Make Up My Heart
Encyclopedia
Make Up My Heart is the power ballad from Andrew Lloyd Webber
Andrew Lloyd Webber
Andrew Lloyd Webber, Baron Lloyd-Webber is an English composer of musical theatre.Lloyd Webber has achieved great popular success in musical theatre. Several of his musicals have run for more than a decade both in the West End and on Broadway. He has composed 13 musicals, a song cycle, a set of...

's Starlight Express
Starlight Express
Starlight Express is a rock musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber , Richard Stilgoe and Arlene Phillips , with later revisions by Don Black and David Yazbek . The story follows a child's dream in which his toy train set comes to life; famously the actors perform wearing roller skates...

. It is performed by Pearl
Pearl the Observation Car
Pearl is the "new girl" character and female lead in the West End musical Starlight Express. She is a railway observation carriage, although in Germany she is referred to as the "first class car"...

.
During the song, she is deciding between the two she has fallen in love with. Electra
Electra the Electric Train
Electra the Electric Engine is a fictional character from the rock musical Starlight Express.Electra is the newest train to enter the yard and, therefore, Control's newest toy. He comes with his own line of components that are loyal to him. He's rich, self-centered and sexy. His eyes are set on...

 is strong and has style, whilst Rusty
Rusty the Steam Engine
Rusty is a fictional character from the musical Starlight Express. He is the protagonist of the musical. Rusty is a steam engine, relegated to the sidings, who dreams of winning the Championship Engine of the World races. He is roundly mocked for this ambition, as steam is old fashioned, and...

 is good and makes me smile.

The song commences during act 1, and was added into the show first for broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...

, before being added into the re-written London production
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...

. As far as the structure goes it replaced Pearl's other number 'He Whistled At Me', which was moved to another point in the show. It also replaced her previous power ballad 'Only He', which occurred before the duet; Only You
Only You (Pearl and Rusty)
"Only You" is the love duet from Andrew Lloyd Webber's Starlight Express. It is performed by the protagonist, Rusty, a young steam locomotive and his true love, the observation car, Pearl.- Overview :...

.

The German equivalent is 'Hilf Mir Verstehn', which means 'Help Me Understand'. The Spanish equivalent is 'No Resiste Mi Corazón', meaning 'My Heart Does Not Resist'.

Music and Lyrics

The music is by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Andrew Lloyd Webber
Andrew Lloyd Webber, Baron Lloyd-Webber is an English composer of musical theatre.Lloyd Webber has achieved great popular success in musical theatre. Several of his musicals have run for more than a decade both in the West End and on Broadway. He has composed 13 musicals, a song cycle, a set of...

 and lyrics are the work of Richard Stilgoe
Richard Stilgoe
Richard Henry Simpson Stilgoe OBE is a British songwriter, lyricist and musician. He is noted for clever wordplay as much as for his music....

.
The song is in E flat major in most productions, with the exception of Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...

, where it was in F major.

The English language lyrics always start with;
It's time to choose between the two of them
I'd better make a start
Someone help me make up my heart
Tell me how to make up my heart


The German version being far from a translation;
Weiß nicht, für wen ich mich entscheiden soll (I don't know on whom I should decide
Mit einem muß ich gehn (I have to go with one of them
Dies Gefühl kann keiner verstehn (This is a feeling no one can understand
Ich kann mich selbst nicht mehr verstehn (I can't understand it myself

Recordings

  • Josie Aiello (1987)
  • Nikki Belsher (1988)
  • Sarah Brightman
    Sarah Brightman
    Sarah Brightman is an English classical crossover soprano, actress, songwriter and dancer. She is famous for possessing a vocal range of over 3 octaves and singing in the whistle register...

  • Reva Rice
    Reva Rice
    Reva Rice is an American musical theatre actress and singer. She originated the role of Pearl in Starlight Express on Broadway, and played the character in the show's 1992 London run. She also played the role on tour in the USA and in Las Vegas....

    (1992)
  • Crimson Ensemble (1998)
  • Gaynor Ellen (2002)
  • Gemma Atkins (2007)
  • Connie Fisher
    Connie Fisher
    Connie Fisher is a Welsh actress and singer, who won the BBC One talent contest, How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?...

    (2009)

Hilf Mir Verstehn

  • Maria Jane Hyde
    Maria Jane Hyde
    Maria Jane Hyde is an English singer and musical actress.-Early life:Hyde was born 1969 in The Memorial Hospital in Shooters Hill, London, England. Her father, Edward Hyde, is a successful company founder , her mother is Maureen Hyde, née Fennelly. Hyde grew up with her two older brothers in...

    (1988)
  • Lovette George
    Lovette George
    Lovette George was an actress and singer in Broadway, off-Broadway and regional productions.Shows included Uptown... It's Hot! , Carousel , Marie Christine and The Musical of Musicals ...

    (1989)
  • Claudia Bradley (1991)
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