The Music From “Miss Saigon”

1) “The Heat is on in Saigon” performed by The Engineer, Bar-Girls, Marines, civilians, and Vietnamese officers.

This song holds double meaning because the heat is on due to the ending of the war, but also things are “heatin'” up in the brothel as well.

Fast paced rock and roll styled song with a hint of jazz from piano solos and horns. Very up beat and show-tuney!

2) “The Movie in My Mind” performed by Gigi, Kim, and Bar-Girls

This song describes the escape that Gigi finds in the arms of the Americans and the movie plays in her head that they will one day lead her to a better life with children and the simplicity of ice cream. Life in this movie would be all fun and games and not the desolation of Saigon.

This song is a slow ballad with an emphasis from Gigi’s vocals that give it a dream like mood. Slow melodies played mainly on strings and piano accompaniment with angelic chorus sections.

3)”Why God Why?” performed by Chris

This is a powerful song because Chris is conversing with God about all of the misery he has experienced during the war and it is not until it is almost over that this angel(Kim) is delivered to him. He is intoxicated with love and the timing is confusing and a matter he feels he must take up with God. He liked things the way they were and now he is torn between mind, body, and heart.

It is a smooth steady paced song that follow the dynamics of Chris’s voice. Very syllabic and intent on delivering the message of the lyrics. It later picks up tempo.

4)”The Money is Yours” performed by Chris & Kim

Kim tells her story and how she came to be in this brothel. Kim and Chris profess their love for one another and decide that they will  stay together against all odds.

Music with accompaniment with a slow tempo and light sounds from piano and strings. When they join voices, the full orchestra sounds and then dies back down enhancing the idea that their feelings are stronger when they are together.

5) “Sun and Moon” performed by Kim &  Chris

Another confession of their love in a more poetic form emphasizing destiny.

6) “The Telephone Song” performed by Chris & John

Chris joyfully tells his friend about his new found love, but John explains that it is all over and time to go. By the end of the phone call, he gives Chris one day to play and then get back.

Very fast paced and choppy instrumentals, the music mimics the excitement in Chris’s voice as well as the anxiety in John’s.

7) “The Deal” performed by Chris and the Engineer

8)”The Ceremony” performed by Kim, Chris, & Bar-Girls

The wedding ceremony.

The song has many ethnic Vietnamese sounds with wood instruments and chimes that are enchanting. Soft sounds of flute accompany the softness of the chorus that performs in Vietnamese as opposed to English. A very mystical song.

9)”What’s This I Find” performed by Thuy, Chris, & Kim

Thuy, Kim’s betrothed, crashes the wedding and curses the marriage.

Dark slow tempo with the clashing of symbols. Stacatto notes that create an argumentative instrumental.

10)”The Last Night of the World” performed by Kim & Chris

Another confession of live in which they dance as if it were their last night together. A very foreshadowing song.

Music with piano accompaniment. A duet professing love to one another in call and response and then harmonizing together accompanied by a sexy saxophone solo.

HO CHI MINH CITY–APRIL 1978

11)“The Morning of the Dragon” performed by Vietnamese Soldiers

North Vietnam victory celebration (parade).

Intense staccato beats from drums and a symbol in a march like rhythm.

12)”I Still Believe” performed by Kim and Ellen

Kim reminisces about her lost love as if he is still here. She is still hopeful that the future of her marriage is bright. Across the world, Ellen, Chris’s American wife sings duplicate lyrics but in present tense as she actually watches Chris sleep and be tormented by his past through dreams and nightmares.

Strings play a consonant melody very slow, smooth, and drawn out. Once again, sounds like a dream sequence.

13)”This is the Hour” performed by Kim, The Engineer, Thuy, Vietnamese Soldiers, & people

Thuy and the Engineer try to talk Kim into marrying Thuy, but she claims she is already married. As the song gets more heated, Kim reveals that she has a two year old son to think of. The entire conflict ultimately ends with Kim shooting Thuy dead.

Very dark and intense drumming and harsh strings join together to form a threatening accompaniment to the lyrics. Music changes to light strumming with Kim’s hopeful sol about her secret; her two year old son.