Les Mis ?: "All my life, I've only been PRETENDing..."

[CompletlyNakedStatue]

Les Mis ?: "All my life, I've only been PRETENDing..."#1

Posted: 12/24/06 at 9:42am

Rather specific question for Les Mis fans/experts...

In more recent years, it seems like Eponines (at least in American productions) have been a modified version of the phrase "All my life, I've only been pretending" (in "On My Own"). She sings "All my life I've" (all A's) "only been" (B naturals) "PRE-TEND" (belted D's) "ing!" (finally landing on the C.)

vs.

as it is written in the original score -- "pretending" is B natural up to a belted C.

Does anyone know when/where this trend originated? Which version do you prefer? Is it performed like this on the West End as well? How does Celia sing it in the revival?

I know it's kind of an odd, nit-picky question, but I was curious. Also, for any vocalists on this thread who perform this song, which route do you take and why? (Would like to hear from belters... I personally find the modified version feels nicer and more open.)

[Michael Bennett]

re: Les Mis ?: 'All my life, I've only been PRETENDing...'#2

Posted: 12/24/06 at 11:42am

I don't think the D is what was originally written. The only person I've ever heard do that optional up in performance is Linzi Hately. My guess is that she or some other Eponine early in the run began taking the option and was "corrected" by the composing team.

If they liked that option, clearly the D would have become standard practice in the song throughout the years....

[StephanietheStar]

re: Les Mis ?: 'All my life, I've only been PRETENDing...'#2

Posted: 12/24/06 at 11:45am

The first person I had ever heard do it, not necessarily THE first, was Sutton Foster in a recording of her from the 3 NT.

And I think it's HEAVEN when down right (like Sutton)...but I've heard amazing goosebump-inducing versions done both ways.

I also am wondering what Celia does...???

and all that I could do because of you was talk of love...

[ashley0139]

re: Les Mis ?: 'All my life, I've only been PRETENDing...'#3

Posted: 12/24/06 at 12:15pm

When I saw it on tour, I believe Ma-Anne Dionisio did do it. I like that way, if done well.

"This table, he is over one hundred years old. If I could, I would take an old gramophone needle and run it along the surface of the wood. To hear the music of the voices. All that was said." - Doug Wright, I Am My Own Wife

[StarStruckGB]

re: Les Mis ?: 'All my life, I've only been PRETENDing...'#4

Posted: 12/24/06 at 12:18pm

Well, I'm a big fan of how the girl on the CSR does it.
I can't find the packet right now & I don't remember her name.

Goshen doesn't do High-School-shows.

[B3TA07]

re: Les Mis ?: 'All my life, I've only been PRETENDing...'#5

Posted: 12/24/06 at 12:18pm

Kaho does it on the CSR like that, also. As that was my first cast of Les Mis, it's definetly my favorite way to hear it sung.

-Benjamin
--http://www.benjaminadgate.com/

[JustABroadwaybaby2]

re: Les Mis ?: 'All my life, I've only been PRETENDing...'#6

Posted: 12/24/06 at 12:31pm

Celia does it, and sounds quite amazing. After hearing her do that I was just like, whoa. Didn't know she could do that. I like it.

"I'm thinking about how if you took the W in answer, and the H in ghost, and the extra A in aardvark, and the T in listen, you could keep saying WHAT but no one would ever hear you because the whole word would be silent." Please support BC/EFA at goodsearch.com! Search for anything, and your charity will get a cent!

[SDav 10495]

re: Les Mis ?: 'All my life, I've only been PRETENDing...'#7

Posted: 12/24/06 at 1:04pm

Though this doesn't really bring us any closer to an origin (since we already know she wasn't the first), I'll add Diana Kaarina to the list...I'm pretty positive she went up to the D.

"If there is going to be a restoration fee, there should also be a Renaissance fee, a Middle Ages fee and a Dark Ages fee. Someone must have men in the back room making up names, euphemisms for profit." (Emanuel Azenberg)

[friedrichVT]

re: Les Mis ?: 'All my life, I've only been PRETENDing...'#8

Posted: 12/24/06 at 1:12pm

Megan Lawrence was the first to do it in the Broadway production,at least post 10nth anniversary. And one of,if not the finest Eponines I have ever seen.

[WellIfYouInsist]

re: Les Mis ?: 'All my life, I've only been PRETENDing...'#9

Posted: 12/24/06 at 1:24pm

It sucks when Celia does it.


No one wants her to do it.


I don't know why she bothers.


I added her brother on facebook.

[Unknown User]

re: Les Mis ?: 'All my life, I've only been PRETENDing...'#10

Posted: 12/24/06 at 1:41pm

I believe Melissa Lyons hit the D on tour.

In a local School Edition performance, the Eponine hit the D. She was amazing.

[Colle]

re: Les Mis ?: 'All my life, I've only been PRETENDing...'#11

Posted: 12/24/06 at 2:57pm

If done well, I like when Eponines do hit the D note, Kaho and Ma-Anne(who I believe did hit the D)sing it well.

[COOOOLkid]

re: Les Mis ?: 'All my life, I've only been PRETENDing...'#12

Posted: 12/24/06 at 3:43pm

I know all of the Japanese Eponines sing it with high D, as it just flows naturally with the accent (the word which she sings has accent on the part where she sings that high D), while in English, the word pretend has the accent over "tend", and it makes sense in the original key with B (pre), C (TEND), C (ing).

I saw Melissa Lyons (the last eponine on 3NT) do the high D, but I didn't like it. She basically made everything a staccato.


Recording-wise, Kaho is the first person to do it on the Complete Symphonic Cast Recording. I know that Kaho did it since the premier of Les Miserables in Japan (which was in 1987, by the way) so I think she was the first to start this trend.

"Hey, you! You're the worst thing to happen to musical theatre since Andrew Lloyd Webber!" -Family Guy

[AnythingCanHappen]

re: Les Mis ?: 'All my life, I've only been PRETENDing...'#13

Posted: 12/25/06 at 12:11am

i doubt he added you back though (in response to adding little Keenan-Bolger on facebook.)

I think it very much depends on the performer.

"Don't worry, it should never be seen. It's comparable to Britney's hoo-ha." - being.jeremiah in response to the High School Musical 2 logo "You look fantastic, all you need are high heels, cake and a dream." - Amneris