An over done one, but it should be looked at - "Castle On A Cloud"

Les Miserables began a novel by Victor Hugo and turned into a musical sensation that opened on Broadway March 12, 1987 after only 11 previews and closed May 18, 2003 for a total of 6680 performances in two venues: The Broadway Theater and Imperial Theater. Set in France between the years of 1815 and 1832, it shows the struggling French people, neglected, mistreated, and abused by the ruling class.

The issue with "Castle On A Cloud" as well as a few other songs from the show that are often over done are the way in which the songs are treated. The performances are merely a showcase of vocal talent. The words, well written, move people without the aid of the actors singing them. Too many times "Castle On A Cloud" is done by a child singing the notes and reciting the words. Let's go through the background and the text.

We meet Cosette, the character singing the song, as a young child. Her mother, Fantine, is single and works day in and day out to support Cosette. Cosette, however, does not live with her mother; she lives with inkeepers. In good faith Fantine had sent Cosette away for a better life, and believes these inkeepers use the money she has sent along on Cosette. When we meet Cosette we see a very different child. She is covered in rags, very thin, cleaning the bar floor, beaten, screamed at, left alone, and treated no better than a dog. Any money that has been sent for her goes to the Inkeeper's daughter, Eponine, who is spoiled rotten and treats Cosette with contempt. Cosette knows no love, no safety, no security. In order to sing "Castle On A Cloud", one must begin there. Cosette has just a moment to herself; a moment to escape to the dreamworld where she can find hope. When someone sings this song, they need to put themselves where Cosette is - destitute and without love. Her instincts and wishes dream up an imaginary mother, the lady all in white, but perhaps not knowing what a mother is she does not make the connection. There is so much weight in so few words and so much lost in performance. There is much more to the song than is performed as a solo, but for today, I will merely post the solo.

[YOUNG COSETTE]
There is a castle on a cloud,
I like to go there in my sleep,
Aren't any floors for me to sweep,
Not in my castle on a cloud.

There is a room that's full of toys,
There are a hundred boys and girls,
Nobody shouts or talks too loud,
Not in my castle on a cloud.

There is a lady all in white,
Holds me and sings a lullaby,
She's nice to see and she's soft to touch,
She says "Cosette, I love you very much."

I know a place where no one's lost,
I know a place where no one cries,
Crying at all is not allowed,
Not in my castle on a cloud.