Love Never Dies (phantom of the opera sequel) Original Cast Recording Review

[soby207]

Okay, so I agree with your point of view about Love Never Dies.Agree with the whole accent things. But with what you said about Giry and Meg I sort of beg a differ and see where they are coming from. Giry and Meg did everything for the Phantom to build Phantasm. Meg had gone into prostitution to earn money for the Phantom. And Giry did everything, they gave their lives to help the Phantom. Plus Meg seemed to have fallen in love with the Phantom and both were hurt when the Phantom still has-

[soby207]

these lovey/dovey feelings for the girl who broke his heart. And they get even more pissed when he invites her to Coney island. So I can understand a little bit why Giry and Meg are suddenly ragged out with the Phantom and Christian.

[asharn1998]

I don't HATE love never dies, but i Love POTO much better tho. I think ALW is a VERY talented man and i love his pieces and the thing i REALLY liked was raoul FINALLY goes away! Good job ALW.

[dandanjanett1]

IT DIED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[anon0987654]

Madame Giry doesn't do the French accent anymore, they all sing in American accents now... just to let ya know. I don't really think you should have judged the storyline and ending before seeing it... although as I'm sure you all know they have made several changes since the album. I find it a little odd that you are judging it against loads of other stuff and other people then you tell other people to be open minded.....

[93142]

I don't know what your talking about, SO many songs rhyme! You should double check the lyrics, they do rhyme.

[MrOneManShow1992]

i aint being horrible but just to express my opinions

i loved the idea that Christine consented to having a bit o' sexy time with the Phantom... as she still wanted to be with him but for some wierd reason in her head she felt that he couldnt provide for her.... so she married Raoul..

[anon0987654]

@MrOneManShow1992 She never really chose Raoul in my eyes... it was the Phantom who told her to go with Raoul at the end of POTO, The Phantom who left her alone to be with Raoul after their night beneath a moonless sky when she'd 'have follwed anywhere you led'

[imnothomelessanymore]

Hey everyone has their own opinions, but I don't think that this musical is something to get angry over. I personally think it's amazing! Thank you for your review.

[markjameshowe]

Sounds like you should have just composed, written and starred in the whole show.

[sexoandpsycho]

i agree, its actually pretty good.

[westendfan]

THE SHOW IS AMAZING !!!!!

[jammes122]

I agree with you. I think the music for Love Never Dies is wonderful. It's a lush, beautifully orchestrated score. I loved how ALW musically quoted The Phantom of The Opera in some songs like in 'Before The Performance when it goes into a little bit of Twisted Every Way and then swells into a bit of Prima Donna. The plot and the lyrics are where the show suffers. The lyrics are very pedestrian. The plot is plain ridiculous. I hope the story undergoes some major rewrites before it hits New York.

[missAUDACITY]

Yay! Finally, an intelligent review from a person that knows what they're talking about! And nobody really mentions the music in depth like you did, so I'm very happy that you covered it.

You basically nailed the way I felt about the music, and the musical as well for the most part. (:

LOL @ your cat meowing! :''D

[PittsBurghFuzz]

well in the 2004 film, she is the only one with the french accent.

[MightyCarnac]

Okay, the ending was a bit lame but I really like the story- it ties in beautifully with Phantom. And I love the music. And yes, it works as a sequel or as a stand alone piece whether some people like it or not.

[elysiumsangel]

@MightyCarnac

How does this story "tie in beautifully" with Phantom? The characters are utterly trashed! A meek, wet and powerless Phantom? A cheating Christine? A drunk, abusive Raoul? A psychopathic Meg? It is as if this story was conceived with all of its main characters playing the polar opposites of their original personifications, with no justifications. Ugh. The original characters are mutilated in this sequel - and there's no way to cover them with a mask! :(

[MightyCarnac]

@elysiumsangel Love Never Dies is not a rerun of Phantom. If you don't like the story then you don't like it. Sorry, can't please all the people all the time.

I say LND ties in well with Phantom because every action of every character is clearly explained and understandable as are their motivations For example, Phantom's need for Christine, Christine's need to sing, Meg's jealousy & rage, Raouls reaction to going broke. You may hate the story but the story does make sense...and I like it a lot.

[elysiumsangel]

@MightyCarnac The reasons are weak, and the changes in the characters are immense. For example: "That fate which has forced me to wallow in blood/has also denied me the joys of the flesh". How/where does the libretto of LND explain how the Phantom has suddenly gained the ability to father children?

[MightyCarnac]

@elysiumsangel Phantom has hypnotic power over women, that hasn't changed since Paris. He won Christine over again the minute they met. Mme Giry is still under his command and now Meg. You say this Phantom is weak? In Paris he hid in the shadows and dropped rigging on people's heads. Now he owns the rigging and is the prosperous head of the company. This Phantom is more powerful than ever.

Take it or leave it -- there's no right or wrong about that. I just happen to think it's a great story.

[mobilearn]

@MightyCarnac Um no. (1) He is not capable of having sex. So how does he father a child? (2) He doesn't have power over women. If he was able to just "command" women then Meg wouldn't kill Gustav at the end. (3) He has no idea of who does what in Phantasma - not even who took his son. (4) There IS right and wrong in creating a good story. If a story presumes too much, or strays too far from what we "know", it ceases to be believable and becomes ridiculous. Ugh.

[MightyCarnac]

@mobilearn I'll assume that he fathered the child by the usual method. Christine seemed to think he was more than capable. And you've apparently forgotten the nuances of how Christine was killed. I'll leave you to review the details if you're so inclined but if you don't like the story there's little point.

Cheers.

[mobilearn]

@MightyCarnac Christine: "Am I now to be prey to your lust for flesh?"

Phantom: "That fate which has forced me to wallow in blood, has also denied me the joys of the flesh".

The Phantom CANNOT father a child in the usual method, let alone in a single night of passion. So he can't have a son, and the whole premise of LND is flawed.

[MightyCarnac]

@mobilearn Nonsense. Read the rest of that passage and you'll find that Phantom is referring to his face, not his other parts.

"That fate, which condemns me to wallow in blood has also denied me

the joys of the flesh ...

this face - the infection

which poisons our love ...

This face, which earned a mother's fear and loathing ..."

He's simply saying that he doesn't get out much due to his deformity.

[elysiumsangel]

@MightyCarnac Um no.

Christine's preceding line is specifically asking him if he's done with murdering people, and he's now going to rape her: "Am I now to be prey to your lust for flesh?"

The Phantom answers in the negative. He cannot ravish her, because of his deformity: "That fate which condemns me to wallow in blood, has also denied me the joys of the flesh."

[MightyCarnac]

@elysiumsangel Um, maybe.

It could be interpreted as you say but that's not clear. Does it matter? Not to me. Maybe he was restored by an elixir from a traveling medicine show. Maybe he was cured by a faith healer at a revival meeting. Good Grief, how pedantic can you get? This is a musical play, not a doctoral dissertation. With that level of scutiny Phantom of the Opera falls apart too. Any fiction would. I still think LND is a thumping good story. Sorry you don't agree but that's showbiz.

[somewhatsecret]

I agree with you on all points including the clever references (LOVED the PONR ones as well as the Twisted Every Way reprise) and how the Phantom is kind of a wimp. The Girys are on something and Christine's death was not nearly as dramatic as it should have been.The whole rape thing not so much but everything else, indeed. Why couldn't Charles Hart have been brought back?

[kornpone]

I dunno, somehow the thought of the Phantom doin the ol' nasty with Christine and getting her pregnant strikes one as a bit creepy, yeah? Too creepy for a musical, unless youre goin for something like Carrie the musical. But they actually sing about. And what about the details? Was the Phantom's penis deformed as well? Was it his first time? Was it Christines? (Probably not.) It's a pity that the show's creators neglected to fill in these essential character traits.

[LoveShouldDie]

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA needs NO sequel.

loveshoulddie [dot] com

[Dallimorelover]

@LoveShouldDie Well it's got one, and it's really not as bad as it could have been.

Leave it alone as a show in it's own right and don't use my videos as spam to advertise your hate groups.

[MusicalLover6]

@Dallimorelover

What IS it with people in this 'show in its own right' bullshit? Its a damn sequel: an annoying, ugly, ghastly, repetitive, bland, hokey sequel.

Guess what, you can't stop the signal. If you don't want certain ON TOPIC groups posting shit on your walls of your video, then holy fuck, say that to the other 3 MILLION comments on YouTube that people get pissed off about. You should have expected that this group would find your video and comment on it. Common sense, much?

[Dallimorelover]

@MusicalLover6

Look, the music's good, it's well staged and it's a perfectly good show. Yes, in a lot of ways the idea of a sequel is practically sacriligious, but if it's got good music etc then there's no harm in it.

And yes, I fully expected people to voice their opinions, but not to use my videos as a advertising spot!!! They are two very different things!

[elysiumsangel]

@Dallimorelover

It truly is "missing a lot" - like a decent plot (as you say, the storyline is a bit weak). Like character continuity. Like characters of substance. I've been listening to the soundtrack over and over, and - ugh - I keep finding more and more mistakes and inconsistencies, whereas when I listened to the Phantom of the Opera soundtrack I kept finding more and more to love. :(

[animelover13579]

@Dallimorelover Everyone is saying that it's alright because the music is pretty good. But the PLOT is terrible! Good music can only take it so far.

[Erikslady]

Mr Dallimorelover

Have you actually listened to yourself in this video ?

how can one who points out so many faults in a show turn around and say how good it is ?

sorry, just seems contradictory 

[wafflyadam4757]

Till I Hear you sing is a great song. However it is virtually the only stand out song in the show (as well as LND). This for me was a problem as when it is reprised several times it begins to lose it's appeal and feels rather repetitive. The rest of the songs are rather dull and are instantly forgettable. It bored me for 2 and a half hours. However ALW has matched the music to the story; uninspiring music for an uninspiring story.

[ItachiUchiha2010]

About the lyrics. He did an amazing job with the little mermaid, but is phantom not disney.

[EplusCequalsLUV]

haha I keep saying Moonlit too...

[michaelballack1234]

i think that people are criticizing 'love never dies' is ONLY because the first phantom is totally perfect and flawless

and i can even say every single musical on earth is CRAP compared to the phantom of the opera

however, i don't think the sequel is good, the plot is a little bit childish and WHY THE HELL would Meg turn from an innocent girl to a bitch?? that's totally disappointing....

[michaelballack1234]

i think that people are criticizing 'love never dies' is ONLY because the first phantom is totally perfect and flawless

and i can even say every single musical on earth is CRAP compared to the phantom of the opera

[bastiantotalhappy]

actually the first one who makes a neutral Review ,It is very good ,you have shown us all negative and the positive thinks .The rest reviews are all so negative .They are insane fans .>THey should come with an open mind .a very good review

[fegde]

Thank you for your review. I also think the plot is weak, but the music has grown on me so much. I hope I can see it in New York.

By the way, your kitty was hungry or something? He was complaining in the middle of your review :P

[Dallimorelover]

@fegde I know! I absolutely hate my cat!!!! It was so annoying!!

Thanks :P

[OohcoolProductions]

This was a very intelligent and thoughtful interview. Not at all like the annoying, idiotic, poorly thought out ones left everywhere on youtube.

In other words, this was an easter egg.

Thank you!

[bastiantotalhappy]

i just thought it is boring but after hearing it more times and reading the story i thought it is cool you cant compare it to the first one because they are 2 different good musicals

[ChristensenArts]

This was a very accurate review. There were like 4 good songs...and everything else was kinda weak....the character of the phantom is kinda diminished in his mysterious persona...and i hate how he just walks around without a second's thought...but it is true that you can't compare this to the original...the ONLY way to appreciate it is to look at it as an entirely separate entity.

[savoirfaire90]

in devil take the hindmost quartet at 1:03 when the phantom starts singing you can clearly hear the phantom of the opera theme for a bit...and i don't think it's a reference, just an "accident".

[Dallimorelover]

@savoirfaire90 I would be very surprised if that was an accident. That took me about 3 listens to notice that, by which time I'd made my review. I think someone would have noticed if it was an accident.

[savoirfaire90]

@Dallimorelover I don't know...if i had been webber i wouldn't have used the theme in that way. more then a reference it seems just an "error" to me. even if he said he didn't use the main phantom themes, something still pops up. same thing for the writers, you can read same passages in different books, even if they didn't mean to do it. anyway, good review, i agree with you in many points.

[gUrAcoX463]

I said this at 3:20 so I apologize if you go over it, but it seemed like you wrapped up the music references at that point, there was also at Beautiful where when Gustave(Phantoms son) enters the phantoms lair and the tune is exactly similar when the Phantom welcomes Gustave as he did Christine after The Phantom of the Opera and just before The Music of the Night. If you don't know what I'm talking about, listen carefully, you'll hear it.

[Dallimorelover]

@gUrAcoX463 yeah that was quite an obvious one. I didn't really think it was worth mentioning. He uses that tune a number of times through Love Never Dies, where as the others were perhaps a little more subtle.

[BelCantoFan2]

PHANTOM WOULD NEVER RAPED CHRISTINE!!!!!!! he loved her more than his life---in a strange way...but he loved her...and she loved him...and i really dont understand the part of them haVING A SON!!!?? he cryed when she touched him and gave him a small kiss...he would never sleept with...he just wanted her to be by his side,to make music togather!!!! them to have sex is just sick....I really dont like the story,it doesnt fit with the phantom...but i like the songs,they are very touching...

[Dallimorelover]

You seem to be forgetting the fact that at the end of the first show he puts her in a wedding dress and tells her that he is her fate. She also asks him if she is to be prey to his lust for flesh, to which he indirectly says yes.

I'm glad you agree on my other points though.

[stitchgrl777]

where did he use "Angel of Music", specifically the chorus, not the "he's with me even now, you're hands are cold"? You said he changed it rhythmically but it's still the same notes. Would love to know where.

[Dallimorelover]

@stitchgrl777 it's a bit ambiguous I'll admit. He has changed it slightly notewise, but the shape is basically the same. Sing the notes to '...believe you're here old friend' out of rhythm and compare them to angel of music. Also look at the fact Meg is singing a 6th below, as she does in Angel of Music.

[stitchgrl777]

@Dallimorelover AH! I hear it. I love that you picked that out. It totally reminds me of what Steven Schwartz admitted to doing with Wicked. He did "Unlimited...together we're..." using the same notes as "Somewhere over the rainbow," just different rhythm. It's amazing what rhythm can change. I would have never heard it.

[Dallimorelover]

Well, I have an ear! :P lol

But I must admit I didn't hear the Unlimited thing until I read it in the Grimmerie. That's much better disguised though. And you're right, Andrew can do what he wants with his music. He's hardly likely to sue himself! And I'm glad you think I approached it quite impartially, it was hard!

[stitchgrl777]

Admittedly, he's only allowed to copy 7 notes, which he did. But ALW can copy himself ALL he wants. Good review here. I appreciate how you're coming at it as leveled-headed as possible, which I can't say for most POTO lovers, myself included ;)

[RedKingCommandz]

from a musical point of view, you have a good point. the origional is more spectacular.

i didn't make myself clear, what i meant was that, if someone is oppressed and backed into a corner, as the Phantom was, they are going to lash out and attack. buquet and piangi were in his way, in that moment, and so in the heat of the moment he killed them. it was all about defense. he had less power than he made out.

[Dallimorelover]

Yeah that's true. I hadn't thought of it like that. But I would have liked to have seen that side of the phantom in this a bit more.

[RedKingCommandz]

if he has no need to kill in order to get to christine, then he won't kill. And someone capable of murder is not automatically capable of rape. thats totally illogical!

Raoul might have raped her because he's the opposite of the phantom, beauty on the outside and ugliness on the inside.

he only wanted to get Christine in bed and he's used to getting what he wants, i have a feeling he wouldn't take no for an answer

sorry to review your review :P

its just, i've seen it and its so beautiful

[Dallimorelover]

Plus, I always hated Raoul. Me and my friend wrote our own sequel in which he dies. Christine should never have chosen him!

Have you seen Chiizukoi's review though? Or redscarf89's?

[RedKingCommandz]

he was murdering because he loved her and he needed her. but in LND there's no need to kill for her. he's not going to kill for no reason.

sorry about reviewing your review :P

i just resent the fact that i've seen it first hand and it truly is beautiful and entrancing and you're reviewing it with a limited knowledge of the show itself

again, apologies

[Dallimorelover]

Don't apologise, but I just wanted to make it clear that I hadn't seen the show and was reviewing the soundtrack.

Although one could argue that Buquet and Piangi were no real threat.

I have no doubt that it is entrancing, as I said, it must be spectacular, but I am finding the fact that Christine went to find the Phantom a slept with him hard to swallow. That was my main problem. And musically, the ending is too drawn out and not built up enough.

[RedKingCommandz]

youv mae some good pointssuch as the repeat of tunes from the origional show but really, you don't seem to be able to understand or process the story or the development of characters. ALW has made all the characters more "3D".

The Phantom hasn't become "wet". in the first one he had to murder, because he was at the bottom of the food chain. he wasn't in control. so he had to do all those things to get christine. in LND, he is in power and so all he needs to do is summon her to him.

[Dallimorelover]

Well, perhaps that comes through on stage, but not from the soundtrack, which is what I'm reviewing.

[RedKingCommandz]

mate, i've seen the show and i know first hand that the music, lyrics and plot are the same par as the origional, amazing

the phantom would not have raped her, that is NOT the phantom. raoul would sooner have raped her, and i mean that.

also, no offence, but you seem extremely badly informed on this show. you can't even remember "beneath the moonless sky".

[Dallimorelover]

I stand by what I said. I don't think the plot is on a par. Like I said, I'm only going on what's on the soundtrack, so if you'd like to fill me in on what's not on the soundtrack then go ahead. And I did say I liked the music a lot. And if the phantom's capable of killing or killing Raoul to get Christine then he's capable of rape. It's ridiculous that she went and found him and slept with him!

Plus, the only reason I couldn't say it was because I kept getting the lyric mixed up with...

[Dallimorelover]

...beneath a moonlit sky. beneath a moonless sky doesn't roll off the tongue. But anyway, it was my opinion on the cast recording as the title says, and the soundtrack gives enough detail on the story for me to make a reasonable judgement. But despite the storyline which I believe is weaker than the other, I still can't wait to see it.

[BelCantoFan2]

agreed!

[mushypeas10]

What an intelligent, considered and well articulated review. So much better than those dreadful American phangirls.

[cmonin]

"The lyrics are pretty dreadful??"

The lyrics are absolutely mundane and horrible!

I loved your video and agree with everything you've said, you were spot on!

[BroadwayGuy25]

it's a cast album, NOT a soundtrack...

[Dallimorelover]

Ok, although that's pretty irrelevant. Most people will know exactly what I meant. I'll change it though.

[leelee987654]

LOL at the beggining