These include the musicals:
* La Révolution Française (1973)
* Les Misérables (1980 french version- 1985 english version)
* Miss Saigon (1989)
* Martin Guerre (1996)
* Wuthering Heights (ballet 2001)
* The Pirate Queen (2006)
* Marguerite (2009)
Schönberg began his career as a record producer and a singer. By the early 1970s he had become successful.
He wrote most of the music for the French musical and rock opera, La Révolution Française, France's first rock opera, in 1973, and also played the role of King Louis XVI in the show's production that year.
In 1974 he wrote the music and the lyrics of the song "Le Premier Pas", which became the number 1 popular song in France that year and sold over 1 million copies. Le Premier Pas was produced by Franck Pourcel. He recorded albums as a singer until 1985.
Schönberg then made an album in which he sang his own songs. In 1978, he dedicated his full attention to musicals when he and Alain Boublil conceived the idea for a stage musical version of Victor Hugo's Les Misérables, which opened at the Palias de Sports in Paris in 1980. The musical opened to acclaim in London in 1985 and on Broadway in 1987. The Broadway production was nominated for twelve Tony Awards and won eight, including Best Musical and Best Original Score . In 1989, Schönberg and Boublil took London by storm with the musical Miss Saigon, which starred Lea Salonga and Jonathan Pryce. In its transition to Broadway, the show broke advance-ticket sales, earning $24 million before its premiere on April 11, 1991 [1]. The show was nominated for ten Tony awards, including Best Musical and Best Original Score.
In 1997, Schönberg and Boublil premiered a new musical, Martin Guerre at the Prince Edward Theatre in London. The musical won the 1997 Olivier Award and went on to tour the UK and the United States.
Schönberg's latest project with Boublil is The Pirate Queen, a musical about the 16th century Irish pirate, chieftain and adventuress Grace O'Malley. The Pirate Queen completed its 8-week pre-Broadway tryout at Chicago's Cadillac Palace Theatre on November 26, 2006. The show is undergoing further development in preparation for its Broadway previews at the Hilton Theater in March 2007. The Broadway opening date is April 5, 2007. Miss Saigon co-lyricist Richard Maltby, Jr. has come on-board to work with Boublil on revisions to the book and lyrics. Additionally, Graciela Daniele will work on the musical staging.
Les Miserables celebrated its twentieth anniversary in London on October 8, 2005. The Broadway production closed on May 18, 2003, making it the third-longest-running Broadway musical following Cats and The Phantom of the Opera. Schönberg will oversee the production of Les Miserables that is returning to Broadway for a six-month engagement at the Broadhurst Theatre on November 9, 2006.
Claude-Michel Schönberg is also an ex-husband of France 2 evening news anchor Béatrice Schönberg.
He lives in London, and has 3 children.
He is actually writing the music and for the first time the arrangements, for a new ballet to be created in UK in 2011: Cléopâtra.
I Still Believe
Claude-Michel Schönberg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Last night I watched him sleeping,
my body pressed to him.
And then he started speaking.
The name I heard him speak was Kim...
Yes, I know that this was years ago,
but when moonlight fills my room I know
you are here, still.
I still-
I still believe
you will return.
I know you will.
My heart against all odds
holds still.
Yes, still,
I still believe.
I know as long as I can keep believing,
I'll live.
I'll live,
love cannot die.
You will return, you will return,
and I alone know why...
ELLEN:
Last night I watched you sleeping.
Once more the nightmare came.
I heard you cry out something,
a word that sounded like a name.
And it hurts me more than I can bear
knowing part of you I'll never share,
never know.
But still-
I still believe
the time will come
when nothing keeps us apart.
My heart forever more holds still.
It's all over I'm here,
there is nothing to fear!
Chris, what's haunting you?
Won't you let me inside
what you so want to hide.
I need you too!
KIM: ELLEN:
For still-
I will hold you all night
I will make it all right!
I still believe You are safe with me!
As long as I But I wish you would tell
what you don't want to tell,
can keep believing
I'll live! what you hell must be
I'll live,
You can sleep now.
you will return.
You can cry now.
And I know why I'm your wife now
I'm yours for life
BOTH:
Untill we die
The song "I Still Believe" by Claude-Michel Schönberg is a duet between two women, Kim and Ellen, who are both in love with the same man, Chris. Kim sings about how she still believes that Chris will return to her, even though he left her years ago. She remembers a moment when he was sleeping and said her name, which gives her hope that he still loves her. Ellen sings about how she also believes they will be together, but that she is hurt by the fact that Chris still thinks of Kim. She wants Chris to let her in and tell her what is haunting him.
The song is a powerful expression of the enduring power of love, even through difficult times. Kim and Ellen are both willing to do whatever it takes to be with Chris, and they are both willing to accept him with all his flaws and struggles. The song highlights the intense emotions and conflict that can arise in love triangles, but it ultimately suggests that love can overcome all obstacles.
Overall, "I Still Believe" is a moving and emotional song that explores the complex nature of love and relationships. It is a testament to the power of hope and the enduring human spirit.
Line by Line Meaning
Last night I watched him sleeping,
I was awake while he slept beside me.
my body pressed to him.
I was physically close to him.
And then he started speaking.
He began to talk in his sleep.
The name I heard him speak was Kim...
He said my name while he was asleep.
Yes, I know that this was years ago,
This happened a long time ago.
but when moonlight fills my room I know
I feel his presence when the moon shines in my room.
you are here, still.
I believe you are still with me.
I still-
I'm still holding on.
I still believe
I continue to have faith.
you will return.
I believe you will come back to me.
I know you will.
I strongly believe that you will.
My heart against all odds
Despite everything, my heart remains true.
holds still.
It remains steady.
Yes, still,
Despite everything else, I still believe.
I still believe.
I continue to believe in us.
I know as long as I can keep believing,
My hope and faith keep me going.
I'll live.
I will survive.
love cannot die.
My love for you can never fade away.
You will return, you will return,
I am convinced that you will come back to me.
and I alone know why...
I have my own reasons to believe that you will return.
Last night I watched you sleeping.
I was watching you while you slept.
Once more the nightmare came.
I had a bad dream again.
I heard you cry out something,
You shouted something in your sleep.
a word that sounded like a name.
It seemed like you said someone's name.
And it hurts me more than I can bear
It pains me very deeply.
knowing part of you I'll never share,
There are things about you that I will never know.
never know.
It's something I'll always have to live with.
But still-
Despite everything, I still believe.
the time will come
There will be a moment
when nothing keeps us apart.
When nothing can separate us from each other.
My heart forever more holds still.
My love for you remains strong.
It's all over I'm here,
It's all behind us, I'm here for you now.
there is nothing to fear!
Don't worry, everything is alright.
Chris, what's haunting you?
What's bothering you, Chris?
Won't you let me inside
Can you tell me what's going on?
what you so want to hide.
What do you want to keep to yourself?
I need you too!
I need you just as much as you need me.
For still-
I still stand by you.
I will hold you all night
I'll embrace you throughout the night.
I will make it all right!
I'll do everything I can to make it better.
You are safe with me!
You can trust me to keep you safe.
But I wish you would tell
I hope you'll open up.
what you don't want to tell,
What is it that you don't want to say?
what you hell must be
What's causing you so much pain?
As long as I
As long as I continue to have hope.
can keep believing
As long as I don't give up faith.
I'll live!
I'll keep going.
You can sleep now.
You can rest now.
You can cry now.
It's okay to cry.
And I know why
I understand why you're going through this.
I'm your wife now
As your spouse, I am here for you.
I'm yours for life
I belong to you for eternity.
Untill we die
Until the end of our lives.
Contributed by Tristan W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.