Archive for Musicals.Net Musicals.Net |
| Vanessa20 |
Yet another song discussion: Stars vs. Bring Him HomeThese song discussions are kind of fun, and I wanted to start another one that could possibly take off, without turning into another discussion of a certain girl whose name starts and ends with "E."
So I thought I'd see what people's opinions are on the musical's two ballads sung by older men. It's hard to pick, but I think I just might like "Stars" a little bit better. It's the one I've probably listened to more often on my iPod, anyway (especially Philip Quast's rendition  ).
But BHH is beautiful too (even if the music is ripped off of the Humming Chorus from Madame Butterfly; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7eLN3HNejQ) and I have a certain sentimental attachment to it that I don't think I have to "Stars": its a more iconic song. I know that both are controversial for being against the Brick ("Stars" for making Javert too religious, BHH for making Valjean too kindly disposed toward Marius), but I was just wondering what people think of each one beyond that fact. Which one do you like better musically? Or dramatically? Which one's anti-Hugoishness is easier to forgive? Hopefully I'm not making a fool of myself by starting yet another song discussion. |
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| jackrussell |
I like these song discussions!
This is a difficult one because both are so good. However, I'm going to go with Stars. Bring Him Home, as beautiful as it is, is still something of a missed opportunity. It would have been so interesting to explore Valjean's mixed feelings at losing Cosette to another man, as was the original intention before Schonberg produced the simple three-note melody that was too good not to use, thus forcing them into the idea of making it a simple prayer. (Incidently I don't agree that it's ripped off from the Humming Chorus, I agree some phrases are identical but I think that's acceptable, as he does develop them differently.) Stars is an excellent character song. I don't like the title, as there are so many songs about stars, it makes you think it's going to be a mass of cliches. But actually it isn't. It also enables the fantastic moment when Javert commits suicide and the theme is reprised but ends in a crashing discord - this tells you as effectively in music as Hugo did in words that Javert's whole belief system has been destroyed, hence his suicide. |
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| Artemis Entreri |
Stars. A baritone is always better to listen. And it's so beautifully lyrical... in fact, it's Javert's love song to the Lawr (we just NEED a fanart where the Lawr (beautiful woman in ancient greek outfit) listens him smiling.)
Still, BHH is beautiful when the singer IS able to sing a piano high c, doesn't yell, and doesn't squeak. (Piano high notes are difficult. Ever heard a Radames who didn't yell his high B flat in Celeste Aida? It's pppp, tenors. Really. Verdi wrote pppp.) How about also discussing their "twin" songs? |
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| Gargamel |
Both songs are very very good...
But I will vote for Stars: BHH has an amazing music. But the lyrics are a little off topic to me: valjean doesn't know Marius, he has vitually never seen him before. then why would he sacrifice himself for him? It would have been much better if he was saying that he wanted to sacrifice himself for Cosette's happiness, even if it meant to trade his life with some unknown's life. For Stars, I think it allows the audience to understand javert Quite well. And as said before, it is a perfect match with his suicide, when he understands that he could have been mistaken for all his life. |
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| demolitionhannah |
Stars, I think. Mostly because I prefer the sound of a baritone voice, and BHH can be hard to pull of if the guy playing Valjean isn't absolutely pitch-perfect.
Also, it makes the contrast between both of Javert's solos. On the one hand you have 'Stars', a strong, determined song, and then at the polar opposite, 'Javert's Suicide' which is so despairing and unsure. I just think this contrast deepens the character so much. I also like Javert better than Jean Valjean, so...
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| bigR |
Re: Yet another song discussion: Stars vs. Bring Him Home
Do you really want to read another neverending speech of mine about how Stars is totally canon and it's taken nearly word by word from the brick?  (even the title, for those who think it's too conventional).
Now, answering your question. A few months ago I would had said "Stars". Partly because I love baritones. Partly because it does a great work characterizing a role that without that song would be nothing but the "bad guy" for most of the audience (and you know that you have done a good work when you manage to have everybody simpatizing with a guy who is so unbending and fanatic and totally wrong in his ideas and wants to catch the hero). But mainly because Bring Him Home used to bore me to death. Yeah, you can stone me if you want. BHH has always been a fast forward moment for me. Until I saw Drew's Valjean last year. Now I am undecided between the two songs (as long as Drew is singing BHH) |
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| Disney-Bway27 |
"Stars" is one of my all-time favorite Boublil & Schoenberg songs.
So my vote goes there. But "Bring Him Home" is a very good song...if done properly. |
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| Ulkis |
I agree with you. Javert is religious in a way that God is the highest police officer. I have to vote for BHH as the better song though. Stars' melody bores me. |
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| Jaym |
I vote Bring Him Home. As long as it's a good Valjean who can hit the notes, I really love that song.
I like stars too, though. Especially when sung by Philip Quast. |
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| Artemis Entreri |
Ulkis: now I have the image of the Christian God in police uniform in my head. (Surely Javert does, too.) 
Well, he is often described as an avenging angel... |
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| eponine5 |
Stars is probably better in a dramatic sense, but as a song I prefer Bring Him Home. (Even if it doesn't have much to do with Victor Hugo's Valjean.)
Plus I've probably ben influenced by how many times I saw JOJ's performance. |
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| Kragey |
I'm probably going to get shot in the face for saying this, but: I don't like "Stars" at all. I'm not even a big fan of Javert, although I'm a sucker for a good baritone, so a really great actor can win me over. I just think "Stars" has rather bland lyrics, and it really bores me during the show. I usually fiddle around with my purse or check the program at that point, waiting for the song to be over. (Again, if the actor is REALLY good, I might care a little more.)
I'm not huge on "Bring Him Home" because I've heard a lot of actors screw it up, either by not being able to hit the high notes or by singing beautifully without adding any emotion. Still, I like that song; it's very pretty, especially when Anthony Warlow or JOJ sings it. </fangirl> |
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| Oli-Ol |
I'm going to say Stars
BHH is a bit of a fast-forward moment for me, although it depends on the actor. Some bore me to tears, others are better. I don't know... it just doesn't appeal to me. I'm propbably going to get slammed for this but I like the lyrics to Stars; actually I like all of Javert's songs and I also like the melody. Just my two penn'orth |
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| SmallTownIngenue |
Definitely Bring Him Home. I just find it really hard to like Stars after hearing it butchered so much this past summer when I was in it because one of the Javert's was AWFUL. | ||
| Forest |
Ouch! I'm sorry to hear that! Yeah hearing a really terrible rendition does have the potential to make you dislike a song you used to totally love. 
I do love 'Stars' the most I think, but BHH has been growing on me lately. I still wouldn't say I love it, but I think hearing David Shannon recently really helped. Even though BHH still isn't on my favourites list, his performance really moved me. I did see Drew Sarich the first time I saw Les Mis, and from what I remember, he was magnificent. Buuuut...that time I was concentrating so hard on keeping track of what was going on onstage, I can't remember anything else about it lol! |
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| Jennifer Lynn |
I'm not British, but suddenly I have this idea of Him in bobby uniform as you arrive at the judgement seat: "All righ', all righ', all righ'...wot's all this then?" |
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| looney-lovegood |
I like listening to Stars better, but I like watching Bring Him Home better.
Before I had gotten to see Les Miserables on stage, I found Bring Him Home a bit boring, but when I finally was able to see it, I thought that Stars seemed a bit boring and that Bring Him Home was more interesting. |