Lea Salonga and Monique wilson on final auditions.

[@francismarasiganiii4549]

Lea is a singer that can act, Monique is an actress that can sing therefore Lea is the better singer while Monique is the better actress. Comparing them is like comparing jeans and trousers..... they both do the same job but they're different. At the end of the day it is pointless to compare them because these are two great, successful artists and you can't go wrong with either individual.

[@minhhantranthi1016]

As a Vietnamese, I find Lea looks similar to Vietnamese more than Monique. And in my opinion, she's also more beautiful. Maybe those were some of the reasons. BTW, they're both good at singing.

[@minhhantranthi1016]

Minh Hân Trần Thị And Lea's talking accent is better

[@gladness1742]

Francis Marasigan III o

[@disgruntledpedant2755]

Yada yada yada ....lea salonga wins. 30 years later EVERYONE knows lea salonga from les miserables, saigon, princess jasmine.....and then theres monique...er....what was it again??

[@maureenmooney532]

Excellently Put❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@greygrey97]

they are actually childhood friends :) they never let the competition ruin their friendship

[@angienatoyn]

Hard to beat these two. Lea is Lea, but Monique also has a beautiful voice and is arguably a better actor. These two were impeccable.

[@amerieallen1080]

Angie Natoyn agree to disagree

[@roseastillero9934]

Equally angelic voices.

[@arpeemac]

If you've ever been to an actual Broadway musical production, you will realize that the caliber of performance is almost equal among the cast - whether you play a major role or not. It's simply saying, if you get signed for Broadway, then you must be really good.

[@Justlov4]

that is so cool! To see the casting process and rehearsals...wow. I'm really glad that they both got to be in the show!

[@MiddlesexBD]

If you ever saw the Les Miz 10th Anniversary performance, Lea’s Eponine is a master class in singing. It is absolutely perfect. By far the best Eponine ever

[@melaniemendoza6939]

Monique your so beautiful and your voice is amazing until now

[@Roysterp]

Thank you for posting, great video, it would be great to see more of it.

[@ivan2jong]

too much for one heart.. the audience were captivated with her crystalline soprano voice

[@linchpin7]

thanks for uploading this video.. i like lea and monique a lot.. lea has a voice of an angel and monique was very eloquent..

[@shahoney]

monique was pretty good as well... never seen this video. thanks very much for posting!

[@zepolevol]

thanks for posting

[@sgvaldehueza7052]

Both are very talented but this is a matter of contest between them whether who's the perfect visual and idealisation of the role they're looking for as Kim

[@lillmango]

it really comes down to what the directors and creatives want...seriously...these two girls are both so beautifully and equally talented! lea just happens to be more fitting in the eyes of the director and creatives...im not demeaning lea in anyway; she is my favourite singer and she is absolutely amazing!! but i can seriously see monique taking the lead role...wow

[@ALYSSZ]

I agree with you! When I first saw this, I was like: Okay, that sweet girl has to play Kim - no doubt. And when I heard Monique sing I thought: She'd be great as Mimi! It's just Lea is more innocent.. I can't even imagine her as Mimi.. ^^

[@uberathlete]

I really like Monique's voice also. These two were definitely deserving.

[@uberathlete]

I'd take either of them. Both are extremely talented and have beautiful voices.

[@louisaruga1283]

They are both talented young ladies.

[@rexnemenioalegado8877]

Wow very smooth voice. Go.lea

[@lillmango]

two very beauty girls...equally talented and equally amazing...

[@SRHS83]

Is there anything this girl can't sing? Wow! I love Lea Salonga. She is my favorite female performer. To me that's saying a lot with all the talent that is out there in the world. She can sing cirles around most anyone!

[@cathycruz6387]

i agree.whenever a filipino or half-filipino achieves something, we all grow arrogant...high and mighty, forgetting that the one who achieve such recognition should be celebrating it, but when something disastrous came... we all turn -tail, denouncing that they are one of our own. well i guess it can't be helped. FILIPINO PRIDE & FILIPINO SHAME had become a misinterpreted connotation for most of us, hopefully the next generation, those who're somewhat enlightened to this year should understands

[@archystrange13]

Yes she does have a hint of it, she spent alot of time in London in her younger age so I guess she adapted to it, I think It's cute :) You can notice more of it in her intervies.

[@PierreMarie]

the musical Oliver (starring Rowan Atkinson, aka Mr. Bean), is playing right now on this very theatre where Lea and Monique auditioned for Miss Saigon.

[@Dean814]

Her voice is crystal clear.

[@Deva7]

Lea was great but I think Monique was equally good for the part - it was a hard task for the auditioners to choose between those two talented girls. Monique Wilson released the Gerswin songs cd a couple of years ago - I heard the samples and was amazed by her crystal clear voice! Too bad the cd was only released in Japan :(

[@czarjhaypi]

Lea actually has acqured british accent prior to Saigon because OB mon then had english rather than american english subjects. She's not a valedictorian and was a freshman in Ateneo during the audition and continued it at Fordham University in New York.

[@atcroccas]

These two girls were chosen not only because of their terrific voices but may also be because of the true innocence they exude which they found only in the Philippines. This can never be duplicated again in our lifetime. so we must savor it now.

[@Tanminhhuynh123]

omg i LOVE IT!!!!

[@richardvergara]

The original title of Miss Saigon was ME LOVE YOU LONG TIME.

[@katrinaisabel]

lea, you're the best!

[@highonmac]

@kikiwingsw \the song is called "too much for one heart" but it was taken out of the show and replaced by the song called "Please". You can see her sing the full version in one of her broadway concert DVD's with the red colored cover:)

[@nongienong6900]

They look quite similar.

[@chocofield]

What a excellent journey they have been.. for both girls.. WOW

[@UltimateJoolsFan]

It will be in Brisbane, July 22 at the Lyric Theatre, QPAC, and opens at Sydney's Lyric Theatre, Star City, September 22. I'm not sure if it's still in Melbourne though. go to miss-saigonaustralia . com . au (no spaces) I'm so excited!

[@shahoney]

ahh! will you upload some mp3 of her gershwin covers? please?

[@XIEZIMIERS]

LEA SALONGA is AMAZING!!!!!!!!

[@UltimateJoolsFan]

it did seem in comparison that monique had a little more control with her technique and breathing, just from that little snippet though. Lea is amazing now. Mis Siagon is touring Australia with Cameron Mackintosh at the moment, and I am planning on seeing it, but I so wish it was Lea playing Kim!

[@silangdiego]

lea salonga was only 18 years old then. yes, she's so great and actually if you hear her sing now, she's still good and her voice matured but still great. filipinos love her music so much

[@lucitanatividad5917]

Why compare the two? When these two are pride of the philipines

[@RUAmplified]

awesome!

[@Skbeuker]

both are equally talented---i thoght that lea might had a clean sleet win considering her voice is out of this world, but monique wilson, damn, she is good too! they both have really good voices! must be a very very hard decision if i were the producers

[@pjonget]

yes she grew up in the philippines in angeles pangpanga near the us military base clark thats why i think she got her american accents and she was also good in tagalog.

[@kathyrezare]

The song is entitled Too Much For One Heart. It was omitted from the repertoire and was replaced by Please. Lea sang it in one of her Broadway Concerts. Loved that song too.

[@reveecon15]

eto ang panahon na hindi pa nagsusulputan ang mgawalang de kalidad na tv personality sa tv networks

[@Deva7]

made a typo - that's Gershwin of course. Hope I get the cd someday...

[@jo2wong]

Lea's so talented!

[@carmcute]

Lea Salonga is really amazing!!!!! Asia's pride!!!!!

[@saving_graciela9203]

Hi. I'm from the future

[@KarpfenKarpfen]

@dutchpuppy2: The German Kim Aura Deva was also a Filipino! Strange somehow, isnt it?

[@littlesongbird1]

That is kind of like a dream come true when you think about it: you and a childhood friend going to star in London in a musical together.

[@Deva7]

Hi! Here you can listen to the samples of Monique's cd: www.musicscape.co.jp/cd/mscd0003.html I think she's brilliant - her voice just soars! I don't have the cd but I'm sure it's worth getting! :)

[@rosehood101]

love her accent... she has voice and speech lessons thats why the accent is like british...

[@ivicngoa3407]

Lea looks like song hye kyo

[@AshtonPelham]

how does leah's talent make all pinoy's proud to be pinoy? are all pinoys as talented as she is? are you as talented as she is? or are you and anyone who thinks like you riding on the coattails on one talented individual who just happens to be filipino?

[@musicteacheronline]

"I'd Give My Life For You"

[@cord3]

lea shows some solid confidence and maturity in her voice and attidute that gives her more of a mothery figure in the video. So, at that time of auditon, for the role, she was chosen, I think. but i did see Moniques playing a few years later? in london (lea was in NY), and she was just FANTASTIC! best Kim ever followed by Joanna then Lea, in my opinion.

[@shahoney]

ahh! thanks very much!

[@daseintessa]

@RandomChara did she? reports i've read before say she spent her first few years in Angeles City, then moved to Manila. nothing was mentioned about her living in england. but if she said so in an interview, hmm... now i'm curious. maybe i should look it up somewhere.

[@katrinaisabel]

so are you monique, you're great! does anyone know where we could purchase videos of miss saigon audition and the play itself?

[@jeromeferguson8]

Mackintosh had an "oops!" moment because they (Lea and Monique) did not "bring it" so they had to learn more songs from the show. :D I LOVE THIS DOCU.

[@Mayameeify]

perfection

[@SirCaseyHollywood]

The only Asian Actress to win both the Tony Award, USA, and the Sir Lawrence Olivier Awards, UK, Congratulations Lea Salonga, that is quite an achievement, a big fan from Hollywood Ca

[@billyholly]

...and the very nice lady that played Kim in the Dutch production is also a Filipino! ...and is also very smart and now works for the European Space Agency!

[@cescania]

what was the song Lea sang in front of the piano, the same song that Monique sang in the vid? I can't find this song in my CDs.

[@lerrylie]

hello.. can i ask the title of the song which lea is singing in this video? Thanks!

[@uberathlete]

I love Monique's voice as well.

[@neotype06]

i totly agree! m so proud to be filipino! mabuhay ang filipino artist! ang charoz ko!

[@ed10908]

yup. she also got the role whenever lea was unable to do so for whatever reasons!

[@pinkishgluestick]

@ilovekaiser english is taught in the Phillipenes usually by British people. And then she perfected her English in the US. She has a combined accent. Not so much these days though

[@Milliardo5]

Yes; she was very young then.

[@ShadowZinger]

this classy filipina figure is what the filipino showbiz is missing

[@AshtonPelham]

absolutely baby

[@zilam98]

well, i have to say a friend of mine, a music school owner and performer herself, had a similar complaint about lea when performing a concert. i can only say that lea is a very subtle performer. she may not do dance numbers, but she expresses herself vocally, and you have to pay attention to catch on to the nuances that she does in the songs.

[@uberathlete]

Monique's voice is awesome too.

[@mojacko24]

the language is also referred to as "Filipino", as in "Wikang Filipino". "Tagalog" is a dialect (although it is also called "Filipino" when referring to it as the national language).

[@Milliardo5]

Which is actually good--in call centers, you learn exactly the same thing, though of course it shouldn't mean you have to sound exactly like the caller, but what Lea did was good--to be understood much better by the listener.

[@theraychily]

well the imitating part of accents. that is kind of a voice mugulation. look at this video, then look when she did miss saigon in broadway. and look at her now. she's really good at voice mogulating. and she inspired me alot. that is why, i'm quiting coke, sweets and ice for singing in musicals, starting new year's eve 08. well she just really inspired me. good thing, i'm still oyung and i have lots of time to catch my dream

[@chocofield]

haha.. Lea got it..she knows how to handle..coz u need also to be something diff. Well, thanks for sharing the video "in the heights".. it was nice and ofcourse its the modern one and its the trend now.

[@tyetus1010]

the one who shouts is the director of miss saigon. he's the one in the red sweater chewing gum, next to cameron

[@ellsie04]

I love that Too Much For One Heart song. They shouldn't have cut it out.

[@Jarrod005]

it meand spelling, i didnt know if i spelled it right

[@shahoney]

Wait.. did Monique get to play Kim in other productions of Miss Saigon?

[@theraychily]

monique wilson is not in london. she pruduces small musicals in the philippines right now

[@AshtonPelham]

absolutely

[@ilovebadminton0916]

wow!

[@bubblesgopops]

they sound similar but i think lea had that high note more nailed than monique but their both very amazing

[@ltorr005]

Does anyone know what song they are singing?

[@musical4yuko]

what's the song Monique sang in this clip?

[@marv117]

Reposting my previous reply: Lea lived a little bit in/around London before Miss Saigon came out. This is how she probably developed some of the British accent.

[@AshtonPelham]

suppose you tell me what "culture" is. please enlighted me...

[@uberathlete]

Hmm .. i dunno cuz from what I've heard, she had British teachers in the Philippines. And she probably got plenty of training in speaking that way cuz she was with Repertory Philippines.

[@ilovekyle12345]

what musical is this?

[@midnightdishwasher1071]

actress theatre pala si monique wilson napanuod ko sya sa bad boy 2 ni robin padilla

[@tinnywinful]

Filipinos are really outstanding when it comes to singing

[@pintoora]

i think Lea has always had that british accent. its not like she's doing it on purpose, thats really just how she speaks. but what's amazing bout her though, is that despite the twang in her language, when you hear speak in tagalog its not slang at all. just straight tagalog.

[@zilam98]

i remember that was one of the contentions that they had between lea and monique. for me, another thing is that lea has a presence about her, especially in that show, that really takes you in, makes you think she's really kim, and empathize with the character. monique does have a great voice, but i think her personality didnt fit as much with the character in the key points.

[@puffypandaman]

Actually, I don't think it's a British accent. It sounds more Vietnamese. I compared it with the accents in "Full Metal Jacket". Sounds pretty much like it. :)

[@mojacko24]

AshtonPelham, Filipinos are not taking pride in pleasing the Western World. We're simply proud of how far she's gone in the music world : ). And sure, you have the right to say "she aint all that", (i don't know your method of judging though) but seeing that the more *qualified* judges gave her the lead in the original london cast and in broadway says something.

[@darenren]

they are both amazing singers... the best part is... they are both FILIPINOS!

[@Ellie8969]

@HopeforHumanity1 My mistake. Soz to the other person. But it's still not an English accent!