What I learned from this video: 1. They tore my hope apart. 2. They turned my dream to shame.

Never forget that Anne Hathaway did that in one take

Vocals: Lea Salonga Emotions: Anne Hathaway

Voice: Lea Salonga (Flawless voice. Crystal clear. Powerful yet delicately feminine.) Acting: Anne Hathaway (That scene broke me in the theatre.)

Lea Michele and Idina Menzel look like mother and daughter.

Vocally -Lea. Emotionally - Anne

How is nobody talking about how effortless it is for Patti Lupone and Judy Kuhn? And the vulnerability Ruthie Henshall brought to it was amazing.

Lea Salonga. I could feel the hurt and anger in her version of the song, unlike some other renditions that sounded more like a "diva moment" than the lament of a broken woman. Besides, a lot of the other singers left out the "t" sound at the end of the word "apart" and hearing a nice crisp consonant at the end is a nice touch that wraps up the sound, making it seem more professional. There's something good about all of these performances, but Lea did the best I think.

The girl in my school that was forced to do it at the end of the year by the music teachers. Full on screamed the high notes as an act of rebelion

Okay, I have an idea. Le miserables ,but every character is lea solanga

Vocals: Lea Salgona, duh. Acting: Anne Hathaway. The emotion blows me away. She did have the benefit of close-up movie shots. Honorary nominee: Susan Boyle because no one expected that talent!

I do like susan boyle's version just because the emotional kick that moments before the audience were shaming her dream. not perhaps the most technically accomplished but it really works on the theatrical level. She is a woman shamed who's song transcends her current situation. Only truly worked for that performance but i still like the way she belts it.

Technically, Lea's version is absolute perfection. Anne's rendition is truthful. The blind girl Alienette covers both technique and emotion.

I mean Anne Hathaway won an Oscar for this role for a reason

Allienette's rendition is haunting, very personal, and truly most memorable.

Lea Salonga was born for this. Anne is an actress so she has an edge with the delivery of a very emotional song.

Dude Anne Hathaway actually knocked this performance out of the park I’m going with her. That emotion she portrays is soo powerful.

Rest in peace Christina Grimmie. You will be missed.

Ruthie's voice is very unique, in a very pleasant way. She is my favourite Fantine.

Voice: Leah Solanga Acting: Anne Hathaway Favorite: Ruthie Henshall (I grew up listening to her version so I’m biased, but she will always be my favorite Fantine)

Ramin was a jumpscare did not expect him in this

Imagine carrying a child for 9 months only to name it Celtic Woman

Ms Salonga is just soooo good. And the 10 th anniversary ' dream cast' is that.

Ruthie Henshall, forever, I cry everytime on each of heir numbers in les mis, its insane, the feelings she conveys.

Raw Emotion: Anne Hathaway Singing: Lea Salonga Both: Ruthie Henshall and close second Alienette

Anne Hathaway’s acting was phenomenal! Lea Salonga’s voice is so big and beautiful! THEY’RE ALL TO GOOD!

I remember crying so hard at Anne’s version omg

The way Anne Hathaway sings 'shame' brings me to tears. The raw emotion in her face and voice is extravegant

Gosh, I cried when I saw and remember Christina 😪

As they turn your dream to shaAA,AA,AA,AA,AAAAAmmme

Lea Salonga's flawless diction is always so refreshing.

I mean, let’s be honest. Ramin Karimloo? Best Fantine ever.

I love how we're just going to ignore my boy Ramin's little cameo lmao love him

Ruthie Henshall is criminally underrated. Every line she sung in the 10th anniversary was fuelled with emotion, and still sounded amazing. The best Fantine hands down.

Ruthie Henshall is really good. Watch her sing the entire song on the 10th anniversary performance. Lea voice and phrasing is always the best.

Lea Salonga. Given that her performance was live, no auto-tune or anything else. Just so pure perfection. 💕

RIP Christina Grimmie

Movie version: Anne Hathaway hands down ; Live stage: Lea Salonga ...

I like Ruthie, that raspy and trembley (is this a word? lol) was amazing, watch the whole performance, it was JUST AMAZING

I didn’t expect to see Ramin here, but I’m glad he was included. I used to listen to his version before college tests.

If we are judging on all round performance, then look no further than Anne Hathaway in the film. Lea Salonga gets my vote for the best voice.

definitely the girl singing it in French!!!!!!!!! Alienette her voice was so strong and resonant

I'll go for Lea and Ruthie, but you can't deny how powerful Anne's emotion in singing this song, not to mention the fact that she's crying. Its superb!

The thing about Anne Hathaway's version that I love so much is that she knows how to sing well (damn she's good at operatic singing), but instead her choice was not to showcase the song but the raw emotion behind it. I love the song and the emotion behind it, but when you sing it cleanly, you still lose some (not all) of the raw weight of the scene.

1.Lea Salonga 2.Anne Hathaway 3. Rachelle Ann Go

1) Ruthie Henshall 2) Lea Salonga 3) Anne Hathaway not necessarily for voice but for emotion

Never EVER compare live theater to movie performance. First, the actors on live stage don't focus on facial expressions whatsoever because that can only be appreciated by, who, 2-3 front rows? The sing and act to reach the four corners of the theater. While actors on movies can do the subtlest emotions and the cameras are there to capture it. Also, theater actors do the same performance 8 shows a week for as long as their contract says, while movie actors can do it with many cuts and takes (Anne took 8 takes).

Susan Boyle NAILED IT... on live Television in one take, then completely turned around the hanging judges and "Gong Show" convicting audience. She demonstrated presence without the assist of theatrical training, makeup artists, credentials, costume, or even benefit of the doubt. The audience was in standing ovation within the first 30 seconds.

Anne’s has the most emotion and rawness. And her version is right after Fantine becomes a prostitute which gives it a whole other level of despair.

Bellow, there can only be one, singing and acting in the 25th Anniversary Lea Salonga

I was not expecting to see Christina in this and had to pause for a minute bc I immediately started sobbing. It was such a bittersweet surprise 💚

anne hathaways voice gives the song that piece the story its pathos that is heartfelt. It is of its time yet timeless.

The last one, Leah Salonga definitely has the perfect voice and raw emotions! Nothing beats that. She is on a different league as you instantly connect with her even if I am not used to hearing broadway or classical music.

Whenever I think of Anne's Fantine my eyes tear up. Somehow her face radiates that pain so beautifully that you feel it in your heart

Anne's encompasses a totality of multiple dimensions. There was pathos, anger, fear, uncertainty (of the present and future), remorse, regret. All that encapsulated in the acting part the enveloped the singing. The others were just singing, all fine and dandy (although some were a bit weak: the Celtic Women kinda died out on the last "-AME!"), but to add the heart wrenching element to the song takes the song to a new level. So bravo to Anne.

I like Anna Hathaway's the best because it has so much emotion. The others are all amazing singers but her's made me cry my eyes out.

Just as Lea Salonga will always be my Eponine and Colm will be my Valjean...Ruthie will always be my Fantine.

Being in the musical theater world myself, I have heard this song more times than I can count. It was not until Anne Hathaway performed it did I really understand the pain of the moment. "As they turn my dream to shame" is a cry from her soul. While most stage versions get the mood right, they still fail to capture that dispare of the character. And almost anyone performing it live does so with a smile, completely missing the point of the song. So I will say Anne sang it best. She deserved the oscar for that song alone.

Anne's version makes me cry. I think its a song full of hurt but also with anger - that makes it soulful with no need of showy notes; that's giving justice to that beautiful song 🌿

I really disagree with everyone saying Ramin. That version while musically beautiful lacked emotion. Anne Hathaway's which I've seen a lot too lacked the musical technique. Her song had so much meaning. Her acting is the best. She has so much emotion. But you asked who sang it the best and her singing is not the best. My personal favorite would have to be Lea because she captures all of it. I also loved Tomomi Kahara her voice is stunning. She captured my heart. Her performance crossed the language barrier and made me feel.

1. Lea Salonga 2. Anne Hathaway 3. Judy Kuhn 4. Ruthie Henshall

Personally I think Patti wins, she sang it so effortlessly ( fun lil fact: Patti originated the role of fantine!)

Judy and Ruthie's performances were actually some of my favorites, idk why

idk why but seeing christina grimmie made me want to burst into tears rip christina

Nobody going to mention good ol’ Boyle? Ok......

First time I cried over a movie song. Anne Hathaway is out of this world. She is beyond gorgeous and so talented. Can’t get enough of her. My favorite actress of all time. Im 88 and I’ve seen them all. Go Anne!!

Anne Hathaway's mother was an understudy for stage and Anne won an Oscar and when you watch her performance she put whole self into that performance and it's no wonder why she walked away with an Oscar.

Lea Salonga both in "on my own" and this song...

Lea Salonga steals my heart again and again every time I hear her sing

THEY ALL KILLED THIS OMGG THE TALENTTT

No question, Lea Salonga, but Ruthie Henshall was amazing as well!! I give Anne Hathaway a higher mark than I thought I would, especially since I think the entire movie was destroyed by having Russell Crowe singing in it and i had a hard time sitting through the movie. Anne redeemed the movie for me a little there!

Lea Salonga. Her dictions are on point. Others were just shouting she was singing.

This is Ruthie Henshall’s song! Especially when she sings “but he was gone when Autumn came.” Sends shivers down my spine every time I hear it!

I really liked Idina and Lea, they sound great together.

This comment section is toxic af, everyone did amazing and you shouldn’t hate on others for their opinions

It's a tie between in Anne and Lea. Lea adds anger and fear, Anne adds so much misery which I is what the song needs. They better genetically engineer and reproduce a child (including Ramin's genes too please)

In this genre, there are singers and then there is Lea Salonga. Leas is in a league all by herself. Nobody can articulate every word, every syllable with such perfect pitch and expression. There's not a song she sings where she isn't the best. Check her out at Fierstien's 54 for the intimate performance of your life. It was a night of amazement! If you want to be moved look her up on KZfaq singing Via Dolorsa. When I meet my maker, please G-d, have a Lea song blasting... She's adorable, funny, charming and most importantly has a gift from G-d like no other... That voice! Stunning perfection.

These should really be split into two categories: performance and concert. I think it's best exemplified by Sojung Lee and Anne Hathaway (because they were side-by-side) both sang it well but since Lee was singing in a concert or recital setting, she can focus on her vocal technique more whereas Hathaway has to juggle that with acting the part and she (along with all the other singers who was performing as Fantine) has to maybe make an acting choice that might not necessarily show her voice at their best. The two beautiful harmonies that were done by Idina Menzel and Lea Michele, and Celtic Woman, for example, would not work in a performance setting, likewise, Anne Hathaway's emotional rendition might be considered too much in a recital. A recital or performance is neither superior or inferior to the other but the focus and intention of the singer is different, so I think it's best if you group all the ones singing the song outside of playing the character in one group, and those singing in character in another and then ask who did it better for each category.

Another great collection. thank you!

Lea Salonga and Anne Hathaway. Invokes emotion

Ruthie Henshall has the best balance between vocal technique and emotion.

Lea Salonga's vocals are crystal clear like a mountain stream!

The original: Patti LuPone,, who sang it live for 8 shows a week for a year. When you do theatre, you must give the same emotions every single performance, not just once.

Ruthie Henshall...........topnotch, also Lea is great.

You really can’t compare AnnE with the rest because hers is filmed for a movie, with a different context, atmosphere and requirements. Of course she will come off as emotionally better than the rest! Try crying like she did and SINGING at the same time. Most of these are live singing and Broadway level of acting. Can’t compare it to a Les Miserables film made for MOVIES.

I bawled openly in the theatres watching Anne blow this scene out of the water.

I can't decide, they are brilliant in their own way.

Are we all just gonna hop over Susan Boyle's performance? I mean seriously, give that woman props! She performed every single note of the scale with vibrato!

I actually really really like Ruthie's. It matches Fantine well, in my opinion. Lea, Anne and everyone else did amazing too though! It's a beautiful song

Susan Boyle, Anne Hathaway, Alienette Coldfire, the "Glee" duet and Celtic Woman is extremely beautiful. But Ruthy Henshall was just on another level

The question is "Who SANG it better?" The answer is Lea. Obviously. Hathaway is a great actress...but clearly not on the level of most of these singers.

Ruthie Henshall: Her voice almost breaks during the bridge - on purpose. She conveys the despair and hopelessness of her situation with a skill that has been emulated a thousand times. Anne Hathaway's performance was ground breaking too. This is musical theater - it's not enough to sing the song, one has to advance the heartbreaking story. But the fact is, this is such a genius number, I can't listen to it without loving the artistry of all who sing it well.

Patti LuPone puts no emotion into it. She's a great singer, don't get me wrong, but she doesn't sound like a woman who was left broke after having a child.

I personally think they were all amazing!

Anne's raw emotion is hard to beat. She has my vote.

I feel like rachelle's goes under appreciated, it is honestly an amazing cover of this song, acting wise I don't think anyone will top anne and lea's vocals are just amazing and beautiful

Am I the only soprano here that can’t sing this song (at least the in the original key) because of the low note on “apart”?

This video hits differently after watching Sideways video on Les Miserables

I'm really just here to listen. The song is incredible and a challenge. There are many who nailed the notes but few who truly captured the emotions wrapped up in this heart breaking song. Smart move leaving Lea until the end. The person who created this knew who so many of us were truly waiting to hear. I adore Lea's talent. Anne Hathaway certainly brought an emotion the song that definitely moves the audience. I'm curious as to how many viewers spent or will spend the rest of the day singing this in their head now (or maybe not in their head). 😂🙋‍♀️

Ruthie Henshall is my Fantine now and forever...Ruthie, Judy Kuhn, and Lea Salonga were vocally perfectly suited to their respective roles in the Les Mis 10th Anniversary cast recording (with Judy as Cosette and Lea as Eponine)---the best of the cast recordings in my opinion. That being said, I also love the quality and timbre of Alienette Coldfire's voice. Some of these performances are so out of context with the atmosphere of the song (where at one extreme you have Anne Hathaway fully immersed in the character, while at the other extreme you have several such as Patti Lupone performing in a cabaret/variety show setting) that it's tough to weigh the overall performances and make comparisons.