Playing Mimi seems to be the pre req for playing Vanessa in In The Heights (Karen, Lexi, Marcy, Arielle) lol

What I don't understand is why Vanessa Hudgens mimi was bothering that poor homeless person

tbh i feel like mimi was a character meant to showcase so many different voices and it turned into the same two voices over and over. daphne will always be my favorite.

daphne just has that gritty and true portrayal of an addict so perfected

i think that most of these actresses were trying too hard to sound like daphne’s. i think there’s a huge distinction between rosario’s and daphne’s mimi and i think that’s why i like them both the most. i love daphne’s mimi because she’s the dirty, gritty mimi and i love that about her. i’m in love with rosario’s because i think her voice is gorgeous and she sound the most like a 19 year old. i love renee with my whole heart because she can really hit those belting notes. anyway, that’s my ted talk

Phillipa is a BREATH TAKING Mimi✨ She gives the character so much more depth and emotion it's amazing🙌🏻 If you get the opportunity to watch her, treasure it☺️

No one can hit the note like Renee, she’s my favourite

Wtf was up with Iceland 😂😂😂😂😭😭😭😭

Daphne was apart of the opening on Broadway cast as well as off. Saying that she was just on the off Broadway show is incorrect.

Uh... What's up with Iceland?

Did Iceland have a thing for dubstep musicals lol

Unlike most of y'all, I actually got to see Daphne Rubin Vega as Mimi live onstage. I had first seen the show in July of 1997 on Broadway. By that point Daphne had left the show so my first Mimi was Marcy Harriel, whom I liked very much. I saw most of the OBC, except Daphne and Idina Menzel on that matinee performance on Broadway. The 1st national tour of Rent had a lengthy premiere run at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles where I live so I did the discount ticket line thing and saw it many times front row center. I won the lottery for the final performance in L.A., one of the most memorable performances of any show I've seen. Not long after, the 2nd national tour of Rent was going to play L.A.'s now-gone Shubert Theatre (my fave theatre in L.A.--turned into a parking lot and office building, grrr) and it was announced that Daphne Rubin Vega would be reprising the role of Mimi for that L.A. return engagement. To my delight, just like they did during the initial L.A. engagement at the Ahmanson, they offered the entire first 2 rows for $20 a seat, first come, first served. I knew Daphne would draw a large crowd of fans, so I slept overnight on the cold pavement outside the Shubert Theatre along with other crazy fans to ensure my tickets, then had to wait almost half a day for the box office to open. By the time I got my tickets, I was in a half trance of sleep deprivation and seriously doubted I could keep my eyes open for the show. I was like, "Great! All of that and I'm just going to end up sleeping for the duration of the show and it will be as if I never saw it or Daphne at all!" The opening was a blur to me. I had trouble staying awake all the way up until Daphne came onstage for "Light My Candle" and suddenly, I was wide awake! It was strange seeing her live on stage. She was so small and looked like a child, I remember thinking. And her voice sounded thrilling live. And then "Out Tonight" came on and that ensured my eyes would remain open for the rest of the night. WOW! Her performance of that number was so incredible, I was left in awe. It was so forceful and thrilling! The way she grabbed the rail and swung to a sitting position for the slower portion of the song was so acrobatic, it kinda startled me because it seemed she might jump right into our laps in the first row! You could tell she, by that point, had performed the number so many times, she was a pro at it and had high confidence which made it unforgettable. The rest of her performance was just as good. I loved her before I saw her live but had no idea she would be so much more impressive than I had already imagined she'd be. To me, there is no question as to who is the best Mimi I've seen onstage (or from what I've seen of others on video, even though I know it's probably different live). Daphne is simply the embodiment of that character. I feel so privileged to have seen her, especially during a time when she was performing her final shows ever as Mimi. I just barely caught her and it was worth trying to sleep on the pavement and all the obnoxious talking from the other fans at night. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

I’m actually obsessed with Simone OMG

11:45 Leave it to the Swedish to make it into basically a heavy metal song lol.... I love it!

Never heard of some of these, but a lot are some of my faves now!!

6:19 Karen Olivo + Sharon Leal 8:45 Karima Machehour 9:18 Saycon Sengbloh

Rosario and Renee will always be my favorites

Renee and Rosario are my 2 faves

I didn’t know what to expect with Rosario Dawson as Mimi, especially being one of the few actors that were not part of the original cast for the movie but honestly she blew me away! I love that she’s a Puerto Rican, NY native that has actually experienced the NY that is the main character of RENT…and on top of that not a trained vocalist! Hands down my favorite Mimi ❤️

Love Ngo Ofene Ngofa’s belt at 19:00 !!! Love it when Mimi’s sing “Out” instead of “A-ooot” too, sounds so rocky 😍 Also love how so many people are saying that people are trying to hard to sing like Daphne/sound similar when 90% of legit musical theatre sounds the same 👀

Wow. That compilation looks like a lot of hard work to put together.

Lexi Lawson is such an underrated Mimi 💕

Jaime Lee Kirchner was INCREDIBLY underrated as Mimi.

Simone is amazing!

I never knew Mel B did rent!

do you have the full version of karen olivo singing it? i would love to have that as she’s my personal hero.

I have seen rent way too many times to count. but first the videos do no justice to live performances. the video here for antonique Smith was horrible quality but she is by far the best Mimi I have ever seen. she gives you goosebumps. her performance of Another day is just so far beyond anything I ever seen ! karmine alers rocked it when I saw her too. and I have to say I was so iffy about Tamara Gray going into the show and she blew me away. I saw Renee a few weeks before closing. she gave an exceptional performance as well !! and of course Daphne will always be the original dirty and gritty Mimi.

So much about Rosario Dawson is Mimi. She grew up in New York watching tanks drive by out her window as they would clear out the homeless. Not only is she a walk on, but she can sing and she owns her role and I love it. Best person to play Mimi ever.

ESTÁ FLOR OTERO!!! Thank you so very much ^^

Daphne the original will always be the best ❤

Rent Remixed was a horrible idea. Wow!

Wow, can we talk about Maya Days jump? :O

i saw skyler she was amazing

PHILIPPA STEFANI. THAT IS ALL. (Also Rosario Dawson)

In my opinion I feel like Rene was one of the best Mimi's she was amazing

I saw Sharon Leal about 30 times and she is amazing!!!

YAS SIMONE

5:24 are you okay girl?

Philippa is phenomenal!

Renee is my favorite. 💛

That Italian version was fire.

Ciara Renee is incredible

CIARA HOLY FUCK

Daphne, Rosario. The only Mimi’s who have my heart

My ranking: 1- Renée 2- Rosario/Tamyra 3- Sun-ah 4- Daphne 5- Karen (Mok)

Daphne imo always had best energy for Out tonight that alot of the other Mimi's lacked and was more daring with the dancing despite not being best singer. So stage wise it was Daphne but imo Antonique matched her energy. I hate to say this but Renee's mimi always felt too clean cut to buy as Mimi.

I’m surprised Mel B played in Rent before

Nurlaila Karim!! Damn!!

Daphne will always be my favorite. She's so raw, edgy and unique.

debbie kurup had to be my favorite sound out of all of them. but they all have such talent in their own ways.

Renee

SKYLER VOLPE IS ONE OF THE BEST MIMIS AND THATS THE TEA

Daphne because she started it all and Mr. Larson picked her himself. Marcy Harriell because she was the first I saw on stage. Jamie-Lee and Tamyra are beyond great and have the right energy. BY FAR LEAST FAVORITES: Rosario and Renee (great voice but that vibrato on Mimi is just off)

Who allowed Vanessa Hudgens to do musical theater??

why iceland.... why?

Wait what performance is the Daphne video from? That’s some NICE QUALITY do you have the whole show??

Just take me OUTTTTTT TONIGHT LOL XD

what is that dusseldorf costume

skyler volpe! 😍

Daphne will always be the true Mimi.

Rosario Dawson and Ciara Renée are my favorites. But I’m 100% biased on the latter😂

Rosario Dawson ❤️❤️ Renee ❤️❤️

Can you post all of the off-broadway performances from the year 1996 ? Pleaseee

Woah woah woah Mel B played Mimi once?

LMAOOOOOO VANESSA AHAHHAHAHAHHA i feel so bad for aaron tveit

Andrea ♡♡♡

Some of those were painful to listen to. Renee Rosario Mel B Daphne Were the best IMO

Rosario embodied everything about that character. Even better than the original. Mel b was the worst.

I think most of them were really good though Renee and daphne are still my favorites

#1 fro me will always be Renee Elise Goldsberry. I love her voice and she IS Mimi! I love her voice and I am very happy I got to see her in one of my Fav shows!

Random question. Does anyone know why Mel B’s costume was different? Is it just because she’s very famous lol

Daphne forever ❤

Antonique I thought she was Renee

Renee has to be my favorite

2:18 okay this is where it gets awkward

Vanessa hudgens from high school musical 26:26

Tamayra is best

tho she didn’t sing live rosario dawson is literally the embodiment of mimi

Do one with Seasons of Love soloists

Karmine Alers will always be the best!

WHY ISNT ANYONE TALKING ABOUT SIMONE?!

JAJAAJAJAJAJ WTF ISLANDIA nunca me hubiera imaginado eso

Flor Otero was actually 19 when playing the role, is she the only one who did it at that age ?

Is that Julia Santana a Brazilian woman?

RENE

Stephanie Fearon!!!

17:51 19:03 20:56 22:15 23:15 27:40 30:37 33:02 34:11 34:47

Rosario forever.

Frankfurt is hella rough😬😬😬💩

is nobody gonna talk about rent Iceland ... bc what is this remix I hate it-

Why can Daphne not sing??

26:53 Vanessa sounds like a baby, i think maureen was a way better role for her than mimi

Saw Krystal and probably 32 other Mimi's. Krystal was the best. Then Maya.

I love Rosario Dawson personally

wtf was up with Japan

Tamyra is not Hot

Why does everyone love Daphne so much?? She terrible!