On My Own (Les Misérables timbre)

"On My Own" is a solo from the 1980 musical Les Misérablesfor the part of Éponine. Beginning in the key of D major, modulating to Bb major, then ending in F major, this is the most important song for the role of Éponine. In the song, she expresses her unrequited love for the character Marius, and how she dreams of being at his side but knows his love is for Cosette and not for her.

The solo did not exist in the original French show that opened in 1980. When the English version was written, the music for "On My Own" was adapted from the original French solo "L'Air de la Misère" which was sung by Fantine about her misery and suffering. In turn, Éponine's original French solo, "L'un Vers L'autre", was dropped in the English version. In the later 1991 Parisian version, the title was "Mon Histoire" (My story). However, "On My Own" has become one of the most famous songs in the musical, and Éponine one of its most popular characters.

The first actress to play Éponine (English version) on stage was Frances Ruffelle; her version of "On My Own" is preserved on both the Original London and Broadway cast albums.

It has appeared in many famous events outside of Les Misérables.

Michelle Kwan skated to "On My Own" during the 1997 Skate America competition as well as the 1998 Tokyo Golden Gala.

The character of Joey Potter in Dawson's Creek, played by Katie Holmes, sang this song at a talent show phase of a beauty show, (Season 1, Episode 12) in which she participated. In the pilot episode of Glee, the character of Rachel Berry, played by Lea Michele, sang this song as her audition piece for the New Directions glee club, this version charted at number 42 in Ireland and 73 in the UK.[1] Singer Joey Sontz recorded "On My Own" for his debut album "Chasing The Dream" in 2012.

For her audition for Miss Saigon, the then 17-year-old Lea Salonga chose to sing the song and was later asked to sing "Sun and Moon" from Miss Saigon, impressing the audition panel.[2] Salonga has sometimes credited "On My Own" as the starting point of her international career.[3]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Glee Cast – On My Own". aCharts.us. Retrieved 16 February 2010.
  2. ^ "Behr, Edward and Mark Steyn, The Story of Miss Saigon, New York: Arcade Publishing, 1991". Archived from the original on 15 December 2007.
  3. ^ Pierce, Scott. "Stars reveal song that changed their lives in new TV series", The Salt Lake Tribune, 30 March 2012, accessed 10 July 2016

Overview

KEY INFORMATION

Song Title

On My Own

Show

Les Misérables

Character

Éponine

Gender

Female

Age Range

Late Teen

Vocal Part(s)

Mezzo-Soprano

High Note

C5

Low Note

F3

Style

Ballad, Dramatic

Tags

dramatic ballad belt street-smart caring loyal lover passion unrequited love  urchin 

Context

Éponine was wealthy, spoiled, and pampered as child (the daughter of

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Lyrics

Video Clips

Karaoke

The London Cast Recording: Buy on Amazon.
Original Broadway Cast Recording: Buy on Amazon.
Vocal Selections: Buy on Amazon.
Rent the film on Amazon Video.

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On My Own

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What is the melody of on my own?

"On My Own" is Éponine Thénardier's solo and is her most important song in the musical. It is one of the production's most famous songs. It is sung in the melody of "Come to Me / Fantine's Death". ... On My Own..

What is the rhythm of Les Misérables?

Les Misérables is a sung-through pop operetta with plodding four-square rhythms and long stretches of rhymed recitative.

What style of song is on my own?

On My Own (Yasmin song).

What vocal range is on my own?

Les Misérables - On My Own: Vocal Range & Original Key.