“Only He” is a key melody featured in many productions of Starlight Express between 1984 and 2013. It was also released as a standalone pop single.
- Only He - 1984 Solo for Pearl.
- Only You OLC - 1984 duet reprise of the solo.
- Only You - 1987 Duet version of the love song, "Du Allein" in German.
- Only He 2003 - 2003 duet version, "Nur Mit Ihm" in German.
- Only You (have the power within you) - also known as "Starlight Sequence", duet between Poppa and Rusty.
Context[]
During the final race, Pearl has been injured by Electra, and her life put at risk by Greaseball uncoupling her at speed. It is only thanks to Rusty’s selfless act of turning away from the race to save her that she has survived. Now, alone and convinced she caused Rusty to lose the race, she reflects on her actions.
History[]
Original version[]
Main article: "Only He" (1984)
"Only He" featured in the original London production as a solo for Pearl. It formed the first half of a sequence, with the second half being a duet with Rusty called “Only You”. This showstopping solo only lasted for the first year of the show, and was retired when Stephanie Lawrence left the production.
Single version[]
‘Only He’ was written to showcase the voice of Stephanie Lawrence, who created the role of Pearl. In 1984 her performance of ‘Only He’ was released it as a single under the longer title “Only He Has the Power to Move Me”, but enjoyed little chart success. It is this solo version with some lyric changes that is included on the 1984 album.
Only You (have the power within you)[]
Most commonly known as the Starlight Sequence among fans and performers, "Only You have the power within you" is Poppa's first line in the duet between Poppa and Rusty. It is a medley between the "Only He" melody, sung by Poppa and representing discovery, and the Starlight Express melody, sung by Rusty and representing his "quest".
1987 version[]
Main article: Main article: "Only You"
Following Stephanie Lawrence's departure from the show in 1985, the massive solo was replaced by the simpler, reflective duet between Rusty and Pearl, combining elements of the two separate songs. Confusingly but logically, this was also titled “Only You”. One crucial difference is the removal of the mid-section involving downward octave leaps and a modulation (“Only he can make my burden light”). One of the reasons for this change is that the original solo number demanded too much of the actor playing Pearl, who was required to sing a major belting song immediately after racing.
This number was first recorded in the Broadway Production in 1987, but was first performed by Kim Leeson and Ray Shell in London in 1985, and used in all subsequent productions until 1992.
Replacement with "Next Time You Fall in Love"[]
Main article: "Next Time You Fall in Love"
The 1992 London revamp replaced the “Only He”/“Only You” with a new song, “Next Time You Fall in Love”.
2003 version[]
Main article: “Only He” (2003)
“Only He” was reintroduced to Starlight Express for the 2003 US Tour.
A second attempt at turning “Only He” and “Only You” into a duet, this version is notably different from the first attempt, reinstating the octave leaps and key modulations from the original that were missed from the simpler version of the duet.
This version of “Only He” would go on to feature in subsequent UK tours of Starlight Express and in 2008 was added to the German production as “Nur Mit Ihm” (‘Only With Him’).
Replacement with "I Do"[]
Main article: "I Do"
In 2012, Starlight Express toured the UK again. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s son Alistair contributed a new love song for Rusty and Pearl, ‘I Do’. ‘I Do‘ has since been rolled out to every production of the show.