When i'm just trying to envision the face of the singer by just listening to the voice. I thought Kaho's voice depicts a voice of a singing-hobbit. I don't see or feel what u guys feel. I listen first to the voice without looking at the face of the singer. Lea Salonga is the best eponine ever to walk on this earth. Lea has lungs of steel, better vocal tone, better diction, amazing vibrato & technique, better range high & low notes. Kaho tho sounds similar to Frances. Kinda on the weaker side.
I thought this is pop version of "on my own". She kinda have britney spearish vibe in her vocal tone and funny vibratto. I actually laughed the first time.
I like this version better than the versions done by the more famous Les Mis Eponines because of the pacing and the pronunciations of words throughout the song. The others seem to be in a bit of a rush on certain lines and it some how grates on me. The pacing on this version seems absolutely perfect.
needless to say, her phrasing and the emotion that seeps through is amazing, but so is her pronunciation. It makes sense though. I've found most great singers, though not necessarily fluent, have a more accurate pronunciation than the average foreign speaker due to being so accutely aware of sounds, which just goes to show how talented Kaho is.
she learned this whole song phanetically. She is japanese, and so she just listented to american version and repeated what she heard, so actually she has no idea what she is saying which is amazing! cause she has beautiful emotional articulation
I totally agree with the quintillion people that say she's like a really good halfway point between Lea and Frances. I found this recording on tape casette in my mom's car. Happy moment for me!
Oh wow. This is fantastic. I just heard this on Pandora radio and was blown away. She may be my favorite Eponine. I thought Frances had the right tone but not enough control, and the opposite with Lea. Kaho has just the right mix of fragility and control.
I grew up listening to this version. I've never found anyone else to do the song as much justice as she does.
The fact that she couldn't even speak English speaks for itself, I think.
Frances's voice was too...whiny? I'm not sure if that's the right word, and Lea's was too forceful. This is a nice medium. She sounds melancholy, but is happy when she's supposed to.
I've always loved Kaho's version...even more so when I learned that she didn't know how to speak a lick of English, and only learned the song phonetically for the part. Very impressive considering the depth of emotion from this piece.
I love Frances Ruffelle the best, because I grew up listening to her beautifully fragile voice, but Kaho has a gorgeous wistfullness to her rendition, too. I like them both.
I don't particularly like Lea Salonga's version, because though she's a strong singer and hits all the notes, her "perfection" sort of destroys Eponine's character in my mind.
@mclaquarius94 "I don't particularly like Lea Salonga's version, because though she's a strong singer and hits all the notes, " any artist should attain perfection in their craft... hope you know what you're talking about,, and beside ,, no good singer would ever likely to be out of tune...they're not stupid..
she never sounds happy. i like her version, but that's the reason i think i like lea best. she actually sounds happy at one point and kaho always sounds sad, even when she's supposed to be dreaming about marius
i'm so sorry Kaho.. but i like Lea Salonga's version the most! you can feel what she's feeling.. her deep love for Marius.. and btw.. it was played in opera house/theatre so normally the cast's voice must be theatrical/operatic. kaho's version is for movies only like in Disney.
Kaho effing OWNS this song as no one before! You can FEEL Eponine's yearning and anguish---and she had to learn ENGLISH to DO this!!!! Kaho Shimada IS Eponine. Forever and a day.
i do not care for frances, she sings like a dead rat, but i think thats her sad voice, which is y peepzlike her, but i disagree, lea salonga's ok. but Kaho shimada ia and always will be the best!
ok no offense to Frances but, dead rat LOL. I like Frances though, but it sounds to weak when she sings it. I thought the charactor was supposed to be strong, and I don't like it when they make her sound like she's wallowing in self pity
she couldn't speak a word of english apparantly while doing this recording but cameron mackintosh loved her and she had lessons where she learnt sounds to the songs and put them together. incredible.
Eponine is a street urchin; she shouldn't e-NUN-ciate or pro-NOUNCE every syllable as if she's performing operatically as SOME unmentioned Ep's do(ahem Lea!) Bravo for this upload! And Bravo to all who agree she's the best Ep ever!
My all time favourite version of Eponine. With the slightest comparison (album) towards the climax part of the word "Pre-TEN-ding", I somehow prefer Miss Shimada's version a whole lot better, she hits most of the high notes effortless-ly... Way to go!!!
Yay, finally found the version I was looking for. We had to answer a guestion about this song in a music test... And I almost started crying in the classroom -__-' This Eponine is great! =D
If ever there is somebody to rival Frances Ruffelle as the best Eponine ever, I personally believe it to be Kaho Shimada. I'm surprised Frances is compared to other Eponines out there but never to Kaho Shimada. I love Shimada's version better than the infamous depiction by Lea Salonga.
I am very impressed by Miss Shimada. Reading up on her, she apparently learned this song by sound - she doesn't speak any english. She does very well!! Though I still believe Lea Salonga to be the most impressive Eponine. Though I now have a hearty respect for Miss Shimada.
Do you know what's odd? Eponine has never been my favourite character in the book nor musical,I like her book character, but usually,to be honest, I find myself generally uninterested with her musical counterpoint. Yet I absolutely love Kaho Shimada's Eponine. And that's really saying something. :D
By far the best version, in my utterly biased opinion. <3
tirsden 2 weeks ago
When i'm just trying to envision the face of the singer by just listening to the voice. I thought Kaho's voice depicts a voice of a singing-hobbit. I don't see or feel what u guys feel. I listen first to the voice without looking at the face of the singer. Lea Salonga is the best eponine ever to walk on this earth. Lea has lungs of steel, better vocal tone, better diction, amazing vibrato & technique, better range high & low notes. Kaho tho sounds similar to Frances. Kinda on the weaker side.
sxybachottie 1 month ago
I thought this is pop version of "on my own". She kinda have britney spearish vibe in her vocal tone and funny vibratto. I actually laughed the first time.
ReighofLight 1 month ago
My heart breaks whenever I hear this. -3
RachelHumpy 2 months ago
Wow....so full of emotion...she's amazing!
LuvCatz905 3 months ago
I like this version better than the versions done by the more famous Les Mis Eponines because of the pacing and the pronunciations of words throughout the song. The others seem to be in a bit of a rush on certain lines and it some how grates on me. The pacing on this version seems absolutely perfect.
crucisnh 4 months ago
Considering she learnt English for this cast recording, she absolutely nails the song. It absolutley blows me away everytime I here this version.
leedscab123 6 months ago
The way she goes up on "All my life I've only been pretending" isnt whats written in the score. And its fucking brilliant XD
derelikt1234 7 months ago
needless to say, her phrasing and the emotion that seeps through is amazing, but so is her pronunciation. It makes sense though. I've found most great singers, though not necessarily fluent, have a more accurate pronunciation than the average foreign speaker due to being so accutely aware of sounds, which just goes to show how talented Kaho is.
BeccaWei25331 8 months ago
@BeccaWei25331 *acutely
BeccaWei25331 8 months ago
amazing... one of the best versions by far of this piece
bharwini 11 months ago
This is and always will be my favourite version of this song.
MewPassionAngel 1 year ago
This is amazing. She manages to put emotion into the song even though she learned the whole thing phonetically.
Abbytater 1 year ago
she learned this whole song phanetically. She is japanese, and so she just listented to american version and repeated what she heard, so actually she has no idea what she is saying which is amazing! cause she has beautiful emotional articulation
bigtheatrelover123 1 year ago
I totally agree with the quintillion people that say she's like a really good halfway point between Lea and Frances. I found this recording on tape casette in my mom's car. Happy moment for me!
RaneDuPre 1 year ago 5
Someone out there has no soul. This is fantastic!
ShadowPoet174 1 year ago
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tumtillia 1 year ago
sounds similar to frances rufelle's
Mridontknowyourname 1 year ago 2
Amazing that she learned English just for this recording.
disgrl4 1 year ago 21
i love this version the best
eugeniebell 1 year ago 3
Oh wow. This is fantastic. I just heard this on Pandora radio and was blown away. She may be my favorite Eponine. I thought Frances had the right tone but not enough control, and the opposite with Lea. Kaho has just the right mix of fragility and control.
sailorknightwing 1 year ago 3
I love both versions from Kaho and Lea...to different styles...but both sing this song beautifully.
rommelandlori8179 2 years ago 4
I grew up listening to this version. I've never found anyone else to do the song as much justice as she does.
The fact that she couldn't even speak English speaks for itself, I think.
Frances's voice was too...whiny? I'm not sure if that's the right word, and Lea's was too forceful. This is a nice medium. She sounds melancholy, but is happy when she's supposed to.
She's beautiful in "A Heart Full of Love," too.
My favorite Eponine, by far.
armsfarther 2 years ago 6
i can't believe she doesn't speak english at all! This is amazing...
freya38 2 years ago 3
I've always loved Kaho's version...even more so when I learned that she didn't know how to speak a lick of English, and only learned the song phonetically for the part. Very impressive considering the depth of emotion from this piece.
javawinq 2 years ago
I love Frances Ruffelle the best, because I grew up listening to her beautifully fragile voice, but Kaho has a gorgeous wistfullness to her rendition, too. I like them both.
I don't particularly like Lea Salonga's version, because though she's a strong singer and hits all the notes, her "perfection" sort of destroys Eponine's character in my mind.
mclaquarius94 2 years ago
@mclaquarius94 I whole-heartedly agree!
collectingbees 1 year ago
@mclaquarius94 "I don't particularly like Lea Salonga's version, because though she's a strong singer and hits all the notes, " any artist should attain perfection in their craft... hope you know what you're talking about,, and beside ,, no good singer would ever likely to be out of tune...they're not stupid..
chrisasprec3682 1 year ago
she never sounds happy. i like her version, but that's the reason i think i like lea best. she actually sounds happy at one point and kaho always sounds sad, even when she's supposed to be dreaming about marius
cheesydots 2 years ago
i'm so sorry Kaho.. but i like Lea Salonga's version the most! you can feel what she's feeling.. her deep love for Marius.. and btw.. it was played in opera house/theatre so normally the cast's voice must be theatrical/operatic. kaho's version is for movies only like in Disney.
drstellayee 2 years ago
very much like francess Rufelle
ivan2jong 2 years ago
one of my life goals is to perform this song as well as her at my recital or an audition...
Dianamoon737 2 years ago
now ths is the perfect eponine. like frances rufelle she has that crying yearning whining tone in her voice. which equals. Epopnine.
SpringAwakening93 2 years ago 2
I saw her Eponine 4 times in Japan. Why I went to see LM that much? It is because of her. She is the best Eponine.
English virsion is awesome too. LOVE IT!!
djcurt25 2 years ago 6
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djcurt25 2 years ago
Not a patch on Francess Ruffelle whose version is absolutely bursting with emotion and passion.
Just my opinion mind.
wallsy2010 2 years ago
I would SO totally go to war for this woman....
emeraldislegod 2 years ago 5
...AND, all other Ep's sing like they're in an opera house...Kaho sings like a REAL woman.
emeraldislegod 2 years ago 5
Kaho effing OWNS this song as no one before! You can FEEL Eponine's yearning and anguish---and she had to learn ENGLISH to DO this!!!! Kaho Shimada IS Eponine. Forever and a day.
emeraldislegod 2 years ago 3
My goodness. She must be the Eponine I've ever heard. Her "quavering" vibrato and breathlessness adds so much to the character.
mel22x 2 years ago 30
this song always makes me cry
ilovetacos92 2 years ago
It's the greatest Eponine I thnik ^^
missetel 2 years ago
i do not care for frances, she sings like a dead rat, but i think thats her sad voice, which is y peepzlike her, but i disagree, lea salonga's ok. but Kaho shimada ia and always will be the best!
kabarr 2 years ago
ok no offense to Frances but, dead rat LOL. I like Frances though, but it sounds to weak when she sings it. I thought the charactor was supposed to be strong, and I don't like it when they make her sound like she's wallowing in self pity
CardinalWinter 2 years ago
she sounds so hopeless D': it makes me so sad.
RaWrZzZz 3 years ago
i love it!
shin2go 3 years ago 4
This is a weak version of On My Own, imo. I don't feel her emotion like with Frances or even Lea (whom I don't care for much).
bwahahachick 3 years ago
no offense, but this is far from weak. To me, this the best recorded version by far.
cjtiger300 2 years ago 4
I agree 100%
Eviande 2 years ago
My favourite rendition since the international cast recording came out - always will be:)
MisterSirKenny 3 years ago
she couldn't speak a word of english apparantly while doing this recording but cameron mackintosh loved her and she had lessons where she learnt sounds to the songs and put them together. incredible.
jackhurst85 3 years ago 4
Eponine is a street urchin; she shouldn't e-NUN-ciate or pro-NOUNCE every syllable as if she's performing operatically as SOME unmentioned Ep's do(ahem Lea!) Bravo for this upload! And Bravo to all who agree she's the best Ep ever!
emeraldislegod 3 years ago 5
My all time favourite version of Eponine. With the slightest comparison (album) towards the climax part of the word "Pre-TEN-ding", I somehow prefer Miss Shimada's version a whole lot better, she hits most of the high notes effortless-ly... Way to go!!!
jbblkh 3 years ago 4
That's beautiful! I can feel the sadness through the song. This is the best Eponine ever! she dosen't just sing, she actually acts sad.
Mshottie6 3 years ago
Yay, finally found the version I was looking for. We had to answer a guestion about this song in a music test... And I almost started crying in the classroom -__-' This Eponine is great! =D
TLKthing 3 years ago
If ever there is somebody to rival Frances Ruffelle as the best Eponine ever, I personally believe it to be Kaho Shimada. I'm surprised Frances is compared to other Eponines out there but never to Kaho Shimada. I love Shimada's version better than the infamous depiction by Lea Salonga.
CaptiveTemptation 3 years ago 2
I am very impressed by Miss Shimada. Reading up on her, she apparently learned this song by sound - she doesn't speak any english. She does very well!! Though I still believe Lea Salonga to be the most impressive Eponine. Though I now have a hearty respect for Miss Shimada.
AndehDulac 3 years ago
Do you know what's odd? Eponine has never been my favourite character in the book nor musical,I like her book character, but usually,to be honest, I find myself generally uninterested with her musical counterpoint. Yet I absolutely love Kaho Shimada's Eponine. And that's really saying something. :D
sweetdreams143 3 years ago
Her version made me fall in love with this song. : D
JDV79 3 years ago 4
Easily the best Eponine ever!
Unfortunate0024 3 years ago 3
Best Eponine ever!
MariaCaramela 3 years ago 2
i... looked... forevr to find this version...
SHE IS MY FAVORITE EPONINE...period...
i love her voice so much!
kimmieheartu 3 years ago 5
i think this is the best sung 'on my own'... so much emotion into those words... it just grabs your heart.
MMP842 3 years ago 2
Omg I've been an Eponine fan for 10 years and I didn't know this voice was Japanese! I'm SO proud of her (I'm Japanese too).
OolittlepandagirloO 3 years ago 3
are you sure this is her? lol It sounds too good of an american accent.
Awesome either way though!
anasta2d 3 years ago 2
It's definately her. =)
Cookai11 3 years ago
Yes it's her ^^
missetel 2 years ago
ive been looking for this version for awhile cheers for posting i like lea but i think kaho sings it with more passion
mikeburtyboy 3 years ago 2
She's just as fabulous in English as she is in her native language!
JigokuKitty 3 years ago 4
Agreed! I can relate to this so much.
LinnhesSantaFe 3 years ago 5
I've got this version I love it! It's good. I love the way she het's that note on 'pretending'.
Cookai11 3 years ago 4
DITTO!!! How about "the world is full of happines that I have never KNOWN!"
emeraldislegod 2 years ago