Les Mis vs. Sweeney

My point was, Since when did a happy ending make a musical good. I'm well aware of what Les Miz's book is. It really isn't that substantial in my opinion. I'm also a little confused about the note from another song from another show and the layers involved in Les miz. I'm not sure what you mean there. I mean I honestly don't think the book or score is as nearly thought out and intricate as Sweeney. I've listened to both. I've played through both. You also say there isn't a bad song in Les Miz. I guess it also depends on what you mean by Bad song. Are you talking composition, structure,prose or just songs that people generally like. They are very different standards of judging. I'm fraknly glad that Sondheim makes people think. That's a good thing. There's enough out there to merely entertain, but Sondheim makes you listen, think and you get entertained if you listen. I think being an audience memeber shouldn't be like TV. One should be actively involved with the production, which means thinking, feeling, and reacting.

I didn't mean that Sondheim made you think - I meant, I couldn't just listen to it.

It's late so I will try to explain my Les Mis comment.

I read a lot about Les Mis the show (not to mention the book). I don't remember the specifics, but the score of Les Mis has an underlying layer that is the same as other shows that came before Les mis.

For example, one song I can think of off the top of my head is In My Life. I don't remember the other song, but IML has a very subtle quality that is seen in other songs that has a similar theme as IML.

(sorry, this would be easier if I could remember the other songs...)

Now, this isn't stealing in the sense of Wildhorn or Webber...etc.

It is basically a musical allusion, if anything.

The thing that I love about Les Mis is you can listen to it to enjoy or to learn. For me, I can't listen to a Sondheim song to enjoy until I have already "learned." and by then, I have lost interest. (Sweeney being an exception)

As far as the book goes, it follows the story Victor Hugo wrote. There aren't any real plot holes in Les Mis. There really aren't that many untied ends (mainly because everyone dies).

Obviously liking shows and songs is a matter of personal taste (otherwise we wouldn't have this conversation...). I am speaking from myself and from the general public.

Not that this means anything, and perhaps this will hurt my point more than help it (in some ways), but there is a reason Les Mis has become so popular.

Yes, many shows are translated and open in other countries. How many shows can boast around 15 recordings....?

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