RENT (1996 OBC Recording) - "Light My Candle"

[Proteus74]

I'm not interested in the comparisons. I'm not even that big a fan of the show. This song is so beautifully realized by all who've sung it---no disrespect to any performer, but finally a testament to the beautiful writing that brought it into being.

[sighcantthinkofaname]

I personally prefer Rosario. People are saying it's weaker, and I see that, I just get a more... flirty vibe from her.

[jacobdbmusic]

@ Wellimtierd I saw the Broadway Across America with Adam Pascal a while back, and I have to agree that on-stage Roger is rougher than the on-screen one. The musical doesn't have to appeal to an extremely large audience, but the movie definitely did. I also felt like the on-stage musical had a different feel all around. It was edgier in many moments, and portrayed the harshness of the issue. It made the final message better in the end.

[VidWatcher45673]

Personally, I prefer Daphne to Rosario. Daphne's rough, scratchy, hard rock voice, to me, contributes to the rough character Mimi is, and I think it helps makes Daphne believable.

[HopeLovePeace1234]

Daphne is THE Mimi. I love Rosario and Renne and Tamyra...but Daphne is the orginal Mimi, and she is the person i feel is the best potrayal of her. Daphne plays Mimi as the junky whore who knows a thing or too about life.rosario plays Mimi the same way, but a lot more innocent and Naive. Daphne is amazing <3

[MDkid1]

lol we had a power outtage today..and I said..we could light my candle! :)

[MDkid1]

Can't say that RENT is one of my fav musicals, but I do like certain songs! Like this one!

[moondust99999]

i know it's kind of a weird way to determine good singers, but for me, i think that if singers can successfully use/have vibrato while they're singing, then they at least pretty good, and although rosario's voice is smoother, she never uses vibrato. also, daphne has really grown on me, too.

[pageturner95]

3 people got burned by the candle

[jenorganizer]

prefer daphne



[MrRamen94]

At first I was all like: Rosario is soo much better.

And then Daphne began to creep into my mind and now I'm a Daphne junkie.

[percyjacksonfan13]

Daphne has a bad voice... no offence to all y'all Daphne lovers... But when i think about Mimi i thing more of Rosario's interpretation... as in defiant yet weak and more people use Rosario as a basis for their Mimi instead of Daphne

[msbonjovi101]

ewwwwwww i hate the way dephne sounds she sounds like a dieing cat i need rosarios sweet voice!!! she sounds horrible when she says i like it ewwwwww she makes my head hurt

[Wellimtierd]

jacobdbmusic, I understand exactly what your talking about. But Adam played Rodger a lot softer (in a sense) in the movie then on broadway. So maybe the director wanted them to tone it down a little. I don't know for sure but thats my idea of it.

[SuperGilfte]

Am I the only one who likes Daphne's voice more than Rosario.

[osahju914]

@SuperGilfte daphne's voice has more character to it, that's for sure.

[darklordmacavity]

The eternal struggle between Daphne and Rosaria...

[Javjean]

@darklordmacavity

I like Rosario better. I'm quiet shocked by the OBC Mimi. I was accustomed to the ultra-sleek sexiness of Rosario and I just don't see the comparison, just from a novice's perspective. Honestly, the OBC Mimi kinda annoys me. Does that make me an idiot or what?

[darklordmacavity]

@Javjean No, of course it doesn't make you an idiot. It's just a matter of preference. It's only so important to me; I prefer whoever happens to be singing in the version I happen to be listening to on any given day.

[darklordmacavity]

@Javjean Also, I love your name.

[Javjean]

@darklordmacavity

Thanks :D, I couldn't decide between Valjean or Javert, so I chose both. 

[gleekchic7]

Daphne's voice is far more unique than Rosaria's, and I think she's perfect to play the tough stripper junkie. Rosaria has a lovely voice, but she doesn't have the toughness that Daphne owns.

[MyUnspokenVoice]

@gleekchic7

I agree, but I think Mimi's supposed to seem innocent in a way; you know? She's still a little girl in a way, but she's not.... Hope that makes some sense

[ridderres]

@gleekchic7 Which might be why other people prefer Rosaria. I like both, but I felt like Rosaria fitted better into the movie, which delivered a more... polished picture of Mimi.

[zoeybrat95]

Adam's voice is SEXY! Love him! Well, Anthony too, but Anthony's not in this song...

[thewiz4]

is that adam pascal? 

[laur1813laur]

@thewiz4 yes it is...the only people they switched out when rent came back as a film were joann and mimi (mimi was originally Daphne Rubin-Vega switched out for Rosario Dawson....and joann was originally Fredi Walker switched out for Tracie Thoms) and then they ruined it all by switching out the whole original cast in 2008 except for tracie, but i like the cast from the 2005 film the best for sure

[thewiz4]

@laur1813laur I agree the movie cast was the best! i don't like any of the the Mimis!

[beautifulpassion]

@thewiz4 Oh yes.

[Kuroneko822]

This version is SOOOO GOOD. The movie epic failed this song. Roger sounds like his voice got squeaky and died out over the years.

[beautifulpassion]

@Kuroneko822 Or not.

[neene7]

are u guys serious... you think that rosario is a better singer? rosario sounded like she struggled thru the part so they had to change some of the notes to fit her.... but whatever if you think so... i don't think that rosario could have been on broad way... now i'm not saying she's the worse singer but ... she doesnt' have the range that daphne has...

[msRluvsU]

@neene7

I feel that way too, except about Daphne. And no, she probably couldn't have been on Broadway, but that's why she wasn't.

[mazzie8587]

Both Daphne and Rosario are great. I personally prefer Daphne in this song but Rosario in "Out tonight"

[JKrowlingrockx]

"What?" "You're staring again." "Oh no. I mean, you do have a nice...I mean!" This line always cracks me up.

[TechnicolorYear]

@JKrowlingrockx LOL Roger always looks so vulnerable when he says it XD It's so cute.

[JKrowlingrockx]

@TechnicolorYear I like the way Roger says it in the movie. You can totally hear what he's thinking right then. like "Oh man! Did I really just say that!?" XD LOL

[TechnicolorYear]

@JKrowlingrockx I knowww it's great. Like, "oh God...I'm an idiot...but you look familiar!" XD

[fancypantsedhipster]

I think Rosario was the PERFECT Mimi. Her voice was smooth and also a little rough. It was a nice contrast from Roger's deep, raspy voice. I like Rosario, the too-skinny, innocent, yet daring hispanic-looking junkie. She was perfect. It's hard for me to say this, cause Daphne CREATED Mimi, you know?

[RaneDuPre]

This voice kinda suits Mimi but the Rosario one does too...funny enough when I'm reading something about Rent the Mimi voice in my head is Daphne when she talks, but Rosario when she sings.

The REAL reason I like the movie version better than this is Roger. His voice is higher and whinier in the movie, and I like that for some reason.

[BroadwayBeauty30]

I cant stand Daphnes voice i just cant i try cause she was in the obc but noo

[joshwmiltonman]

@BroadwayBeauty30 and yet she's still a million times better than vanessa hudgens!

[BroadwayBeauty30]

@joshwmiltonman Hell to the YES!!!

[rentliveson4life]

i like daphne becasue her voice is sooooooooooo good and when she sings out tonight wow i lover her voice

[Crystallinetenor]

@rentliveson4life true that, Out Tonight as performed by Daphne is very powerful

[angelrileigh]

I think Rosario was one of the only Mimi's who actually seemed nineteen.

[lovely0995]

Daphne did have an awkward voice but I learned to love it. Johnathan Larson loved it, her picked her and now everytime I see a production of RENT or the movie or the 2008 broadway, I immediately compare the Mimi to Daphne as with Maureen to Idina and Benny to Taye Diggs and so on.

[Sara357]

@lovely0995 YEAH I didn't like Daphne's voice either at first but after seeing Rent Live I Listened to the original and fell in love with it even Daphne's voice =P

[propogandalf]

Daphne is THE best Mimi

[iamtheicekid]

@propogandalf she's good, but...I kind of found her very different that any portrayal I've seen of this character. it wasnt bad...but it wasn exactly as sexy, and even a little sarcastic.

[iamtheicekid]

to myself- nvm Im thinking of the Mimi in the 2008 tour.

I don't like Daphne too much because I'm not a huge fan of her voice.

Shoot me if you want, because I know people who will disagree with me completely...but i actually REALLY liked Rosario Dawson. i thought she was the best BY FAR.

[Anymajordude5]

I like the way she says "No!" at 1:27

[kdog385]

I LOVE THE WAY DAPHNE SAIDS CANDLE!!!! THE BEST EVER!!!! besides that though, i perfer the movie soundtrack version

[chelseaarocks]

<3333333

[trueman5432]

the origional mark and rodger are doing rent in san francisco in october, im soooo excited i cant wait to go!!!

[SamNielsen123]

they were here in seattle in june! i went with my best friend. its worth it trust me! that was the best night of my life!! truly amazing!

[rebeccawesome]

jfiwehfuiebwiuf; nweipu! Seriously! I will pay ANYTHING.

[Harlequindoll13]

Oh my god I didn't know! Thank you soo much I really want to go!!!

[Mariah1250]

I was going to see them in Portland, had tickets and everything, but came down with the flu like five hours before and couldn't get out of bed... wanted to go anyway lol

[stormsheart]

i feel bad now. i'm sorry you were sick. it was a great show. did you at least get your money back?

[godluven44]

why would they get their money back? they were sick....

[stormsheart]

@godluven44 because they could not go so a refund

[fullmetalx91]

That sucks majorly. I wound up coming down with a flu the day before going to see West Side Story, went anyway, and passed out after the intermission. D:

[Mariah1250]

haha that's pretty epic =)

[twilightfan6897]

I agree. The first few times I heard Daphne sing I didn't like her voice, but now I love it.

[jaypawhollypawcatz]

i disagreee, i think rosario dawson is better. but thats just one girls opinion. i think their both pretty good. :D

[lscully3]

Mmm I agree. They are both good but I prefer Rosario Dawson.

[Harlequindoll13]

I agree, I love Rosario and I sing just like her, but I still like Daphne for the sake of classics. She's not bad... just not great either. Still, lots of emotion to her voice.

[noxdayxbutxtoday]

i love this version over the movie's! just the instrumental is so fun and playful! as for rosario v.s. daphne i like both of them. everybody plays mimi differently and i think both their performances are amazing.

[ViperChick87]

i prefered rosario's voice. IDK to me it just matches the role a little better. Just my opinion.

[noxdayxbutxtoday]

wen i first saw rent it was the movie version. from there i LOVED it so i got the obc rent cd. and i really didnt like daphne's voice. i thought it was kinda annoying. but i grew 2 like it. but i know what u mean. wen i first heard daphne's voice i was like what?!

[ViperChick87]

In the movie was it prety much the same people that preformed it in the broadway cast or did they do alot of major changes to the cast?

[noxdayxbutxtoday]

they only changed 2 people from the main cast. rosario dawson was mimi instead of daphne rubin-vega and tracy thoms was joanne instead of fredi walker. everyone else in the main cast of the movie is the original broadway cast. =]

[ImaRawrr]

It was the same main cast, Benny, Collins, Angle, Maureen, Roger, Mark are all the same they only changed Mimi and Joanne, but the girls who did them were amazing Rosario lived the life of Mimi while Tracie was a huge Renthead.

So it's all good, they don't ruin it. It's awesome when they capture little moments in between the cast who have been together for so long they have great chemistry on screen.

[AriaSkye42]

I was listening to this on my iPod, and my friend asked what I was listening to at the beginning, and I held up my finger, and he just looked at me, waiting, and then I started singing along, "What are you staring at?" Good times. So that's my little story for the day.

[honeymae1616]

I love this song. Both versions are fantastic. I like them both equally and both Daphne and Rosario's voices go well with his which when in new casting works you want someone that fits well with the original.

[jacobdbmusic]

I personally prefer Rosario to Daphne. I love both. But I feel that Rosario is a better singer. However, Daphne was chosen originally, which means that Mimi was originally meant to be a more rough than Rosario played her. Rosario plays Mimi as a weaker character, and Mimi seems to be stronger at heart than Rosario plays her as.

[ChapperIce]

I dunno who's who unfortunately, but this one I like the voice better. I like the...raspy (not really raspy but..you know) kind of sound she has when she sings.

They both do a great job, and I like both singers equally C:

[musicismylife916]

@jacobdbmusic Adreed =)) I think that Rosario sings better. But I think Daphne sang Mimi as Mimi would sound if she was on drugs and stuff, like raspy.

[MDkid1]

@jacobdbmusic I liked Rosario's portrayal of the "sweeter" Mimi...but I do like this girls voice....more rough, ya.

[rangerns]

@jacobdbmusic Actually it means Rosario was still in elementary school

[tarabuletara]

I think Daphne's the perfect Mimi over all but I do think that Rosario is a better singer. But that's just one girls opinion

[jazzylaydi]

@tarabuletara - has anyone seen Rosario perform live on stage? It's quite different than in a movie studio where everything can be digitally enhanced. No disrespect as I really enjoyed Rosario's Mimi in the film - I just don't think there can be a true "apples to apples" comparison unless it's in the same environment.

[laur1813laur]

@tarabuletara and apparently 30 other peoples opinions too

[MyUnspokenVoice]

@tarabuletara

Well, I just think it's a different style. Personally, I like the softer sounding Mimi. "You look like you're sixteen" makes me think she's supposed to seem a little innocent

[heavenlylifestyle]

@MyUnspokenVoice I agree with you about the softer sounding Mimi, but remember her rebuttal to that line? "I'm nineteen, but I'm old for my age."

[MyUnspokenVoice]

@tarabuletara

Well, I just think it's a different style. Personally, I like the softer sounding Mimi. "You look like you're sixteen" makes me think she's supposed to seem a little innocent. She still has a good voice. Different directors, different ideas

[Parisxtc711]

well I certainly do npt agree I have always loved this singer's version of light my candle BEST .... it id the original and her voice is wonderful .......

[rentrapp]

i love daphne's voice. jonathon chose her which means HE obviously wanted a rougher mimi. i love rosario, don't get me wrong. she was perfect for the movie version. movie audiences would respond better to a sweet voice than a rough one. but jonathon chose her properly and she will always be my favorite mimi of all time.

[cherryblossom141]

well, exactly. the character changes depending on who portrays it; it's no matter of whether rosario or daphne did it better -- like you said, if you want a sweet mimi, rosario hit the mark perfectly, but if you want a rougher mimi, daphne will be your favorite. i think both of them are good for different reasons.

[hAwAiiAnSuNsEt101]

omg, i cannot stand her voice. at all. i am really sorry!!! i REALLY want to love her, as she was part of the obc, i just CANT!! i like rosario so much better!! rosario was made for the role!! =)

[bobbikat]

I totally agree with you. I think that Rosario's voice is so much more pretty, I can't get used to this one.

[pinkmst]

I 2nd that

[rentwickedchick]

did you see the movie first?

[KitsuneMinto]

Whether they saw the movie first or not is at the crux of the matter. 99% of people who saw the movie first are going to prefer Rosario's sweet voice as opposed to Daphe's rough one. Truth is, sweetness has no place in a world full of drug addicts and HIV+ people.

[rentwickedchick]

THANK YOU!

[hAwAiiAnSuNsEt101]

yes, i did. but i definitely prefer the musical over the movie now that i've seen both.

[rentwickedchick]

thats exactly how i feel! my friends think im crazy- i tell them that they need to give the play (rock opera, really, but, anyways...) a chance and that just b/c (gasp!)santa fe isnt on a train, or whatever, its still better- there's way more music and different instrumentals.

[iloveanthonyrapp]

I know!!! I love the play...i Loved it when I saw the movie then I saw the play and that brought me to a new obsession!! I used to like reosario more but now i love daphene but like still kinda like rosario's. btw daphene soundsa amazing!!

[tarabuletara]

This is my favorite song in the whole show except for la vie boheme.

[Scarves77]

I love Daphne's voice. It's just so amazingly...Mimi. She may not be an amzing singer but she is the Mimi. She just made an awesome Mimi. But her voice has always reminded me of caramel, it sounds weird, but her voice just sounds sticky. I know, randomly weird.

[sarahlauren2013]

lol

[bleedmefrominside]

Her voice has always reminded me of Marilyn Munroe for some reason. XD

[pinkplasticpants]

I like Daphne, but her voice in this song just annoys me. :/

[calliesaiyan]

i love this song, my friends and i always sing it to eachother. i like Rosario and Daphne, but like phantomdawg said, its apples and oranges to compare them, although i like Rosario's voice better.

[rory1494]

what some people dont know about "Light my candel" is that when Roger yells "What'd you forget! " ...he was thinking Mark was at the door and forgot something. (as said in the "RENT" book

[Hamppsta]

The music in the background. x3

It's like... tinsel. xDD -Twiiitches.-

I like Rosario&Daphne. Both. :3

[BroadwayBabeLMD]

These vids are great! simple but wat i need... im waiting for my copy of the broadway CD 2 cum in and im listening to these songs following along in my Rent book (the book is AMAZING!!) i LOVE Rent... seen it twiced (plus the movie 2 many times 2 count) and mite b cing it w/ anthony rapp and adam pascal in may! :D

i <3 Rent!!

[robinscute12345]

WHAT!!!

[BroadwayBabeLMD]

what what?

about anthony rapp and adam pascal? i wish i could see them... but i doubt ill be able to :(

[MCEProd22]

Rosario Dawson has more volitivity to her than Vega.

[rory1494]

shockingly..u have some truth...the thing is dat Rosario grew up in the east village..so her she had xperience to her acting..and it had soul....not like Daphne..but Daphnes voice is still good

[PhantomDawg594]

Heh.

Adam sounds a lot like Anthony when he says "Floor?"

[PhantomDawg594]

I wouldn't say better. It's different, that's the thing.

If it's comparing the OBC version of One Song Glory to the movie version, then that's the same, but since Rosario Dawson is Mimi in the movie, you can't really compare, because that's apples and oranges. True, I prefer Rosario Dawson to Daphne Rubin-Vega, but this is still a great song.

[Ophelia0123]

I love this song, it's so different from the movie version though. :D