Ramin Karimloo: Make Them Hear You

Sept 8, 2012 -- Ramin performs the "Ragtime" hit to a sold-out Chicago crowd during his "Road to Find Out" North American Tour. (I left in the first little bit to give you just a glimpse of the banter between songs... it was quite entertaining.) Check out the full (hilarious!) "rant" via this video: • Ramin Karimloo: Make T...

[@eckkd4252]

Legend has it he is still holding that last note to this day.

[@MusicmasterC2002]

One of the greatest baritone musical theatre songs ever written. Anyone else agree with me?

[@williampacholski8398]

agreed!

[@anthonyralph1114]

This song is actually for tenors. Black tenors, to be exact

[@moocow6350]

Yes made for tenors but in my opinion it sounds more powerful with a baritone or bass in falsetto.

[@southernlady5085]

@@moocow6350 Yes, but considering what he and his family went through prior to arriving in Canada, I’m sure this song holds great meaning for him as well. Any one who has encountered prejudice and hatred can relate. Let us pray that some day the words of Dr Martin Luther King Jr will be realized, and that people will be judged for their character and not for the color of their skin. May this prayer reside in our hearts and minds until the dream becomes a reality for all.

[@jonathanford683]

this song is for the bass voice type...@@anthonyralph1114

[@cahebding]

Still come back to this rendition every few months when I feel the new to shed a tear to a song with a deep message. Don't ever let this disappear.

[@lkernsjr]

That sustain at the end is the real knock out punch of the whole number! And this guy kills it!

[@AmyNikitaMusicMusicalsMovies]

Gorgeous as always; I fall in love with Ramin every time I hear him sing.

[@Tnovak1000]

We're doing this in my choir and my director told us to watch this version because he loves Ramin so much, and I love this version so much!

[@hannahrosereviews5073]

He has THE PERFECT voice! I could listen to him ALL FREAKING DAY!!!

[@amirat.9805]

Wow that crystalline tonal quality! Ramin does it again.

[@stevenscholze8196]

Tears in my eyes. Beautiful. Love this

[@tenwalkstillsundown2548]

When Ramin sings > everything else

[@HelsBelles27]

Gah, I want a studio version of this so badly!

[@fishfingersndcustard]

Every time I hear Ramin speak in his actual Canadian accent I have to do a double take, because I first heard him with the English one in Phantom25. His voice just makes me melt, regardless of what dialect it may take.

[@helenmears6691]

Good Lord! You could go out and make a cup of tea, come back and he would STILL be holding that last note! Amazing.

[@PlaidBoyPDX]

Such a gorgeous performance. What a voice. 🙌🏻

[@TairTairBee]

Beautul! His breath control and placement is amazing!

[@PhantomPhan7880]

Thank you soo much for posting this! Ramin is my FAVORITE singer, musical and otherwise. This song is beautiful! I've never seen Ragtime (not yet at least), but I feel like I don't even need to when I listen to this. Ramin puts so much passion and emotion into his voice I started crying the first time I heard this. I can hear the struggle that I'm sure was in the story just by his voice. I can't imagine anyone else singing it. Come on, Ramin! Make them give you the part!

[@taylorjo9]

Holy.... That last note... I have no words...

[@kimberlly3231]

@raminkarimloo Last note was unbelievable.. I love this man, he's just amazing!

[@audioajunkie]

Your choir director has very good taste. I may be biased, but this particular performance is my very favorite!

[@DocEsquire]

That was awesome! I didn't know what to expect, but I'm impressed.

[@DanKeeleyMusic]

Holy Last Note, Batman!

[@theverdickttherapy]

man that was long

[@starkidislife]

God, he's amazing. It was an awesome concert, best part though was talking to him afterwards. Sorry, just had to brag about it somewhere.

[@rosestormwolf]

This is just the perfect song for the Revolution sung by the perfect man...

[@chocolatesouljah]

I like Ramin Karimloo. He is good looking and an amazing singer but people don't seem to get the difference between a concert piece and musical theatre performance. In concert a man might sing "Don't Rain On My Parade" a woman might sing "The Music of the Night" onstage the roles are cast accordingly. Ramin clearly has affection for this song and delivers it beautifully. He should never play the actual character of Coalhouse. Just like he does a beautiful "I Dreamed a Dream" but it doesn't make him an ideal Fantine.

[@MissingSirius]

Well said!

[@mom2kpcj]

Exactly! He's singing a piece from "Ragtime", not playing Coalhouse in a production of "Ragtime". In concert settings, many performers sing songs they would never be cast for just because they love the song.

[@brobbinsroost]

Thanks for this. We were there and got some good vids, but missed filming this one, and I love it.

[@lora0494]

Ramin makes me fall in love again n again

[@Lauren94twitch]

he so talented one of his best songs wow

[@JackGiblenSinger]

Sustaining as easy as he’d wash the dishes

[@Potoperson]

My word, I just realized the poetic significance of the fact he was Enjorlas and now he's singing this thematically similar and utterly gorgeous song. :D

[@ivegotajousyaccent99]

God I love this song and him. He'll always be the Phantom of the Opera to me before anything else 😂

[@audioajunkie]

He's talking about never getting to play this part in Ragtime, since the role is African American and he's Iranian. To hear more of it, check out the link in the video info (just click "Show More").

[@DefeatBean]

Thank you, God, for his voice. :)

[@MrStenchsluver]

This is seriously incredible!!!!!!

[@mangoq4419]

He is just so cute hahah :D!!

[@염현지-t5q]

I think I have to count how many times I watching this video.. Maybe about 100times a week..

[@melissamybubbles6139]

This is inspirational. I'm involved in a movement to confront sexual harassment and abuse of children in the church of my childhood. Thank you for this song.

[@gailrogan5010]

Just perfect ❤❤

[@hgfhgfdtGhjtgfd]

Omg that last note gave me chills

[@tblazer23]

Very good version done by a big time professional. A high school kid did a great version listed as "Victor sings 'Make them Hear you'

[@paolabarcaro4318]

bellissimo video

[@judithpipher8624]

Amazing breath control!!!

[@starkidislife]

Well I asked why he has napkins in his back pocket, cause he like plays with him during the show, I was like "CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION." and he was like "No." and I swear to god I froze horrified for a couple seconds before I realized he was joking. I asked for pictures and told him he was the best vocalist I've ever heard, to which he responded "nah-there are tons better than me." then I was like "no I really mean it- I loved you as enjolras!" And he said "thank you darling."

[@maryrothlis8474]

WOW 😲

[@MrStenchsluver]

omgoodness that last note was incredible!!!!!!!!!

[@donaldfitzgerald9322]

Oh yeah…. Inspirational

[@Hadimaz]

He is unbelievable

[@Yebbi2345]

Swelling up with tears.

[@twistedcutie]

I love him:)

[@trolex84]

In the key of E Major, there is no A-flat. It's called G-Sharp. Same Note.

[@barrybach]

Yessssssss. Thank you!

[@knpeter9490]

Fucking goose bumps. Gorgeous.

[@LukeBobRobinson]

Harry, I don't know what you think an f# is but I have near perfect pitch and a piano and that top note was in fact an Ab.

[@musicalboy]

this dude. wowwwwwww

[@detectivefiction3701]

I think we should simply judge Ramin Karimloo's rendition as a rendition, and forget about whether he could perform the role in the musical or not (he probably couldn't). An irony I did want to point out, though, is that the original Coalhouse, Brian Stokes Mitchell, is *half-white.* So I wonder if, back in 1998, some people were complaining that *he* should not have been cast?

[@troywheeler5276]

Guys. Guys. Guys. I understand that Ramin would be AMAZING in this role!! BUT he can't play it. He CAN'T play it because it's originally played a black man and it's always been played by a black man. ALSO it states in the script about the characters race and this song is about race so you can't just change the characters race all of a sudden. I know they did it in Les Mis, but in Les Mis they never state what race the characters are so they can be played by any race! Like eponine has been played by a black women. And fantine has been played by a black women. You guys get where I'm coming from? Thanks

[@Makethemhearragtime]

+Troy Wheeler This song is not about race. It can apply to Isabelle Garnett on Breakfast TV this morning.

[@KornKobs96]

+ReviewCam no. It is about Black people in the 1910s. Why alter the script. Fuck you, genuinely, fuck you. Sing the song, not the role.

[@KornKobs96]

+ReviewCam why should he? because he has a good voice? because he's a person of colour? No bud, that's not how things work. It's a black role, one of the very few. It reflects what black people went through, its about politcal and historical preservation and significance. Maybe he can play Tateh, but not Coalhouse. There is no way Coalhouse should ever be played by someone not black. That's so absurd and offnsive an idea that I am so angered and I had to just say fuck off.

[@djlancerock1273]

+ReviewCam it's hard enough out here being a baritone... I can't even imagine being a black baritone. So no... you can't take away one of the very few roles specifically for an Black man in this vocal range. You wouldn't have Him playing a female role so why would you have him play a black one?

[@wildcatste]

100% agree with you. Colorblind casting only works when race is not a theme of the show (unless you are going against type in a show about race for the very purpose of making a statement about race- for example, the diversity of Hamilton or that version of Othello where Othello was white and the rest of the cast was Black). As much as Ramin killed it here, he should never be cast as Coalhouse in Ragtime.

[@EmilyYanSMILE]

I love this..

[@audioajunkie]

sure do! just check the playlist this video is in... or just check my channel... it is called "Ramin Karimloo: The Impossible Dream"

[@Yebbi2345]

Really like his haircut.

[@Cheyenneriley280]

my school sang this song for are choir concert

[@cameronmysliwicz4393]

same

[@norbertherterich4750]

I think this is much to well sung. Theres almost no massage to hear as he sings this great song.

[@jensummer900]

No massage indeed

[@BonnieWayfarers]

Is it very strange that the first time I heard him singing this song I though about Enjolras? This kind of role suits him very well, in my opinion. Or am I the only one who feels that he really means every word?

[@kerohrs]

GOOSEBUMPS

[@DefeatBean]

I feel like this is his Enjolras persona. :)

[@grimadventuresofm]

Guys, this is Ragtime. Not Les Mis. I'm on the Les Miserables bandwagon as well, but it's not Enjolras' song, whether it sounds like it's a song he would sing or not. Man I loved being in this show...

[@CawfeeCakes]

My nerd ass only hears anders

[@jusdepomme98]

This is in the top two favorite make them hear you of all times. But number 1 will always be Quentin Earl Darrington.

[@LukeBobRobinson]

You're totally right! Haha my bad!

[@jakethewoz]

Imagine if the pianist had learned the song...

[@starkidislife]

sorry i didnt reply in time, i never go on this account anymore but i couldn't have helped you anyways-the only reason i met him was great timing and my friend's full bladder. i hope you had an awesome time though!

[@magdabernobic6498]

he's been married for like 13 years now with two sons haha :D

[@DarthAcaila]

Yes, but Les Mis isn't specifically about racial issues. This song is sung by Coalhouse Walker and his storyline revolves around the trials he faces as a black man. Colour blind casting is great, but there are situations in which it is inappropriate, and this part is one.

[@hannahrosereviews5073]

@Taylor Draper - No. He's married and has two sons.

[@starkidislife]

Nah, we waited outside by the stage door for awhile and after he didn't come out my friend had to pee so we went into the main building and right as we walked in he came through some hidden door, and I was like "OH HELLO THERE." and it was just us and I was awkward.

[@DarthAcaila]

Les Mis employs colour blind casting because the element of race is not relevant to the show. Eponine isn't specified as a character of any particular race, so they cast the best people for the role and don't really fuss too much about a kid who appears on stage for 10 seconds and has no lines. Race is a key theme to Ragtime, and if you think a non-black actor would be acceptable in the role, then you're talking nonsense. And, since you admit you don't know Ragtime, that's not a surprise.

[@TaylorRyanOfficial]

UHMMM....i'm single. is he? because I'm totally available...

[@harryroldie4698]

this was take a down a whole step. the high note "I'll" in the phrase "I'll be near you" should be an Ab. This was sung on an F#

[@tripmelton8992]

Lmao no it is not are you deaf lol

[@Moonlight-tr7jv]

Love this but he should have done a higher key since he's a tenor

[@secondaccount4569]

Where in Chicago did he perform?

[@k.....8805]

Tks cxx

[@amandam842]

12 people hit thumbs down by mistake.

[@rellenoz]

he needs to sing with more of a declarative tone. It's not a sensitive love love song. Its not impactful

[@e09605588011]

我喜歡他的眼睛

[@TylerDBruffett]

2:18

[@AndrewStormStorywizard1948]

I am sorry, Black or White or color blind....He is NO Brian Stokes Mitchell. The guy is good, but Brian Stokes Mitchell blows him away! The guy has a fine voice and is suited for many parts, but his voice just does not stand up to Brian!

[@javieralonso64]

Much agreed. BSM sings with his whole body leaving nothing uncovered, completely exposed, and Ramin sings with his well trained delicious voice. It's not about one's color of skin is about passion in singing styles or 4 Tony's versus 1 Tony.

[@Rich.Staples]

His performance is so flat and unemotional it makes my heart hurt for him he has no connection with the music he is performing.

[@PhantomPhan7880]

Exactly. I've also heard of an African American woman playing Eponnie while young Eponnie was played by a Caucasin (

[@scabbz48]

phantomphan7880 the whole show is about race!!! Why would they cast a passable white man in a black role. The story would be nonexistent!

[@PhantomPhan7880]

I said I haven't watched it, not that I don't know what its about. -.- And I'm not saying Ramin is the ideal person to play the role, I'm just saying that I would love to see him perform it, regardless of race. Can't you just let me want to see one of my favorite actors perform a role? Why does this have to be an arguement? It's not like anyone will ever actually care about my opinion anyways and I know he'll never get the role. A girl still has the right to her imagination though.

[@scabbz48]

phantomphan7880 read what the play is about and then you will see why people are reacting this way..

[@PhantomPhan7880]

My point was that Les Mis switched Eponnie's race halfway through the play. People can't change their race, so they shouldn't have cast it that way. I understand the meaning of the song, I just wish Ramin could perform the role. He'd be perfect and I'm sure there are plenty worse casting decisions in the world of musical theater.

[@stefanhoimes8119]

No offense, since he has a beautiful voice... but something feels so... wrong... about a non-black man singing this song... It's taking the power out of it.

[@dnatsrednUouYoD]

stefan hoimes why can't someone just 1. Enjoy the goddamn song 2. Honour the history and emotional value of the song through their performance. No one can help their skin colour. But anyone can choose to stand in solidarity, regardless of skin colour.

[@scabbz48]

Totally agree. It has so much power when a man of color sings it. Also a man of color has the ability to tap into the pain and the desperation that others cannot portray. Although I do love Ramin and his voice is beautiful, I’m just not feeling it

[@detectivefiction3701]

It's fine if Ramin's rendition doesn't move you emotionally. I understand; it's your personal opinion. But, if you're claiming that a man of a certain color *necessarily* has the ability to portray "pain and desperation" -- and that a man of another color *necessarily* does not -- then you're making a generalization based on race. That's a form of prejudice; the idea that certain abilities *come with* skin color is the very definition of racism. I don't know if this is the claim you're making -- but if you are, then I'd reconsider it.

[@detectivefiction3701]

Angel -- Thank you!!

[@detectivefiction3701]

I'd also add that not every single "person of color" is going to be able to "tap into" pain and sorrow -- because these people are all *individuals*, with distinct experiences. Not every black person has experienced racism to the same degree; and it could even be that Ramin, as a Persian living in Canada, has experienced prejudice himself.

[@AFF461]

Brian Stokes Mitchell sang it better

[@voiceaddict]

Great singer, but he doesn't get it, and its reflected in his performance.