I'd say: 1.) JOJ/Jeff Leyton (this video does him NO justice) 2.) Peter Karrie 3.) Hans Peter Janssens 4.) Colm Wilkinson 5.) Drew Sarich 6.) Robert Marien
You are right about Dave Willetts..he does such a great job. Theres a great CD with him and Claire Moore singing several of the songs from Les Miz, and they both do a terrific job
@itbejess Yes, he did play that role. And I love Sarich's Who Am I. Who can't? He isn't too young. Not in the slightest. He shows the most emotion I have ever seen, and just because he's not an old person, that does not mean he can't play Valjean. He is quite the actor and singer, and my all time favorite Valjean. JOJ is a close second.
It is all about the last note and I think Drew nailed it. I always think of Colm when I think of JOJ. But I love Drew. I liked Peter too. I think they all bring something great to the character...so yay for ALL!!!
He was very good as Enjorlas a couple of years ago. Then again, that role is made for someone around his age and he's much more suited for it. I agree 100% with you about him being too awkward as Valjean.
I really love drew sarich, but I'm only completely satisfied with his valjean in "what have I done." My favorite has got to be JOJ. I feel his vocals are usually the strongest and carry the most emotion.
Colm Wilkinson, no matter what anyone says, is Jean Valjean. Anyone else may be a better singer if you think; but Colm's emotion and feeling are beyond any other man. Colm Wilkinson is to Jean Valjean as Michael Crawford is THE phantom of the opera.
I've seen and heard lots of JVJ's over the decades. Saw Colm in London's original company and many of his excellent successors. However, from these samplings I would say that John Owen Jones is the only JVJ who approaches the vocal and emotional depth of Colm. It's a difficult role requiring not only a masterful singer/actor but also a grandness to lead a company of this size in a musical of these proportions. John Own Jones is quite impressive -- and Colm, well, he IS Jean Valjean.
@JoshA1990 Yes, it does really sound like he said "cry"! It sounds like most of these guys are just trying to sound really deep and throaty to be dramatic, but when they go into falsetto, it ruins it.
Colm Wilkinson IS Jean Valjean. The rest are great singers, some technically better than Wilkinson, but only Wilkinson has the true inner passion that makes Valjean live in our hearts.
Colm is the original Valjean, so he takes the place as the best in many of our hearts, but I have to say that there are people on this video that did a much better job. John Owen-Jones and Drew Sarich? Pretty damn good Valjeans, if you ask me.
Ranked from Most Impressive to Least: 1. Owen-Jones 2. Marien 3. Sarich 4. Wilkinson 5. Karrie 6. Leyton 7. Janssens (I took points off of him because he didn't even try the high ending)
JOJ and Drew Sarich do it for me:) If I had to choose one, I'd say John, because Drew's voice sounds quite young for Valjean... nonetheless, when I hear him sing, my stomach does weird things
Yeah, these are all the greatest VJ's, but Colm and Drew take the cake. JOJ's pretty good too, but he doesn't have enough of the gruffness/emotion behind his voice that Colm and Drew have.
The recording for Colm doesnt do him justice, the quality is poor and it almost sound as he is yelling, listen to another recording and youll be surprised, hes the best by far. JOJ is the second best. Drew Sarich's tecnique is terrible, I'm surprised how much people like him, I prefer him as Javert.
John Owen-jones is probably my favorite pick. too much Vibrato for me with Robert. Not a big fan of Hans either but once he gets going he's better. Drew isn't very traditional for his voice but I do like him. I do like peter...what I can hear of it.
The tape of Colm Wilkinson is slowed down, which is why his voice sounds deeper; it's just a poor quality recording. The best ones are not represented here, in my opinion. Bart Shatto, David Michael Felty, and Alfie Boe do great versions.
No, I gotta agree with JSanzLesMis421. Singing Bring Him Home with a gun in your hand is a poor choice. It's not direction. I've never seen another Valjean do it. It was a clear choice. Drew is great, but he def. isn't right for Valjean.
Robert Marien rushes and breaks off his words. Too mcu vibrato. Owen Jones has had opera training. Love his voice and also love Colm's. Jeff also needs to slow down. Impressive voice. Hans Peter Janssens also had opera training although his sound is muffled. But I hate his ending. Not too impressed with Drew Sarich. More of a pop sound.
Perhaps in singing potential Jones surpasses Colm, that I can agree with, but JOJ's style seems very... forced, almost over dramatic, Colm does Who am I, and the entire show, in a much more Valjean way! In my opinion anyway. I agree with you about Drew Sarich, Valjean needs to sound like a MAN, a very English man!
Robert Marien sucks here. His voice is much deeper than that usually. That recording is horrible. Robert usually sounds a lot closer to Colm Wilkinson.
Colm is definitely excellent, but John Owen Jones I think surpasses colm on many levels. Drew Sarich I think is an awful actor and far too "young" and "american" sounding for a show like les mis. A plain awkward Val Jean and Javert from what I've seen.
If you watch the Tenth Anniversary Concert with Colm Wilkinson, there is no question. He is the ultimate Valjean.
Should've put the Hungarian Valjean on here for laughs😂 "2-4-6-0 AHHHHHHHH"
Katie Tucker idk if it was intentional or if he just wasn't trained well enough to support that belt and so it came out as a scream
COlm's voice sounds deeper than usual
Colm's voice sounds deeper than usual
The original “Who Am I?” key was in Bb, a half step down from the B key of today. Hope this helps explain it haha.
I'd say:
1.) JOJ/Jeff Leyton (this video does him NO justice)
2.) Peter Karrie
3.) Hans Peter Janssens
4.) Colm Wilkinson
5.) Drew Sarich
6.) Robert Marien
John Owen Jones is by far the best. WHAT A GLORIOUS GOD.
You are right about Dave Willetts..he does such a great job. Theres a great CD with him and Claire Moore singing several of the songs from Les Miz, and they both do a terrific job
@itbejess Yes, he did play that role. And I love Sarich's Who Am I. Who can't? He isn't too young. Not in the slightest. He shows the most emotion I have ever seen, and just because he's not an old person, that does not mean he can't play Valjean. He is quite the actor and singer, and my all time favorite Valjean. JOJ is a close second.
why the hell don't you make one then?! This vid is great! You can hear it perfectly!
I have to say Mr. Drew Sarich is my FAVORITE!
But I cannot wait to see Hugh Panaro tackle the role this summer.
It is all about the last note and I think Drew nailed it. I always think of Colm when I think of JOJ. But I love Drew. I liked Peter too. I think they all bring something great to the character...so yay for ALL!!!
John Owen Jones and Drew Sarich are the best!
Colm Wilkinson! So glad to see him performing live.
John Owen Jones...........Ooooooooooooooh Mmmmmmmmmmy Gooooooooooooooooooooood. Who is he? 24601!!!!! Wooooow.
He was very good as Enjorlas a couple of years ago. Then again, that role is made for someone around his age and he's much more suited for it. I agree 100% with you about him being too awkward as Valjean.
Peter Karrie ❤
2:49 = one of the most beautiful notes in the history of musical theater.
Yes he is. Robert has a beautiful voice. He is French Canadian by the way.
Drew all the way!! I love him!!!!
JOJ all the way for me, then Colm.
@costerluver It was taken during previews...all the music was taken down.
JOJ is absolutely amazing and beats them all.
@LECAPITAINEJACK Isn't he the French Valjean at the end of the 10th Anniversary Concert?
I really love drew sarich, but I'm only completely satisfied with his valjean in "what have I done." My favorite has got to be JOJ. I feel his vocals are usually the strongest and carry the most emotion.
@ajtokarz I don't think so. If you listen to the original London and Broadway recordings Colm sings in the same key that everyone is now used to.
JOHN OWEN JONES!!!!!!!!!!!!
4EVER
IMHO I think John Owen-Jones is the best Valjean. He really plays the part.
@neilrobinson1976 It is colm. He's just much much older here. I think he reprised the role in his hometown.
Colm Wilkinson, no matter what anyone says, is Jean Valjean.
Anyone else may be a better singer if you think; but Colm's emotion and feeling are beyond any other man.
Colm Wilkinson is to Jean Valjean as Michael Crawford is THE phantom of the opera.
There is only ONE VJ...Colm!
I've seen and heard lots of JVJ's over the decades. Saw Colm in London's original company and many of his excellent successors. However, from these samplings I would say that John Owen Jones is the only JVJ who approaches the vocal and emotional depth of Colm. It's a difficult role requiring not only a masterful singer/actor but also a grandness to lead a company of this size in a musical of these proportions. John Own Jones is quite impressive -- and Colm, well, he IS Jean Valjean.
if you do another one of these you for sure have to add Alfie Boe
I was thinking the exact same thing. Does he sound like that or is it a bad recording?
@JoshA1990 Yes, it does really sound like he said "cry"! It sounds like most of these guys are just trying to sound really deep and throaty to be dramatic, but when they go into falsetto, it ruins it.
Colm Wilkinson IS Jean Valjean. The rest are great singers, some technically better than Wilkinson, but only Wilkinson has the true inner passion that makes Valjean live in our hearts.
Colm is the original Valjean, so he takes the place as the best in many of our hearts, but I have to say that there are people on this video that did a much better job. John Owen-Jones and Drew Sarich? Pretty damn good Valjeans, if you ask me.
Ranked from Most Impressive to Least:
1. Owen-Jones
2. Marien
3. Sarich
4. Wilkinson
5. Karrie
6. Leyton
7. Janssens (I took points off of him because he didn't even try the high ending)
well said mfibill, stig is AMAZING!!!!
Drew Sarich all the way of those here, with Colm second.
Personally, I love Hugh Panaro as well.
Colm and Drew are the best.
Jean Valjean... not Javert, right? XD
You gotta add Alfie Boe... Terrific...
i love john owen jones
it weird i like jeff leyton's singing, but here his 24601 ends in a weird scream, even though he did it fine at the medley it really ruins it for me.
Check your ears all! Musically, it ended at #2. JOJ is the bomb!
JOJ and Drew Sarich do it for me:) If I had to choose one, I'd say John, because Drew's voice sounds quite young for Valjean... nonetheless, when I hear him sing, my stomach does weird things
Yeah, these are all the greatest VJ's, but Colm and Drew take the cake. JOJ's pretty good too, but he doesn't have enough of the gruffness/emotion behind his voice that Colm and Drew have.
you need to re pitch colms recording
The recording for Colm doesnt do him justice, the quality is poor and it almost sound as he is yelling, listen to another recording and youll be surprised, hes the best by far. JOJ is the second best. Drew Sarich's tecnique is terrible, I'm surprised how much people like him, I prefer him as Javert.
I hear the cymbal crash, but listen past that and you will hear what I'm talking about.
John Owen-jones is probably my favorite pick. too much Vibrato for me with Robert. Not a big fan of Hans either but once he gets going he's better. Drew isn't very traditional for his voice but I do like him. I do like peter...what I can hear of it.
The tape of Colm Wilkinson is slowed down, which is why his voice sounds deeper; it's just a poor quality recording. The best ones are not represented here, in my opinion. Bart Shatto, David Michael Felty, and Alfie Boe do great versions.
Ramin Karimloo as well
HPJ didn't even attempt the money note! What a copout! If he doesn't have the vocal range, why did they cast him?
@LECAPITAINEJACK That explains why he is so fluent in French and English...
You got that right. JOJ's voice is better than Colm's (in my opinion), but you can't match have good Colm plays the role.
John owen jones beats every valjean
John Owen Jones is streets ahead of the rest!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
@ironfistofmaiden Interesting info but Andrew Lloyd Webber has nothing to do with Les Miserables. It was produced by Cameron Mackintosh.
*bows down to Colm Wilkinson*
Drew Sarich IS SOOO Amazing but I prefer him in more Rock styled shows
I really like Hans Peter Janssens here. I'd prefer this role better than Javert for him.
no one can seem do it for me like colm can... i don't know what it is!
Colm is the runaway winner
Colm's is definitely slowed down, his voice isn't that deep.
Personally I like Alfie Boe the best :P. But he wasn't in this video :C
@isabellazanetto JOJ is great but have you seen Alfie Boe
Robert Marien sounds like he's sitting on a vibrating massage chair. xD Bit too much vibratto, don't you think?
No, I gotta agree with JSanzLesMis421. Singing Bring Him Home with a gun in your hand is a poor choice. It's not direction. I've never seen another Valjean do it. It was a clear choice. Drew is great, but he def. isn't right for Valjean.
Robert Marien rushes and breaks off his words. Too mcu vibrato. Owen Jones has had opera training. Love his voice and also love Colm's. Jeff also needs to slow down. Impressive voice. Hans Peter Janssens also had opera training although his sound is muffled. But I hate his ending. Not too impressed with Drew Sarich. More of a pop sound.
Perhaps in singing potential Jones surpasses Colm, that I can agree with, but JOJ's style seems very... forced, almost over dramatic, Colm does Who am I, and the entire show, in a much more Valjean way! In my opinion anyway. I agree with you about Drew Sarich, Valjean needs to sound like a MAN, a very English man!
Colm was not at his best voice condition here, obviously.
No Hans Peter Janssens......
Colm Biffed it though
He pooped out on the last note
Drew's high B sounded falsetto/too girly.
John Owen Jones...
I don't even need to listen to this, Wilkinson and Leyton win by default
Colm easily
colm and JOJ the best by a country mile
hans just doesnt do it for me :/
Where the fudge is Alfie Boe? o.O
Sarich then Jones
cant believe alfie boe is not in this list. he is one of the best valjeans vocal-wise. john owen jones and alfie boe are my top 2 favorite valjeans
JEFF LEYTON IS THE BEST!!!
Robert Marien sucks here. His voice is much deeper than that usually. That recording is horrible. Robert usually sounds a lot closer to Colm Wilkinson.
Colm is definitely excellent, but John Owen Jones I think surpasses colm on many levels. Drew Sarich I think is an awful actor and far too "young" and "american" sounding for a show like les mis. A plain awkward Val Jean and Javert from what I've seen.
o my god drew is the best all the rest sucked drew took home the trophy! the others need singing lessons! ahahah