ChrisDenman
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What's your favourite non-mainstream song?Unlike lots of other musicals, the minor songs in Les Mis are very high quality, even in my opinion matching the quality of the major songs from other shows.
So I was wondering, what is your favourite non-mainstream song from Les Mis?
For the purposes of this thread I think the following songs are �Mainstream�, although feel free to debate the list�
Work Song
At The End of the Day
I Dreamed a Dream
Lovely Ladies
Who Am I?
Castle on a Cloud
Master of the House
Stars
Look Down
ABC Cafe / Red and Black
Do You Hear the People Sing
In My Life
One Day More
On My Own
A Little Fall of Rain
Bring Him Home
Empty Chairs at Empty Tables
and the Finale.
So, out of the songs that remain, which is your favourite?
Valjean�s Soliloquy, and its �reprise� Javert�s Suicide, are two of my favourites, although First Attack is a fantastic song, especially the strings after the main theme. At the Barricade is very Turning is a very interesting song as well, I love how it uses the same melody as Lovely Ladies but with a different meaning. Valjean�s Confession is extremely good as well in my opinion.
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EponineMNFF
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The Well Scene. I don't know why. I LOVE the Well Scene.
Or--I don't know if this counts as Javert's Suicide or not--but the part in the sewers when Javert finds Valjean, who is carrying limp!Marius. I love the line, "Look down, Javert; he's standing in his grave." And I'm not even mentioning the lighting in the Cammack productions. I love that part.
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lesmisloony
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Valjean's Confession.
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ChrisDenman
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| EponineMNFF wrote: | | I love the line, "Look down, Javert; he's standing in his grave." |
YES, that's what I was getting at when I said Javert's Suicide. It's full of great lines: "The Man of Mercy comes again, and talks of Justice!"
But I really like Javert. He's probably my favourite character.
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bigR
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Turning should die.
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lesmisloony
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^Word.
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Quique
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I love Turning. I'd never cut it.
I adore the oboe solo, Valjean's Confession, the whole prologue after the chain gang, Javert's Suicide, and Dog Eats Dog.
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Vanessa20
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"Valjean's Soliloquy" and "Javert's Suicide," even though they border on being mainstream. I also like "The Waltz of Treachery," since it's not on the list, and the "Look down, Javert" moment that other people have mentioned. I have a tendency to randomly break out singing either that line or "Take an eye for an eye" from the Soliloquy whenever I think of "Les Mis."
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EponineMNFF
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| Vanessa20 wrote: | | . I have a tendency to randomly break out singing either that line or "Take an eye for an eye" from the Soliloquy whenever I think of "Les Mis." |
Oh my gosh I am so obsessed with that line. Hahahaha. If a Valjean does that well, I'll love him, even if he botches up the rest of the show.
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Fantine
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I really like the wedding, especially with the new background we have in the Dutch production. I scanned my brochure so I'll put up a picture of it soon.
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Brunnhilde
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Javert's Suicide, of course. With the whole chatting at the beginning.
(Valjean! Don't forget the word "look"!)
But I thought it was mainstream. It's on all albums, even on those who cut a lot.
In fact, Javert has always great lines. He uses big words a lot. Especially when he's ovedramatizing things.  I love you, Inspector. *hugs Javvie*
Little things I like:
Arrest+Runaway cart (one word: Javert. *is in love*)
The Waltz of Treachery (love, love, love the tune... and the humour)
Robbery (Th�nardier stealing the show)
Plumet Attack (With the "'Parnasse, what are you doing..." part, God Bless CSR)
First attack (this is where I usually begin to cry... especially when it's acted slashy)
Final Battle + Instrumental part after it (Dead!Enjy on flag! Javvie sitting on the barricade and thinking! *is crying*)
Dog Eats Dog - hey, isn't this also mainstream? But Rat!Th�nardier totally rocks. And maybe the darkest song in the show.
What I hate:
Turning. With passion. At this point, all we need is Parisian Woman Chorus lamenting...  Why not an instrumental part? Okay, Marius has to change costume, but come on, dolt, be quick! Javvie suffers at leeast for 3,5 mins. That must be enough for dressing...
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Sythar
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Well - if Javert's suicide isn't a mainstream song then that goes straight to the top. I am one of those people who stops what they're doing when it comes on, listens all the way through with a rapt expression on their face, and then nearly bursts into tears at the end.
I'm going to basically agree with Brunnhilde here. I like any part with Javert in it. i.e:
Fantine's Arrest
The Runaway Cart
Confrontation
At the Barricade/Little People: Love the bit where Javert get's captured... even though I'm mad that he is captured, of course. He's always so cool and calm about the whole thing. And 'Shoot me now or shoot me later/Every schoolboy to his sport'...
The First Attack: My opinion on any of the movies is usually influenced by how well they handle this scene between Javert and Valjean.
The Final Battle: *sniffles*
Valjean's Confession: I first got to see this in my first live show. I love it. Poor Valjean. Poor, poor Valjean.
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music is my life!!!
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Fantine's arrest is one of my faves, but i love javert's suicide (says alot about my personality, huh ). Eponine's Errand is okay, cuz it's hilarious when she goes "some bourgois two-a-penny thing.... what will you give me?" It's a bit on the suggestive side 
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Vanessa20
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| music is my life!!! wrote: | | Fantine's arrest is one of my faves, but i love javert's suicide (says alot about my personality, huh ). Eponine's Errand is okay, cuz it's hilarious when she goes "some bourgois two-a-penny thing.... what will you give me?" It's a bit on the suggestive side |
Especially the way Celia Kennan-Bolger sometimes delivered it. 
I love Fantine's arrest too. One time I was listening to the TAC on my ipod in the car with my parents, and when Ruthie started singing "There's a child who sorely needs me," without even thinking I started acting out Fantine's part, reaching my hand up imploringly to an imaginary Javert. My parents thought I was having some kind of attack or something. 
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Quique
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I can't believe I forgot Fantine's Arrest. Definitely one of my faves.
However, Runaway Cart could die. XD
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music is my life!!!
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| Vanessa20 wrote: | | music is my life!!! wrote: | | Fantine's arrest is one of my faves, but i love javert's suicide (says alot about my personality, huh ). Eponine's Errand is okay, cuz it's hilarious when she goes "some bourgois two-a-penny thing.... what will you give me?" It's a bit on the suggestive side |
Especially the way Celia Kennan-Bolger sometimes delivered it.
I love Fantine's arrest too. One time I was listening to the TAC on my ipod in the car with my parents, and when Ruthie started singing "There's a child who sorely needs me," without even thinking I started acting out Fantine's part, reaching my hand up imploringly to an imaginary Javert. My parents thought I was having some kind of attack or something. |
lol i do that all the time!!!
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EponineMNFF
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| Quique wrote: | I can't believe I forgot Fantine's Arrest. Definitely one of my faves.
However, Runaway Cart could die. XD |
I wish they could have thought of some other way to do it besides slow motion. >.<
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Brunnhilde
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Oh, I forgot Confrontation! I thought it was mainstream. It is Subtext Incarnate.
Chase. Around a bed. With a nightstick. "I think I saw this porn once..."
And yes, the Javert at the barricade/Little People thing. Javvie is so... Javvie. "Shot me now or shot me later..."
Although I think the Prefecture made a big mistake by sending him. He was too well-known to the gamins and the underworld. And he can't lie. 
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Catherine
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Lesee...
Valjean's Soliloquy and Javert's Suicide (with the old orchestrations, I can barely listen to them with the revival ones)
The Confrontation. Just coz.
Plumet Attack. With 'Parnasse what are you doing? etc
I like Upon These Stones too, but I can never be sure which one I'm listening to...
Can't really think of the others. Do you think Work Song is really that mainstream? Heh, I guess, but not as much as some of the others.
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ChrisDenman
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So does no-one else like "First Attack"? That's one of my absolute favourites. 
I personally think the show would be better off without The Waltz of Treachery
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Vanessa20
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| ChrisDenman wrote: | So does no-one else like "First Attack"? That's one of my absolute favourites.
I personally think the show would be better off without The Waltz of Treachery |
I like "First Attack" too... I mean, I usually half-sleep through the actual battle, but the scene where Valjean lets Javert go always has my rapt attention.
Just out of curiosity, what's wrong with the Waltz of Treachery?
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sweetsoprano
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Fantine's Arrest is one of my favorite parts in the show!
I love The Confrontation and Eponine's Errand as well.
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SmallTownIngenue
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I love Eponine's Errand and Fantine's Death. I also really like the Bargain, the Thenardiers in my production were hilarious!
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bigR
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I'm not sure I agree with the songs you've considered mainstream.
I'm thinking about the official recordings. When it's two CDs most of the show is in them, but when it is only one CD and the producers habe to cut out several songs, Look down, that you mention as mainstream is frequently cutted. I wouldn't consider it mainstream.
On the other hand, I've seen that you left out of your "mainstream" list, Javert's Suicide and Drink with Me...
Well, it doesn't matter that much since this mainstream/non mainstream is very subjective.
My favourite "small" songs in no particular order:
-Fantine's arrest
-Confrontation
-The Well (maybe because it's my favourite scene from the Brick)
-The reprise of Drink with me when it ends with the COAC notes.
-�ponine's errand (I don't really know why but I love it)
And yes. The runaway cart should die too.
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curlyhairedsoprano91
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| SmallTownIngenue wrote: | | I love Eponine's Errand and Fantine's Death. I also really like the Bargain, the Thenardiers in my production were hilarious! |
Hey, hon, are there any YouTubes or anything of your production? It sounds awesome, I'd love to see some of it.
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SmallTownIngenue
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Oh I wish, but my director specifically told us we couldn't upload anything to Youtube.  It's really a shame, I'd love to show it to everyone! It really was a great production....Our Prologue was up for like a day but then the director found out and made the person who posted it take it off.
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ChrisDenman
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| Quote: | | I'm thinking about the official recordings. When it's two CDs most of the show is in them, but when it is only one CD and the producers habe to cut out several songs, Look down, that you mention as mainstream is frequently cutted. I wouldn't consider it mainstream. |
Yes, I think it may have been a mistake to put a list up since people are always going to disagree about what is and isn't mainstream. I was very unsure about not calling Confrontation mainstream, for example...
| Quote: | | Just out of curiosity, what's wrong with the Waltz of Treachery? |
I think the rhythm (da--dada, da--dada) is quite "rambling", it's obviously plot significant but it's not a track I listen to if I am not going for the whole show. It's like "Master of the house", but without the comedy and without the memorable chorus.
| Quote: | | And yes. The runaway cart should die too. |
Oddly, I really like The Runaway Cart. It has some good lines in it. "Well of course he now denies it, you'd expect that of a CON, but he couldn't run forever, no, not even Jean Valjean" - that line gets me every time.
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Quique
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Other ones I adore:
Drink With Me
The Final Battle
The Letter
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EponineMNFF
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^ !!!!! How did I forget The Letter? That ties with the other ones I listed. I love that scene. My two favorite characters in one tiny, little scene? What more could I want?
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Quique
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I also love "You are wrong and always have been wrong..."
Never fails to tear me up.
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Fantine
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Drink With Me is one of my favorite songs.
I also LOVE The Letter. If only a boy could write something like that to me...
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Brunnhilde
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SmallTownIngenue: make a new account, upload it and don't give datas! Director sucks.
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Vanessa20
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Slightly OT | Quique wrote: | I also love "You are wrong and always have been wrong..."
Never fails to tear me up. |
Have any of you seen the new translation of the Brick by Julie Rose? I found it at Barnes and Noble last week and skimmed through it, particularly the annotations at the end. They include an interesting little discussion of the different names Hugo considered for Valjean. "Jean" obviously implies an everyman, like John Doe, and the original name Hugo used, Jean Trejean, would have implied "This is a very ordinary man." But the name of Valjean, with the first part derived from "valoir," worth, implies "This ordinary man is worth just as much as any other man."
Not being a French speaker, I'd never thought of it that way before, and it adds to my appreciation of that line "I'm a man no worse than any man." Whether intentionally or not, it's a reflection of the meaning of his name.
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Quique
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Nope. I haven't read the brick straight through for years (I'm seriously long overdue). But I'm planning to read it again soon.
That's beautiful, btw. I knew the Trejean thing, but haven't heard about Julie's translation. Thanks for informing me.
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bigR
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Re: Slightly OT | Vanessa20 wrote: | But the name of Valjean, with the first part derived from "valoir," worth, implies "This ordinary man is worth just as much as any other man."
Not being a French speaker, I'd never thought of it that way before, and it adds to my appreciation of that line "I'm a man no worse than any man." Whether intentionally or not, it's a reflection of the meaning of his name. |
I don't know. Hugo says that "Valjean" is a contraction from "Voil� Jean". I think that Julie Rose is reading a little too much into it. But then, from what I know from her translation she tends to be a little too creative to my taste.
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Vanessa20
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She also talks a little about the "Voil� Jean" idea, and how it implies "Here is an everyman," and how it may even reinforce Valjean's being a Christ-like figure by paralleling Pilate's "Ecce homo" - "Behold the man."
Both interesting ideas, both possibly reading a little too much into it, or maybe not. If only a medium could contact Hugo and ask him.
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flying_pigs
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The Final Battle (a la David Thaxton) is just awesome. But I also love the Final Confrontation in the sewers, the Robbery and the part before Who Am I.
In fact I love most of the "link songs".
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The Pirate King
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The bit after the Runaway Cart, before Who Am I? ("can this be true?")
And Javert's Intervention.
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musical4eva
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I love the bit after the final battle as the Barricade rotates. I love how the instrumentation is almost cheerful when the scene on stage is so sad. It makes me cry everytime.
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Bramblefox
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Mweeheehee...let's see here. Basically everything w/ Javert, but I'll itemize it here.
--Fantine's Arrest
--That little bit in Runaway Cart where Javert reflects
--Confrontation
--Robbery/Javert's Intervention
--1st Attack
--Javert's Arrival (and his little part where he says 'Shoot me now or shoot me later/Every schoolboy to his sport')
--Javert's Suicide (like Sythar, I'm the kind of person who gasps when it comes on the shuffle, listens obsessively, and gets all mad at the end 'cause he dies. And I have discovered the glory of Netherlands singers, especially the '08 recording)
--The epilogue (I know, Javert isn't in it, but still!!!)
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Brunnhilde
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He totally should come back. At least he had something to do with Valjean, unlike Eppie. (See Broadway Abridged.)
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