It was the peak of the 2000s musical revival. Baz Luhrmann, a man who clearly doesn't believe in the concept of "less is more," decided to drop a jukebox musical that felt like a fever dream in a glitter factory. But amidst the chaotic can-can dancing and the Nirvana covers, there was one song that stopped everyone in their tracks. It wasn't a cover. It was original. Well, mostly. If you’ve ever found yourself humming Come What May from Moulin Rouge!, you’re participating in a bit of cinematic history that almost didn't happen.
The track is the emotional spine of the film. It's the secret code between Christian and Satine. Honestly, it’s one of those songs that shouldn't work as well as it does, considering how sentimental it is. But Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman sold it. They sold it so hard that people still use it as their wedding song twenty-five years later.
The Weird History of Moulin Rouge Come What May
Most people assume the song was written specifically for the tragic romance of the Red Windmill. That’s actually a myth. David Baerwald, the songwriter, originally penned the track for a completely different movie. It was meant for William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet, another Luhrmann production from 1996. Because it was technically "used" (or at least written) for another film first, it was famously disqualified from the Academy Awards.
Imagine that. One of the most iconic movie ballads of the 21st century couldn't even compete for Best Original Song because of a technicality. The Academy rules are pretty strict about songs being "written specifically for the motion picture." Since it was sitting in a drawer for a few years, it didn't count.
It’s kinda tragic. But in a way, it fits the vibe of the movie perfectly.
The song itself functions as a narrative device. In the world of the film, Christian is a penniless writer, and Satine is a courtesan trying to save the theater. They need a way to say "I love you" while being watched by the jealous Duke. Come What May becomes their "secret" song. Every time they sing it during the rehearsals for the play-within-a-play, they are actually talking to each other. It’s a brilliant bit of writing that turns a standard love ballad into a high-stakes survival tactic.
Why the Production Style Still Matters
Baz Luhrmann’s style is "maximalism." Everything is loud. Everything is fast. Then, you get to this song, and the camera finally stays still for five seconds. The arrangement starts with a simple, almost hesitant piano melody.
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Ewan McGregor’s voice is surprisingly grounded here. He’s not a powerhouse Broadway belter in the traditional sense, but he has this raw, earnest quality. When he hits that first "Never knew I could feel this way," it feels believable. Then Nicole Kidman joins in. Her breathy, slightly fragile soprano provides the perfect contrast.
The orchestration builds into this massive, sweeping wall of sound. You've got strings, you've got a choir, you've got crashing cymbals. It’s basically the musical equivalent of a giant heart exploding. Craig Armstrong, the composer who worked on the score, deserves a lot of credit for making the transition from "pop medley" to "serious operatic ballad" feel seamless.
The Lyrics: Simplicity vs. Sincerity
Let's look at the lyrics for a second. They aren't complex.
"Suddenly the world seems such a perfect place."
"I will love you 'til my dying day."
On paper? That’s Hallmark card territory. It’s borderline cheesy.
But context is everything. In the movie, Satine is literally dying of tuberculosis. Christian is a naive kid who has no idea he's about to have his heart ripped out. When they sing about "coming what may," they are defying the inevitable. It’s that desperation that makes the song work. If it were just a happy song about a happy couple, we would have forgotten it by 2005. We remember it because it’s a song about loving someone while the world is falling apart around you.
The Legacy Beyond the Screen
Since 2001, the song has taken on a life of its own. It’s a staple of reality singing competitions. Every year on American Idol or The Voice, someone tries to tackle it. Usually, they fail. They fail because they try to "over-sing" it. They add too many riffs and runs. The magic of the original version is the vulnerability.
Then came the Broadway musical. When Moulin Rouge! The Musical opened, fans were terrified. Who could replace Ewan and Nicole? Aaron Tveit and Karen Olivo (and later stars like Derek Klena) had to figure out how to make Come What May feel fresh for a live audience.
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The stage version changes the context slightly. It’s more of a full-blown anthem. In the theater, the lighting goes blue, the stars come out on the set, and the audience goes silent. It’s the "big moment." It proves that the song wasn't just a product of clever film editing. It’s a well-constructed piece of music that can stand up on a stage with nothing but two actors and a spotlight.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Recording
There is a common misconception that the vocals in the film were heavily polished or even dubbed by "ghost singers." While many movie musicals do this, Luhrmann was pretty adamant about his actors doing the work.
Kidman and McGregor spent months in vocal coaching. They recorded multiple versions of the song. Some versions were more "pop," others were more "theatrical." The version that ended up in the film is actually a blend of their best takes, but it’s definitely them. McGregor’s slightly strained high notes are intentional—they convey the character's youth and lack of polish.
Also, the song's structure is unique for a pop ballad. It doesn't follow a standard verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridge-chorus format. It’s more of a linear progression. It starts small and just keeps ascending. By the time they reach the final chorus, they are practically shouting the lyrics. It’s exhausting to watch, and even more exhausting to sing.
Practical Impact on the Industry
Before this movie, the "original movie ballad" was dying. The 90s were the era of the Disney Renaissance power ballad (think Beauty and the Beast), but live-action musicals were considered box-office poison.
The success of this track changed the math for studios. It proved that you could have a stylized, modern film that still leaned into old-fashioned romanticism. Without the success of the music in this film, we probably wouldn't have seen the later wave of movie musicals like The Greatest Showman or La La Land.
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How to Experience it Today
If you’re revisiting the song, don’t just watch the clip on YouTube. Watch the whole movie again. The song hits differently when you've sat through forty minutes of "The Pitch" and "Like a Virgin." You need the chaos to appreciate the calm.
For those looking for the "best" version, the original soundtrack is great, but the "Elephant Love Medley" version often gets confused with it. Make sure you're listening to the standalone track titled Come What May.
There are also several covers worth checking out if you want a different flavor:
- The Alfie Boe and Katherine Jenkins version for a full-blown operatic experience.
- The Pentatonix cover for an a cappella take.
- The various Broadway cast recordings for a more modern, polished sound.
Honestly, though? Nothing beats the original film version. There’s a specific kind of 2001 magic in the way those strings swell as the camera zooms in on Ewan McGregor’s face. It’s peak cinema.
Actionable Next Steps
If you're a fan of the song or looking to use it for an event, keep these specific points in mind:
- For Singers: Don't rush the beginning. The power of the song is in the "build." If you start at a 10, you have nowhere to go when the orchestra kicks in. Focus on the storytelling in the first verse.
- For Event Planning: If you're using this for a wedding, the "Film Version" is better for a dramatic entrance, but the "Broadway Version" is often better for a first dance because the tempo is slightly more consistent for walking/dancing.
- For Audiophiles: Look for the 20th-anniversary remastered vinyl or high-res digital files. The layering of the choir in the final third of the song is often lost in low-quality streams, and hearing the separation of the instruments makes a huge difference.
The song remains a masterpiece of emotional manipulation in the best possible way. It reminds us that no matter how much the world changes, a simple, earnest promise of "I will love you 'til my dying day" is pretty much timeless.
Check out the behind-the-scenes documentaries on the Moulin Rouge! Blu-ray if you want to see the footage of the vocal rehearsals. Seeing the work that went into those "effortless" high notes makes you appreciate the performance even more. Or just go see the show on Broadway or the West End. It’s one of the few songs that genuinely feels like it belongs to everyone who has ever been a hopeless romantic.