Miss Saigon-Her or Me OR Now That I've Seen Her

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 5:29pm

So I recently bought the Miss Saigon Cast Recording. I was very excited to listen to "Now That I've Seen Her" given that I adore Ruthie Henshall's recording of this song. However, in the CD there's a song performed by Claire Moore (Ellen) with the same music but some different lyrics titled "Her or Me." I know this is the London Cast Recording, so was the song changed for Broadway? Can anyone explain which song is usually performed in a Miss Saigon production?
Thanks.

[CaroleeFan]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 5:32pm

Every production I've seen uses the lyrics from the Ruthie recording.

[AspectsofLoveLover]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 5:41pm

nice to see another miss saigon fan here! The answer to your question is "Her or me" was performed in London and then changed to "Now that I've seen her". I just saw the US tour and the ellen sang "Now that I've seen her" hope I've answered your question. There is a great msn group for Miss saigon that answers alot of FAQ's its at:groups.msn.com/MissSaigon

[musicaltheater1]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 6:55pm

"I know this is the London Cast Recording, so was the song changed for Broadway? Can anyone explain which song is usually performed in a Miss Saigon production?"


Big fan of Saigon here...here's the info you need. There are 3 versions of Miss Saigon. The first version was played in London in 1989 where that song was "Her and Me" and the finale was called "Sacred Bird." Because the finale song was giving away too much of the ending, CamMac/Boublil/Schonberg changed it to "Little God of My Heart" which is what they used when the opened in Broadway in 1991. All other productions outside the US followed suit. Additionally, "Now That I Have Seen Her" replaced "Her & Me." In 1992, I think, the finale was again changed to its current version (changed productions outside the US too to be consistent). The 1st and the last US National Tour also played the most current version. The OLC and the Sampler recording have the first version and the Complete Symphonic recording has the most current version. "Little God of My Heart" finale never made it into any official recording.

[AspectsofLoveLover]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 7:07pm

Thought you might want to see my US tour review.
Okay. A little bit about me and my experience seeing Miss Saigon. My husband and I are both experienced actors and have performed throughout NYC, NJ and VA. This was my first time EVER seeing Miss Saigon on stage. I had been wanting to see it for a long time before this but this was the first chance I got so I took it. My husband had seen Miss Saigon twice when it was in the West End. He loved it and just raved and raved about it. Lets just say he absolutely hated the tour. I didn't really enjoy it all that much either. It honestly looked like a high school production of the show with cast members moving the scenery on and off the stage. The bar girls (all except for one) were all overweight and very flabby. The staging of the different musical numbers was strange. At the end of Sun and Moon Kim and Chris end up singing to each other on trash cans??? ouch. On to each of the Cast members reviews:
EYMARD MENESES CABLING (Engineer) Wonderful. Really great. Great singing voice, great actor. Just impressed all around.
OMI FERNANDEZ (U/S for Kim) When I found out that Laurie Cadevida would not be playing Kim I was really disappointed but to my surprise I was so glad that we got to see Omi! She lit up the stage. Her voice was crystal clear and just gorgeous! She was a great kim.
ALAN GILLESPIE (Chris) I know people will hate me for this but he was really awful. I didn't like his portrayal as Chris at all. Sure he was good looking but it takes more than just looks to play Chris well. His voice was good but his acting lacked BIG time. He was akward on stage and just couldn't act for anything
D.J. OLIVER (John)-He was fine. Was great in Bui Doi. I have no complaints about him.
MARIO TADEO (Thuy)-I just want to know who casted him? His acting (well he didn't even try to act) he was just plain awful. He didn't even seem threatening to Kim or Tam...I just felt plain bad for this guy. He just needs to be replaced by someone who can ACT. His singing was ok...but just replace him.
KELLY WILSON (Ellen)-When she first opened her mouth to sing my husband and I were floored. GREAT voice. She needs help with her acting, she acted like she was in a high school production but her voice was just beautiful. I hope she works more on her acting because she could go far with a voice like hers.
EMERITA ALCID (GiGi)-Just okay. Nothing spectacular about her. She needs to get herself in shape.
BRIANNA JUN LAXSON (Tam)-Very cute. Good job.

Sorry if this seems like I am bashing all of them but honestly this was my opinion. Next time I see Miss Saigon its going to be with an Equity tour group.

[jsg03jd]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 8:21pm

There were also lyrical changes to NOW THAT I'VE SEEN HER even months after the show opened on Broadway, most notably with respect to the opening lines of the song.

If you would like to hear Claire Moore sing NOW THAT I'VE SEEN HER, which replaced HER OR ME after about 9 months from when SAIGON first bowed at Drury Lane, then buy the Highlights of the MISS SAIGON OLC. Moore apparently re-recorded the song with the new lyrics and got to preserve that version in the highlights CD.

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 8:42pm

Her or Me was the better song, it just suited what Ellen was feeling at the time....

[safety_in_falsehood]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 8:47pm

I agree that "Her or Me" was the better song.

I have only heard the ending to the Broadway show once, and I really really disliked it and if memory serves, didn't the ending change the whole reason for Kim doing what she did (sory I don't want to give any spoilers away?) It was a long time ago that I heard these versions.

[AspectsofLoveLover]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 8:50pm

I like both songs equally. I saw the touring company and kim sang a reprise of "I'll give my life for you" before well you know what....hearing my husbands version of the West End production she sang something totally different.

[bare_nakedlady]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 8:56pm

Another Vote for "Her or ME"

It just is the better version. I've always thought so and everytime I hear "Now that I've seen her" I get kind of annoyed! Don't mess with perfection! Well in my opinion anyway.

[musicaltheater1]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 9:41pm

I prefer the original version. By the way, my vote also goes to the best duet to date of "I Still Believe" from Liz Callaway and Lea Salonga from Lea's Carnegie Concert. Oy, that performance gave me chills. The audience roared with a thunderous standing ovation.

Updated On: 11/10/05 at 09:41 PM

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 10:01pm

Thanks, guys, I was confused when I heard the recording. I love Ruthie's version of "Now That I've Seen Her," it's still taking me time to get used to "Her or Me." I wonder why it was even changed though. Another question for all Miss Saigon's fans, I know Ruthie Henshall played Ellen on the closing night Broadway cast but did she ever play Kim on Broadway/West End/tour?

[musicaltheater1]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 10:10pm

"Another question for all Miss Saigon's fans, I know Ruthie Henshall played Ellen on the closing night Broadway cast but did she ever play Kim on Broadway/West End/tour?"

Nope....she played one of the bar girls when the show opened in London in 1989 and later as Ellen. She only performed in this production once in Broadway as Ellen at the last month of the show. I actually liked her performance since she brought more angst and "bitchiness" to the character. She is one of my top Ellens.

Updated On: 11/10/05 at 10:10 PM

[safety_in_falsehood]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 10:10pm

I really can't see Ruthie playing Kim as she is not Asian (unless I have been decieved majorly) and because of the huge deal made over Jonathan Pryce's reprisal of The Engineer when the show hit broadway. I'm not sure though.

Kim does a repisal of "Give my life for you" in the London production as well at the end, but in the "new" version the end seemed so emotionless to me. It seemed like...she did what she did...because she could never be with Chris, and not so much for Tam. The ending of the London production leaves me in tears, the Broadway version leaves me cold.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 10:13pm

If you watch the MAKING OF MISS SAIGON video, you'll see Claire Moore rehearsing the song with yet another set of lyrics that gives the impression the song was at one time called "Who Says it Hurts"

[mikem]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 10:31pm

I seem to remember hearing that "Her or Me" was changed because some audience members found it humorous rather than moving. I'm not sure why it would be funny, unless it was staged in a "Is it HER! or ME!" kind of way. But at any rate, that's what I remember hearing, although I can't tell you where I heard it from.

[danny10086]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 11:00pm

Does anyone know what the lyrics were to that original version of the song from the MAKING OF MISS SAIGON video. The words sound really interesting;

Who says it hurts, he's the one man I loved
Now this girl of his from long ago
Who says I'm hurt - it's just like waking up
In the arms of a man that I don't ... maybe I won't ever really know.

Does anyone know what the rest of the song said?

[Songsstresss]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 11:04pm

I always thought the lyrics were changed to make Ellen more sympathetic and less "bitchy."

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 11/11/05 at 1:05am

I like the original "Sacred Bird" ending a helluva lot more than the final version with the "This Is The Hour" reprise. The melody for "Sacred Bird/I'll Give My Life..." is lovely, and hearing Kim sing of her parents and her own preparations for sacrifice really tears at the heartstrings.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 11/11/05 at 1:11am

I really do like the title "Now That I've Seen Her" better because "Her or Me" sounds like Ellen thinks of it as a competition, and "Now That I've Seen Her" is more about Ellen's insecurities and fears. Just my opinion. I did notice Ruthie Henshall played a bar girl in the original production, but for some reason I had read she played Kim. I love Ruthie's "I Still Believe" with Lea, it's so great, do you guys know if they're friends?

[AspectsofLoveLover]

Posted: 11/11/05 at 9:58am

Honestly I would think that Ruthie and Lea are friends because they both were in the 10th anniversary dream cast of Les Mis, they were in Miss Saigon together, and also in the video for Hey! Mr. Producer. Plus having Ruthie sing with Lea at her concert, I suppose they are probably really good friends. I hope they put Leas concert out on dvd soon! I actually just heard Ruthies version of Now that I've seen her last night and I absolutely love it. She is definitly the best Ellen I've heard. I personally really don't like Claire Moores voice.

[Love4Cheno]

Posted: 11/11/05 at 10:11am

I love "Too Much For One Heart" which you can hear Lea and Monique singing snippets of in "The Making of Miss Saigon."

It's finally on a recording in full- Lea's Broadway Concert.

[Carl Magnum]

Posted: 11/11/05 at 10:25am

All I've ever had is the OLC recording. How is the CSR album? Who is on it? Also for all you fans out there, was there ever another Engineer who was of non asian or hispanic background or was Pryce the only one?

[musicaltheater1]

Posted: 11/11/05 at 10:39am

"How is the CSR album? Who is on it? Also for all you fans out there, was there ever another Engineer who was of non asian or hispanic background or was Pryce the only one?"

The CSR is good bec. it's the complete symphonic recording whereas the OLC only has certain songs from the play. Although Lea Salonga is not in the CSR, Joanna Ampil is ok. I personally don't like Peter Cousens as Chris. The orchestration is amazing and the ensemble, superb. For a Saigon fan, this is a must have :) Lea was offered to record in the CSR but was unavailable at the time because she was filming a movie.

As for Engineers, the German, Dutch, Stockholm, & Hungarian productions have featured non-asian Engineers.

[Love4Cheno]

Posted: 11/11/05 at 10:44am

Kevin Grey is the Engineer on the CSR and he's Caucasian. I wish Lea had recorded this. Her voice had matured by then. Joanna Ampil is good, with some songs standing out, but nowhere near Lea. The other performances are just...eh.

But i love having the additional pieces of music.