The Les Misérables movie might not open for another few days, but information about the highlights recording was recently made available. As expected, there’s a new song (an “unwritten rule” for movie musicals so they could qualify for an Academy Award nomination), and many familiar favourites, including “I Dreamed a Dream”, “Stars” and “On My Own” are also part of it. Noticeably missing, however, is “Do You Hear the People Sing?” which many Les Mis fans consider the ultimate song that describes the entire show. This is a song that is never supposed to be missing. It’s in every single cast recording, ranging from the original London cast from 1985 to the complete recording and anniversary albums. It’s also in the piano books, and the medley of five or six songs available for choirs. It’s as if they just randomly picked what they wanted on the CD without really considering fans or what’s “important.” Of course, it’s possible that “Do You Hear the People Sing?” is hidden with another song,
Source: amazon.com via Les Misérables on Pinterest
Songs that are part of this recording that one might be surprised about, however, include “Drink With Me” and “The Final Battle” – the latter is important to the story, but plays no role as a standalone song. I suppose “Empty Chairs and Empty Tables” is in the soundtrack only because Marius would otherwise not have his own solo. And why is “Javert’s Suicide” in it? I realize that many (most?) of us are familiar with the story, but doesn’t that give things away to people who aren’t? If I were involved with selecting songs for the recording, I would likely have taken that out, along with “The Final Battle” and possibly “Drink with Me.” I would probably have included “Lovely Ladies” though I’m a bit unsure about one of my favourites, “A Little Fall of Rain.” Of course, an equivalent of a two-CD recording with similar track listings as the original London and Broadway or anniversary albums would have been more ideal. Oh well, maybe with the DVD release!
What are your thoughts on the tracks? Anything you would have wanted to include or taken out? Do you think their selection was a bit…”buffet” like?
