Hi all! I am trying to pick a great solo piece to sing for friends at their wedding reception.... and my lack of familiarity with so many musicals is really holding me back. I am a professional classical singer who has sung a number of musicals, but I am unfortunately much more familiar with Opera than with musicals. Would anybody be able to recommend a love/love-themed piece for solo male voice that would be more funny than sentimental? Something showy would be fantastic! I would love to be able to surprise my friends (there is a bit of a running joke between us that I should have stayed in Musicals) and I would be extremely grateful for any suggestions, and thanks in advance for allowing me to pick your brains.
If you have a legit voice, and if you have a fantastic falsetto, you can sing both parts to "Oh, Happy We" from "Candide". The mis-matched intentions of Candide and Cunegonde are a marvelous joke on what a marriage should probably not be. Showy, to say the least.
Metaphor (The Fantasticks) - strictly a duet, but could be a somewhat mock-operatic solo
My [his] Defenses are Down (Annie Get Your Gun) - maybe get the groomsmen to join in at the end as an extra surprise?
Friendship (Anything Goes) - obviously about friendship rather than love, but it takes a good friendship to make a marriage work etc etc.
There Once Was A Man (The Pajama Game) - you could change the lyrics to sing "They say that nobody ever loved as much as he... but she, she loves you more" etc.
For the groom: "There is Nothing Like A Dame" or "Honey Bun" from South Pacific. Where is The Life of Late I Led from Kiss Me Kate. "Guys and Dolls" from "Guys and Dolls" For the bride: "I Hate Men" from Kiss Me Kate. "Marry the Man Today" from Guys and Dolls.
... what a fantastic suggestion, thanks for this! Singing both parts wold definitely be right up my alley, and would certainly be good for a laugh from the guests and the couple themselves. I'll work on it a bit and see how I think I would feel about doing it after dinner and having had a glass or two of wine
Also my favourite musical, and my first role (Seymour). I just learned today that I might be able to rope in a Soprano guest at the reception, and, if so, I'll definitely be singing this one in addition to something else!
Wow, what a wonderful selection of possibilities; thanks very much indeed! I'll check them all out and see what might work best for me - as well as looking at Candide - and will be sure to let you know what makes the cut
If you have a soprano to duet with, you could do "The Song That Goes Like This" from Spamalot (definitely leaning heavily towards 'funny' and 'showy' and less towards 'love' than some of the other choices).