I love her, but not for this musical role. As people have pointed out, Eponine is not the sad, weak character she portrays. And since this is a musical, she should have trained with a voice coach first. She's lovely, though. I wonder what she's doing now...
@ilovemyidina she wasn't weak as a character at all. Only in this song did we find out her feelings. She was fabulous. I was lucky to see her and still remember it 25 years later.
all the people hating on frances's singing i'm pretty sure there's a reason why frances originated both the london AND the broadway cast and won a tony. just saying...
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@YourFavouriteNub agreed. lea solonga was the first eponine i ever heard but then when i heard frances's eponine i was blown away! so much passion and emotion. lea's fan girls are dumb. not everyone is here for lea's predictable polished vocals :P
@mariahforever1990 Nah, I'm a big fan of Lea, she's amazing too. In my opinion, none of them is better than another, they're both awesome in their own way. While Frances made Eponine naive, trustful and a bit cute, Lea made Eponine a bit above everyone else ... she kinda sanctified her. Still amazing to be honest.
@YourFavouriteNub i actually agree with that lmao so maybe i went to far by dissing lea but her stans are bothering me! coming on a tony award-winning broadway singer's video and saying "she CAN'T sing!" like seriously?? they need to get educated
...sounds like a bad Madonna interpretation of this song!!! Don't get me wrong, I love Madonna, but I would rather keep the material girl out of les mis
Duh. No one, and I mean NO ONE, even comes close to Lea Salonga in this role. From being faithful-to-the-character to the quality of singing, not a single actress who has ever done Eponine tops Lea's interpretation and impeccable singing.
Horrible! Her performance is weak -- she CAN'T even sing. And I can't understand a word that she says! She should have asked the amazing SUTTON FOSTER to coach her!
@suttonfosteristhebes Sutton Foster??? She's on record the worst actress who's every played Eponine (Eponine is not a lunatic)! Sutton Foster is the most overrated actress in the world!
frances is everything that eponine should be - naive, fragile and charming. lea is wonderfully crisp, but her enunciating sanitizes the role a tad too much - her eponine is far too in control. frances' performance evokes the lost nature of the poor girl - lost in love, lost in morals, lost in society.
lea and kaho, i love your voices, but frances will always be my 'ponine.
@suttonfosteristhebes While Frances' voice is as pleasant as whiny pig's, Frances' acting and overall presentation are miles ahead of Sutton Foster's. Frances is definitely a better actor than Sutton. Sutton's only strength is belting notes using her squeaky voice.
Frances's voice has seized my ears since the very first moment when I heard the CD of Les Miserable, London original cast. I agree Lea is an excellent, brilliant singer with a powerful, crystal clear voice. But, for me, Eponine is Frances. Her voice makes my heart aching. It reaches me by cutting through the air even when she is backing in "One day more."
I love Frances Ruffelle! I think she totally has Eponine down. Besides, the book describes her as unapproachable and as having a rough voice thanks to her drinking. I think Ruffelle does a great job compromising that with her own uniquely beautiful singing.
@anafor2un Actually if you read the novel Eponine WAS a drunk.She's one of the few actresses whose interpreted the role the way Hugo wrote it and that's what makes her one of the best!
gosh everyone is saying how she's not a good singer and doesn't portray Eponine correctly but I couldn't disagree more. I think her voice is absolutely gorgeous, and I think she shows more anger and passion than solonga, I think she is more sad and resigned actually
@julesbanana1 I agree with you. To me Frances will always be the Eponine. Her version of On My Own always gives me goose bumps and hearing her sing "A Little Fall of Rain" with Michael Ball brings tears to my eyes.
@aedododingdona Maybe cause she's good? To win a Tony means you're peers, who BTW are actual musical theater professionals and not two-bit youtube commentors, have judged your talent to be more then sufficient and deserving of recognition and honor. If you prefer other singers to her, fine. But for the love of God, stop bitching here about stuff you clearly don't understand.
Salonga actually read the book before she did her Les Miz roles, which is why it's not surprising that Salonga had the correct interpretation of the character (Eponine is NOT the whiny, sadly resigned girl Ruffelle portrayed, but rather a determined, angry lady). Ruffelle never had a good voice, so she couldn't help but sing the role to her less-than-capable singing abilities, but she tried her best, and I applaud her for that.
I agree with many of the posts I have read. While Francis Rufelle isn't my favorite vocalist, I have to admit that I like her version of Eponine better than any I have heard (of the pros) and this is the first time I could actually understand all the words. Her belting sounds very natural and not like she is screaming in a desperate attempt to hit the high notes.
Or maybe this version just opened my eyes to another version of the character. And I think Frances Ruffelle did an amazing job with that version. Again, Lea Salonga's portrayal of Eponine was also amazing. I go back and forth because I truly appreciate both versions.
@xlnTheYearOf39x I also agree. I actually heard Lea Salonga's version before this version. Lea Salonga is brilliant and she sang the song beautifully. But when I heard/saw this...I was like, "oh my goodness. That IS Eponine." To me, this rendition captures the essence of the character.
@xInTheYearOf39x , I agree with you. I think she's the best Eponine. But the uploader has removed my prior comment because some troll has apparently voted many times that they don't like that opinion.
@cutenhette4real I'm sorry, but I believe that I'm entitled to my opinion, as much as you are to yours. There's no need to be agressive!
Lea is very talented, and I do think she is a better singer than Frances. However, I prefer Frances as Eponine. It's a simple distinction, and a personal preference that doesn't entitle you to attack me over it.
I find this interesting. Whenever you see an actor/actress sing from a musical on Youtube, it is generally a situation that you get a million comments saying, 'NO! Idina Menzel was always be the best Elphaba, SARAH BRIGHTMAN IS THE BEST CHRISTINE etc, etc' (I don't agree, but whatever your opinion). But in the case of Frances, so many people are like, 'NO! Lea Salonga surpassed her!' While I like Frances, it is refreshing to see people say something other then 'the first always the best'.
@hole1991 I like both: Frances and Lea. Lea is my favourite female singer, but Frances is the original Eponine, which I heard first and I love her voice. I have the soundtrack with Frances and the DVD with Lea :) Both are great.
Oh yes, I agree with you. I like both too. I'm just mentioning that this criticism of Frances is an interesting change in trends from what you generally find with comments and discussion boards about musical theatre, where the majority are like 'This person isn't nowhere near as good as the original; the original will always be the best, purely because they were the first'. This is a mentality I dislike and I think it is nice to see variety.
I like Lea's voice, but I like Frances' more because I grew up with her, and to me her voice set her so far from Cosete's sweet, soft, and tender voice, and I still think that she does a good job getting emotion into those vocals
yes i too think lea does a better job for the actual vocals, but i love frances's voice better =P it sounds so eponine-ish and i grew up with her recording =]
I don't care if she's won any award or not. She's annoying to listen to. She does NOT have an innocent voice (an innocent face, maybe - she's actually quite lovely to look at): she has a whiny sound! And she can't attack the notes correctly That's why the majority of people think she can't sing.
I usually like baby talk songs (similar to Helen Kane) but on On My Own, no. Frances is good but I like Lea Salonga's version better. But if you compare Frances' to Leah Michele, Leah is squeeky and whiney.
@chickita051 That's what I thought too! But I think she's actually British. I got quite the bashing for not knowing that in the 25th anniversary comments. :)
She sounds WAYY nasally and whiny. Plus, this version, on this particular show, is changed so it sounds more upbeat and pop, probably to entertain. That makes me mad. Les miz should stay what it is! It can't be changed into some pop tune! It's freaking LES MISERABLES!
I think she is fantastic and this (her original portrayal) should be lauded and respected. Eponine is a waify kid, strong but still delicate--Frances perfectly captures it. Every performer has the right to create a character in her own way, and she was the first for this one. This was also a 'concert' type of performance, not staged, so it's a tricky line between acting while interpreting a piece and just belting it out. Bravo! The emotion she infuses into the song is amazing!
Frances better? Um, no. She CAN'T even sing. Her vocals are very weak compared to Samantha Barks' and her voice is very ugly compared to Lea Salonga's. Salonga had the perfect blend of vocal technique, interpretation, and acting, which is why she remains to this day the best-ever Eponine.
Okay guys. For those of you who haven't read the actual book. Eponine is not supposed to be a beautiful, perfect girl like Cosette. That is on purpose, so that they don't seem too similar. Frances, while I also do not like her voice to death, she is acting to how the character was written by Victor Hugo. She didn't want to lose to roughness of how Eponine was written. Also you shouldn't come to a video and just bash it.
@karmalevel Nope; Frances just doesn't know how to sing (she whines her way through this song) and portrays this role incorrectly (Eponine is not a weakling, as has already been pointed out and as anyone who's read the book knows), that to her fans, Lea appears to have overdone it.
I saw her perform this when I was 16 years old many years ago. I remember the power of her voice plastering me back into my chair. It was stunning. <3 Frances
Ha, ha! Just noticed I'm not first with the 'Eliza Doolittle's mum' reference. Never mind. :-) Obviously not a big deal with the hardcore Les Mis cognoscenti ici. :-)
Oh my..Some Lea Salonga fans are going completely Crazy in the head...Samantha Barks and Frances Ruffelle are just as good as Lea Salonga's in my opinion. Geez, you guys really need to leave the other versions besides Lea's alone! I realize it's your judgement if you think she did it better than the rest such as Frances, but calm down a bit. Really..They ALL can sing amazingly! Go to your favorites video and watch THEM instead of attacking Performances please..it's a little pathetic.
Awww. I grew up with the original recording, so I loved Frances Ruffelle, and I still do. She seems to have an Eponine-type voice, but yes, Lea is clearly the better singer. TAC is my favorite version, and Lea brings much more vocal talent to the role. But I love them both.
@mizzie923 - Haha, yeeees! I think Eponine's supposed to have a raspy alcohol-induced vocal anyway... I agree Lea is a better singer, but Frances suits the role more :)
@mizzie923 I grew up with the original recording as well, and I love Frances Ruffelle!! Lea is talented, but I think Frances brings the passion and emotion needed for the role of Eponine. I love her voice :)
I love how you all critique her when most of you are probably little high school theatre geeks sitting behind your computer screen LOL. Go win a tony and have a career such as hers then come back and judge her. Get a life or a career, until then, shut your rude mouths! If you can do better, go do it. And if you ask me, her voice SUITS the character. She ends up being a peasant girl and a more raw voice suits that. Sort of like mimi in RENT. I'm PRETTY SURE casting directors know whattheyre doing
this is how eponine is supposed to sound, she won a tony award for being THAT incredible. lea salonga is no doubt amazing and has a great great voice and she also did a phenomenal job but i think frances cannot be beat in this role
If you've seen the 25th anniversary One Day More encore when they bring the original cast back, Frances Ruffelle looks so much more different. I saw that before I saw this and I hardly recognised her
@MissSaxophone3 Yes, Frances looked different in the 25th anniversary. I had always perceived her as sweet and innocent, but she looked totally slutty at that event - plus it showed that she has not improved singing-wise even after 25 years!
i love her, so all you haters shut up. i highly doubt any of you could get go up in front of hundreds of people in the audience and johnny carson, not to mention millions of viewers. so why don't you all just shut your mouths? frances ruffelle set the stage for lea salonga.
she sounds different in the 25th anniversary concert.. but still i think her sweet voice is perhaps too greasy for the role....Lucky we have the amazing Salonga who makes Eponine truly alive on stage: )
but one thing stays the same - her dress code on stage.
Those top comments make my blood boil. Why come to this clip and hate on the woman that originated the English-language role? Her voice is unique and lovely and for those of us that saw/remember the original, it is precious. I love Lea Salonga's Eponine too; but dear god, show a little respect/class.
@dinitramide You are SO right. Why click on a video of a performer you don't think is "right for the role" and then bash them? And last time I checked, deciding who is right for the role and who isn't the job of the creative team and the casting directors. I'm pretty sure they knew what they were doing in casting her and they obviously did well considering she won a tony for this role. I guess she just sucked so bad she won a TONY. People commenting on this video are seriously moronic lol.
@dinitramide "Why come to this clip and hate on the woman that originated the English-language role?" Answer: because she SUCKS. the only bad thing about the original. whiny and off key.
@CriterionCoIIection Apparently the Tony Award voters and the Theatre World voters disagree with your opinion as she won both awards for her performance.
Apparently you are in the minority. The voters gave her the Tony Award for the Best Featured Actress in a Musical. Theatre World also gave her their award. Not bad for someone who is "whiney and off key". Guess everyone else is tone deaf.
@theironduck538 Well maybe she was voted the best during that time, but I wonder if they would still give her the Tony after they heard Lea Sing as Eponine... Gosh, my ears hurt from Frances' singing!sorry...
I saw her in the London and New York original casts. This is a bad recording, check the original cast album. She was fabulous and FILLED the theatre with her unique voice.
I honestly think Frances makes a poor Eponine. Leo Salonga did a much better job, and had the perfect attitude. Frances just doesn't have it in her, her voice is wrong for the part of Eponine. =/
She's the WORST of all the Eponines I've heard. She can't sing, she can't enunciate, and she obviously didn't do her homework in studying the character. Eponine is not supposed to be a whiny weakling with a speech impediment!!!
@ojaica24 Sure, she is no Lea Salonga, but she is good! Just because she sounds more innocent does not mean she is bad at singing! She is singing about a poor girl who is in love, but isn't accepted by him as much! Would you be singing loudly if you were poor and pitiful?
i love her version, it sounds more originally, and so 80's its very cozy to me. like her voice, you already know this came first. but lea's and samantha's are wonderful in their own way.
no offense - I can't take her voice.. Sure, she's the original, but I dunno.. Samantha Barks and Lea Michelle sound a hundred times better than her. And ofcourse, my fav Eponine, Lea Salonga, was/is just perfect!
if she wasn't good at singing....she wouldn't have been on broadway...or gotten a tony....
fhdushuisfdhfui 6 days ago 3
star
companythemusical 1 week ago
She has one of a kind voice. She's my favorite Eponine.... I don't understand why people don't like her. She is THE Eponine!
TheKatHan101 1 week ago 3
Your right, I like her too
jeronecute30 1 week ago
Frances Ruffelle is the best Eponine! I AM HER BIGGEST FAN AND SHE IS MY BROADWAY IDOL! Lay off haters!
MrBroadwaygoddess 2 weeks ago 3
She was wonderful. So moving. Just perfect for the show.
wefond 3 weeks ago
I agree. Frances' voice sounds more pop, not made for a broadway musical.
Realbeatz86 3 weeks ago
I love her, but not for this musical role. As people have pointed out, Eponine is not the sad, weak character she portrays. And since this is a musical, she should have trained with a voice coach first. She's lovely, though. I wonder what she's doing now...
ilovemyidina 3 weeks ago
@ilovemyidina she wasn't weak as a character at all. Only in this song did we find out her feelings. She was fabulous. I was lucky to see her and still remember it 25 years later.
wefond 3 weeks ago
Ms. Ruffelle is my favorite Eponine. She's an iron butterfly and portrayed and sang the role wonderfully.
rmtmiller 3 weeks ago 2
I agree with the critics: she's atrocious in singing. She's quite emotive, though. She'll probably be great in non-musical shows.
lovelynancyopel 3 weeks ago 10
@lovelynancyopel
WAT
NalarZ 2 weeks ago
@lovelynancyopel dum.
Avalon1929 2 weeks ago
oh dear what happened to the music, esp in the introduction! the two instruments were a full bar apart!
kate210467 3 weeks ago
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all the people hating on frances's singing i'm pretty sure there's a reason why frances originated both the london AND the broadway cast and won a tony. just saying...
mariahforever1990 3 weeks ago
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smh at all the pressed people who thumbed this performance down.
mariahforever1990 3 weeks ago
I loved Lea's Eponine ... until I heard this. This is giving me chills :O
YourFavouriteNub 4 weeks ago
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@YourFavouriteNub agreed. lea solonga was the first eponine i ever heard but then when i heard frances's eponine i was blown away! so much passion and emotion. lea's fan girls are dumb. not everyone is here for lea's predictable polished vocals :P
mariahforever1990 3 weeks ago
@mariahforever1990 Nah, I'm a big fan of Lea, she's amazing too. In my opinion, none of them is better than another, they're both awesome in their own way. While Frances made Eponine naive, trustful and a bit cute, Lea made Eponine a bit above everyone else ... she kinda sanctified her. Still amazing to be honest.
YourFavouriteNub 3 weeks ago 8
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@YourFavouriteNub i actually agree with that lmao so maybe i went to far by dissing lea but her stans are bothering me! coming on a tony award-winning broadway singer's video and saying "she CAN'T sing!" like seriously?? they need to get educated
mariahforever1990 3 weeks ago
@mariahforever1990 I don't know about award-winning, I'm not that big fan of Broadway, but I know when I hear a good singer ^.^
YourFavouriteNub 3 weeks ago
...sounds like a bad Madonna interpretation of this song!!! Don't get me wrong, I love Madonna, but I would rather keep the material girl out of les mis
katiesparrow1 1 month ago
@katiesparrow1 I don't even wanna THINK of what Madonna would do with Eponine ...... :L
YourFavouriteNub 3 weeks ago
BRAVO! BRAVO!
alcatraz9vt 1 month ago
Lol, I love all the actresses who played Eponine. Anyone else?
widdlepuddyfat 1 month ago 2
And oh, she does sound like Moaning Myrtle!
spoolartist 1 month ago 22
is it me or does she really look like Helena Bonham Carter?
spoolartist 1 month ago
Duh. No one, and I mean NO ONE, even comes close to Lea Salonga in this role. From being faithful-to-the-character to the quality of singing, not a single actress who has ever done Eponine tops Lea's interpretation and impeccable singing.
pedrap432 2 months ago 5
Horrible! Her performance is weak -- she CAN'T even sing. And I can't understand a word that she says! She should have asked the amazing SUTTON FOSTER to coach her!
suttonfosteristhebes 2 months ago 2
@suttonfosteristhebes Sutton Foster??? She's on record the worst actress who's every played Eponine (Eponine is not a lunatic)! Sutton Foster is the most overrated actress in the world!
DveryOverratedSutton 2 months ago 4
Best version!!
TheLadyjazzy1 2 months ago
Why so much arguing :( I think it's obvious that the sound quality is not the greatest so don't make comparisons!
bananabop21 2 months ago
Gorgeous girl, shame about the voice.
bobthebackwardsock 3 months ago
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frances is everything that eponine should be - naive, fragile and charming. lea is wonderfully crisp, but her enunciating sanitizes the role a tad too much - her eponine is far too in control. frances' performance evokes the lost nature of the poor girl - lost in love, lost in morals, lost in society.
lea and kaho, i love your voices, but frances will always be my 'ponine.
pabloplato 3 months ago 24
@pabloplato i agree with you.
eashyr 2 months ago
@pabloplato Everything you said was spot on! Frances has set a standard that has yet to be rivaled :)
jbs24601 2 months ago
@jbs24601 Sutton Foster topped Frances' weak performance a loooong time ago.
suttonfosteristhebes 2 months ago 3
@suttonfosteristhebes While Frances' voice is as pleasant as whiny pig's, Frances' acting and overall presentation are miles ahead of Sutton Foster's. Frances is definitely a better actor than Sutton. Sutton's only strength is belting notes using her squeaky voice.
pedrap432 2 months ago 8
@pedrap432 Brilliantly spoken! I agree :)
jbs24601 2 months ago 3
@pabloplato have a listen to Barbra Streisand's version. I love the huskiness of it.
nextlifearotti 2 months ago
@pabloplato thank you :)
MikuMochi 1 month ago
Frances's voice has seized my ears since the very first moment when I heard the CD of Les Miserable, London original cast. I agree Lea is an excellent, brilliant singer with a powerful, crystal clear voice. But, for me, Eponine is Frances. Her voice makes my heart aching. It reaches me by cutting through the air even when she is backing in "One day more."
minorutz 3 months ago 8
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minorutz 3 months ago
I love Frances Ruffelle! I think she totally has Eponine down. Besides, the book describes her as unapproachable and as having a rough voice thanks to her drinking. I think Ruffelle does a great job compromising that with her own uniquely beautiful singing.
euterpemuseful 3 months ago 8
I love her voice..it's very unique!
halohali32 3 months ago
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anna465hu 3 months ago
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Eponine is NOT a sad and resigned character. That is the problem with Ms. Ruffelle's interpretation, in addition to her horrible singing.
anna465hu 2 months ago
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attack of the lea salonga fan girls D:
MmeNecroLover 3 months ago 11
@MmeNecroLover lol, so true
MrDuffmann22 3 months ago
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@MmeNecroLover agreed! between the lea salonga stans and the lea michelle stans, frances has a few too many pressed haters on her hands right now O.o
mariahforever1990 3 weeks ago
@16Tigergirl ahem.... i think you're the only one.... Lea Michele.... really?
JulieLaughingSoHard 3 months ago
@JulieLaughingSoHard..... I think they are referring to Lea Salonga who also sang Eponine.
BENTONKING 2 months ago
Just found out shes Eliza Dolittles mother!! small world :D
JulieLaughingSoHard 3 months ago
If she was a bad singer she would not have originated both the London and Broadway shows, some people are just so stupid.
deanriam 3 months ago
I like Frances' rendition. I find it unique. It may not be perfect, but It's interesting, and thats not always a bad thing.
superspecial7890 4 months ago 6
Frances CAN'T sing and she interpreted this role wrong. Eponine is neither whiny nor drunk!
anafor2un 4 months ago
@anafor2un lol but actually.... in the novel Eponine was a huge drunk.... :P
JulieLaughingSoHard 3 months ago 2
@anafor2un Actually if you read the novel Eponine WAS a drunk.She's one of the few actresses whose interpreted the role the way Hugo wrote it and that's what makes her one of the best!
weirdofun1 2 months ago
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Being original doesn't its mean the best. Frances Ruffelle portrayal of Eponine is WRONG.
EPONINE is NOT the whiny character resigned to sadness as Frances portrays here.
According to the book, Eponine is a TOUGH, GRITTY street girl who is obsessed with Marius. and that was well portrayed by Lea Salonga.
cutenhette4real 4 months ago
oy! cant we all just get along? They are both very talented :)
TennesseeMay 4 months ago
gosh everyone is saying how she's not a good singer and doesn't portray Eponine correctly but I couldn't disagree more. I think her voice is absolutely gorgeous, and I think she shows more anger and passion than solonga, I think she is more sad and resigned actually
julesbanana1 5 months ago 2
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anna465hu 4 months ago
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anna465hu 4 months ago
@julesbanana1 I agree with you. To me Frances will always be the Eponine. Her version of On My Own always gives me goose bumps and hearing her sing "A Little Fall of Rain" with Michael Ball brings tears to my eyes.
luna23255 4 months ago
Everything about this is disgusting. She sounds terrible. Why did she win a Tony? It's utterly beyond me.
aedododingdona 5 months ago
@aedododingdona Maybe cause she's good? To win a Tony means you're peers, who BTW are actual musical theater professionals and not two-bit youtube commentors, have judged your talent to be more then sufficient and deserving of recognition and honor. If you prefer other singers to her, fine. But for the love of God, stop bitching here about stuff you clearly don't understand.
Nelsonhojax15 5 months ago 2
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Stop hating she won a tony...
bwaybaby1991 5 months ago
no wonder marius doesn't love her. her voice... it;s like a sad 80's pop song.
teeups29 5 months ago
she sounds DRUNK
frensseur 5 months ago 6
@frensseur To you she does.
widdlepuddyfat 4 months ago
i know this is random but she reminds me of what selena looked like in her music video love you like a love song
MegaFinchelGleek 5 months ago
Salonga actually read the book before she did her Les Miz roles, which is why it's not surprising that Salonga had the correct interpretation of the character (Eponine is NOT the whiny, sadly resigned girl Ruffelle portrayed, but rather a determined, angry lady). Ruffelle never had a good voice, so she couldn't help but sing the role to her less-than-capable singing abilities, but she tried her best, and I applaud her for that.
johnjg536 5 months ago 2
@johnjg536 But Eponine was also an insane drunk in the books...something that didn't come across in Lea's portrayal unfortunately...
weirdofun1 2 months ago 4
from what I can tell with the dates, she's pregnant during that. her daughter was born five months later.
almightycinder 5 months ago
Her voice is annoying.
siremersonlveras 5 months ago 6
I do not like her..
broadwaybabe35 6 months ago 4
marry me
alivingtale 6 months ago
this is not her best performance
AlexWaylan 6 months ago 3
I agree with many of the comments, Lea Salonga was a little better. But I also love Linzi Hately who performed the original. Beautiful song!
jonhoulton 6 months ago 2
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I agree with many of the posts I have read. While Francis Rufelle isn't my favorite vocalist, I have to admit that I like her version of Eponine better than any I have heard (of the pros) and this is the first time I could actually understand all the words. Her belting sounds very natural and not like she is screaming in a desperate attempt to hit the high notes.
dewdrop1994 6 months ago
CHECK OUT MY VERSION TO THIS SONG? Need some opinions haha! Thanks <3
leahere247 6 months ago
Or maybe this version just opened my eyes to another version of the character. And I think Frances Ruffelle did an amazing job with that version. Again, Lea Salonga's portrayal of Eponine was also amazing. I go back and forth because I truly appreciate both versions.
LJPeece 6 months ago
@xlnTheYearOf39x I also agree. I actually heard Lea Salonga's version before this version. Lea Salonga is brilliant and she sang the song beautifully. But when I heard/saw this...I was like, "oh my goodness. That IS Eponine." To me, this rendition captures the essence of the character.
LJPeece 6 months ago
@LJPeece DID YOU READ THE BOOK????
cutenhette4real 4 months ago
To me, her voice is Eponine - as much as I respect other versions, for me nothing will ever surpass this :)
xInTheYearOf39x 6 months ago
@xInTheYearOf39x , I agree with you. I think she's the best Eponine. But the uploader has removed my prior comment because some troll has apparently voted many times that they don't like that opinion.
rmtmiller 6 months ago
@xInTheYearOf39x ACCORDING TO BOOK EPONINE IS A BRAT. NOT WHINY LIKE THIS VERSION.
cutenhette4real 4 months ago
@cutenhette4real I'm sorry, but I believe that I'm entitled to my opinion, as much as you are to yours. There's no need to be agressive!
Lea is very talented, and I do think she is a better singer than Frances. However, I prefer Frances as Eponine. It's a simple distinction, and a personal preference that doesn't entitle you to attack me over it.
xInTheYearOf39x 4 months ago
What the hell is all the whining for? Man, it's annoying. And seriously, someone needs to chop off those bangs...no offense.
PhantomloverSNAFU 6 months ago 8
annoying.
terracottaheavens 7 months ago 7
I find this interesting. Whenever you see an actor/actress sing from a musical on Youtube, it is generally a situation that you get a million comments saying, 'NO! Idina Menzel was always be the best Elphaba, SARAH BRIGHTMAN IS THE BEST CHRISTINE etc, etc' (I don't agree, but whatever your opinion). But in the case of Frances, so many people are like, 'NO! Lea Salonga surpassed her!' While I like Frances, it is refreshing to see people say something other then 'the first always the best'.
hole1991 7 months ago 5
@hole1991 I like both: Frances and Lea. Lea is my favourite female singer, but Frances is the original Eponine, which I heard first and I love her voice. I have the soundtrack with Frances and the DVD with Lea :) Both are great.
SchattenMusical 7 months ago 2
@SchattenMusical
Oh yes, I agree with you. I like both too. I'm just mentioning that this criticism of Frances is an interesting change in trends from what you generally find with comments and discussion boards about musical theatre, where the majority are like 'This person isn't nowhere near as good as the original; the original will always be the best, purely because they were the first'. This is a mentality I dislike and I think it is nice to see variety.
hole1991 7 months ago 3
@hole1991
And sorry about the double negative; I meant to say, 'isn't anywhere near...'
hole1991 7 months ago
I like Lea's voice, but I like Frances' more because I grew up with her, and to me her voice set her so far from Cosete's sweet, soft, and tender voice, and I still think that she does a good job getting emotion into those vocals
rja2009 7 months ago
yes i too think lea does a better job for the actual vocals, but i love frances's voice better =P it sounds so eponine-ish and i grew up with her recording =]
Hannahcat1113 7 months ago
I don't care if she's won any award or not. She's annoying to listen to. She does NOT have an innocent voice (an innocent face, maybe - she's actually quite lovely to look at): she has a whiny sound! And she can't attack the notes correctly That's why the majority of people think she can't sing.
annief31 7 months ago 9
The best singer for this.
rmtmiller 7 months ago
It's like 1980s Eponine.
blueberryicedtea 7 months ago
I usually like baby talk songs (similar to Helen Kane) but on On My Own, no. Frances is good but I like Lea Salonga's version better. But if you compare Frances' to Leah Michele, Leah is squeeky and whiney.
beeyowcht 7 months ago
Her voice isn't as flattering, but she interprets the 'unprettiness' of Eponine almost perfectly
SongfromBohemia 7 months ago
i prefer frances over lea anyday..but samantha barks would be my fave if she didnt use the stupid accent.
chickita051 8 months ago
@chickita051 That's what I thought too! But I think she's actually British. I got quite the bashing for not knowing that in the 25th anniversary comments. :)
blueberryicedtea 7 months ago
I love the way she sings in my on. People relax.
MoreCarlie94 8 months ago
See, I think Frances put the emotion into it that Lea lacked. Lea has a beautiful, stellar voice, but it was too perfect.
broadwaymelody33 8 months ago
She sounds WAYY nasally and whiny. Plus, this version, on this particular show, is changed so it sounds more upbeat and pop, probably to entertain. That makes me mad. Les miz should stay what it is! It can't be changed into some pop tune! It's freaking LES MISERABLES!
XxTurnItOffxX 8 months ago
Ew, her voice is horrible. I see what they've been talking about.
themillenia 8 months ago 5
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I think she is fantastic and this (her original portrayal) should be lauded and respected. Eponine is a waify kid, strong but still delicate--Frances perfectly captures it. Every performer has the right to create a character in her own way, and she was the first for this one. This was also a 'concert' type of performance, not staged, so it's a tricky line between acting while interpreting a piece and just belting it out. Bravo! The emotion she infuses into the song is amazing!
sunstar176 8 months ago
Frances better? Um, no. She CAN'T even sing. Her vocals are very weak compared to Samantha Barks' and her voice is very ugly compared to Lea Salonga's. Salonga had the perfect blend of vocal technique, interpretation, and acting, which is why she remains to this day the best-ever Eponine.
jamesgardell2 8 months ago 6
Okay guys. For those of you who haven't read the actual book. Eponine is not supposed to be a beautiful, perfect girl like Cosette. That is on purpose, so that they don't seem too similar. Frances, while I also do not like her voice to death, she is acting to how the character was written by Victor Hugo. She didn't want to lose to roughness of how Eponine was written. Also you shouldn't come to a video and just bash it.
travelingheart58 8 months ago 3
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Lea over acts and over belts. I saw Frances on broadway and she was so moving as ponine
karmalevel 8 months ago
@karmalevel Nope; Frances just doesn't know how to sing (she whines her way through this song) and portrays this role incorrectly (Eponine is not a weakling, as has already been pointed out and as anyone who's read the book knows), that to her fans, Lea appears to have overdone it.
woodlandb234 8 months ago 3
Usually this song makes me cry.
This version makes me go "Wtf?"
meginmd 8 months ago 3
sha scares me...but hey, even if i dont really know much about the 80s but i dont know. the song's just so good, there's a beautiful story behind it.
jemish16 8 months ago
i dont get it. shes good. i love her voice. its a one of a kind voices.
lrkluvvy 8 months ago
I saw her perform this when I was 16 years old many years ago. I remember the power of her voice plastering me back into my chair. It was stunning. <3 Frances
TPund 8 months ago
Ha, ha! Just noticed I'm not first with the 'Eliza Doolittle's mum' reference. Never mind. :-) Obviously not a big deal with the hardcore Les Mis cognoscenti ici. :-)
brandyvanl 8 months ago
Eliza Dolittles mum! (for Brits) :-)
brandyvanl 8 months ago
Oh my..Some Lea Salonga fans are going completely Crazy in the head...Samantha Barks and Frances Ruffelle are just as good as Lea Salonga's in my opinion. Geez, you guys really need to leave the other versions besides Lea's alone! I realize it's your judgement if you think she did it better than the rest such as Frances, but calm down a bit. Really..They ALL can sing amazingly! Go to your favorites video and watch THEM instead of attacking Performances please..it's a little pathetic.
giniethesinger 8 months ago
I love this version and saw her perform on Broadway in the original cast and she stopped the show. It was wonderful.
mlang46 9 months ago
I love the 80's feel to this video and performance, it feels so majestic.
Kronin90 9 months ago
Awww. I grew up with the original recording, so I loved Frances Ruffelle, and I still do. She seems to have an Eponine-type voice, but yes, Lea is clearly the better singer. TAC is my favorite version, and Lea brings much more vocal talent to the role. But I love them both.
mizzie923 9 months ago 36
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@mizzie923 - Haha, yeeees! I think Eponine's supposed to have a raspy alcohol-induced vocal anyway... I agree Lea is a better singer, but Frances suits the role more :)
shahoney 6 months ago
@mizzie923 I grew up with the original recording as well, and I love Frances Ruffelle!! Lea is talented, but I think Frances brings the passion and emotion needed for the role of Eponine. I love her voice :)
zoey621 5 months ago
@mizzie923 If you mean lea michelle go away and don't come back
plankology 4 months ago
Haha i think she's funny :D
06Jule 9 months ago
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Frances Ruffelle's version has feeling. Salonga drowns in indulging the power of her voice, robbing the song of its ethereal beauty.
illegitimate0 9 months ago 2
i like lea michele better
16Tigergirl 9 months ago
lol to anna's comment
matsor79 9 months ago 21
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I love how you all critique her when most of you are probably little high school theatre geeks sitting behind your computer screen LOL. Go win a tony and have a career such as hers then come back and judge her. Get a life or a career, until then, shut your rude mouths! If you can do better, go do it. And if you ask me, her voice SUITS the character. She ends up being a peasant girl and a more raw voice suits that. Sort of like mimi in RENT. I'm PRETTY SURE casting directors know whattheyre doing
JWeb4U 9 months ago
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this is how eponine is supposed to sound, she won a tony award for being THAT incredible. lea salonga is no doubt amazing and has a great great voice and she also did a phenomenal job but i think frances cannot be beat in this role
MamaMiaBaby93 9 months ago
If you've seen the 25th anniversary One Day More encore when they bring the original cast back, Frances Ruffelle looks so much more different. I saw that before I saw this and I hardly recognised her
MissSaxophone3 9 months ago
@MissSaxophone3 Yes, Frances looked different in the 25th anniversary. I had always perceived her as sweet and innocent, but she looked totally slutty at that event - plus it showed that she has not improved singing-wise even after 25 years!
af2un 8 months ago 5
i love her, so all you haters shut up. i highly doubt any of you could get go up in front of hundreds of people in the audience and johnny carson, not to mention millions of viewers. so why don't you all just shut your mouths? frances ruffelle set the stage for lea salonga.
asthefriendsSCREAM 10 months ago
she sounds like a country singer?
renmarland 10 months ago
i really tried to like her but her phrasing and style both make me cringe.
emocass 10 months ago
I think her voice is unique and kudos to anyone who is asked to create a role....
operacrackers 10 months ago 2
Saw her do it on Broadway and she stopped the show!!! Met her as well and she was a lovely person! Wish she would come back to NY!
MSe6144525 10 months ago
I don't think this is her song
Beatlesluver210 10 months ago
she sounds different in the 25th anniversary concert.. but still i think her sweet voice is perhaps too greasy for the role....Lucky we have the amazing Salonga who makes Eponine truly alive on stage: )
but one thing stays the same - her dress code on stage.
viggobiling 10 months ago 4
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viggobiling 10 months ago
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viggobiling 10 months ago
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Those top comments make my blood boil. Why come to this clip and hate on the woman that originated the English-language role? Her voice is unique and lovely and for those of us that saw/remember the original, it is precious. I love Lea Salonga's Eponine too; but dear god, show a little respect/class.
dinitramide 10 months ago 17
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@dinitramide You are SO right. Why click on a video of a performer you don't think is "right for the role" and then bash them? And last time I checked, deciding who is right for the role and who isn't the job of the creative team and the casting directors. I'm pretty sure they knew what they were doing in casting her and they obviously did well considering she won a tony for this role. I guess she just sucked so bad she won a TONY. People commenting on this video are seriously moronic lol.
JWeb4U 9 months ago 3
@dinitramide hell yea! I am an avid fan of Fran and she is talented and a sweetheart!!!
karmalevel 8 months ago
@dinitramide "Why come to this clip and hate on the woman that originated the English-language role?" Answer: because she SUCKS. the only bad thing about the original. whiny and off key.
CriterionCoIIection 8 months ago
@CriterionCoIIection Apparently the Tony Award voters and the Theatre World voters disagree with your opinion as she won both awards for her performance.
theironduck538 7 months ago
Apparently you are in the minority. The voters gave her the Tony Award for the Best Featured Actress in a Musical. Theatre World also gave her their award. Not bad for someone who is "whiney and off key". Guess everyone else is tone deaf.
theironduck538 7 months ago
@theironduck538 Well maybe she was voted the best during that time, but I wonder if they would still give her the Tony after they heard Lea Sing as Eponine... Gosh, my ears hurt from Frances' singing!sorry...
rdc1431 7 months ago 8
Her daughter Eliza just did her 2nd appearance on the Tonight show (she was pregnant with Eliza here).
DontTread0nMe1776 10 months ago
i don't prefer this version....but i am assuming she is singing her "modern" version (well the 80s)...but this would never cut it in the theatre...
fuegosanto14 10 months ago
ouch
DaisyOwner24 10 months ago 3
sorry but i way prefer Samantha Barks
DaisyOwner24 10 months ago
I saw her in the London and New York original casts. This is a bad recording, check the original cast album. She was fabulous and FILLED the theatre with her unique voice.
SailingMoominmama 10 months ago 2
@SailingMoominmama yes she did!
karmalevel 8 months ago
her voice is beautiful, but not really for the role of Eponine
KatMichaelJackson 10 months ago
I honestly think Frances makes a poor Eponine. Leo Salonga did a much better job, and had the perfect attitude. Frances just doesn't have it in her, her voice is wrong for the part of Eponine. =/
RzrbladesonFire 10 months ago 3
I prefer Lea Salonga
mariasoaresalmeida 10 months ago 4
She's the WORST of all the Eponines I've heard. She can't sing, she can't enunciate, and she obviously didn't do her homework in studying the character. Eponine is not supposed to be a whiny weakling with a speech impediment!!!
ojaica24 10 months ago 4
@ojaica24 Yeah, I didn't know that Eponine was a weakling and had a speech defect until I listened to this version!
joshgardell 10 months ago 6
@ojaica24 Sure, she is no Lea Salonga, but she is good! Just because she sounds more innocent does not mean she is bad at singing! She is singing about a poor girl who is in love, but isn't accepted by him as much! Would you be singing loudly if you were poor and pitiful?
Fula101 7 months ago
@ojaica24 LOL! You know she IS the original Eponine right?
lemonpixie 7 months ago
Ugh !!!
rosendo12ful 10 months ago 3
Eliza Doolittles mum!
MissyMagical 10 months ago
i love her version, it sounds more originally, and so 80's its very cozy to me. like her voice, you already know this came first. but lea's and samantha's are wonderful in their own way.
RabbitOfTheMoon28 10 months ago
She has such a cute voice. :)
Snowmask23 10 months ago
no offense - I can't take her voice.. Sure, she's the original, but I dunno.. Samantha Barks and Lea Michelle sound a hundred times better than her. And ofcourse, my fav Eponine, Lea Salonga, was/is just perfect!
mischaila 11 months ago 5