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From: sa711kevin
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  • Michael Crawford IS the phantom.

  • Wonderful song and a wonderful singer. Mr Crawford, no one comes close.

  • He is still the best one to sing this. Nellie49

  • 56 people have no sense of musical awesomeness

  • @bubbaries right?  Their loss...

  • WHO THE FUCK DISLIKED THIS?

  • @JeffsGirlXxX raoul

  • The movie version spoils the seductive romance of the stage version for ever. But Michael Crawford's voice is the standard everyone judges Phantom from. Good call too. Gerry Butler was cast for the modern generation, more seductive and romantic than powerful, like Crawford's version. Both are amazing, but all have the beautiful and undisputed music of the genius ALWebber!

  • have always loved his version, watched the music video of him and Brightman on an old Andrew Lloyd Webber GOLD LaserDisc as a kid, still watch it once in a while (it still works)

  • so i watched a scene of the play where the woman sings send in the clowns..quite amazing. josh grobin was on the recomended videos..clicked it unknowingly he was singing phantom music..i was blown away. watched him sing music of the night...pretty good. found this video..........yeah!! idk what else to say besides ".........." chills covering my body, my mind opening up, my heart feeling free. amazing.

  • Michael Crawford's Phantom gives all women the orgasm......

  • @sunidak Not to mention eargasm :)

  • Although have seen the true original of Phantom of the Opera, back in the late 40's, it was not a musical and not as breath taking as this version and also the version with Gerard Butler, which i like just as much. The one I saw had Lon Chaney Jr. as the Phantom and it was much more frightening that the musical. I love music and am so glad to see it done this.

  • @scottislassie the one with Lon Chaney come out in 1925 bot the 40's

  • @ZodiacBryan Sorry, my mistake. The one I saw had Claude Raines in it and it was 1943 when the movie came out but I saw it a year or two later when I was about 11 or 12. It was very scary to me and not at all romantic like the modern version. Thank you for your correction.

  • Michael Crawford is THE PHANTOM!!! period..the one who sat the bar for the future"Phantom"....

  • How could there be any negative comments??? The man's voice is a gift to us!!! I get goosebumps when he sings!

  • @DukeCaleb Because trolls no longer live under bridges, but now live on the internet where they must shit all over everything regardless of its quality in an effort to make it match the ugliness of their vile souls.

  • i have seen him on stage 6 times now and no one els compaires to him. but its still funny hearing him sing and have a vision of hime in some mothers do have then lol

  • As far as I am concerned this is the ONLY version! Original is always better! Funny thing is I usually listen to rap, but I have been under the Phantoms spell for 20 years, since I was just a teen!!

  • You got it. And you will probably also agree it's not only the voice but the man that made the Phantom. xx

  • Crawford is known for his powerful voice. He chose not to blast this song out as it wouldn't have the effect he wanted; seductive, mesmerizing. That's the mistake many singers make; powering through this song, That's the easy way.

  • As we all know there is more to a song than the power of a voice. It's how it's used that creates the magic, don't you think?

    This is meant to be a seductive lullaby to Christine. I've heard many other renditions by other Phantoms and though their voices were very good and maybe even more powerful than Michael Crawford's, in my humble opinion no one has ever Lived in the meaning of this song like Michael Crawford. He gave Gaston Leroux's Phantom life and there will only be one.

  • @leighx Perfect description. I totally agree with you. Michael IS the Phantom!

  • this guy is good no doubt but gerald had alot more power behind his voice, it is clear gerald listened to michael over and over again he did his best to pay homage to him

  • @blueicees Michael Crawford has a more powerful voice than Gerard Butler but chooses to sing this softer as it is more in keeping with the meaning of the song.

  • @TristanandIsolt to each its own.....but thank you for your input, however, that was not what my comment was about.

  • I love this song! :)

  • @evtzaras1 That's Michael Crawford. Show some fucking respect.  You don't have to like it, but you have to show some respect to the original.

  • Gerard Butler did respectably, but he will never compare with the original. No one will ever compare with Michael Crawford as the Phantom.

  • @scoutramsay Yes, he has come a long way since he warbled his way through his songs in Hello Dolly.

  • I saw this for the first time live last week in Las Vegas. It was absolutely breathtaking.

  • Very nice performance and great music. :)

  • @quinnmcguee totally

  • His voice has captivated me since I was 6. It blows me away every time I hear it. Although some voices have been nice, I havent heard anything that even comes close since. Thank God I got to see this man preform.

  • I have this song and movie, but the only thing I have left to do is see the musical at the theator. I very much like the theater. The theater is a big part of our culture. Santa Fe and Northern New Mexico is very cultural, but Santa Fe is very international. I grew up in a beautiful city. This is on my list of things to do to see this musical. I will one day.

  • @TheAlinaLopez i saw it worth evey penny my date spent on the tickets

  • for my 21st birthday im going to see Phantom of the Opera in Las Vegas! Best birthday present ever! im so excited!

  • @jacci004 have a great time its a fantastic show.while you are there go and see a fantastic aussie group called human nature you wont be dissapointed enjoy your present

  • @jacci004

    have fun!! it is a wonderful production!!!!

    

  • If you want to hear where Lloyd Webber got this hit tune from, listen to Puccini's Fanciulla del West ! Great musical tho ....

  • too bad none of those people sing the part...

  • there's way better...

  • I love this song. I love Michael Crawford. This song made me happy all throughout middle school. I would, every day, 'close my eyes, and let my spirit start to soar.' and, one day, as I was singing the song, one of my classmates, who was normally undeniable critical of my looks, said to me; "Wow, you have an amazing voice." and the whole class ended up asking me to sing for them. Thank you Michael, for the best day, ever. <3

  • None can compare to him.

  • That chord at 6:07 is unexpected - and beautiful !!!

  • I sort of like the 2004 cast better than this. DON'T BLUDGEON ME TO DEATH PEOPLE IT'S MY OPINION.

  • @giraffasaurus17 Don't worry I'll just dislike you for it

    

  • Nice!

  • i thought that the part, "close your eyes let your spirit start to soar..." was going to be big and loud not in his falsetto.... that upset me... but he has an amazing voice either way i could never be that good

  • @kseniw13 that part isn't meant to be big and loud, izza delicate part :p

  • @ThePitchFinder lol well idc i still think it should be big... thats what i wouldve done but uk im no micheael crawford so uk........

  • some mothers do have them ... and some mothers create this... such a voice hes a man of many talents and in my youth i thought sooooo much less of this magnificent man

    Michael i bow before your talent :)

  • Michael Crawford is superb - But only Frank Spencer could go to do a plumbing job and end up as the phantom of the opera!

  • Applauds StevenAustralia....I agree one hundred percent. He has the voice of an angel. I could listen to him forever.

  • watched a programme on this ammazing man last night on Arts 1, absolutely brilliant makes the hair on the back of your neck stand on end

  • gotta love the original it can and never will be beat

  • Ok this is stupid argueing eveyone on this site has one thing in common, they like some version of the phantom so please if you dont care for this one shut your trap and go to a diffrent one.

  • uh, you chopped and screwed the song? what the hell was the point of this? people like you should kill themselves. this was a waste of the hairs in my ear ducts.

    one version should be on youtube, and that's the original.

    Thanks for coming out.

  • Michael Crawford can do anything

  • Love this! My personal favorite over Butler's version :D

  • I have unfortunatly never been able to see Micheal Crawford on stage as the Phantom where as i have seen the movie's phantom and the phantom playing in Vegas atm.. Neither could compare to Micheal... ever.

  • @MsTalicat I think those who did see Michael as the Phantom, such as myself, will never ever be satisfied with anyone else in the role. His Phantom was simply brilliant, and anyone else doesn't give the same feeling of wonderful satisfaction as he did.

  • i've had the priveledge to be in London for the original cast. Since then I've been to several Phantoms both in London and in New York, but so far there has never been any one like Michael Crawford. it's not so much that he has a great voice but he certainly has the feelings of the phantom himself. He sings with is heart and it seems that the music was written for him. I love him.

  • @58joana I agree with your opinion, as I too saw Crawford here in the US, and no one else has come up to his portrayal. Weren't we the lucky ones?!

  • I thought "wakes" was before "stirs".And does anyone knows what happened to the "helpless to resist the notes I write" at 0:28? Just saying.I like the KathyGeinLecter version better, but who am I to complain about MC?

  • @Lola9666 The final version of the song overall had different lyrics than that other version Michael Crawford had sang.

  • I think we can all agree that, though Gerald Butler is handsome and has a decent voice, he is no Michael Crawford. He can't do the vocals Michael can.

    In the original, the Phantom is discribed as hideous beneath the mask. That people got sick from looking at him.

    Gerald is handsome but he made the new Phantom more shallow.

    Michael will always top all other Phantom's; he played the part flawlessly and his voice defined the Phantom.

    So, while we can enjoy Geralds performance, Michael wins.

  • @Kaimaler I still prefer the dutch phantom, his voice hold more power. and that is what the phantom has.

    His voice is his power,

  • Most people prefer Gerard Butler just becuz of his looks... i mean yeah he was really hot and stuff but the point of the phantom of the opera is for the phantom to be ugly as fuck. And comparing Gerard Butler and Michael CRawfords voice? thers no competeition! MICHAEL CRAWFORD. yes i can understand everyone wants some hot mysterious guy but thats not the point of POTO.

  • When it comes to the Phantom, there is only one, Michael Crawford!

  • Gerard Butler did a fantactic job as the Phantom in the movie, but Michael Crawford is the Phantom. I wish i could have seen him in the role!

  • @swimmingtrumpets10 Yea but my girlfriend prefers Gerard Butler as the phantom and i also prefer him, even when he sings Music of the Night

  • @segerfan No one cares about your girlfriend's opinion. She's just moved by his looks, not his voice.

  • @simzproductionz Fuck u asshole. She loves his voice and if u say shit about my gf I SWEAR to god I will blow your brains out

  • @segerfan Youre girlfriend is most likely a big slut. Which is why she likes Gerard Butler

  • Please come find me and beat the shit out of me

  • @simzproductionz Here's a hint for you, STFU up about my gf you asshole, she loves how he sings, my gf finds Butler's voice calmer than this guy. SO STFU about my girlfriend's opinion.

  • @simzproductionz i like gerard too. hes not my favorite.but i like him.on behalf of segerfan,and his gf, and million of phangirls everywhere,in a fsmous man's words, "YOU WILL CURSE THE DAY"

  • Michael Crawford wasn't the first phantom I heard, but the first second I heard him sing as the Phantom I just instantly knew...THATS how the Phantom of the Opera should sound. No one could ever possibly top him....NEVER.

  • @101phantomphan Many people think that the first phantom someone hears will be their favorite. But you are one of a huge number of people who have said that after hearing, then seeing videos of Crawford, they changed their mind ;-)

  • This music will forever be kept within my head as I put the sound a little bit to high for my ears(as well as the surroundings)

  • People who prefer Butler do so because music isn't their first preference. But its mine. So Michael Crawford wins.

  • @febteeb Oh stfu, my girlfriend likes the Butler version and says it's alot better than this version. Plus her high school was one of the first high schools in Kansas to put on a performance of this show.

  • @segerfan AGAIN, YOUR LITTLE GIRLFRIEND IS WRONG!!!

  • @Dirschbag Oh stfu up and her high school is in Salina, Kansas u asshole and plus my gf is 18 years old

  • I just saw this on Broadway today with the new people and they were amazing

  • i do love this song

  • So orgasmic, his voice....<3

  • oh ar

  • i love this song soooooo much =)

  • I never got a chance to see Crawford, I did see another phantom live in Indy. A missed opportunity to see the best phantom of all time...Crawford.

  • @slymmfish Having seen Crawford a few times in this, and then seeing a couple others in the role later, I have to say he was by far the best. Then seeing even more from you tube on top of that, NO one can really come close to the stunning portrayal Crawford did. We were the luckiest ones to get to see the original creator of the Phantom, in this role he was born to play.

  • This is the dude from 300? No way! This is madness!

  • @Kohllikesnachos No this isn't that dude, this is Michael Crawford, the original Phantom. He created the role in London 1986, played the role in London, New York and Los Angeles till 1991 and he can actually sing. Not the movie dude, lol.

  • @Kohllikesnachos No,Gerard Butler is in the film version.He is ok but can't match this.

  • "It's over now, the music of the night !!"

  • This is one of my all time time favorite romanic songs , will shre with my partner one day

  • The one true Phantom no other will be able to do it because the bar is set too high

    unless maybe Josh Groban tries it lol

  • @MrBuch169169 I also remember him from "some mothers" lol can imagine him singing this on roller skates. he he

  • i love his voice only i wish it were deeper

  • @suerafuls this is sung in the key it's supposed to be. All the Phantoms sing it in this key. It was written that way by ALW. Even the person in the film attempted it in this very same key.

  • @thephantom1946 i dont mean in a different key the key is perfect its his voice that should be a little more mysterious in my opinion

  • @suerafuls I understand your comment but I believe you get this impression only because listening to this song without the surrounding musical gives a very different effect. The phantom as we think of him is mysterious because he is in someways evil and misunderstood but also very alluring. This is a moment of the latter. Therefore in context I believe this might seem less out of place to you.

  • @sutorokokoro That makes sense, you're probably right.

  • Michael Crawford is the Phantom. There is no subsitute, no understudy, no alternative. That man is a god.

  • @StevenAustralia he was a comedian before too...

  • @StevenAustralia hugh panaro makes a good phantom too. he is playing at the Majestic in NYC.

  • @sks77845 Panaro's the best, nuff said

  • @TheEDBShow HUGH PANARO! <3 That man had me literally melting in my seat. :D

  • @carihigs I was literally crying at the all i ask of you reprise

  • @TheEDBShow Oh, same here! And his Music of the Night...*drools*

  • @StevenAustralia cough cough gerards better cough cough

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  • @Ikswotnerkop WHAT!?!?

  • @Ikswotnerkop No he isn't. If you like him so much better, then go watch the movie clips.

  • @StevenAustralia I agree, but then what do you do with Anthony Warlow? He also is beyond magnificent. 

  • @StevenAustralia agreed.

  • @StevenAustralia Yep. He is the best Phantom ever. Ramin Karimloo second. Howard McGillin third. Gerard Butler fourth.

  • I have seen phantom four times in london. cant argue with that,

    I have seen michael crawford in the woman in white he played the part of count fosco brilliantly

  • 48 people need to get a life.

  • its sad that we cannot accect other peoples feelings even on something as great and as beatiful as this song.If we need to drop into insults we had lost the argument and are blinded to beaty itself.It like Television,If you don't like something just press the button and find something you do like,theres over 50bn channels on this system.

  • I saw this just a few hours ago, it was my second time going to Broadway, but it was such an excelent performance-and this is comming from a 14 year old. You're never too young<3

  • @JKRossin This show was literally the first cd I owned as a kid. I grew up with this music. I think it just makes you about a million times better to start young, hahaha. :D

  • @JKRossin I just had to reply to your comment. It's delightful to know young people appreciate this amazing show. When I saw it in July, I was amazed to see so many teenagers in the audience. They had seen the film and afterwards when I asked them how the two compared, they said the stage version blew them away. The is hope for the next generation! LOL

  • The poster below is just a troll prowling MC's videos making nasty comments to stir people up to get their kicks. Pay no attention to these musically challenged people. We all know better..:-)

  • @thephantom1946 What!? A troll!? Musically challenged!?!?!?!? You're hurting my wee little feelings :'(

  • @thephantom1946 wiser words have never been spoken my friend, this troll is mislearned in the role of the phantom, i know one of the actors who plays christine in the west end version of phantom, and she told me that the phantomcan't be too handsome otherwise he'll never get the part

  • @tmccak you're so correct. I have my connections also, and of course the fact ALW regretted the casting of the film, too late. The filmgoers are almost clueless as to how the Phantom story is supposed to be, and that the Phantom actually has to be able to sing with the "voice of an angel".

  • @lolhowdoishotweblol Um, newflash, the Phantom is meant to be fuck ugly, have u even seen the West End production of this musical, they dont choose the role because u have a gorgeous image, Gerard Butler was a bit TOO handsome to be Erik

  • @tmccak damn right! 

  • @tmccak Amen to that! And they didn't make his face wrong enough. D<

    

  • @tmccak i agree with your point, crawford did a great job. I did enjoy butler a lot. i thought his voice was lower and more powerful. either way you can't lose with phantom of the opera.

  • @tmccak Yeah! Nobody understands that he was supposed to be disfigured cause they saw the gerard butler version, and that makes them want Christine to have the Phantom.

  • @tmccak He Just wasn't cut out to be Phantom. He didn't have the proper singing ability. I mean, yes, he could sing, but there was a lot of times where he was totally offkey.

  • Beautiful.

  • ..EXCELLENT.

  • Magnificent

  • This version and the movie are my favorites, they both do it right. Too many actors make this song too forceful or rough sounding. It should be soft and smooth as silk, coercing and seductive. It should make a woman want to fall into the singer's arms and give in to him completely.

  • 3:22-4:04 sounds like he's trying get it on in bed with christine

    lol i love this song

  • At least learn to spell, it undercuts everything you say. the word is ''rebutted" and I know more than you can ever hope to. I don't want to tell about conversations that were not for public consumption, not at all false info, these are not written and you don't have to believe it, but I know what went on behind the public facade. So no offense, just don't believe all you want, OK? Yes, ignorance which is understandable. These things all went on, and none of your indignant posts change it.

  • @thephantom1946 lol thank you for the vocabulary lesson. It still doesn't save the fact that you are hiding behind your "personal conversations". Don't argue a fact if you can't prove it. So are you saying that he publicly lied about loving a terrible movie (as you would call it I'm assuming) and backing it up for what reason? There is none. But yet he publicly said he despised the 2000 JSC and wish it was never put onto tv. He honors one, but despises another? Doesn't add up.

  • @thephantom1946 I'm not going to argue anymore and I am sorry for the personal attacks/name callings, but I hope you do understand my points. We can leave it at this, or you can get in the last word. That's that.

  • As I said the people that count changed their mind and regretted the whole thing. I personally KNOW it. What's released for public consumption is usually not the truth. I don't need to bother. The film still was a flop. Have a nice day.

  • The Phantom had to be a good singer as well as actor, that's why the film was panned by the critics They were hoping for Crawford too. Those critics were the same ones who praised Crawford to the skies. The film was mercilessly torn apart by the critics. Since the film was a worldwide dud, it just faded away.

  • @thephantom1946 Oh and a worldwide dud? That's definitely not a fact. It was loved in many other countries. Germany gave it great reviews. Take note they didn't hear Gerry singing. They had Uwe Kroger and Jana Werner overdubbing the whole time as Phantom/Christine. And it was hugely popular in other countries because they had familiar voices overdubbing. Note that this is one of Gerry's first breakthrough films and Emmy's and also Patrick's. Hugh Jackman was the original choice for the Phantom

  • @PotO2004Phantom to all your comments, you're the one who is clueless. Yours is incorrect. Mine is correct. It's amazing how wrong your info is. I have so much first hand, yes first hand info plus published, it would be way too much to even bother to post. ALW STILL regrets the "younger appeal" decision and tried to change it, but too late. The film was a worldwide dud. Because some always like a film doesn't change the facts and figures. Enjoy!

  • LOL. This is where you're clueless. Younger appeal? Most of the phantoms on stage ranged from 30-40 just as Gerry did. Please prove to me all these 'facts' that you have. Sir Webber (stated you can look this up) "We needed somebody who has a bit of rock and roll sensibility in him; He's got to be a bit rough, a bit dangerous; not a conventional singer. Christine is attracted to the Phantom because he's the right side of danger." And followed stating: (cont)

  • @thephantom1946 "We didn't want a stage actor to bring the stage to the big screen. It's not the purpose of the movie to directly bring the stage to the movie. We're starting fresh."

    AFTER THE MOVIE WAS RELEASED

    "Despite criticism I enjoyed the movie, I thought Schumacher went in the right direction with the film. We casted appropriately and accomplished exactly what we set out to do."

    And even if critics hated it, it still grossed 3x's it's budget. So who cares what they think.

  • @thephantom1946 Oh and please look up ratings of the movie in Germany, Italy, and France. You will find most praised the movie and in Germany it received many 7.5/10+s.

    Like I said, Webber seen the mistake he made with JCS2000 (which was horrible) and even for the 2010 remake he said the casting will NOT be of conventional big name stage singers.

    You are absolutely clueless. Congrats for looking like a total dumbass.

  • @PotO2004Phantom I'm not free to give my sources, I don't usually do name calling, but dumbass fits your real ignorant state which you cannot help, because you're not privy to the true story. The story you think you know makes you feel better, so again enjoy it! Ignorance really is bliss isn't it! It will never change the true story, So, end of this story.

  • You're not free to give your sources, meaning you have no sources. You are an idiot. It's a fact. You pull stuff out of your ass and say it's fact. Nobody changed there minds. You keep saying Webber changed his mind HE DIDN'T EVER SAY HE REGRETTED IT. You're making shit up. You really are an idiot. Show the "facts" or get the fuck out. You're an idiot. Unless you are Webber himself or a close friend you don't PERSONALLY know anything.

  • @PotO2004PhantomWhy in the world are you calling 1946 a dumbass--that's totally uncalled for. Appears that she might know MC and/or Webber--maybe we could all learn something really interesting from her. The GB film was very pretty and GB looked quite good in his tight outfits, lol. The singing just wasn't that good even though I really commend GB for trying.

  • @nditt I call them as I see them. He/she/it doesn't know MC or Webber and if they do they would most likely have much better things to do than go on youtube and argue on their behalf. That is a fact. And you say Gerry was a bad singer, he wasn't the best but he certainly wasn't the worst phantom out there.

  • @PotO2004Phantom Dang girl why are your tidies in a wad? And what is it that you see? I can't figure out how you would know for certain if ...1946 knew MC/ALW or not and why you and others take criticism of the movie so freakin' personally. Why is that? It's just a movie; very pretty costumes and sets and so forth, but the acting/singing, well, not so good. I hope you don't come completely unglued over that.