International 17 Jean Valjeans "Les Misérables"

[AtomicMangos]

The US is really a let down after Ireland.

[megorelli]

Ireland was the best. Wow.

[Kinzerwolf88]

I like how the US valjean is fat...

[mattiasaggerify]

I really have a hard time seing what Kurt Ravn is doing with these guys... He's very bad compared to the others!

[tlvv]

Rob Guest Australia? He was born in Birmingham but it was New Zealand where he grew up and went to school, he just happened to tour New Zealand and Australia as Valjean

[8suzel8]

The guy from iceland looks like he tries to strangle the microphone.

[AnimeFinatic7925]

The austrian's face is somewhere between "why an i doing this" and "This mic is way to short for me."

[AnimeFinatic7925]

pause at 2:27 I LOVE the JApanese guy's face when he's done singing hahahaha

[AnimeFinatic7925]

they all look like their trying to up to previous guys and say " Suck it loser's i'm the best." i personally love them all it just shows we can all get along if we want to

[shanemerrigan1994]

They Could Have Done This With the 25th Anniversary as Well

[snipsies1]

This song is so awesome..!

I love it.

[Mik5OO]

3:49, that guy totally looks like Lenin!

[Gamerboy51ify]

i like how valjean doesent even sing this song

[amadanish1]

This is incredible. I remember watching this when it first came out.

It's funny how so many of the non-English-speaking singers have such stronger voices than the English-speaking ones.

TOP FIVE: NORWAY, AUSTRIA, IRELAND, SWEDEN, DENMARK.

[Joey100816]

Lol the Mike is too High for the Hungarian guy.

And lol at how the music gets intense so Norway, Czech Republic and Denmark get really passionate, then Ireland is just like "You call that Singing? Step aside Bitches I'll show you how this is done"

[arwenka007]

Craig Schulman is like a Homer Simpson. LOL

[mokshalovely]

so beautiful. And hey... IT'S CHAIRMAN KAGA!

[rikkulockhart15]

@mokshalovely Yush. He was the original Jean Valjean in Japan and later played Javert for them as well. :3

He also played Tony in the Japanese production of West Side Story and Jekyll in Jekyll and Hyde. He has a LOT of music theater history, in addition to his voice acting skills...and his cooking skills. :)

[mokshalovely]

@rikkulockhart15 he is so awesome. ^^

[TehMagicLlama]

Is it just me, or does it seem like Phil Cavill (UK) cut off Colm? Colm didn't look pleased

[pegasigirl2010]

@TehMagicLlama It does seem like that, but what really happened was that Colm didn't cut off when he was supposed to and then realized his error with a bit of embarrassment.

[slayer11364]

did anyone else notice that the guy from hungary looked a little like a penguin lol

[SteffaniieeLewis]

I like UK, Australia and Norway the most!

[mYepes95]

1:40

[mornmeril]

Only think I can add to this is that I saw the Polish version and it was AMAZING, especially Javert's suicide and the Confrontation made me shiver.

[Cephalopedia]

So many jean Valjeans!

[PinballWizardFtw]

So many wonderful interpretations of the same song united at once. That's just magical to view! :)

[MrVictorPhineas]

Damn Tommy Körberg rules!!

[Camurgladius]

@MrVictorPhineas Agreed. I seem to remember he was my favourite when I was a kid watching this. Of course, they're all pretty epic.

[redhed6971]

One song, 17 different languages; How come I keep hearing the same message? Music is the universal language of the human soul. Absolute brilliance.

One Day More!!!

[skittles4me1]

Ahahaha the Canadian guy is HILARIOUS. I'm from Canada, so I'm definitely not making fun of him. His voice is just so typically... Canadian lol. But I liked Norway, Austria and Ireland the best. The Irish guy is just so intense. He owned it

[AnimeFinatic7925]

it looked like the French man sort of pushed the British guy out of the way hehehehehe

[pursehappygal]

@AnimeFinatic7925 I thought so too!

[hailsatanjack]

Austria is incredible.

[telebaiestpaul]

Vive Robert Marien!!!

[DoctorKeithMacKenzie]

This song is the definition of World Peace...

[jakealus1995]

1 lifelong ambition to play jean val jean in les mis

[jakealus1995]

Ireland are brilliant just like its all good guys i got it!!! hahahahaha

[hazgazchazjaz]

hungary lol ;)



[alwaysbehumble]

The little Hungarian dude is quite funny

Is he a professional circuits clown?

[MadameChristie]

@alwaysbehumble Said little Hungarian has what could possibly be the greatest blooper ever caught on tape. Look up Les Mis Blooper Reel on here. I swear, he's doing the "Who Am I 24601" bit and his voice cracks on the last note while he proceeds to belt at the top of his lungs. It's quite funny actually...

[AnimeFinatic7925]

@MadameChristie i know right i couldn't stop laughing. it's own o fthe best fails i've ever heard. still this is an amazing performance and i have seen a Les Miserable production before

[Theresadentinmychest]

Ireland is like "Stand back guys, I got this"

[Melkundcookies]

@Theresadentinmychest Iceland is like, "Oh yeah Ireland? I can be just as good as you."

[athendorus]

@Melkundcookies I was confuse was iceland like a giant or something or does he just like to throttle the microphone when he sings

[Melkundcookies]

@athendorus Probably throttle the microphone.

[Kikora21]

@Theresadentinmychest Gotta love Ireland! :D

[koolytina]

the dude from norway looks similar to my science teacher

[ChildInLove]

I have this on my iPod but i watch the video just to see the guy from Hungary. HE MAKES MY LIFE WORTHWHILE!!!!! <3 <3 <3 <3

[SwissArmySnives]

I think Leyton would be better suited to be Enjolras. Maybe just me.

[FreakedOutGeek]

And totally just noticed that Ireland's representative Leyton was one of the convicts in the Prologue.

[FreakedOutGeek]

Songs like this defy language. You don't need understand the words to find it powerful or inspiring. It only serves to unite us.

[TonyBtones]

Sweden was pretty good.

[NemesisMLT89]

best valjeans: denmark, ireland, canada, austria

[MrVictorPhineas]

@NemesisMLT89 Denmark and Canada?! Ireland and Austria definitely yes!! but Denmark and CANADA?!!

[Bab5crusade]

OCCUPY TOGETHER! OWS!

[radiantriot]

Rob Guest looks like a Thenardier

[shinme3]

Ireland <3

[Namron9797]

What would be truly amazing is if any of these countries actually meant what they're all singing about.

[kjsloane]

Hell Yessssss.Hugh Jackman as Valjean - bring it on.

[Balphezar]

2:26 - The face on the Japanese Valjean (Chairman Kaga) was priceless as he finishes his line. It's like "Hmm... did I leave the oven on when I went out?"

[Kasino80]

So news in the movie front...Hugh jackman is set for valjean, Anne hathaway for fantine, Russell crow javert bonham carter and Geoffrey rush for thenardiers.

[cranky1chick]

@Kasino80 Geoffrey Rush would be great Thenardier, but it's going to be weird seeing him play that role since in the last film version of Les Miserable, he was Javert.

[bettinaholbek]

@cranky1chick but he nailed the role Javert!

[ViveLaBarricade]

Can someone pronounce the Polish Valjean's name for me please? Thanks

[CosetteLala]

13 countries will not join in our crusade.

[KyleKathern]

The Dutch man was invited for only one sentence.

[getefix3]

O.o paradox!!

[elivansouza]

Each and everyone is special.

[Lurker1979]

This song sends chills down my back.

[pursehappygal]

That parade with the flags was so wonderful to see! Bravo to all of them!

[blabla124151515]

Does anyone else notice the mistake at the beginning when the very first valjean sings over the british one?

[musicmanaj92]

You can also hear the beautiful vocal stylings of Vikdal Gyula (2:29) in the video "Les Miserables bloopers" (3:35)

Probably the best performance of the song ever :)

[ShayneThoman]

. . . . . .The Austrian really brings a Dark Side to this song.

[AJePowers]

Jeff Leyton abolished this.

[siseo05]

@AJePowers ...Is abolishing good or bad?

He was one of my favorites in this song, so I hope it's a good thing.

[gybnxi]

Mark Donnelly shoulve sung for Canada's version..

[katieluvsmath95]

all the little gavroches were so cute! I never saw that part before, I'd only heard the valjeans sing!

[ilovegreen1396]

do you have the lyrics to this? the international version?

[Acoontey]

Ireland guy was epic.

[WhelanModFan]

THIS IS A MASTERPIECE!



[EternoSognatore]

i'm from italy.....

WTF!!

it's embarassing that we don't have our version!! i love Les Miz!!

[skittles4me1]

I'm from Canada, and so I laughed so hard just because he sounded so typically Canadian singing. Not in a bad way, it was just funny. The American guy looked ridiculous singing hahahaa, I kept repeating it. Maybe it was just the angle he was shown at, I don't know... But the best were probably Norway, Ireland and Iceland. United Kingdom was pretty awesome too. But yeah.. USA guy was the funniest to watch

[Namron9797]

@skittles4me1 No way, the japanese was the funniest. lol

[MsMsOwl]

Henk Poort rules =)

But however, this song is truely amazing <3

[singingqueen151]

totally proud to be australia RIP Rob Guest we love you :)

[MsHiiloveu]

Everytime I listen to this it gets to Jeff Layton's part and I just think GO IRELAND!

[StarAWings]

Only one word can describe this... Breathtaking!

[therealcritic28]

I think Colm messed up there a little bit. Ah well, he's still amazing. Also: ROCK IT, IRELAND!

[leedscab123]

Forgot to say RIP to Rob Guest the Australian Valjean.

[leedscab123]

Norway and Sweden rule.

[waagzangertje]

Long time ago that i have seen this, like henk poort (obvious ;-) ) but also britain, austria and canada

[dabigpadarico]

Oh wow. The Japanese guy is the dude from Ironchef!

[Agnessa92]

Iceland looks like Lenin...

[NateAlex10]

3:22 ...isn't that Al Borland (played by Richard Karn) from Home Improvement fame? I thought I saw Tim "The Toolman" Taylor being shot by a French guy earlier in the play.

[mudbloodsanddemigods]

Iceland Jean is really tall. I thought he just liked playing with the mic.

Then the Irish Jean is awesome!

Japanese Jean is like "what was I doing here again?"

and then, for some reason, American Jean changed the lyrics.

loved this. was crying after they sang. They should have sang "Who am I?" or "The Confrontation", as it's Valjean's awesomest songs in the play. :))

It should have been 17 Enjolras. xD

[squierknde]

Denmark reminds me of George Bush...

[Texasnuckes]

Loool on the expression of the japanese Valjean at 2.26 :-) He was like "What the hell was I just singing there?"

[legaleagle46]

For those who have been wondering why there was no Spanish Jean Valjean, according to Wikipedia, the musical hadn't been translated into Spanish yet when this concert took place in 1995; the first Spanish-language productions didn't happen until 2000. It's been done in several Spanish-speaking countries since then (Argentina, Mexico, and twice in Spain.)

[fsgzoneonepiece]

I always think the English man was robbing the main actor's microphone LOL

and I surely love the Irish!

[Khalony]

I bet those 13 dislikes are from countries that didn't get invited.

[Soldat251]

Did Iceland resurrect Lenin to play Valjean?

[rs700301]

Austria was damn good, Norway, Australia and of course Ireland.

[hobbily]

superb noone can beat that 10th anniversary so much better than 25th with you there nooyawkfun xx

[LesMiserables9430]

The point of this wasn't a competition or to point out who sucks and who doesn't. It was to show how universal Les Miserables is! That some people may prefer the teeny bopper stars that get famous because of voice boxes, but that Les Miserables has spanned over 17 countries sending a universal message of freedom. No matter who has a better voice, the message is always the same and if you stop commenting petty things and open your eyes you will see just how amazing it truly is!

[hecate235]

Well, that was fun. lol

[uberathlete]

Allez Cuisine! :D

[WickedProductions100]

Lea Salonga and Michael Ball are beasts. I can hear their lines of Eponine and Marius over 17 tenors hitting the money note (G), an orchestra, and a fully microphoned choir. WOW!

[kimyoung14]

perfect cast in my opinion:

Enjolras = Ramin Karimloo

somehow make it possible for Lea Salonga to play Fantine and Eponine

Javert= Colm wilkinson

Valjean= alfie boe (i would love to hear the comfrontation between Colm and Alfie)

[Texasnuckes]

@kimyoung14 I would rather say Richard Woodford as Javert instead of Colm Wilkinson. Colm is without a shadow of a doubt a very great Valjean, but I can´t figure him as a "bad guy". :-) Maybe I´m mistaken, but that´s my opinion. And of course Marius should be Micheal Ball. :-)

[kimyoung14]

@Texasnuckes thats exactly why i would love to see Colm play Javert because i would love to see the conmfrontation and seeing something new from him!

i thought it would be interesting, just my opinion though :p

[Texasnuckes]

@kimyoung14 Seen like that, you are right. It could indeed be really interesting. And just because I can´t imagine it, doesn´t mean it couldn´t work. :-)

[64beginnings]

I wish Mr. Leo Valdez of the Philippines was there. Les Misearbles was staged very successfully at the Meralco Theater in Manila where Leo Valdez played Jean Valjean.

[delvarduss]

Merci monsieur Victor Hugo;-)

[shannonkleiner]

I always try not to cry when I hear this, and I always fail.

[starreyeyed44]

Awesome!! Happy Bastille Day! Comrades, Unite!

[frell333]

Oh my, this brings back so many fond memories. I've seen 5 of them on stage as Valjean - the Austrian (quite obvious, being Austrian myself), the Norwegian (who was alternate in the Austrian production), the Czech and the Dutch and Phil Cavill. Oystein Wiik has always been my favourite, though. :)

[TheHachmom]

The first airing of this on TV was my first viewing (or hearing) of Les Miserables...I have never seen such an inspiring sight as all those Valjeans, each in their own language, singing "Do you hear the people sing". Somewhere Victor Hugo was very proud....

[blewnuts]

oohhh my GOODNESS GRACIOUS! for a small lady, YOU CAN HEAR LEA SALONGA SO DISTINCTLY. that woman has got some lungs, man. RESPECT!!!

[adamnbill]

I could listen to Kurt Ravn and Jeff Leyton OVER and OVER and OVER!

[adamnbill]

Respond to this video... My dish was out yesterday but my DVR had this saved for a few years from a PBS special. It is the BEST finale of ALL TIME as far as I am concerned! I only wish I were a globe trotter to follow all the Valjean's during their day. Would have been nice if Alfie Boe were in the mix for this. And all I can say about Jeff Leyton, is HOLY SHIZ NITZ!

[kayleelulu]

13 people probably think justin bieber is a better singer than these Valjeans

[mmpadp]

yes you are!

[7SonsofFeanor]

A wonderful video! It struck me, though, how very different the characters of Valjean and Enjolras are, though. I mean, the one from Ireland could have been a revolutionary, but some of the others are almost...silly...in that role (or would be, if they were actually playing that). But of course they have wonderful voices and did a great job of seamlessly stringing the different languages together into a single song.

[donmaster1205]

with all the 17 Valjeans and a massive choir, LEA Salonga's voice floats when she sings the part of Eponine.... trully a great artist... a one of a kind voice....

[Robertfrogg]

I still think that this is the best finale of a concert *ever*. I always sing along with this musical, whether the DVD or CD and this time I actually got choaked up and had to cut myself short before the final note. Two incredible songs that have so much meaning in them.

[Allthegood1sRwritten]

The guy from Japan - Isn't that the same dude from the original Iron Chef?

[Sueb18631]

@Allthegood1sRwritten Yep, that's Takeshi Kaga! He played the role of Valjean in the Japanese version, and actually alternated roles with the actor who played Javert.

[IheartZorro]

@Sueb18631 Did they alternate the roles of Valjean and Javert? That's fascinating. I thought the roles were written for two different voices. I wonder how they managed. I also wonder if there is a dvd or recording anywhere with them in the alternate roles to see how it worked.

[Sueb18631]

@IheartZorro They sure did! The 1987 Japanese show was the only production where the two leads alternated the roles. They wanted Kaga to play Javert but he wouldn't do it because another actor, Sakae Takita, was playing Valjean (not sure why he objected). John Caird suggested the two actors alternate the roles, and they agreed. It was a challenge for the actors to learn two roles, but they pulled it off! This is from 'The Complete Book of Les Miserables' by Edward Behr, published in 1989.

[Sueb18631]

@Sueb18631 They sure did! The 1987 Japanese show was the only production in which the stars traded off roles. They wanted Takeshi Kaga for Javert but he wouldn't do it because another actor, Sakae Takita, was playing Valjean (not sure why he objected). John Caird suggested they alternate the roles, and the actors agreed. It was tough for the actors to rehearse two roles, but they pulled it off! This is the info I have from my copy of 'The Complete Book of Les Miserables' by Edward Behr, 1989.

[RayquazaGirl]

Ooh, I adore the Australian one!

[masruidoporfavor]

French sounds good! Remind me of revolution!

[UpiorkaOpery]

13 people can't hear the people sing

[TheFuamus]

They are excellent! Especially the irish guy, he has the most wonderful voice! the french isn't bad either! But I do very like the danish guy, because I am danish as well! But I do adore the irish guy!

[Kasino80]

Go Kurt Ravn from Denmark!!!

[ErriRose]

i feel like the U.S. was poorly represented.

[ozbell925]

@ErriRose the american sucked, pay attention. Also, if you happen to be american, SHUT THE FUCK UP! MORON!

[ErriRose]

@ozbell925 That's... pretty much exactly what i just said. Only i said it much more intelligently.

[John234pwns]

@ErriRose The fat guy does seem a bit too stereotypical of us. But what can I say, he wasn't a bad vocalist.

[MusicInAMirror]

I've seen this 10th Anniversary so many times since I was younger, and I only just discovered this ending part. I may die from excitement and happiness!

[Noltan74]

They should have also done Bring Him Home, i think that would have been pretty cool

[legaleagle46]

@Noltan74 The 25th Anniversary concert last year did just that. It had Alfie, Colm, and two other Jeans singing "Bring Him Home" -- joined, I believe, by Michael Ball (and you should have seen Colm's face when Michael came up to the microphone!)

[Nyra777]

Jeff Leyton just owned everyone!

[iammadness]

@Nyra777 Well given the history of Ireland it is understandable he would have strong feelings for this and I liked the sparkle of amusement in the eye of Australia next to him.

[MusicInAMirror]

@Nyra777, HE TOTALLY DID!

[kyfriends]

@Nyra777

And then Iceland cuts in anticlimactically...

[AntaresInScorpius]

@Nyra777 he did ok. i thought some of the others were as good or better.

[RG110man]

Henk poort scares me!!

[thewhimsicalwish]

robert marion, tommy korberg, henk poort, reinhard brussman, oystein wiik, jeff leyton and egill olaffson are my FAVORITES.

[terje439]

This shows the power of music does it not? The same song sung in a variety of languages from around the world, quite a powerful image...

[itsaquamarin]

ようやくみつけた！　なんかみても感動＾＾　どうもありがとうございます。



[itsaquamarin]

ようやくみつけた！　何回みても感動＾＾　どうもありがとうございます。

[Sarbreenarh]

I <3 the Swedish guy

[UpiorkaOpery]

oh yeah, Canada and UK have long parts, but others have short...

[hkobb7]

@UpiorkaOpery So do the Japanese, Aussie, and Danish guys. It's called phrasing, not national preference.

[noobray143]

3:23 Pau Gasol???? lol

[noobray143]

3:23 Pau Gasol???? lol

[stormwolf113]

The Irish guy is a BAMF.

[ddrddrddrddr]

OMG KAGA!!!!!

[Rachegotter]

TO THE GLORY OF FRANCE !!!!! Let the world bow for the Mother of Culture and elegance. The target of all jealousies and covets. FRANCE.

[ashdenise20]

Technically two Irish entries if you count Colm

[nooyawkfun]

I feel that the 10th had so much more heart and soul than the 25th. Anyone else feel the same way?

[xdevilxbabex2003]

@nooyawkfun Oh definately, the 10th was the first time i saw les mis , i was only 10 and ive been in love with it ever since, now nothing else compares, they set a standard that is sooo hard to follow i cant help but judge everything else against it!

[talk2malawyer]

isn't the japanese man the presenter of Iron Chef? I had no idea he was an opera singer

[dubbingsync]

loving the Irish guy in this

[geerebekah]

The Irish singer is incredible.

[scruffaroo]

Is the children who lead them on with the flags the Gavroche and cosette from their countries I hope so cos thats would be awesome!