"Come What May" is a song composed by David Baerwald and Kevin Gilbert, originally intended for the film William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet. However, it was first heard publicly, and is best known as the romantic lovetheme from Baz Luhrmann's 2001 film Moulin Rouge!, where it is sung by Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman in their respective roles as Christian and Satine. The song takes its title from a phrase that originates from Shakespeare's Macbeth. The song plays an important role in the film. When the forbidden strong and close romantic relationship between Christian and Satine has been discovered, Christian pens this romance song and includes it in the musical he is currently writing. Each time either of them sings this song, they can secretly declare their equally deep and true romantic love for each other. The version of the song on the soundtrack album differs slightly from the version heard in the film. The lyrics "Every day I love you more and more" and "Listen to my heart, can you hear it sing / Telling me to give you everything" can be heard on the soundtrack version. In the movie, they are replaced by a musical interlude the first time, and, the second time, Satine sings instead of the latter part: "come back to me and forgive everything." The single version can be found on the original soundtrack, while the original film version can be found on the follow-up soundtrack.
Release and other versions
It was released as a single in Australia where it became the 8th highest selling single by an Australian artist of 2001. It was also released in the UK, where it charted at #27, and in Germany.
Nick D'Virgilio, a friend and collaborator of co-writer Kevin Gilbert, recorded a version of the song on his 2001 album, Karma.
Collabro recorded a version for their debut album Stars.
Musical theatre performers Alfie Boe and Kerry Ellis duet on a version of this song on Boe's album Bring Him Home. Ellis also performed the song with John Barrowman and Jonathan Ansell on two occasions at BBC Radio 2's Friday Night Is Music Night.
The song is featured in the original Broadway recording of Moulin Rouge! where it is covered by Broadway actors Aaron Tveit and Karen Olivo, who respectively play the roles as Christian and Satine in the New York production.
Awards
"Come What May" was nominated for a 2002 Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song – Motion Picture, where it lost to Sting's "Until" from Kate & Leopold. However, it was ineligible for a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Song because it was originally written with another film in mind: Luhrmann's previous project, William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet. The song was ranked on the AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs at number 85.
