1. Ramin - no explanation needed 2. Norm Lewis - I just love the deepness of his voice 3. Micheal Crawford - the og phantom. He’s got such a beautifully unique voice
Ramin's interpretation is incredible. Gentle, yet powerful, emotional. Such control, such beautiful timbre. It just soars above you after the phrase ends. I will never stop being in love with his version.
And that's why I'll always be biased and he'll always be my favorite (And the same reason I'm scared of watching the movie adaptation because my standards have been set incredibly high for costuming and singing by Sierra Boggess and Ramin Karimloo)
@@marcellasorially9330 I've been told it's not good, and i actually watched a movie review of it. I was sorely disappointed seeing what the costumes looked like because the 2011 25th anniversary had such elaborate costumes. But yeah, I'm not watching it 😕
@@angel_stark_art8348 You are quite right, it will actually ruin the Phantom for you. It's not just that the voices are weak and the performances wooden, they also missed the opportunity to present us with that WOW factor that should have been easy for a film production. The direction of the theatre is so much better than the movie's, which should have been the other way around.
The way that Ramin is able to control his breathing to make it feel like one phrase, and not only does he sustain the note, he goes longer than the orchestra which makes it feel even more important. Furthermore: he has amazing chemistry and is by far my favorite Phantom of all time and I would probably sob if I met him or Sierra, because they are two of my biggest influences.
@@my2randomcents Yes, but I do like how he sustains a straight tone then goes into a vibrato because I think that adds a lot more tension than if he just went straight into vibrato.
I went to see Anastasia when it was on Broadway which was amazing of course. But the next day I was walking down the street with my mom and saw ramin across the street, walking in the other direction with his family. I was so excited like oh how cool! My mom was like “Let’s run over and say hi” and I was very much like “No let’s leave him alone with his family. And we continued about our day. A few hours later while we were walking somewhere else all of a sudden, I realize we were walking RIGHT behind Ramin. I thought to myself, what are the odds that we see him two times in one day, in huge NYC?! I took that as fate and decided to ask him for a photo and tell him how great his performance was. He was SUPER nice and his family seemed considerate of the fact that I interrupted their walk. I’m not sure how often he gets stopped or recognized but he seemed really appreciative of my compliments to him :)
Personally I know that Gerard Butler didn't sing it best, but the film was what I grew up listening to. Therefore, his interpretation is my absolute favorite! There's a rawness to it that I love, and his chemistry with Emmy is beautiful. I also adore the other phantom's, but childhood nostalgia make the film my go to version to watch on a rainy day...
I totally agree, Gerard is my favourite no 1. The fact that he did it naturally and not as a professional singer, is absolutely a disgrace to him and to me. Michael Crawford is my second choice..
Ramin Karimloo definately has my wote as the best Phantom ever. I never understood what so fantastic about Phantom of The Opera until I saw his interpretation of the character. Suddenly I got it. Thanks, mr Karimloo
Notice how Ramin is the only one (that I noticed) who doesn't need a gigantic, contrived breath right before the octave leap, instead taking it earlier in the phrase at a place that makes sense of the text. That makes it a longer phrase to sing and he still nails the high note, and then some. This is the winner for me - remarkable.
Epiphoni ....yes, I completely agree, he's marvellous, clearly the best in my opinion, on a side note, i really though Josh Groban was going to have some kind of attack while hitting that high note 😂
Saw Ramin Karimloo and Sierra Boggess's performance at Allbert Hall (25th Anniversary), and I was literally blown away. It was far and away the best performance of this that I have ever seen. Their chemistry was great, and their voices suited each other so well. Ramin had such range... soft and tender, but then equally strong and commanding. His voice was so gorgeous it made me cry!
YES!! Tbh, I only care (very much now) about POTO because I saw them in the 25th anniv free streaming the other day! I’ve known POTO songs all these years and never really understood why people are so madly in love with this story or this musical. I even saw one of the tour production and it didn’t leave any good impressions on me. But omg all that changed when I saw Ramin and Sierra’s Phantom and Christine. Just something about their performance that changed my point of view completely about POTO. Their chemistry, their acting abilities, and beautiful vocals made me a phan forever now. 💖💖💖
I fell in love with the original POTO at the age of 12. I learned every word, every note, and listened to it so much that I literally wore a hole through the cassette tape. No one will EVER outdo Michael Crawford as the Phantom for me
Lloyd Webber was married to Sarah Brightman..she was a popstar but he saw beyond that. Crawford he chose... they are the two that really he composed it for... they are the best 👌
Micheal Crawford played the tall buffoon who worked in the general store in " Hello Dolly" with Barbra Striesand and Walter Mathow....what a difference in characters. MICHEAL was great in Phantom.
ramin is HANDS DOWN my favourite phantom in every aspect,, he’s not purely traditionally technical when it comes to his singing and he adds his own little special parts that show his style, the way he pours his emotion into his singing is in a whole different level to me and it just gets me all the time,, and i just kinda like his tone a lot more than the other phantoms
I'll offer this: he's my favorite too. But imagine watching Michael Crawford establish the role, and the notes, and the emphasis on certain parts, and all that. The original OG is always the benchmark...but Ramin almost surpasses it in my mind! There are VERY few that compare to Ramin IMO! That said, there's a TON of vocalist/actors that do the Phantom justice. But yeah...Ramin is my current fave, although I gotta say that Gerard Butler did very well!! Giving credit where it's due, no hate. :)
I agree with the three you picked, but I'd flip Norm and Ramin. The reason for this is that both Ramin and John are full fledged tenors and as such the Ab they are hitting is right in their wheelhouse. Norm Lewis though is a full baritone and so this Ab is near or at the top of his range and yet he hits it both here and on "soar" beautifully. As a fellow baritone though, I might be a little biased.
Funny thing that you said that. Michael and Babs actually recorded the song as a duet for her 1993 album “Back to Broadway” backed by the entire London Symphony Orchestra.
Is everyone in this comment section going to ignore the excellence that is John Owen Jones? 1. Ramin 2. JOJ 3. Michael Crawford *Absolute Last* : Paul Potts
The earlier Crawford interpretation is just so effortless. You don't see him preparing, getting ready to really impress the audience with how long he can hold a high note. It's just natural and passionate and absolutely in line with the story. Hands down the best.
I watched a snuck video of the live full play in the 80's he actually does transition into it that smooth, there's no big distracting big breath before he takes the note, and his acting is great
Y’all are sleeping on Colm, he’s honestly one of the most talented male singers out there. He makes it seem effortless, just as he did in his role in Les Mis. Even at his age now, he’s still able to sing like that
@@bob9lives Agreed, he for me has the best tone throughout the high note - the resonance is just soul-filling. In this compilation I also really liked Ben Forster, John Cudia, and John Owen Jones.
Yes!! Have you ever heard him singing Gethsemane from Jesus Christ Superstar?!?! There’s one note he holds in that song, in his Live In Concert video that ALWAYS gives me goosebumps and chills every time I hear it!!! If I can find that video here on TH-cam, I’ll reply..
Here’s one version of his performance of Gethsemane, at 3:40 is the most bone-chilling, goosebump-inducing parts of the song! th-cam.com/video/DsS53BARos8/w-d-xo.html
Michael Crawford still can command the entire orchestra just by the way he moves. And he said in a very recent interview that he still can reach that high note in this song. But he isn’t sure for how much longer.
Right? Gerard Butler wasn't bad, he just isn't as good as people who are actually trained for this. But Webber would 't have chosen him for the film if he didn't think he was the right choice.
@@matthewcooper4248 I just can't bring myself to like him. I'm mad about the fact that Andrew had apparently offered the role to Michael and he had agreed but they just dropped him and choose Gerard instead.
@@RoseTheWeirdo Totally agree! Michael should have gotten the role in the film. I got to see Michael Crawford perform the role in New York and Los Angeles and he was stunning and heartbreaking as the Phantom!!!
Well I couldn't stand his singing. I understand that he had only three singing lessons before the movie and I'm sure he did his best but he sounded bad imo.
I was really impressed by David Cook's "be" the pitch was PERFECT. His actual voice style and other notes weren't my cuppa tea but I was shocked at how lovely that note was.
yes yes yes I don't understand why people think anyone else is even close. He has most hauntingly beautiful voice of all time, and I almost cringe when I hear any other singer sing this song. He has such a unique voice that all of these other highly trained singers all sound like boring robotic opera singers. It's not their fault. They just aren't unique like Crawford.
When I saw this video I immediately said to myself, "why are they even bothering since we already know who will be number 1 as no one else can perform the song like Michael. It's like listening to other people try to sing the song on karaoke. Prop to them trying though. But anyone who doesn't say that Michael is number 1 is either tone deaf or just being a troll.
@@DarkLordDiablosI think that’s unfair- to me I don’t see how others DONT see how he obviously isn’t as strong a singer as many others on this list. Doesn’t mean he’s untalented though
How this was put together I do not know but what a fantastic job. Everyone has their favourites but giving people the opportunity to listen to all the greats is a feat in itself....thank you.
Nobody is commenting on Anthony Warlow, he's an amazing singer/performer and was perfectly cast as the phantom! I saw him in the role of the phantom during the 2007 Australian tour years ago and his portrayal was simply wonderful. Saw him again recently in Sweeney Todd, never fails to impress!
Warlow is an amazing vocalist and actor, definitely good for phantom and Sweeney, but the clip shown in this video doesn’t do him justice, that day was probably his bad day, he truly is just unbelievably amazing in other versions I’ve heard him in.
Wow, I wasn't expecting so much love for Gerard Butler, I thought most people hated his performance. To me, Michael Crawford remains the one and only phantom.
I'm not surprised to see the love for Gerard Butler. He is extremely powerful in his handsomeness and strong, masculine physicality which pushes that great sound out and he is a great actor as well.
I wish Michael hadn't had those horrible health issues! Who knows....He might have been able to get the role for the movie! I don't know why Andrew doesn't get the archival footage of the original London cast, clean up the video and audio and release that to the public on BluRay.
the "Down Once More" part is randomly my favorite part of the whole show lol...just the passion, the pain, the frustration and resignation in the Phantom...and the audience basically knowing "uh oh, we're in for it now..."
Everyone after Michael is attempting to be as good as he was. Large and Owen-Jones came closest. He didn't need staging, mask or make up to instantly evoke the Phantom. He exudes the character through the screen especially the one with Dale - he'd left NYC just three months earlier and was in rehearsals for the LA opening. How many current fans realize that he worked on the note for "soar" for two months? Two months for one note because he wanted it perfect. So many are hurky-jerky and lack the presence, the cat-like movements and magnetism that Michael had. The character was so much a part of him that you can watch his transformation whether speaking about him or in concert. It just happens without effort on his part. Go watch MOTN from Cerritos in 1998 for his "come back" concert. You can *see* the transformation. Setting a couple rows away at his concerts really drove home that no one will ever be as good as him. I've seen PTO 9 times the last being in 2000 and have liked other performances and said a singer would make a great Phantom. There's still only one Phantom and that's Michael
Both clips of Michael Crawford show his incredible presence and his voice is music to my ears. I still believe that they should have cast the movie with him reprising his Tony Award-winning role.
I actually liked David Cook's take on that phrase. So many of the singers treat it like an athletic competition, and he has this lovely, soft run up to that note. Lovely contrast of softness and projection. Andrea Bochelli just makes it sound so easy. LOL!
I remember watching that live and never expecting him to do that song as well as he did! He said he chose to do it that way because his reputation on the show had been to create arrangements for songs that were unusual, so he wanted to sing it straight to show he could pull it off. It was him doing this song that made me a fan and I still follow his career today.
Crawford just has that sneakiness to his voice which fits the Phantom. Gerard Butler wins in the sexiest Phantom category. I also enjoyed Anthony Warlow and John Cudia.
that husky rawness is why he is absolutely miscast. The phantom's voice is supposed to be refined and angelic. Its supposed to be well trained and hypnotic. Gerard butchers half the notes sounding more like he's yelling sometimes than singing. As someone with musical training I can say it isn't good on a technical level and isn't right for the part. I cringe every time I hear him sing. Gerard isn't at fault for the other disasterous aspects of the film (most noteably aside from the singing his exteme pink eye oh I'm sorry "deformity") and I might argue he isn't even at fault here. the fault lies with the casting. Look I think he looks sexy as hell but the second he opens his mouth it's all down hill.
@@iszyngeow a) the Phantom is a prodigy which means his voice is already naturally very good and b) as you said he grew up IN AN OPERA HOUSE therefore he would have been able to learn by listening to the lessons and singing of others. Hence how he knows how to train Christine. Hes had plenty of time to perfect it.. At the very least he would sound like he can actually sing. Butler is raw and very clearly lacks to range and knowledge of how to sing the role. Ramin and the others are haunting and beautiful. You get lulled into almost a trance just listening. As the Phantom is characterized. A literal angel of music. Gerard's voice is jarring and you can VERY clearly tell when he's struggling to reach the notes. It's not the sort of performance one expects from a character like the Phantom. The difference is especially jarring once you've heard it done properly by someone like karimloo or Crawford
@@madeleine5561 Ima disagree. he took it almost to a Frank Sinatra style. More passion into his words rather than his singing he sounds exactly like what a phantom should sound like rough around the edges. breathy vocals. We all know emotion over rides the voice making emotion more powerful and stronger than singing. I mean my lawd he lives in a rocky basement lol I’d laugh if he had some Raul sounding voice. and this is a movie aspect not a play so movies will be more realistic he fits perfect if you want a play then you’ll get your extremely over opera’d technique Also gotta remember he was casted out he’s not gonna sound like an angel anymore because he’s not
100 percent agree with you. Saw him performing live few days ago. Is voice by far for me is the best. It’s so mesmerising. He captured the phantoms feeling completely. He def deserves more recognition
Honestly in my opinion; no one can top the pure CHEMISTRY that Sierra and Ramin have - plus the absolute power in Ramin's voice, coupled with the perfect oscillation into melodic soft passages. It's honestly as if he was born to play the phantom, and Sierra was born to play Christine.
Some of my faves are Anthony Warlow, Ramin, Norm, Caleb, Michael Crawford and JOJ. Those r some of the prime examples of the best Phantom imo. Caleb really should play the role cos his cover was great
If you know the character of the phantom there was something mysterious, creepy, and beautiful about him. With that being said I have to go with the OG Michael Crawford. He paved the way for all the others. Thx for putting this together.
1. Ramin Karimloo (Something about his voice and the fact that I saw him live will always make him my favorite) 2. Anthony Warlow (Such a great strong voice and so good as the Phantom, wonderfully cast. Also amazing in Jekyll and Hyde singing The Confrontation and This is the Moment) 3. Gerard Butler (My first experience with the phantom and always one of my top faves and his voice is actually pretty good) 4. Caleb Hyles (He has this depth and gruffness and almost a rock edge to his voice and performance that offers this great darkness to the song that is just so Phantom of the Opera for me)
@@lulu-wc9yd It was amazing saw him live in Phantom of the Opera and in the Sequel to Phantom of the Opera called Love Never Dies as the Phantom. Amazing! It was the best moment of my life.
Michael and Gerard always my favorites. Gerard is my favorite personally, prob an underrated opinion idk, maybe because I knew him first, but he has an special power in high notes to make such a strong and resonating sound, like in The Point of No Return.
I usually stick to Ramin (because I think that his voice is unique and no, it's not just because hes handsome 😅) but Earl really deserves some credit 👏
The one, the only, the OG... Michael Crawford. After him, the great John Owen Jones, then the powerfully-voiced Ramin Karimloo. All these men are gifted (even though he was woefully miscast, I'll even give Gerard Butler credit for giving it a noble try), but those are my top three.
I feel like we can all agree that Sierra, Emmy, and Gina learned the character of Christine the best. Christine loved the Phantom, whether you think of it as a teacher/best friend way or a romantic way, she loved him. I feel like the majority of Christines completely lack all chemistry with the Phantom they are working with. Gina, Sierra, and Emmy don't do that. They are hypnotized, completely dazed, they show Christine can have a big part in this song too when it comes to emotion through facial expressions.
JulietteMarie this is so true! Christine did love the Phantom. People can debate what kind of love it was, but the most beautiful and poetic part of this story is that even after EVERYTHING she went through, it was still so hard for her to leave him. He was a part of her.
... Oh, trust me, we do not all agree... and there are probably hundreds of Christines out there who have/had fantastic chemistry with their Phantoms. Actresses also choose to portray her differently, so you can't compare all of them on the same acting choices/portrayals. No one can have possibly watched all of them, anyway. You of can, course have your own opinion, though.
Except of course for the taaaaatatatatataaaa...tatatatataaaaaa tatatatataaaaaaa ... which was first first heard 15 years earlier in Pink Floyd's Echoes. Roger Waters later retaliated by writing "...Lloyd Webber's awful stuff runs for years and years and years. An earthquake hits the theater but the operetta lingers. Then the piano lid comes down... and breaks his fucking fingers. It's a miracle." And then there's Ravel, Puccini, Ray Repp, Mendelssohn, Frank Loesser. They were all dead of course. And Roger did not want to waste his time taking a serial plagariser to court. But yeah, hey, well done Andrew!
Micheal Crawford hit that note with the pure emotion behind it. Watching others after him, they are, as so many do, trying too hard. There are those that hit the note perfectly. They hold hold it to perfection. But they lack the emotion. Others try to emulate the emotion, but in their desire to recreate it ultimately fall short. When a song has been sung so iconically, everything else will always be compared to it.
For me John Owen Jones has the best voice on this video by a mile. So gentle yet so powerful and beautifully controlled. The only two phantoms that come close to him for me are Michael Crawford (who I think is the greatest phantom of all time) for the way his voice is so ghostly and soft, and Ramin Karimloo who I think plays the part brilliantly and has a great voice.
They’re all absolutely brilliant, but my vote has to go to John Owen Jones, Michael Crawford, and yes, Gerard Butler. Butler may not have the technical capabilities of the others, but that raspiness in his voice gives the Phantom even more mystery and emotion, IMHO.
It is completely subjective to preference and exposure. Personally, Gerard Butler sounds best to me as I grew up with the 2004 film on repeat! I absolutely appreciate the different voices, but Gerard's voice sits somewhere personal for me. It holds more emotion as I have pretty much revised for years on end how his intonation changes to suit emotions; I think that the more you are familiar with how a person uses their voice to portray their feelings, the stronger the connection you have to them and their adaption of the character - you understand how they feel and can remember your own feelings that arose from seeing their portrayal. This personal connection to characters has no quantitive proof to suggest who is best.
Yep, I agree with your opening sentence and explanation! I have the opposite reaction to the singers (I absolutely can't stand Gerard Butler, sorry), but of course I've grown up with Michael Crawford and Anthony Warlow in the roles, so they are the definitive versions (especially Anthony Warlow). Similarly, if Butler was the version you grew up with, that's what you'd expect a Phantom to show and would judge the others by.
Beautiful compilation, tons of time and work and research to put this together. I may be 'slanted' but Michael Crawford still stands atop my list of some of these greats.
Ramin is hands down the best phantom I’ve ever seen, truly plays the part perfectly. John Owen jones and norm Lewis are definitely the other 2 best vocalists on this
I showed my mom the 25th anniversary concert (on amazon) and she kept saying “who is this guy?! He’s amazing!!” And when I pulled up pictures of Ramin on google she was like “why is he shirtless in this one” and I was like oop i’ll just take my phone back thanks
Megan Hart (my personal opinion) Michael Crawford IS the phantom. He was the original, and will always be my favorite. I'm not saying he's my favorite just because he's the original though xD. I originally saw the movie version, and many others, but something about Michael just seems to captivate me and the way his voice flows perfectly is just hnnnnnngggggg
Michael Crawford 1 2 3 and 4. Its not just the voice, but the acting, the movement, choreography, its his whole memorising delivery which makes him untouchable. Timeless masterpiece.
Thank you.. I was never a huge fan of Crawford, but watching this has made me realise he is the iconic and only Phantom.. not just his voice but his movements and presence embody the perfect performer.
You're asking the wrong question. The hardest note for the Phantom in this piece is his last one. Sustaining that note through those slow, creeping chord changes is a real challenge as "brute force" won't work - you need amazing breath control which Crawford had.
Apples and oranges. Yes, sustaining that note for that long through all of those key changes is challenging. But if I were to cast my phantom, I would pay more attention to the power note. Getting to it, hitting it, holding it, and all the while expressing the power and emotion that go along with it are much more memorable and in keeping with the Phantom, as a character.
⚫ The original Phantom : Michael Crawford 🔵 Best voice for this selection: John Owen Jones 🔴 Sound-engineered but nevertheless pleasant to the ear: Gerard Butler ⚪ Best performance that just plucks at the heartstrings: Ramin
John Owen Jones for sure , he sang that “Beee” by raising from lower to higher notes. Too beautiful. Most of them just sang the high note with 1 flat note
Happy Halloween! This was really fun to made. I butchered Sarah's last name, sorry! It's Brightman.
Mister Golightly Happy Halloween!!!! 🖤🖤🖤🖤
At least you saved the BEST for last
that's ok, you only butchered her name she butchered the music...where you want to BOW?
Mister Golightly there are better recordings of Norm singing that note than that promotional video. ;)
Mister Golightly i
1. Ramin - no explanation needed
2. Norm Lewis - I just love the deepness of his voice
3. Micheal Crawford - the og phantom. He’s got such a beautifully unique voice
Caroline because Ramin is handsome?
Oliver Delica yes he is handsome, but I absolutely love is voice. It’s got such strength emotion and beauty to it. It’s really something amazing
Ben Forster is good, Hugh Panero is amazing too but I do think of Ramin whenever I hear the song so I guess I'd say he's the most iconic in my mind...
I also loved Colm Wilkinson and John Owen Jones
Actually, Wilkinson originated the role in the London premier, and he would be my favorite if it wasn't for his odd choice of pronouncing the lyrics.
Sierra Boggess and Ramin Karimloo will always be my favorites
Emily Fuller All time favourites. The way that they act and sing the roles is just magical
Ava yes. Just yes.
sarah and michael are mine
Yes.
Mine too!
Everyone else: "beeeeeeeeeeee"
Sarah B: "bwwwoooooooooooooh"
Susie Ok colm Wilkinson said bae
@@ethanlonchar 🤣
😂😂😂😂🤦🏽♀️ That was so overkill on that vowel!
I didn't understand your comment until I got to that part and laughed so much 😆😆 literally a ghost booooooooooooooooh
Susie Ok 😂😂😂😂
John Owens Jones Hands down must be a seasoned veteran holds the last note very long and is smooth on the entry and clear perfection 5:05
I agree. He and Ramin were my favorites of them all.
Yes I totally agree with you on John owen Jones
The best
Absolutely he lifts her with that note. Incredible!
John Owens Jones 100%
Sierra and Ramin my god. What chemistry. What beauty. What grace.
I wonder how Ben Lewis and Sierra would sound together . or Ben with Sarah
@@normgilmore7541 Sarah Brightman's voice had definitely aged and she doesn't sound as well as when she was younger.
Ben Lewis with Sierra would be interesting .but you have to admit the other 3 ladies that Ben sang with are excellent .
Ramin's interpretation is incredible. Gentle, yet powerful, emotional. Such control, such beautiful timbre. It just soars above you after the phrase ends. I will never stop being in love with his version.
Same here.
And that's why I'll always be biased and he'll always be my favorite
(And the same reason I'm scared of watching the movie adaptation because my standards have been set incredibly high for costuming and singing by Sierra Boggess and Ramin Karimloo)
@@angel_stark_art8348 Take my word for it, don't watch the movie, it's horrible.
@@marcellasorially9330 I've been told it's not good, and i actually watched a movie review of it. I was sorely disappointed seeing what the costumes looked like because the 2011 25th anniversary had such elaborate costumes. But yeah, I'm not watching it 😕
@@angel_stark_art8348 You are quite right, it will actually ruin the Phantom for you. It's not just that the voices are weak and the performances wooden, they also missed the opportunity to present us with that WOW factor that should have been easy for a film production. The direction of the theatre is so much better than the movie's, which should have been the other way around.
The way that Ramin is able to control his breathing to make it feel like one phrase, and not only does he sustain the note, he goes longer than the orchestra which makes it feel even more important. Furthermore: he has amazing chemistry and is by far my favorite Phantom of all time and I would probably sob if I met him or Sierra, because they are two of my biggest influences.
A lot of them do the phrase like that tho
@@my2randomcents Yes, but I do like how he sustains a straight tone then goes into a vibrato because I think that adds a lot more tension than if he just went straight into vibrato.
YES!
I went to see Anastasia when it was on Broadway which was amazing of course. But the next day I was walking down the street with my mom and saw ramin across the street, walking in the other direction with his family. I was so excited like oh how cool! My mom was like “Let’s run over and say hi” and I was very much like “No let’s leave him alone with his family. And we continued about our day.
A few hours later while we were walking somewhere else all of a sudden, I realize we were walking RIGHT behind Ramin. I thought to myself, what are the odds that we see him two times in one day, in huge NYC?! I took that as fate and decided to ask him for a photo and tell him how great his performance was. He was SUPER nice and his family seemed considerate of the fact that I interrupted their walk. I’m not sure how often he gets stopped or recognized but he seemed really appreciative of my compliments to him :)
Ramin still 2nd
Personally I know that Gerard Butler didn't sing it best, but the film was what I grew up listening to. Therefore, his interpretation is my absolute favorite! There's a rawness to it that I love, and his chemistry with Emmy is beautiful. I also adore the other phantom's, but childhood nostalgia make the film my go to version to watch on a rainy day...
yeahhh! totally agree, i know that he’s not a professional singer but i grew up listening him and loving the film, and i love it 💗💗💗
I totally agree, Gerard is my favourite no 1. The fact that he did it naturally and not as a professional singer, is absolutely a disgrace to him and to me. Michael Crawford is my second choice..
Same 💕 personally I love his performance. I’m not a singer so I don’t really understand why people are so critical of him from the film
girl we literally living the same life that is my exact opinion!
Gerard's Phantom had an edge to him that was really cool.
Ramin Karimloo definately has my wote as the best Phantom ever. I never understood what so fantastic about Phantom of The Opera until I saw his interpretation of the character. Suddenly I got it. Thanks, mr Karimloo
“Be” ? No the REAL test is the last lyric, holding the last note, “Night”
Felix Truvere as a Phantom that note is a killer in performance.
Indeed! Mr. Golightly needs to do a contest for that next.
Indeed the challenge in the song
Truee
yeeeeeees！ and “soarrrrrr～”
Notice how Ramin is the only one (that I noticed) who doesn't need a gigantic, contrived breath right before the octave leap, instead taking it earlier in the phrase at a place that makes sense of the text. That makes it a longer phrase to sing and he still nails the high note, and then some. This is the winner for me - remarkable.
had to rewatch
you are correct
he is breathtaking
I'd say that him and Michael Crawford both approach that note fearlessly
Yes I agree!!
Epiphoni ....yes, I completely agree, he's marvellous, clearly the best in my opinion, on a side note, i really though Josh Groban was going to have some kind of attack while hitting that high note 😂
I think John Owen Jones avoided that too!
I too grew up a Crawford fan but Ramin is just magical. It is no surprise that he was paired with Boggess either. WOW ! What a duo !
Sarah Brightman: "Let your soul take your where you want to BOOOOOHH"
Colm Wilkinson: "Let your soul take you where you want to BAAAAAYYYY"
Holy cow Andrea bocceli can hit the notes as easily as slicing hot butter with a chainsaw
He certainly made it look the easiest of the lot.
He has such a heavy Italian accent though. It's like Piangi is playing the Phantom
Couldn’t understand him
But he's quite emotionless, as all he ever sings.Just my opinion, of course.
Claudio Marcelo Giannattasio I mean well he is blind.
Saw Ramin Karimloo and Sierra Boggess's performance at Allbert Hall (25th Anniversary), and I was literally blown away. It was far and away the best performance of this that I have ever seen. Their chemistry was great, and their voices suited each other so well. Ramin had such range... soft and tender, but then equally strong and commanding. His voice was so gorgeous it made me cry!
Lucky you!
AGREED!!!!!
YES!! Tbh, I only care (very much now) about POTO because I saw them in the 25th anniv free streaming the other day! I’ve known POTO songs all these years and never really understood why people are so madly in love with this story or this musical. I even saw one of the tour production and it didn’t leave any good impressions on me. But omg all that changed when I saw Ramin and Sierra’s Phantom and Christine. Just something about their performance that changed my point of view completely about POTO. Their chemistry, their acting abilities, and beautiful vocals made me a phan forever now. 💖💖💖
you are so lucky, I watch to recording of it all the time!
You actually got to see that performance live? What a treasure that memory must be. Very jealous.
I fell in love with the original POTO at the age of 12. I learned every word, every note, and listened to it so much that I literally wore a hole through the cassette tape. No one will EVER outdo Michael Crawford as the Phantom for me
Crawford was the first Phantom I heard. As well as the first one period. So that makes him my personal favorite.
Lloyd Webber was married to Sarah Brightman..she was a popstar but he saw beyond that. Crawford he chose... they are the two that really he composed it for... they are the best 👌
Micheal Crawford played the tall buffoon who worked in the general store in " Hello Dolly" with Barbra Striesand and Walter Mathow....what a difference in characters. MICHEAL was great in Phantom.
Michael is my favorite phantom, his voice fits the phantom as a character so well!!!!
I have to agree
ramin is HANDS DOWN my favourite phantom in every aspect,, he’s not purely traditionally technical when it comes to his singing and he adds his own little special parts that show his style, the way he pours his emotion into his singing is in a whole different level to me and it just gets me all the time,, and i just kinda like his tone a lot more than the other phantoms
I'll offer this: he's my favorite too. But imagine watching Michael Crawford establish the role, and the notes, and the emphasis on certain parts, and all that. The original OG is always the benchmark...but Ramin almost surpasses it in my mind! There are VERY few that compare to Ramin IMO! That said, there's a TON of vocalist/actors that do the Phantom justice. But yeah...Ramin is my current fave, although I gotta say that Gerard Butler did very well!! Giving credit where it's due, no hate. :)
He's my favourite too.
I feel the same.
@@kurtleonard3024 Michael's fluid movements....his hands...he is the best Phantom that ever has been.
The way Ramin acts when he sings “soul” makes me want to faint.
He does that to all you ladies and makes you feel tingly in your undies lol. I'm a str8 male and he does that to Me too lol
1. Ramin Karimloo all the way *bowing*
2. John Owen Jones *swooning*
3. Norm Lewis. *captivated*
Brittany Broquadio
Ben Lewis.
I agree with the three you picked, but I'd flip Norm and Ramin. The reason for this is that both Ramin and John are full fledged tenors and as such the Ab they are hitting is right in their wheelhouse. Norm Lewis though is a full baritone and so this Ab is near or at the top of his range and yet he hits it both here and on "soar" beautifully. As a fellow baritone though, I might be a little biased.
1sleepingdragon haha maybe but I still think Ramins is better. More impressive, maybe not. Better, I think so.
TheMsiaddict
Ben Lewis, most definitely. His Phantom booms in voice and soars with emotional range, it's quite extraordinary.
John Owen Jones ❤️❤️
Crawford is in a class by himself. His voice has a unique clarity to it.He’s like Streisand.
Funny thing that you said that. Michael and Babs actually recorded the song as a duet for her 1993 album “Back to Broadway” backed by the entire London Symphony Orchestra.
After Michael Crawford. I would have to say John Owen Jones. Did carry the high notes
Exactly
Michael has such emotion in his voice.
I love listening him sing O Holy Night.
Is everyone in this comment section going to ignore the excellence that is John Owen Jones?
1. Ramin
2. JOJ
3. Michael Crawford
*Absolute Last* : Paul Potts
Zachary Thelen JOJ is the best phantom for yelling “Sing! Sing for me!”
My top 3 as well.
Wow, Ramin is really good!
last is Paul Potts? What about Matt Corby? 😬
Right?? The man is absolutely brilliant!
The earlier Crawford interpretation is just so effortless. You don't see him preparing, getting ready to really impress the audience with how long he can hold a high note. It's just natural and passionate and absolutely in line with the story. Hands down the best.
That's because it was a promo video. He will be 'singing' to a backing track
I watched a snuck video of the live full play in the 80's he actually does transition into it that smooth, there's no big distracting big breath before he takes the note, and his acting is great
Y’all are sleeping on Colm, he’s honestly one of the most talented male singers out there. He makes it seem effortless, just as he did in his role in Les Mis. Even at his age now, he’s still able to sing like that
.. and his "Ché" has never been topped, in my opinion!
Hands down. After listening to anyone else I always have to re-listen to Colm just to retune my innards.
Colm for the win.
@@bob9lives Agreed, he for me has the best tone throughout the high note - the resonance is just soul-filling. In this compilation I also really liked Ben Forster, John Cudia, and John Owen Jones.
Michael Crawford said that he can still hit those high notes himself. But he’s not sure how much longer he’ll be able to.
My favorites were Gerald Butler, Michael Crawford, Colm Wilkinson, John Owen Jones, Han Jo-Sang and Ramin Karimloo
3/20/23 Hello, i just wanted to say i am glad that i am not the only one who mentioned Colm Wilkinson
Still Michael Crawford. Voice is hauntingly beautiful. Out of this world. When he sing you’ll always feel the pain , the pain the phantom feels...
Yes!! Have you ever heard him singing Gethsemane from Jesus Christ Superstar?!?! There’s one note he holds in that song, in his Live In Concert video that ALWAYS gives me goosebumps and chills every time I hear it!!! If I can find that video here on TH-cam, I’ll reply..
Here’s one version of his performance of Gethsemane, at 3:40 is the most bone-chilling, goosebump-inducing parts of the song!
th-cam.com/video/DsS53BARos8/w-d-xo.html
Michael Crawford, hands down. The emotion he makes you feel touches the soul. Take a listen to his 1993 "O Holy Night." It'll leave you speechless.
Shannon McClain love O Holy Night.
Omg!! I love his version of O Holy Night!!!
Have you heard him sing Gethsemane? Spectacular
@@kellyp136 OMG!! I love his version of Gethsemane!!!!! Goosebumpinducing!!!
Michael Crawford still can command the entire orchestra just by the way he moves. And he said in a very recent interview that he still can reach that high note in this song. But he isn’t sure for how much longer.
11:38 (Ramin Karimloo)
5:04 (John Owen-Jones)
4:43 (Colm Wilkinson)
1:43 (Earl Carpenter)
Yes more to John owen Jones
3/20/23 Hello, Glad to know there are a few people here that mentioned Colm Wilkinson
I think Michael Crawford and Gerard Butler need to be recognized for the fact that their voices are so recognizable and unique.
Right? Gerard Butler wasn't bad, he just isn't as good as people who are actually trained for this. But Webber would 't have chosen him for the film if he didn't think he was the right choice.
@@matthewcooper4248 I just can't bring myself to like him. I'm mad about the fact that Andrew had apparently offered the role to Michael and he had agreed but they just dropped him and choose Gerard instead.
@@RoseTheWeirdo Totally agree! Michael should have gotten the role in the film. I got to see Michael Crawford perform the role in New York and Los Angeles and he was stunning and heartbreaking as the Phantom!!!
@@RoseTheWeirdo That's completely fair, but there's a difference in not liking a portrayal and actually being bad in the role.
Well I couldn't stand his singing. I understand that he had only three singing lessons before the movie and I'm sure he did his best but he sounded bad imo.
Michael Crawford remains the best in my opinion, although multiple of these such as Ramin remain magnificent.
Does anyone else whisper "only then can you belong to me" when the video ends?
I do *in this darkness that you know you cannot fight. The DARKNESS of The Music of the Night.* ;)
Megan Kelley As you wipe the tears from your eyes? Yep that’s me.
After every clip, yes.
Megan Kelley omg YES!😂❤💯
Yep. Me. I have obsessions. lol.
John Owen-Jones, with two Welsh names you can hear the echos of the valleys in the richness of his voice.
The ones that moved me to tears are: Michael Crawford, Andrea Bocelli, Jose Carreras, Gerard Butler and Ramin Karimloo.
Excellent list
Nobody:
Colm Wilkinson: BAAAAAY
Maximoose 2005 I was looking for this comment.
Also Sarah: Bwohhhhhhh
Let your soul take you where you want to, BAEEEEE
Colm Wilkerson wavered
Nobody:
Sarah Brightman: BWUOOOOOE
I was really impressed by David Cook's "be" the pitch was PERFECT. His actual voice style and other notes weren't my cuppa tea but I was shocked at how lovely that note was.
He sang an A! As opposed to an Ab. Impressive resonance too!
This will always be Michael Crawfords role!!!!! And I'm very surprised at how well Gerard Butler did. But definitely Michael Crawfords role.
Michael Crawford, forever. My favorite. The most unique voice, the best, and the og.
yes yes yes I don't understand why people think anyone else is even close. He has most hauntingly beautiful voice of all time, and I almost cringe when I hear any other singer sing this song. He has such a unique voice that all of these other highly trained singers all sound like boring robotic opera singers. It's not their fault. They just aren't unique like Crawford.
Ha OG .
@@BlackPineNJ That really was clever, ha!
When I saw this video I immediately said to myself, "why are they even bothering since we already know who will be number 1 as no one else can perform the song like Michael.
It's like listening to other people try to sing the song on karaoke.
Prop to them trying though.
But anyone who doesn't say that Michael is number 1 is either tone deaf or just being a troll.
@@DarkLordDiablosI think that’s unfair- to me I don’t see how others DONT see how he obviously isn’t as strong a singer as many others on this list. Doesn’t mean he’s untalented though
How this was put together I do not know but what a fantastic job. Everyone has their favourites but giving people the opportunity to listen to all the greats is a feat in itself....thank you.
Nobody is commenting on Anthony Warlow, he's an amazing singer/performer and was perfectly cast as the phantom! I saw him in the role of the phantom during the 2007 Australian tour years ago and his portrayal was simply wonderful. Saw him again recently in Sweeney Todd, never fails to impress!
I totally agree!!!
Yes!!
Yes Warlow and Ben Lewis . Its because they are Australian Ben Lewis is head and Shoulders over many .
I think a reason for that could be that he brought the key down.
Warlow is an amazing vocalist and actor, definitely good for phantom and Sweeney, but the clip shown in this video doesn’t do him justice, that day was probably his bad day, he truly is just unbelievably amazing in other versions I’ve heard him in.
While there are many GREAT voices here, it's the pathos of Michael Crawford's voice that stands alone! Ramin is a close #2!
Wow, I wasn't expecting so much love for Gerard Butler, I thought most people hated his performance. To me, Michael Crawford remains the one and only phantom.
I'm not surprised to see the love for Gerard Butler. He is extremely powerful in his handsomeness and strong, masculine physicality which pushes that great sound out and he is a great actor as well.
He was truly awful in the film! No acting skill and certainly no emotion at all in his singing or portrayal of Phantom. Truly ghastly!!
lune78 He is my favorite. he’s got a great powerful voice. He portrays the emotional aggressiveness of the Phantom really well.
I tend to lean towards him as well since I am a rock & heavy metal type, and I **LOVE* powerful baritone voices.
Ey b0ss welcome to the rice fields
Yeah I think that’s why I like him is because I listen to Metal mostly.
I love how Colm says "BAEEEEE" 😂 I wouldn't expect anything less from him.
Ramin kinda does that too.
@@missgot2qtpies makes sense considering that colm is ramin's idol
Oh, I can't stand it when they do that.
God, his tone though.
@@Raveyl that's because it's a way easier vowel to sing high on, but it doesn't cut through the wall of sound as well.
I love how I heard Michael Crawford twice! This was so awesome.
Michael Crawford, hands down. Many others incredible, but my heart is with Crawford ❤️
Crawford had the voice, just the right timing, just the right everything… the original, never to be replaced❤️❤️❤️❤️
I wish Michael hadn't had those horrible health issues! Who knows....He might have been able to get the role for the movie! I don't know why Andrew doesn't get the archival footage of the original London cast, clean up the video and audio and release that to the public on BluRay.
Ramin’s my fave but I quite liked how Norm Lewis’ voice sounded and obviously Andrea Bocelli sounded beautiful as usual.
You should do a comparison of phantoms singing the “down once more” line. “Down that path into darkness deep as HELL!!”
the "Down Once More" part is randomly my favorite part of the whole show lol...just the passion, the pain, the frustration and resignation in the Phantom...and the audience basically knowing "uh oh, we're in for it now..."
Gerard would win😂
@@blackngoldcuttlefish3390 I love it too
@@madphantom7161 YES I'm glad to know someone else appreciates the intense emotional magic of that moment
I need this video lol
Gerald butler's short but natural and powerful 'where you long to be' will always be my favorite
I love Gerald’s version.
@@kdeggraham895 meaning you first discovered the song through him😏
@@alexkingalmighty Yes!
@@alexkingalmighty me too!
Finally some people who agree that gerard butler did an amazing job
Everyone after Michael is attempting to be as good as he was. Large and Owen-Jones came closest. He didn't need staging, mask or make up to instantly evoke the Phantom.
He exudes the character through the screen especially the one with Dale - he'd left NYC just three months earlier and was in rehearsals for the LA opening.
How many current fans realize that he worked on the note for "soar" for two months? Two months for one note because he wanted it perfect.
So many are hurky-jerky and lack the presence, the cat-like movements and magnetism that Michael had. The character was so much a part of him that you can watch his transformation whether speaking about him or in concert. It just happens without effort on his part.
Go watch MOTN from Cerritos in 1998 for his "come back" concert. You can *see* the transformation. Setting a couple rows away at his concerts really drove home that no one will ever be as good as him.
I've seen PTO 9 times the last being in 2000 and have liked other performances and said a singer would make a great Phantom. There's still only one Phantom and that's Michael
Michael Crawford! We saw him in his last performance as the Phantom in New York City. Even got his autograph.
Michael Crawford will always hold the top place in my heart. He is the OG of all phantoms and no one can top him.
Both clips of Michael Crawford show his incredible presence and his voice is music to my ears. I still believe that they should have cast the movie with him reprising his Tony Award-winning role.
Michael Crawford ..... Definitely without question 🎭💖💫
All I can say is Colm’s note is so Colm
Just take a moment to appreciate how effortlessly Andrea Bocelli hits that high note at 2:42
I totally agree!
I actually liked David Cook's take on that phrase. So many of the singers treat it like an athletic competition, and he has this lovely, soft run up to that note. Lovely contrast of softness and projection. Andrea Bochelli just makes it sound so easy. LOL!
Me too! He's got a really unique voice!
I remember watching that live and never expecting him to do that song as well as he did! He said he chose to do it that way because his reputation on the show had been to create arrangements for songs that were unusual, so he wanted to sing it straight to show he could pull it off. It was him doing this song that made me a fan and I still follow his career today.
I liked cook's natural (yet precise and very sweet) performance of it. I too dislike the overly operatic ones - and the shouters!
Crawford just has that sneakiness to his voice which fits the Phantom. Gerard Butler wins in the sexiest Phantom category. I also enjoyed Anthony Warlow and John Cudia.
For a non-singer Gerard Butler did a great job. Also liked Stig Rossen.
I was always taken by Crawford in the role and his mastery of the high notes and the last note.
I liked Gerard Butler's voice as the Phantom. He has a husky rawness to his voice that is very distinct and it was perfect for this part.
that husky rawness is why he is absolutely miscast. The phantom's voice is supposed to be refined and angelic. Its supposed to be well trained and hypnotic. Gerard butchers half the notes sounding more like he's yelling sometimes than singing. As someone with musical training I can say it isn't good on a technical level and isn't right for the part. I cringe every time I hear him sing. Gerard isn't at fault for the other disasterous aspects of the film (most noteably aside from the singing his exteme pink eye oh I'm sorry "deformity") and I might argue he isn't even at fault here. the fault lies with the casting. Look I think he looks sexy as hell but the second he opens his mouth it's all down hill.
@@madeleine5561 trained? the phantoms entire life has been alone in the depths of the opera house…how do you expect him to be trained?
@@iszyngeow a) the Phantom is a prodigy which means his voice is already naturally very good and b) as you said he grew up IN AN OPERA HOUSE therefore he would have been able to learn by listening to the lessons and singing of others. Hence how he knows how to train Christine. Hes had plenty of time to perfect it.. At the very least he would sound like he can actually sing. Butler is raw and very clearly lacks to range and knowledge of how to sing the role. Ramin and the others are haunting and beautiful. You get lulled into almost a trance just listening. As the Phantom is characterized. A literal angel of music. Gerard's voice is jarring and you can VERY clearly tell when he's struggling to reach the notes. It's not the sort of performance one expects from a character like the Phantom. The difference is especially jarring once you've heard it done properly by someone like karimloo or Crawford
yes i agreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
@@madeleine5561 Ima disagree. he took it almost to a Frank Sinatra style. More passion into his words rather than his singing he sounds exactly like what a phantom should sound like rough around the edges. breathy vocals. We all know emotion over rides the voice making emotion more powerful and stronger than singing. I mean my lawd he lives in a rocky basement lol I’d laugh if he had some Raul sounding voice. and this is a movie aspect not a play so movies will be more realistic he fits perfect if you want a play then you’ll get your extremely over opera’d technique
Also gotta remember he was casted out he’s not gonna sound like an angel anymore because he’s not
Please add in Jonathan Roxmouth.he’s an excellent Phantom to me.
agreed!!
Yes! I watched him live and I fell absolutely in love with his voice
100 percent agree with you. Saw him performing live few days ago. Is voice by far for me is the best. It’s so mesmerising. He captured the phantoms feeling completely. He def deserves more recognition
I totally agree! I watched him last week and I was mesmerised!
@@vivian9842112 without a doubt, the night is hauntingly beautiful under his voice. Spell-bound. Glad I went and would want to go again and again
Josh Groban looked surprised he even hit the note tbh.
🤣🤣🤣 There's not much in this world that makes me laugh out loud, but this comment...😂😂...I've actually got the giggles too 😂😂😂. Thanku from 🐨💛
@@Kazeemi2810 i snickered when i watched it and laughed out loud seeing your comment... too true
Lol
saw this comment and then watched him😂😂😂😂
💯 🤣
1.Ramin Karimloo
2 Michael Crawford
3.Norm Lewis
4.Gerard Butler
Heeheehee
Michael should be one
Sammy Rose it’s her opinion and I agree with Gerlyn
This is the correct order
I agree 100%
I agree
Honestly in my opinion; no one can top the pure CHEMISTRY that Sierra and Ramin have - plus the absolute power in Ramin's voice, coupled with the perfect oscillation into melodic soft passages. It's honestly as if he was born to play the phantom, and Sierra was born to play Christine.
I love how you manage to collect such a wide variety of performances, both male and female and in different languages.
Grace Howell Did he buy ticket in all these shows ?
Ramin Karimloo (no doubt)
Gerard Butler (Og phantom in the movie)
Norm lewis (amazing just amazingly amazing)
Exactly who I had in the same order
Some of my faves are Anthony Warlow, Ramin, Norm, Caleb, Michael Crawford and JOJ. Those r some of the prime examples of the best Phantom imo. Caleb really should play the role cos his cover was great
@@eljordinio7647 true
I absolutely love Ramin but when I first heard Norm Lewis I got chills
@@feeonabee same here 👍👍
If you know the character of the phantom there was something mysterious, creepy, and beautiful about him. With that being said I have to go with the OG Michael Crawford. He paved the way for all the others. Thx for putting this together.
Michael Crawford......my all time favorite phantom. ❤️
1. Ramin Karimloo (Something about his voice and the fact that I saw him live will always make him my favorite)
2. Anthony Warlow (Such a great strong voice and so good as the Phantom, wonderfully cast. Also amazing in Jekyll and Hyde singing The Confrontation and This is the Moment)
3. Gerard Butler (My first experience with the phantom and always one of my top faves and his voice is actually pretty good)
4. Caleb Hyles (He has this depth and gruffness and almost a rock edge to his voice and performance that offers this great darkness to the song that is just so Phantom of the Opera for me)
Not often to see caleb in the top 5, but I agree
you saw Ramin live? fuck I’m jealous lol
@@lulu-wc9yd It was amazing saw him live in Phantom of the Opera and in the Sequel to Phantom of the Opera called Love Never Dies as the Phantom. Amazing! It was the best moment of my life.
@@lulu-wc9yd
They released the entire broadway musical during the weekend but I think they took it down
Bel Snow oh yes I saw it and it was amazing! Now I’m binge watching all Ramin’s videos lol
Michael Crawford!!!
Finally someone who has the same opinion as me
Without a doubt!!
Totally agree!!!
Everyone else on this list is just copying his performance so what is the point in this list.
Okay but all of the guys from the Asian casts were SO GOOD!!!!!!! Like HOW HAVE I NEVER HEARD THEM BEFORE?!?!?!?!?!?
Michael and Gerard always my favorites. Gerard is my favorite personally, prob an underrated opinion idk, maybe because I knew him first, but he has an special power in high notes to make such a strong and resonating sound, like in The Point of No Return.
Ben Foster and Earl Carpenter anyone? They actually had some solid note hits. I really liked theirs.
Love Earl Carpenter's phantom. :)
Ben Forster!!!!!!
earl was an AMAZING phantom.
I usually stick to Ramin (because I think that his voice is unique and no, it's not just because hes handsome 😅) but Earl really deserves some credit 👏
love Ben!
The one, the only, the OG... Michael Crawford. After him, the great John Owen Jones, then the powerfully-voiced Ramin Karimloo. All these men are gifted (even though he was woefully miscast, I'll even give Gerard Butler credit for giving it a noble try), but those are my top three.
Michael Crawford and John Owen Jones
@@caboose1909 John Owem Jones is also very good. He was a very good Valjean in Le Mis, as well.
I greatly appreciate this.
agreed
I feel like we can all agree that Sierra, Emmy, and Gina learned the character of Christine the best. Christine loved the Phantom, whether you think of it as a teacher/best friend way or a romantic way, she loved him. I feel like the majority of Christines completely lack all chemistry with the Phantom they are working with. Gina, Sierra, and Emmy don't do that. They are hypnotized, completely dazed, they show Christine can have a big part in this song too when it comes to emotion through facial expressions.
JulietteMarie this is so true! Christine did love the Phantom. People can debate what kind of love it was, but the most beautiful and poetic part of this story is that even after EVERYTHING she went through, it was still so hard for her to leave him. He was a part of her.
Yay Emmy!
no Sarah Brightman
JulietteMarie Yeees! Gina and Sierra are my favorites!
... Oh, trust me, we do not all agree... and there are probably hundreds of Christines out there who have/had fantastic chemistry with their Phantoms. Actresses also choose to portray her differently, so you can't compare all of them on the same acting choices/portrayals. No one can have possibly watched all of them, anyway. You of can, course have your own opinion, though.
Michael Crawford! Not too short, yet succinct and powerful and perfect!
I wish it was possible to hear Freddy Mercury sing this
Janice R agree but he’d probably do some skat daddy eh-o call and response thing in there that would kill me :)
HELL YES!!!
Ask Marc Martel
Yes!!!
Janice R I don’t think he would suit it
This wonderful 12-minute "contest" is a testament to Webber's genius. Just think, he heard it first ... in his mind.
I love this comment
Except of course for the taaaaatatatatataaaa...tatatatataaaaaa tatatatataaaaaaa ... which was first first heard 15 years earlier in Pink Floyd's Echoes. Roger Waters later retaliated by writing "...Lloyd Webber's awful stuff runs for years and years and years. An earthquake hits the theater but the operetta lingers. Then the piano lid comes down... and breaks his fucking fingers. It's a miracle."
And then there's Ravel, Puccini, Ray Repp, Mendelssohn, Frank Loesser. They were all dead of course. And Roger did not want to waste his time taking a serial plagariser to court. But yeah, hey, well done Andrew!
（～the phantom of the opera is here) ...inside my mind~~~
Saw Colm Wilkinson live and his top note was held extra long and gave me this shivers - amazing!
Honestly, with the way Ramin sings it so passionately, he's my favorite.😁
Josh Groban looks as though he realizes he left the iron on just as hes about to hit the big note 😂 watch from 8:04
Luke Primmer 😂😂😂😂 PERFECT ANALOGY
IM-
HAHAHAAA
When your mom comes home but you didn’t clean your room
Luke Primmer 😂😂😂 I laughed when I saw his face, but I almost peed myself when I read your comment! 😂😂😂
For me Michael Crawford and Ramin are almost even with Michael being in front
Gerald is my fav phantom the chemistry between him and Emma is so electrifying. That is why he will always by my fav phantom.
Micheal Crawford hit that note with the pure emotion behind it.
Watching others after him, they are, as so many do, trying too hard. There are those that hit the note perfectly. They hold hold it to perfection. But they lack the emotion.
Others try to emulate the emotion, but in their desire to recreate it ultimately fall short.
When a song has been sung so iconically, everything else will always be compared to it.
Yep! And if all others admit it at some level they wondered if they could stack up to Michael.
For me John Owen Jones has the best voice on this video by a mile. So gentle yet so powerful and beautifully controlled. The only two phantoms that come close to him for me are Michael Crawford (who I think is the greatest phantom of all time) for the way his voice is so ghostly and soft, and Ramin Karimloo who I think plays the part brilliantly and has a great voice.
John Owen Jones is indeed the best for me as well.
Completely agree. John Owen Jones had SO much ring, and sustains it forever....
Michael Crawford, Ramin Karimloo, and Gerard Butler , etc are all of the best
lmao gerard butler is hot but... no
They’re all absolutely brilliant, but my vote has to go to John Owen Jones, Michael Crawford, and yes, Gerard Butler. Butler may not have the technical capabilities of the others, but that raspiness in his voice gives the Phantom even more mystery and emotion, IMHO.
Gerard Butler killed the passion of the role. He was THE PHANTOM. Great acting.
Ramin Karimloo no one can better him, the richness and clarity in his voice is superb ❤️
All so talented, but I grew up with Michael Crawford so he’s my favorite!
David Cook had a few days rehearsal and nailed it. Michael Crawford has that eeriness about him no one else has.
It is completely subjective to preference and exposure. Personally, Gerard Butler sounds best to me as I grew up with the 2004 film on repeat! I absolutely appreciate the different voices, but Gerard's voice sits somewhere personal for me. It holds more emotion as I have pretty much revised for years on end how his intonation changes to suit emotions; I think that the more you are familiar with how a person uses their voice to portray their feelings, the stronger the connection you have to them and their adaption of the character - you understand how they feel and can remember your own feelings that arose from seeing their portrayal. This personal connection to characters has no quantitive proof to suggest who is best.
Yep, I agree with your opening sentence and explanation! I have the opposite reaction to the singers (I absolutely can't stand Gerard Butler, sorry), but of course I've grown up with Michael Crawford and Anthony Warlow in the roles, so they are the definitive versions (especially Anthony Warlow). Similarly, if Butler was the version you grew up with, that's what you'd expect a Phantom to show and would judge the others by.
It's still a fun exercise. And I'm awed at the sheer number who have attempted it! And the interesting differences between them.
Beautiful compilation, tons of time and work and research to put this together. I may be 'slanted' but Michael Crawford still stands atop my list of some of these greats.
1. John Owen-Jones
2. Hugh Panaro
3. Ramin Karimloo
Ramin is hands down the best phantom I’ve ever seen, truly plays the part perfectly. John Owen jones and norm Lewis are definitely the other 2 best vocalists on this
I recently saw him in concert and he did Music of the Night during the encore. The way he slips into character...he IS the Phantom.
I showed my mom the 25th anniversary concert (on amazon) and she kept saying “who is this guy?! He’s amazing!!” And when I pulled up pictures of Ramin on google she was like “why is he shirtless in this one” and I was like oop i’ll just take my phone back thanks
Megan Hart (my personal opinion) Michael Crawford IS the phantom. He was the original, and will always be my favorite. I'm not saying he's my favorite just because he's the original though xD. I originally saw the movie version, and many others, but something about Michael just seems to captivate me and the way his voice flows perfectly is just hnnnnnngggggg
Michael Crawford 1 2 3 and 4. Its not just the voice, but the acting, the movement, choreography, its his whole memorising delivery which makes him untouchable. Timeless masterpiece.
Thank you.. I was never a huge fan of Crawford, but watching this has made me realise he is the iconic and only Phantom.. not just his voice but his movements and presence embody the perfect performer.
You're asking the wrong question. The hardest note for the Phantom in this piece is his last one. Sustaining that note through those slow, creeping chord changes is a real challenge as "brute force" won't work - you need amazing breath control which Crawford had.
I disagree. Crawford's voice lacked the requisite size for that note.
Mike Pinc. Thats absolutely ridiculous.
PPP GGG unfortunately he sounds like he has sinusitis is the rest of it
Apples and oranges.
Yes, sustaining that note for that long through all of those key changes is challenging. But if I were to cast my phantom, I would pay more attention to the power note.
Getting to it, hitting it, holding it, and all the while expressing the power and emotion that go along with it are much more memorable and in keeping with the Phantom, as a character.
⚫ The original Phantom : Michael Crawford
🔵 Best voice for this selection: John Owen Jones
🔴 Sound-engineered but nevertheless pleasant to the ear: Gerard Butler
⚪ Best performance that just plucks at the heartstrings: Ramin
John Owen Jones for sure , he sang that “Beee” by raising from lower to higher notes. Too beautiful. Most of them just sang the high note with 1 flat note
Exactly!
Agreed
Crawford for me. I grew up hearing him and Brightman on the “Highlights from PotO” audiocassette, so he’ll always be the OG OG for me.