre fanatics.
diva!

u guys are right, lol- im willing to accept when im wrong.
but i dont know...if i think about it- i honestly believe people would just be scared by the thought of les mis...whereas miss saigon SEEMS more bearable..i dunno

but yes u both made v good points Embarassed hehehe
LesMisForever

diva! wrote:
u guys are right, lol- im willing to accept when im wrong.
but i dont know...if i think about it- i honestly believe people would just be scared by the thought of les mis...whereas miss saigon SEEMS more bearable..i dunno

but yes u both made v good points Embarassed hehehe


Hello

Well, it is always nice to accept other people arguments and admit it Applause

You are right to a certain point that "Les Miserables" seems daunting on paper, but this is actually its strength, not weakness. It deals with issues that are universal, and more or less ageless, while "Miss Saigon" deals with one specific event only.
rockyrocks666

i LOVE miss saigon! i also like Les Miz, but i find the music drudgy and heavy, therefore i hardly ever listen to the soundtrack on its own. I do think that Les Miz is a totally inspired piece though and some of the songs are just sensational. But for my personal tastes, it will always be miss saigon as the winner.
The_Wicked

I'm going with Miss Saigon on this one. Les Miserables is indeed a masterpiece but something about Miss Saigon's score just gives it the upper hand for me. Maybe its because in Les Mis they often repeat the same melody over and over with different lyrics. I find the characters far more interesting in Les Mis (I agree that everyone can see themselves in at least one of the characters) but I just like Miss Saigon's music a little more. They are both completely different musicals though and I hate to compare them... yet I did... I need some sugar.
Mademoiselle Lanoire

Les Miz, easily. Miss Saigon is a bit more polished, musically, but still I don't like it as much. Like someone above said, it's not as universal. Its appeal faded somewhat after initial listen, and I'm not that motivated to go seek out an actual production.
La Carmagnole

Les Miz - much more universal, more moving death scenes, more fascinating characters. Also I like its music slightly more, probably because I used to be totally obsessed with it for a few moths and refused to listen to anything else...
However, Miss Saigon is my 2nd favourite musical.
suzie_chan

Oh God...

Ofcourse I love both of the musicals, what else? I don't like how many people just flame Miss Saigon...
I mean it has great songs as well, and it tells a story that could take place, while Les Mis is just a stage adaptation of a book.
Aimee

Miss Saigon is based on an opera.- similar thing, and Les Mis is based on some factual events too, as is Miss Saigon.
paiintmeblue

les mis, definitely
Webster

I'd pick Miss Saigon. I may be biased because I am totally and fully in love with Madama Butterfly (the opera MS is based off of). But I also think that Miss Saigon's music is simply more original. Les Mis reinstates the same motive over and over again, which increases its "hummability," which is why most people like les mis better. The same melody is used over and over again. This is why most people like Les Mis better. That and, if you're not Asian, there are like four roles for you in Miss Saigon.
suzie_chan

Quote:
Miss Saigon is based on an opera.- similar thing, and Les Mis is based on some factual events too, as is Miss Saigon.


Yeah I know... it was Madame Butterfly.

But the inspiration came from the famous photo of the parting between vietnamese mother and her daughter at the airport.
olly

Hmm, weird. I was thinking this morning while driving into school how I really need to go see Miss Saigon. I've been obsessed with Les Miserables for, oh, what, ten years. Yet I've never had such an urge to see Miss Saigon.

Anyway, later that day, my tutor came up to me and said:

"Olly, I dropped you an email about this, but our tutor group is going to see Miss Saigon on 17 June; can you make it?"

I couldn't believe it! Seven years of speculating, and suddenly got offered to go - odd.
Dom-On My Own

Miss Saigon is good but Les Mis is in a different league.
javertsw

Webster wrote:
I'd pick Miss Saigon. I may be biased because I am totally and fully in love with Madama Butterfly (the opera MS is based off of). But I also think that Miss Saigon's music is simply more original. Les Mis reinstates the same motive over and over again, which increases its "hummability," which is why most people like les mis better. The same melody is used over and over again. This is why most people like Les Mis better. That and, if you're not Asian, there are like four roles for you in Miss Saigon.


I wouldn't agree. The music in Miss Saigon is repeated a lot, and the general quality of it isn't as good. I don't even listen to Miss Saigon anymore, I'm bored of it. The music isn't as cleverly linked together in Miss Saigon as it is in Les Mis. Also some of the lyrics are laughable.

And also, not everyone likes a musical because they can play a character in it. Rolling Eyes Most fans have no intention of being actors at all, so who they can play has nothing to do with it.

I'd say most people like Les Mis better because it's better quality, and makes a bigger impact on an audience member.
There's so many things to relate to in Les Mis, so audience on different levels can at least find one character and identify with them.

As I said before, if Kim fails to interest you in the show, there is not much else to watch.
A lot of the issues that are in Miss Saigon are in Les Miserables as well, but with better music and better characters.
Mirabelle

I like both shows and they each have something to offer. However, if I had to choose one over the other, Miss Saigon would come out on top. I do enjoy many of the songs of Les Mis and think the lyrics overall are better, but for having an entertaining musical theater experience, Miss Saigon does that more for me than Les Mis. I actually enjoy listening to Miss Saigon songs more often than a Les Mis cast recording. All of this could be related to the fact that I became interested in Miss Saigon first and it wasn't until several years later that I decided to learn about Les Mis. I also hate to admit the fact that seeing a Miss Saigon show holds my interest more than a Les Mis one. I found I got just a bit bored the last few times I've seen Les Mis. Something, I've yet to experience at a Miss Saigon show. (note: I've seen Miss Saigon just a few more times than Les Mis).
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