Sondheim's Catchiest Score?

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/11/07 at 1:44pm

Sondheim's music is always accused of being boring and having no melody. But what do you think is his catchiest score?

I say MERRILY, it's obviously his one score that comes closest to pop music. It's upbeat, it's catchy, it's melodic, and moving. Definitely his catchiest score in my eyes. For me personally, FOLLIES would follow. Some might not find FOLLIES catchy, but the pastiche of the score is irresistible.

Opinions?

[gazdemon]

Posted: 3/11/07 at 1:47pm

My favourite is 'Assassins', it just gets stuck in my head. Especially 'Everybody's got the right'!

[aspiringactress]

Posted: 3/11/07 at 1:47pm

I would definitely agree with Merrily

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 3/11/07 at 1:48pm

I don't think any of his individual scores are catchy. There are plenty of catchy songs, though.

Amongst the standouts are Worst Pies in London, Little Priest, Company, Another Hundred People, Side By Side By Side, Lucy and Jessie, I'm Still Here, Broadway Baby, Everybody's Got the Right, Unworthy of Your Love....
Updated On: 3/11/07 at 01:48 PM

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 3/11/07 at 1:52pm

His scores are not meant to be catchy. They are supposed to be stirring, moving, and thought-provoking.

[mattonstage]

Posted: 3/11/07 at 1:56pm

I think Funny Thing...Forum has a pretty catchy score.

[raphael06]

Posted: 3/11/07 at 1:59pm

Once I start an Into the Woods song I cannot stop.

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/11/07 at 2:01pm

His scores are not meant to be catchy.

- I don't think when Sondheim writes a score - he says "Okay! I can't make this score catchy!"

Moving and stirring scores can also be catchy.

I commend Sondheim for exploring pop melodies in MERRILY.

Posted: 3/11/07 at 2:04pm

Oddly enough, Company's opening number.

[wickedfan]

Posted: 3/11/07 at 2:05pm

Mattbrain-that was a pretty ignorant "theatre snob" comment. As ljay said, do you think that Sonhdeim sits at his piano and says to himself "Okay, how can I make this score unappealing to the ears and different?" More than half of the score of Follies is extremely melodic, with numerous songs being "catchy".

I would say that Merrily... is probably his most "melodic" score; for some reason I find myself humming "Opening Doors" all the time. But I will say that once I listen to "A Weekend in the Country" that's all I will be singing for at least a week.

[Julian2]

Posted: 3/11/07 at 2:05pm

I've always thought it was A Little Night Music, although, I haven't heard Follies or Merrily yet.

Updated On: 3/11/07 at 02:05 PM

[wickedfan]

Posted: 3/11/07 at 2:07pm

Julian2-Go. Out. Buy. Follies. And. Merrily. Now.

[Becoz_i_knew_you21]

Posted: 3/11/07 at 2:11pm

Scores can be wonderful and catchy. Just because something is catchy doesn't mean it is bad.

Into The Woods and parts of Company are pretty catchy. I haven't heard much of Merrily yet.

[SamIAm]

Posted: 3/11/07 at 2:17pm

Catchy?, Best? or most critically acclaimed?

[uncageg]

Posted: 3/11/07 at 2:24pm

I never really think of his music as "catchy", but I would have to agree that Merrily would be the catchiest.

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/11/07 at 2:30pm

Catchy?, Best? or most critically acclaimed?

- Catchy. Hummable. Melodic.

Not best or most acclaimed. I wouldn't have said MERRILY if that was the case.

[keen on kean]

Posted: 3/11/07 at 2:30pm

I would have said Sweeney Todd six months ago but it is definitely Company for me at the moment. At first it was "Sorry/Grateful" but since the cast performance at Barnes & Noble I am constantly humming "Marry Me a Little" with bits of "Someone is Waiting" thrown in. But I haven't heard MERRILY yet either.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 3/11/07 at 2:34pm

For me it's either "Into the Woods" or "Merrily"

[rosekwbp]

Posted: 3/11/07 at 2:35pm

Forum or Into The Woods.

[VonTussleGirl]

Posted: 3/11/07 at 2:42pm

In the words of Merrily...

"You need a tune you can hum, you need a tune that goes bum-bum-bum-de-dum, give me a tune that goes bum-bum-bum-de-dum, give me a melody!"

...great. Now I'll never get "Who Wants to Live in new Yokr" out of my head.

[Craig]

Posted: 3/11/07 at 2:58pm

Saturday Night is most definitely the most catchy/accessible of a score in total.

Merrily would be second.

[Weez]

Posted: 3/11/07 at 3:27pm

'Company' for me. 'Sweeney Todd' and 'Assassins' have their moments, but I can have pretty much the entire score of 'Company' going round and around and around and around and around in my head at various intervals. Just TRY getting 'You Could Drive A Person Crazy' out of your head!

Conversely, I've never found any part of 'Into The Woods' especially catchy. I guess it's all a personal taste thing. As with just about everything else. ^_^

[ElFantasma14]

Posted: 3/11/07 at 3:34pm

I definately agree with Company, mostly because it's very beat oriented, almost like how marching band music would be. It's extremely syncopated, which is why it's easy to get caught in your head; not too many tempo changes, like in his more ambitious pieces llike Sweeney Todd.

[dramaqueen2]

Posted: 3/11/07 at 3:35pm

i think comedy tonight it very catchy, IMO.
agreed to follies also.

[tazber]

Posted: 3/11/07 at 3:38pm

Technically Dick Tracy I suppose. If that doesn't count the no doubt - Merrily.
Then Bounce.
Then Into The Woods.

I have always thought that Pacific Overtures and Night Music are his least catchy.

But I love all Sondheim. Except Frogs. Can not get into Frogs at all.