How bout "One Song Glory" from Rent or "Why" from Tick Tick Boom? Also "The Impossible Dream" from Man of La Mancha and "Bring him Home" from Les Miz.
Agree with sherman who mentioned "At the Fountain" from "Sweet Smell of Success." The show had its problems, though I admired it more than most, but this brilliant song was not one of the problems. It was placed a little early in the evening to qualify as a "Rose's Turn." It was the traditional "I want" song, but done to a turn by Hamlisch and Carnelia, and delivered with memorable zeal by Brian D'Arcy-James, who deserved the Tony over Lithgow.
"One Song Glory" or "Bring Him Home" are not really breakthroughs of the characters. Roger is trying to find a way to ease his pain, and Valjean is praying to keep Marius safe; ROSE is looking back on how she devoted herself entirely to her kids all her life! There's a big difference there.
"also, yes, I Can't Make this Movie ~ NINE...but thats really character-specific."
"So is Rose's Turn. "
well, Lawlor, in I CANT MAKE THIS MOVIE, Guido says
Help me, Luisa. Help me mama. Help me someone.
Here's a place that I have never been.
Guido out in space with no direction
Guido at a loss for what to say.
Guido with no intervening actors
Guido at the mercy of detractors
Guido here with no one else but Guido this day!
^^^look at all those names...a tad character-specific.^^^
-d.b.j-
All great choices have been mentioned. How about "Let Me Walk Among You" from Bat Boy
I want to suggest "Funny" from City of Angels. Not a 'nervous breakdown', but certainly a very angry, powerful song.
Swing Joined: 5/9/04
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/4/04
Uh, NuggetMonkeys, allow me to point out the following lyrics from Rose's Turn:
Here she is, boys! Here she is, world!
Here's Rose!
...
Hello, everybody, my name's Rose. What's yours?
How d'ya like them egg rolls, Mr. Goldstone?
...
I had a dream-
I dreamed it for you, June
It wasn't for me, Herbie
And if it wasn't for me
Then where would you be
Ms. Gypsy Rose Lee?!
Well, that covers just about every major character in the musical. But "Rose's Turn" isn't character-specific, of course. Not at all.
I agree with Once Before I Go and The Impossible Dream.
Oh, and Rod's Turn of course! I officially nominate Johnny T. and Rod to replace Bernadette... if only Gypsy weren't closing.
I think 'Waiting For The Light To Shine Reprise' is very powerful. Though it isn't a complete solo song, I just love how he starts off with: "Then I'll go to hell!" and continues to build on his acceptance of who he truly is and what he wants. But I think it's up to the extremity of 'Rose's Turn'.
"Apology To A Cow" from "Bat Boy" than "Let Me Walk Among You" which is more of a character set-up song. "Apology" is where he finally decides to start causing mayhem.
Broadway Star Joined: 2/18/04
I think "Is Anybody There?" from 1776 is quite powerful as well as many of the other great ones already posted.
~Kevin
"make them hear you" <--- RAGTIME. fabulous song.
"Free" from A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
If I was free
Then nothing would be free
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
I have to vote for
This is the Moment _ Jekyll and Hyde
It is a defining moment in the show
Also Make then Hear You is one of the best songs ever!
Swing Joined: 5/10/04
Nobody has said FRANKLIN SHEPARD INC. from Merrily We Roll Along??!!
Not only written by Sondheim like ROSE'S TURN, but thematically similar: the singer finally letting out their pent-up anger/resentment at a loved one.
Songs like IMPOSSIBLE DREAM and BRING HIM HOME require a strong singing voice, but they're not monologues set to music like ROSE'S TURN and FRANKLIN SHEPARD INC.
Someone mentioned a song from Shenandoah, but they had the wrong one. I'VE HEARD IT ALL BEFORE is a great (antiwar) song, but the ROSE'S TURN-like number is called...uh, can't remember the exact title right now. It's something like SOLILOQUY or MEDITATION.
LetsGo, I totally agree with you about "Franklin Shepard Inc."
gethsemane from JC Superstar
Broadway Star Joined: 6/29/03
What about some of the father's numbers from SHENANDOAH? Especially the final one. Pretty powerful, I'd say.
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