Audition Songs

[Emily-Anne]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 6:01am

Pretty normal question but does anyone have any suggestions for a second audition song suitable for a university audition? I've chosen "Someone Like You" from Jekyll and Hyde for my first song and need a strong contrast. My vocal range is quite good but for reasons of nerves am reluctant to go any higher than a top E in audition. Audition day is February 10th. Many Thanks!!

[Sporti2005]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 11:16am

WOW you should have asked this question a very very long time ago....

where are you auditioning?

in terms of "someone like you" -- i hate to break it to you, but J&H is generally frowned upon at college auditions. since you have basically no time, you might want to stick with it...but you'd better kick that song's butt.

since J&H is such a new show, i'd recommend looking at an older show to find your contrast piece. how is your voice made up? mix? belt? you have to take these all into consideration. try to find something that contrasts in tempo, style, AND mood. and start looking through your sheet music really fast for your second song.

[Emily-Anne]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 12:20pm

Gee, that's given me the confidence boost I really needed! Not! Oh well, why is Jekyll & Hyde so frowned upon. I mean I know it's kinda tricky in some places but I chose this son'g cos I'm using it for an exam later this year and already had it pretty much nailed. My voice pretty versatile. I can belt up to about a E comfortably, head-voice to an A on a REALLY good day(we're talking a seriously good day!), and have been developing my mix recently, but that's an element of my voice that kinda works itself. I didn't even realise I was doing it till a fellow student pointed it out! Doh!

[Sporti2005]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 5:09pm

which school(s) are you auditioning for?

the reason J&H is so frowned upon is because a lot of people don't like the composers. personally, i enjoy J&H...but a lot of people don't.

i'm sorry that my comments didn't boost your confidence...but, having done this whole audition thing twice, i know how much preparation goes into it. since you have "someone like you" nailed and it sounds like your voice is suited for it well - i'd stick with it simply because you don't have much time.

maybe your up-tempo could be something to show off your mix. again, i'd suggest something older since J&H is so modern. it's hard to suggest anything because i don't really know your voice and my voice seems like it would be really different than yours, so none of the songs i have in my repertoire would really work.

honestly, i want you to do well. and i don't know you...maybe you're really good at putting stuff together really quickly. you're just really going to have to kick things into high gear for the next two weeks.

good luck
maggie

Posted: 2/1/06 at 6:30pm

sorry, this is totally thread-jacking...
how long does it take to really get a song down for an audition? when i have an audition i usually pick a new song a few weeks before, (but i'm not auditioning for college quite yet) but by the time of the audition i always nail it. why does everyone freak out when you dont have like 8 months to prepare?

[Sporti2005]

Posted: 2/2/06 at 12:31am

at college auditions there aren't only 40-50 girls going out for what you want. there's literally hundreds.

and they're not just looking for someone who's "right for a role", they're looking for all-around potential to be a marketable performer.

also, an audition for a show is just for one show. for college it's an audition for four years of training and invaluable connections you'll make while in school -- it's a huge deal.

[MOOINGFORRENT]

Posted: 2/2/06 at 12:29pm

I'm not good with auditioning for universities- I'd love to but I've never had the chance before. But I think I would choose a strong song, a song where they can hear all of your ranges. I like "The Wizard and I" from Wicked. I bet you'd wow em'.
Goodluck
Natalie.

[withoutlove78]

Posted: 2/2/06 at 12:36pm

mooingforrent--was that a joke? i'm not trying to be rude, i just can't imagine that you're serious about thinking anything from wicked is a good choice..

[MOOINGFORRENT]

Posted: 2/2/06 at 12:40pm

LoL... no worries. I just like wicked I guess. and Wizard and I has great pitches and I think that the judges would really get a chance to hear those pitches. (IDK) But I do like wicked. What songs do you think work better?

[justagirl2]

Posted: 2/2/06 at 5:01pm

My voice is also completely different than yours, so I have no idea if my suggestions will work (or if they're overdone) but:

I Enjoy Being a Girl - Flower Drum Song
Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend - Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

...maybe? Try the Singer's Musical Theatre Anthologies (for Mezzo-Soprano/Belter, I'm assuming) and find something fun, classic, and, if you can help it, not about love. That'll help with the contrast a LOT. Good luck!

[Sporti2005]

Posted: 2/2/06 at 6:42pm

justagirl --

vocally those are good suggestions, but sadly they are really overdone.

[Emily-Anne]

Posted: 2/3/06 at 4:16am

I did think about something from Wicked originally, but decided I just didn't have the time to get really confident with something that is so strong in my upper range. If I had longer, I'd do Defying Gravity. But Since the J&H number shows off my upper range anyway, I need something that shows my lower range. My GBF suggested When You're Good To Mamma, cos it's so different, and I'm doing it for the same exam so already know it. I know Chicago numbers have probably been used loads since the film came out, but was hoping that it's not necessarilly as populr as say All That Jazz. What do you guys think?

[samela]

Posted: 2/3/06 at 1:32pm

Be very very careful that you do not pick something that the audition panel will be hearing over and over all day long before you. I can tell you from experience that there is nothing more painful than hearing the same song so many times no matter how good you are. And to make it worse, it makes comparison to others that much more obvious in perhaps a positive or a negative way. You do not want the first thought through their heads to be "Oh jeez not that song AGAIN."

In that vein, be careful with Chicago and Wicked (ALL of the songs in those shows) which have gotten so much hype recently. I just ran auditions and heard those shows at least 30 times out of the 60 girls who auditioned. If I heard "All That Jazz," "When You're Good To Mama," "Popular," and "Defying Gravity" far too many times. There are plenty of other songs in those styles that are not from these now over used shows.

For example, try songs from the same composers but from less over done shows. Try Kiss of the Spider Woman or something like that. Updated On: 2/3/06 at 01:32 PM

[justagirl2]

Posted: 2/3/06 at 2:49pm

Yeah, don't listen to my suggestions. Pick up the Singer's Musical Theatre Anthologies for Mezzo/Belter. They won't fail you, I promise.

[Magical_Ms._Mistoffeles_72]

Posted: 2/4/06 at 9:02pm

"Believe in Yourself" The Wiz