Extremely Overdone?

[brdwaybaby17]

Posted: 12/9/05 at 10:01am

Are any of these songs extremely overdone at college auditions?

Someone Like You - Jeckyll and Hyde
Far From the Home I Love - Fiddler on the Roof
Tonight - West Side Story
Someone to Watch Over Me - Crazy for You

[cathywellerstein]

Posted: 12/9/05 at 12:45pm

i'd say that all of them are very popular songs. and are most likely over done at auditions.

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 12/9/05 at 2:46pm

It could go either way, but I wouldn't say that they are too overdone. If you feel really comfortable and confident with them, then they will probably show your voice off better.

[Sporti2005]

Posted: 12/11/05 at 9:47pm

unfortunately, yeah. they're all pretty overdone.

that said, if you feel like there is no better song to show off your voice, then you might as well go for it, right? i don't think casting directors/adjudicators have ever looked at each other and said "we can't take her, her songs are way too overdone"

[brdwaybaby17]

Posted: 12/11/05 at 9:52pm

Well, I actually haven't really started working on any of them...
I was going to do "Green Finch and Linnet Bird," but my mom seems to think I can't act it enough and with it coming back on Broadway...
Are there any other suggestions?
I was thinking maybe "Hold On" from "The Secret Garden" or something from "Jane Eyre" but my voice sounds best in the high range. Sporti, I know you know this stuff, and I'm running out of time... could you maybe throw me a bone? Please?? lol

[Sporti2005]

Posted: 12/11/05 at 10:30pm

last year i used "green finch" for my auditions, but it was pre-revival, and i could act it well. i got good feedback on that one, but i have a lot of classical training as well as MT, so it worked well for me.

i used "what good would the moon be" from street scene (kurt weill). that has a high G at the end (if i remember correctly) and the adjudicators said it was a good choice for me.

i don't really know jane eyre at all, so i can't really help you with that one.

"hold on" seems like it wouldn't be age-appropriate...am i wrong on that one?

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 4:54pm

If you want a relatively high song from Jane Eyre, "The Finer Things" is good.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 10:32pm

Well, you can't be like it's an incredibly moving power ballad, but you can act. Be all haughty and just have fun with it. Act like you're greatest person in the universe. And don't be afraid to show off your voice: after all, what other soul could give you more arpeggios and trills?

Just my opinion, anyway.

Or you could do something from The Light in the Piazza: vocal selections just came out for it in November.

[Sporti2005]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 11:52pm

do not not NOT do something from piazza. seriously.

[Sporti2005]

Posted: 12/13/05 at 12:48pm

yeah...it will. in like...30 years it will stop being overdone. that's my estimation!!!

[StarsInMyHands]

Posted: 12/13/05 at 6:14pm

I also try my best to follow the unwritten rules of "Overdone pieces" to have a substantial amount of theatre etiquette. But when it comes down to it, if there is a piece that you really love that you can perform superbly and with an original interpretation, then I say go for it. My philosophy on the whole thing is that if your performance is average: If you sing it well, do everything as it's supposed to be done, but give it nothing else, then yeah, it's not a good idea to do it. So many people will do it and there will be nothing to set any of them apart, no redeeming qualities to the piece. Buut, if you make it your own, make an old song new for the director or admissions person, and you kick-ass on it then it really won't matter in the long-run. So as long as you have one of the two, something to make you shine and stand out, like an awesome piece that's perfect and rarely heard; or a frequently used piece that's renewed and stunningly executed, then I think it will turn out well. Just speaking from experience =)

[gumbo2]

Posted: 12/15/05 at 10:01pm

UM says that you CAN send them what you plan to do for your audition ahead of time, but its not required, you can just tell them at the audition...Just letting you know.

[gumbo2]

Posted: 12/21/05 at 9:18pm

What song did you decide on? And have faith, you'll totally get in.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 12/22/05 at 2:09am

aahh im in the same position! so stressful, good luck! :)

[gumbo2]

Posted: 12/22/05 at 2:31am

Me too, unfortunately. My songs aren't overdone but one of them is JRB, which I know is not ideal for an audition but it is a very good song for me. I'm torn. Good luck to everyone auditioning this year!

[Kristen_0509]

Posted: 12/22/05 at 9:35am

A lot of Guys and Dolls is overdone

[Sporti2005]

Posted: 12/23/05 at 1:28pm

"if i loved you" probably isn't the least done song ever, but i think you should be okay. i mean, it's no "on my own", haha.

i think this is probably a good choice for you, from what you've told me. there's a good deal of acting you can do with it, and it will show off your classical training, especially on those high notes. don't be afraid to really show off your technical ability, but make sure you keep the emotion in there.

good luck!
maggie

[brdwaybaby17]

Posted: 12/23/05 at 6:00pm

Oh goodness, thank you for telling me that. I was just going to walk in and say
"I know I'm not getting in anyway, so hello and goodbye."
lol I wouldn't actually say that, but that's kinda how I felt with the song...
Now I feel MUCH better... lol

[matiboi]

Posted: 12/24/05 at 11:14am

While it does help to have a semi-obscure song, it really depends on how you personally SELL the song. I know people at UMich that have gotten in using semi-cliche songs, but I'm sure they did kickass renditions of them.

[ShiningStar]

Posted: 12/28/05 at 4:17pm

On the topic of extremely overdone songs, is all of "Kiss Me, Kate" very overdone? I know few songs in there are, but I wasn't sure about "So In Love". It's just one song that I was possibly considering, but not totally sure about.

[TheatreDiva612]

Posted: 12/28/05 at 4:33pm

They are all overdone...sorry.

[ShiningStar]

Posted: 12/29/05 at 3:48pm

Thanks. Also, how about "Someone Else's Story" from Chess. I don't wanna use it for college, but I've always wondered if that one was so overdone too. I've had a feeling that it might be.

[Amneris]

Posted: 2/23/06 at 4:24pm

I use the last 16 bars of "someone else's story" a lot because no one really does it AS much anymore.. 3 years ago? YES... but now.. people are going in with Wicked,JRB stuff and more contemp stuff.. I also use "Always True To You" from Kiss Me Kate all the time and tend to get a lot of callbacks and jobs. I use this song because it's cute, it shows my personality and It shows off my belt. Do what makes you feel comfortable..don't think about the "overdone" factor. Just remember you do the song differently then the recording and the person before you.