A possible part to add this song may be after the nightmare sequence to replace the sun and moon reprise. Another possible part to insert this song could be right after "Please" before the nightmare sequence. Maybe add it after the entr'acte? Wouldn't make sense with the line "knowing soon we'd be together" though.
Lea is colouring this so well and presenting it so beautifully that my eyes are watering up whenever I listen to it. As I am a parent myself I can feel every word of that song right in my heart. This song is as heartbreaking as "I'd give my life for you" and the scene when she, dying in his arms, tells Chris "The gods have guided you to your son". Lea is a goddess!
IMHO, I like both Please and Too Much for One Heart, and think both versions should have been included in the musical. But if one had to choose, Please is the better song. There is an emotional climax achieved by the blending of Kim and John’s voices in the final stanza of Please by the unusual overlaying of melodies. The tension builds between these characters and is “resolved” in the final one, with such beauty, that it makes the song unforgettable, sets up the tragedy to come, and is the last melodic song in the musical that descends from this point on into chaos and despair. The second reason Please works better is because the audience knows something the character does not yet know--a secret John has come to tell her that will change everything. We know Kim will never realize her hope of uniting with Chris because Chris has remarried. And we also know why John cannot bring himself to break it to her, for her hope is so unexpected and powerful and beautiful that he realizes he is not the person to deliver the truth to Kim. It must come from Chris. That inner tension which comes from the audience being “in on the secret” lends the song it’s great power. In contrast, Too Much for One Heart, while equally beautiful, is more of an interlude, a mother loving her newborn and looking forward to sharing life again with her child’s father. And it lacks that second melody line in the last stanza of Please (“They don’t say in the files there’s a woman in love here”), and so ends on a calm, rather than climactic note.
Outside, there is a war In here the night is still The jasmine buds have bloomed The way the jasmine will And I have given birth to a speckle of dust To a sparkle of light To a small hint of life Frail as a flower in the morning Is this tiny work of art When I see his face before me This is too much for one heart Here like a seedling in a garden Is a world about to start How I need you here to share it This is too much for one heart Yours... Half of all of this is yours And I swear upon the moon Soon, you will see The best of you and me And a smile that is shining On the face of your son All alone in my arms I hold such beauty I want time to stop right here Make perfection last forever In which I could disappear Disappear Yours... Half of all of this is yours And now I feel you coming near Here you will see The best of you and me Both our stories combining In this life we've begun I have been living with such wonder That my soul could burst apart Knowing soon we'll be together And it's too much for one heart
I understand why they put the song "Please" because it is really moving the story of the show. However, this song is so beautiful lyrically and could have been Kim's signature solo. They should have put both songs, with the other one as reprise. People would not mind an extra 3 minute song. I believe it would be one of the famous songs from this show.
Outside there is a war, In here the night is still. The jasmine buds have bloomed, The way the jasmine will. And i have given birth to a speckle of dust, To a sparkle of light To a small hint of life. Frail as a flower in the morning Is this tiny work of art When i see his face before me This is too much for one heart Here like a seedling in the garden Is a world about to start How i need you here to share it This is too much for one heart Yours, half of all of this is yours And i swear it on the moon Soon you will see, the best of you and me In the smile that is shining On the face of your son All alone in my arms i hold such beauty I want time to stop right here Make perfection last forever In which i could disappear, disappear. Yours, half of all of this is yours And now i feel you coming near Here, you will see the best of you and me For life stories combining In this life weve begun I have been living with such wonder That my soul could burst apart, Knowing soon well be together And its too much for one heart.
If you watch the "Making of Miss Saigon" video, it was actually Monique Wilson who performed to this song during the final selection between Lea and Monique. Lea got the part but Monique was the understudy.
I understand how they replaced this with "Please" but this song is just so gorgeous it's sad to see it go... If anyone happens to have sheet music for this song, let me know!
The last showing of Miss Saigon with Lea in it was around 2001 at Manila, Philippines. I was lucky enough to watch it but a different actress was doing Kim. I was younger then so I did not appreciate the show as much as I appreciate it now. :D
I absolutely Love 'please' but Absolutly love this one just as much. Truth is it all depends on the music and the story - hence - no stage shows of predater !!
Funny how she mentions the "jasmine buds" 'cause she was the singing voice for Jasmine in "Aladdin," though a few years after "Miss Saigon" so she couldn't have known that at the time this song was written and she originally performed it.
I was lucky enough to be in London at the time "Miss Saigon" was just rocketing to success, and saw the original cast with Lea Salonga and Jonathan Pryce. I've been a fan of Miss Salonga ever since. It's been interesting seing her mature as a performer over the years, much the same as her Miss Saigon character matured during the program.
I saw her play Kim a day before Miss Saigon closed...The best Kim EVER!! I've seen Miss Saigon 4 times and she by far owns Kim! Amazing, amazing, amazing!
