Another one of these! So. *sigh* I have a lot of mixed opinions about Love Never Dies, like I could talk about it for a very very long time so I'll try and keep it shortish. Also this one will be a lot less phangirl-like and more criticism so if you like Love Never Dies this might not be the review for you! Haha that rhymed. Also there may be spoilers so don't read if you haven't seen it!

This will be the soundtrack version (so the Original London Cast) not the movie version!

~~~~~~~

Prologue: I find it a tad confusing if you're not watching it. I presume it makes more sense in context to the musical but as a song it's not nearly as fun as the original prologue.

The Coney Island Waltz: This song is so pretty. It's such a nice waltz and I like the semi creepy feel it has to it, considering what this scene looks like. Comparing it to the original Overture really ruins it since it's not nearly as amazing and epic, so I choose to try not to compare it. I'll try not to compare this one and the original this whole review but it's a tad inevitable.

That's the place that you ruined you fool: The placement of this song makes no sense to me at all. If Fleck is referring to the Opera House, then why does it come after "The Coney Island Waltz"? It's just doesn't make sense to me.

Heaven By The Sea: This song is a lot of fun. It's cute and catchy and fun to sing along to. That being said, it's not what I really expect to hear in a Phantom musical...or an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical at all for that matter. So yeah I like the song but it's just odd to think of it being in this musical.

Only For You/ Only For You: Again. Cute, catchy fun to sing along to but it just doesn't fit in context with the musical. Lyrically it obviously does but in actual mood of the song I personally feel like it doesn't belong. Also I have an issue with this whole Meg and the Phantom thing...I don't think she loves him or anything like that but the fact that she needs to impress him at all costs because of her mother neglecting her. That's such a random plot point to me. Madame Giry always seemed like she cared for her daughter! She was just a strict ballet teacher! That doesn't mean she'd prostitute her kid to make money. And why would she do that for the Phantom anyway!? She always seemed kind of afraid of him and now she's basically giving him everything she had? It's weird.

Till I Hear You Sing: I. Love. This. Song. It's so gorgeous and the lyrics are so heartbreaking to me. I've heard some people say that the lyrics sound like they were written by a teenage girl, but as a teenage girl, I highly disagree. They say that the song sounds whiny and desperate and to me that's what makes it so wonderful. He is desperate and he is completely heartbroken. I've never been heartbroken before but I feel like this song pretty much sums up what it's like to truly be heartbroken. And not just heartbroken from romantic love, form any kind of losing someone or missing someone. I think it's beautiful. For example the lyrics "Let hopes pass, let dreams pass, let them die, without you what are they for? ... I'll always feel no more than half way real..." Those are the most beautiful lyrics to me. I think they make sense, like if someone I could not live without was gone, then I'd have a lot less to strive for. And when he says "only half way real" that beautifully represents how this love was his other half and now he only feels like he's only half of a person without her. I think that's beautiful and it's relatable in a sense. Ramin Karimloo couldn't even sing that song until fairly recently because of how emotionally hard it was for him to sing because of something that happened in his own life. To me that says a lot! Another point is that I've seen a lot of people say (and I apologize if this is you) that the Phantom should have just gotten over Christine since it's been 10 years. I disagree because he loved with every ounce that he could and she was one of the only people to show him sympathy and care. Getting over her would be giving up his love and in my opinion there's no reason he should do that. Considering the phrase 'Love Never Dies' , which in my opinion if it's true, doesn't, then he wouldn't have gotten over her. Do I think he should have hunted her down and try to win her back? No! But I don't think he needed or should have stopped being heartbroken. So yeah all in all this song is something truly special and one of my favorite songs ever let alone my favorite song in the musical. Haha sorry that went on for a long time...

Giry Confronts the Phantom: Another random plot twist. What in the world happened to Madame Giry? When did she become this attention needy, never happy, unappreciative jerk? Like why bring up his past? Why go through all of that so he pays you and your daughter attention? I always looked at Madame Giry like a strict, yet loving motherly figure. And now she's thrown all of that out of the window and doesn't really care what happens to her daughter as long as they are both loved by the Phantom. What? It makes so sense to me. That being said I find this song fun to listen to because angry Madame Giry is fun to mock (in a good way) and again fun to listen to.

Christine Disembarks: In this song we are introduced to The Vicompt and the Vicomptess and their son. Gustave is a cute little curious kid. Christine just stands there the whole time while Raoul yells at people and makes a scene... Why? Why did Raoul suddenly go from hero to zero? He's so amazing in the original, he's brave and caring and heroic and now...now he's nasty and rude. And Christine! She went from blossoming into this amazing and strong female character to going back to being a pushover who will do and believe anything anyone tells her. Like what??? I just don't understand the difference in characterization here.

Arrival of the trio/ Are you ready to begin: Again Raoul yelling at people... But for this song I just want to point out that I love the three 'freaks' Fleck, Squelch, and Gangle. They are really cool and I love how their 'theme' is this really creepy circus bell kind of thing. Also I'd like to point out one line that Fleck sings that I really like, she says "It's a funhouse where the mirrors all reflect what's real and realities as twisted as the mirrors reveal" I think that's a really cool line because of what it represents. That people like the Phantom and the 'freaks' being put on for show and being laughed at that's reality and it's awful and that's why it's twisted. It's saying how what's shown in a fun house mirror, like how they make people look deformed, that's the reality and that it's horrible. I love that! It's such a perfect line for this show and in life.

What a Dreadful Town: I love this song. I don't like angry Raoul but it's really funny and fun to listen to and I like the beginning instrumentals especially.

Look With Your Heart: So I wish I could like this song more. I like it. I think it's so pretty and an amazing lesson to teach to people especially kids like Gustave. But that being said I don't like the placement in this particular musical. I know that doesn't make any sense considering the whole point is that we're supposed to love the Phantom because of his personality not his looks but like...that beats the purpose of the first one. The original musical teaches us that in the most perfect way of him not actually getting his happy ending and the audience feeling bad for him. Because we all feel bad for him we tell ourselves and we strive to not treat people like that because we know the effects if we do. Now, this song is very Disney like to me because it tells the happy side of what humans SHOULD do not what they actually do. The first musical shows the hatred that people like the Phantom would get on real life and because the audience is actually seeing that and realizes the pain it caused him then they wouldn't want to rest someone like that after seeing the effects. "Look With Your Heart" misses that point I think it was trying to make. But it's a really pretty song it just belongs in a Disney movie.

Beneath a Moonless Sky: So this song is certainly interesting. Firstly, it's gorgeous. The actual melody and especially the orchestrations are beautiful. The lyrics...the lyrics are definitely something... I hate what the song is about. I hate that they 'do it' and I hate how they have to talk about it. Isn't that awkward? And I hate that it's the night before Christine's wedding with Raoul. That's ridiculous. They ruined Christine! I hate her in this musical. I pretty much hate all the characters in this but why...WHY would they portray her that way! And he leaves her afterword? That's all he ever wanted! Why would he leave! Why was he ashamed! It's what he wanted! None of the lyrics are all that deep and meaningful considering the context of the song so that's okay, and the lyrics aren't gross or anything. They aren't terribly dirty so at least it's classy...

Once Upon Another Time: I love everything about this song except the placement. It doesn't make sense for them to sing another duet after just singing "Beneath a Moonless Sky" but don't get me wrong! It's so amazing but it should be placed somewhere else I think. I love the lyrics! Like "We love we live and give what we can give and take what little we deserve" I love that. It's so accurate to most people and life. It's so beautiful. I love it especially when Ramin and Sierra sing it. Their voices perfectly harmonize with each other and it's just perfect!

Mother Please I'm Scared; Awesome foreshadowing in this song...

Dear Old Friend: I like the song for the first couple minutes and then I get bored. I think it's cute and catchy and I love how happy they are at first and how angry and sarcastic the song becomes. My favorite part is when Raoul and Madame Giry meet for the first time again and they're like "You?" "It can't be you!" And they sound so upset. It's so funny!

Beautiful: I like beginning of this song with the 'freaks' and the creepy bell music. Then it gets into the whole "oh he has to be my son because he can play the piano and he's 10" *sigh* it's the worst way to show that Gustave is his son. Christine is musical! She could have taught him! And it was such a simple little song it's not like he went and played Toccata and Fugue in D Minor perfectly without missing a beat or something. That would be awesome. But the song he plays is so simple but whatever...

The Beauty Underneath: I actually really like this song. It's really nice and I like the lyrics. I know some people think it sounds inappropriate but I don't hear it that way so I still like it. I cringe every time when the Phantom takes his mask off and then Gustave screams like he got stabbed. It's really just horrible, I understand that Gustave is young and would be scared...even though all the other stuff he had down there was a lot more scary but whatever. It just bugs me that the Phantom really thought Gustave would be okay with his face and then he wasn't. It breaks my heart!

The Phantom Confronts Christine: So Gustave is his son...*sigh* I really dislike this plot point. I really do. The song isn't bad at all. It's pretty and I love how distraught the Phantom becomes at knowing that considering the events that occurred prior... again Christine is ruined for me in this but whatever.

Why Does She Love Me: I love this song too! It's so pretty and I feel so bad for Raoul. Why is he portrayed in such a horrible way? Poor guy. I like that's he's actually recognizing his mistakes here though. He doesn't actually do anything about them...but nonetheless admitting your faults is the first step right?

Devil Take the Hindmost: This song is so awesome. It was actually the first song that I ever heard from 'Love Never Dies' and it's awesome. I love the conflict between the two men and the little ironic things they say. However, they are literally betting on Christine...like guys. If I were her I would ditch both of you if I knew what was going on here. And then just all the manipulating afterword is just like *facepalm*. Anyway, ignoring what the song ends up being about, the insults always make me laugh because Raoul literally cannot come up with anything but the old 'you're ugly' card. And the Phantom is like 'well yeah but your kid is really my kid so..." So yeah, overall I like this song.

Heaven by the Sea (reprise): We were already over this so I won't talk about it again.

Ladies...Gents: Again we already went over this one for the most part.

Bathing Beauty: *sigh* I know this song is supposed to be awful. I get that the Phantom has lost all the will to write good music considering he lost Christine and whatever and this song so perfectly displays that but like... It is kinda cute...ish like maybe the first few times you hear it but I always end up skipping it on my playlist because it annoys me now.

Mother did you watch?: Meg's umm last straw is what I would call this song. My heart kind of breaks for her to be honest. I mean she's a little bratty about not getting enough attention the whole musical but in this song when she just basically has a mental breakdown and her mother doesn't seem to care much is just so sad. Like c'mon Madame Giry! You are better than this! Comfort your daughter!

Before the Performance: A lot occurs during this song. Raoul comes in and apologizes for everything that's happened and then asks her to leave. Because of the bet. So ultimately he sings this really pretty regretful song to her and then leaves. Then! The Phantom comes out and reprises Till I Hear You Sing with so much passion and the lyrics and omg. I love this part of the song. Yes I know he's manipulating her and that horrible but he does it in such a gorgeous way that he ends up manipulating me, which is pathetic since this is not actually occurring. In this moment when the Phantom is singing I would probably do anything for him if he asked. I know that's horrible of me to say I'm sorry! Anyway, I hate the necklace he gives her during this part though. In either version I think it's bulky and just plain ugly. I know that's what they wore back then but eh. So then the Phantom leaves and Christine is left with a big decision to make. So what does she do? She sings "Twisted Every Way" which is the most perfect thing to happen in existence. I had a major phangirl attack when this happened! It's so amazing like thank you Andrew Lloyd Webber for making a really good decision with this!

Devil Take the Hindmost (quartet): I might like this one even more than the first Devil Take the Hindmost. It's so pretty and I like that you see all the different perspectives of who wants to control Christine and why and what they want her to do. Which is horrible but I like that about it in a way because you really see what all of these iconic characters have become...

Love Never Dies: Gorgeous. Gorgeous. GORGEOUS! I love this song. The lyrics are amazing; not necessarily in context to the musical because the lyrics obviously represent her undying love for the Phantom and I don't believe she ever loved him, but nonetheless. On the other side, since the Phantom wrote it, it's about his love for Christine which is actually the only sweet thing he does in the whole musical really. It's just so amazing and gorgeous and it reminds me of 'Think of Me' in the sense that she starts out scared and quiet and then builds up into this just outstanding and strong person! In this case I guess it's because she realizes what her heart wants and she realizes how much she missed singing for the Phantom. And as much as I disagree with their relationship in this musical, it's still beautiful to portray it through this song that without actually saying it that she loves the Phantom, again just like 'Think of Me' where it kind of represents Raoul. I feel very sorry for Raoul in this song because he understands that her heart no longer belongs to him and then he leaves midway. That breaks my heart a little but still the song is beautiful.

Ah Christine: The Phantom now praises his muse and that part is just simply gorgeous and I'm glad that the Phantom is happy. My favorite lyrics being "All the dark silent years now set right" because it's a happy ending to the pain he had to endure for 10 years. But then all of that happiness fades away when she finds the letter from Raoul that says he's leaving and hopes that Christine is happy with the Phantom. And it's the same melody as Little Lotte. This part of the song probably crushes every last full piece of my soul that I had not been crushed during the original musical. It is so depressing. I'm going to say this for the thousandth time: I feel so terrible for Raoul.

Gustave! Gustave!: Most of this song kind of bugs me because it's a lot of screaming which is understandable but I don't like screaming so. Other than that I absolutely love the pure anger from the Phantom in this song. It really glimpses at the man he once was and that he can still be angry and violent. And even though those traits aren't very good, it's one of the only times we see the original character and I love that!

Please Miss Giry: This song doesn't make me cry as much as Down Once More does. I do cry a lot but not every time. It is sad! Don't get me wrong but just the ending bugs me. The only one who gets anything at the end is the Phantom, but at the same you feel a lot less terrible for him in this musical so the emotional impact isn't there. So I guess it sort of makes up for the last musical... But he still loses Christine and Gustave just decides he'd rather be with the Phantom. Raoul loses literally everything, Meg accidentally shoots her best friend, Madame Giry just loses her personality I guess... it's more depressing in that sense but by the end of the musical I resent a lot of the characters so again the emotional value isn't as strong to me. Of course I always get a little misty eyed when the Phantom is crying over Christine's dead body and Gustave screams at/over it. That's heartbreaking but for whatever reason I am not as emotionally distraught as I want to be at the end, like I was with the first one. Nothing really just takes my heartstrings and rips them out the way the first one did. The kiss in my opinion isn't as meaningful and neither are the last words. The kiss is the last thing that happens and it's more depressing when you watch it because obviously she dies afterwords. And that's usually when I break out into tears.

~~~~~~~
So that's my 'Love Never Dies' review! Sorry it was really really long! But thank you for reading and please comment your opinions! I'd love to hear them! Also these are just my opinions and they are not meant to be offensive in any way! I truly apologize if they come across as offense or if you are offended by them! Thank you again for reading!