Best Songs from Broadway for Non-Broadway Enthusiasts

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 6/17/04 at 12:57pm

I'm making mix CD for a lot of my friends who aren't necessarily into Broadway in hopes that they'll grow to love the magic of Broadway theatre.
What songs do you thing are the best and most engaging to introduce someone to Broadway?

[BroadwayDiva]

Posted: 6/17/04 at 1:08pm

I got a lot of my friends listening to Broadway by making them listen to RENT. They thought it was really cool with all the rock, gospel, and pop music. They went on to become really big Broadway fans. You might want to put some RENT on there.

You might want to use some classics, such as "All That Jazz", "Lullaby of Broadway", "One", and some others that almost everyone knows.

I hope that helped!

[orion59]

Posted: 6/17/04 at 1:09pm

Oh, Oh, I can't belive it, I can be the first to say Defying Gravity.

Seriously, what age bracket are your friends in and what is their usual taste in music? That would probably determine a lot of what you choose to include. For instance, if were making a cd for an older person, grandparent age, I would look to older shows that may have had music taht becoame popular at the time. For someone in their 20's-30's it would be more contemporary shows with music that fits more into the current trends

[junglered]

Posted: 6/17/04 at 1:12pm

Hmmm...perhaps you start by compiling a mix CD of Broadway tunes that crossed over to popular radio. Suggestions would be songs like "Aquarius" from Hair, "I Don't Know How To Love Him" from Jesus Christ Superstar, and "What I Did For Love" from A Chorus Line. Your friends may not know that these songs come from Broadway shows and they may be intrigued to explore Broadway further.

[Broadwayboobs]

Posted: 6/17/04 at 1:20pm

Throw in some songs from Aida,Hairspray and JCS too. The more Pop sound the better...this usually reels them in.

[~FloweryFriend~]

Posted: 6/17/04 at 1:47pm

Not While I'm Around (Sweeney Todd)

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 6/17/04 at 1:49pm

petrified from taboo

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 6/17/04 at 2:54pm

For people who DON'T like musical theater? I'd skip "One" and "Defying Gravity"....the epitome of musical uncool. The coy and melodramatic don't go over well with these type of people.

Woo them with humor: Anything from "Avenue Q", Old-Fashioned Love Story from Lippa's "The Wild Party", Class from "Chicago"

Poppy stuff: Anything from "Hedwig", especially the punky one the girl sings that was cut. Knowing When To Leave from "Promises, Promises" (if you can find it), Night Letter from "Two Gentlemen of Verona", Don't Bring Me No Bad News from "The Wiz"

Standards done by beloved favorites: Sinatra, Ella, Peggy Lee's Hey, Big Spender or You Gotta Have Heart, Marianne Faithfull's Brecht/Weill stuff, Tom Wait's Somewhere...Annie Lennox's Every Time We Say Goodbye or anything from the "Red, Hot, and Blue" compilation.

Updated On: 6/17/04 at 02:54 PM

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 6/17/04 at 3:20pm

Don't forget OFF Broadway! Some of the stuff I have heard from Off Broadway shows runs circles around some of the Broadway shows I have seen. You need a good mix.

[Sumofallthings]

Posted: 6/17/04 at 3:52pm

"Louder Than Words" from Tick, Tick...Boom! Is a great one for Non Enthusiasts.