Favorite songs by...

[best12bars]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 12:05pm

Here's a list of musical songwriters & songwriting teams. Some wrote for the stage, some for film, some both. Put your all-time favorite song they wrote next to the name! THE CHALLENGE: Try to list only one.

Stephen Sondheim
Cole Porter
Stephen Schwartz
Andrew Lloyd Webber
Rodgers & Hart
Rodgers & Hammerstein
Jerome Kern
George & Ira Gershwin
Irving Berlin
Cy Coleman
Jules Styne
Frank Loesser
Leonard Bernstein
Kander & Ebb
Dietz & Schwartz
Warren & Dubin
Jerry Herman
Ashman & Menken
Comden & Green
Harold Arlen
Lerner & Loewe

I'll go first...

Stephen Sondheim - "Move On," Sunday in the Park
Cole Porter - "Easy to Love," Born to Dance
Stephen Schwartz - "Defying Gravity," Wicked
Andrew Lloyd Webber - "Everything's All Right," JC Superstar
Rodgers & Hart - "Where or When," Babes In Arms
Rodgers & Hammerstein - "Edelweiss," Sound of Music
Jerome Kern - "The Way You Look Tonight," Swing Time
George & Ira Gershwin - "Facinatin' Rhythm"
Irving Berlin - "Let's Face the Music and Dance"
Cy Coleman - "Sweet Charity" (film version)
Jules Styne - "Rose's Turn" Gypsy
Frank Loesser - "Baby It's Cold Outside," Neptune's Daughter
Leonard Bernstein - "One Hand, One Heart" West Side Story
Kander & Ebb - "The World Goes 'Round" - New York, New York
Dietz & Schwartz - "Dancing In the Dark" The Band Wagon
Warren & Dubin - "I Only Have Eyes For You," Dames
Jerry Herman - "I Don't Want To Know," Dear World
Ashman & Menken - "Beauty and the Beast," Beaut & the Beast
Comden & Green - "The Party's Over," Bells Are Ringing
Harold Arlen - "Over the Rainbow," Wizard of Oz
Lerner & Loewe - "Almost Like Being In Love," Brigadoon

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 12:10pm

Best,

You are amazing! How long did this take you to do? (What am I saying? It probably took YOU about 3 minutes.)


Penny

[best12bars]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 12:14pm

Hi, Penny!

*guilty*

Okay, it was more like five minutes, I think.

I've been listening to my Ella Fitzgerald songbooks on Verve for the past few days, and it got me thinking about all these incredible songwriters and songwriting teams. Such an embarrassment of riches!

So I thought I'd share.

EDIT: Not all of these listed are Ella Songbooks. I just expanded on her series and added people in. Although the idea of her swinging a Sondheim Songbook would be pretty cool!

Updated On: 6/3/06 at 12:14 PM

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 12:16pm

*bows to Twelvy's knowledge*

[best12bars]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 12:20pm

Twelvy has lots of things stored in his head.

*bangs it on the counter*

*hears rattling*

Sometimes I can't tie my own shoelaces... but I can always tell you what won Best Picture of any given year without looking! A cute "parlor trick."

It's the Curse of the Trivia-Minded. I'm sure as I get older those things will slip away.

And as posted in another thread, "I've got 59 GB filled on a 60 GB hard drive!!! Help!!!"

*smacks head again*

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 12:22pm

I'm going to answer this challenge, but it's going to take me a while!!!!!!

(Oooh, my new computer just got here. I have to go and get acquainted. This thread will be my first big assignment on the new one.)

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 12:25pm

I adore your trivia-addled mind, my darling Twelvy, as it is tied up with one of the sweetest hearts I know.

[best12bars]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 12:27pm

Yay for the new computer!!

I love new "toys." NOTE TO ALL: Feel free to look stuff up. I wouldn't call that cheating at all! Just Google these names listed and I'm sure you'll get a list of their songs on some site. Then you can pick your favorite from these lists.

EDIT:

*hugs Rathy tightly*

God, love you! You just made my day. Hell, my whole WEEKEND.

*hugs Rathy again*

Updated On: 6/3/06 at 12:27 PM

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 12:36pm

*snuggles up to Twelvy*

*tries to decide if she is focused enough today to take on this challenge*

[erikaamato]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 12:50pm

Stephen Sondheim - "Could I Leave You?" Follies
Cole Porter - "So In Love" Kiss Me Kate
Stephen Schwartz - "By My Side" Godspell
Andrew Lloyd Webber - "Unexpected Song" Song And Dance
Rodgers & Hart - "Where or When," Babes In Arms
Rodgers & Hammerstein - "Bali H'ai" South Pacific
Jerome Kern - "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes"
George & Ira Gershwin - "A Foggy Day"
Irving Berlin - "How Deep Is The Ocean"
Cy Coleman - "You Can Always Count On Me" City of Angels
Jule Styne - "People" Funny Girl
Frank Loesser - "Adelaide's Lament" Guys And Dolls
Leonard Bernstein - "Somewhere" West Side Story
Kander & Ebb - "Maybe This Time" Cabaret
Dietz & Schwartz - "Dancing In the Dark" The Band Wagon
Warren & Dubin - "About A Quarter To Nine" 42nd Street
Jerry Herman - "Ribbons Down My Back" Hello Dolly
Ashman & Menken - "Somewhere That's Green" Little Shop Of Horrors
Comden & Green - I wasn't aware they wrote the music for any songs. Just lyrics...
Harold Arlen - "Stormy Weather"
Lerner & Loewe - "Almost Like Being In Love," Brigadoon

[jasonf]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 1:05pm

Hmm - all right, I'll try...


Stephen Sondheim - "Too Many Mornings" Follies
Cole Porter - "Where is the Life That Late I Led" Kiss Me Kate
Stephen Schwartz - "Proud Lady" Baker's Wife
Andrew Lloyd Webber - "Gethsemane" JCS
Rodgers & Hart "My Funny Valentine" - Babes in Arms (I believe)
Rodgers & Hammerstein - "This Nearly Was Mine" South Pacific
Jerome Kern - "Bill" Showboat
George & Ira Gershwin -- "Someone To Watch Over Me"
Irving Berlin -- "Cheek to Cheek"
Cy Coleman - "It Needs Work" City of Angels
Jules Styne - "Rose's Turn" Gypsy
Frank Loesser - "Joey Joey Joey" Most Happy Fella
Leonard Bernstein - "Make Our Garden Grow" Candide
Kander & Ebb - "A Quiet Thing" Flora the Red Menace
Dietz & Schwartz - "Triplets"
Warren & Dubin - "I Only Have Eyes For You"
Jerry Herman "Look Over There" La Cage Aux Folles
Ashman & Menken "Suddenly Seymour" Little Shop
Comden & Green - going just on contributions - "Lonely Town" On the Town, but this is a cheat...
Harold Arlen - "Over the Rainbow"
Lerner & Loewe "On the Street Where You Live" My Fair Lady

That was hard - and if I did this tomorrow I might have a very different list.

[best12bars]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 1:12pm

Great choices guys!

re: Comden & Green---They DID write only lyrics.

And Bernstein, Arlen, Webber & Kern (also listed) wrote only music.

Updated On: 6/4/06 at 01:12 PM

[singingwendy]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 1:30pm

Stephen Sondheim--"Children Will Listen" from Into the Woods
Cole Porter --"Always True to You" from Kiss Me, Kate
Stephen Schwartz--"God Save the People" from Godspell
Andrew Lloyd Webber--"Tell Me On a Sunday" from Song and Dance
Rodgers & Hart --"Bewitched" from Pal Joey
Rodgers & Hammerstein--"Mr. Snow" from Carousel
Jerome Kern-- "Can't Help Lovin' That Man" from Showboat
George & Ira Gershwin--"The Man I Love" from Lady Be Good
Irving Berlin--"White Christmas" from White Christmas
Cy Coleman--"Big Spender" from Sweet Charity
Jules Styne--"Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend" from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
Frank Loesser--"I'll Know" from Guys and Dolls
Leonard Bernstein--"Glitter and Be Gay" from Candide
Kander & Ebb--"Cell Block Tango" from Chicago
Dietz & Schwartz--"Dancing in the Dark" from The Band Wagon
Warren & Dubin--"42nd Street" from 42nd Street
Jerry Herman--"Don't Rain on My Parade" from Hello Dolly
Ashman & Menken--"Part of Your World" from Little Mermaid
Comden & Green-- "If You Hadn't But You Did" from Two on the Aisle
Harold Arlen--"Over the Rainbow" from Wizard of Oz
Lerner & Loewe- "Show Me!" from My Fair Lady

[jasonf]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 1:32pm

Wow Wendy, almost every one of your choices was like second or third on my list - songs that I ALMOST put...

[erikaamato]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 1:36pm

best12bars: Hehehe...you know, that points up a prejudice of mine that I just realized I have. I definitely give more importance to the music than the lyrics. Obviously, it's ideal to have great lyrics in addition to a wonderful melody (and in fact, I chose "Could I Leave You?" more for the lyrics than the music), but in general, if someone (like Bernstein) wrote the music, I'll give him or her more credit for the song than the lyricist. Perhaps it's not fair, but it's how I think. :-P

[singingwendy]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 1:36pm

LOL--And I'll confess that reading your list I went "Oh yeah...I forgot about that one...that's great too!"

Some of these were REALLY difficult to pick just one....there are so many favorites...

And then for others...well.....let's just say, not so difficult!

Thanks B12B! This was fun!

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 1:52pm

Stephen Sondheim- Every Day A Little Death
Cole Porter- So in Love
Stephen Schwartz- Spread A Little Sunshine
Andrew Lloyd Webber- Heaven On Their Minds
Rodgers & Hart- Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered
Rodgers & Hammerstein- Happy Talk
Jerome Kern- I Won't Dance
George & Ira Gershwin- Street Cries
Irving Berlin- Sun in the Morning
Cy Coleman- With Every Breath I Take
Jules Styne- Everythings coming Up Roses
Frank Loesser- Fugue For Tinhorns
Leonard Bernstein- Prologue to WSS
Kander & Ebb- Life Is
Dietz & Schwartz- N/A
Warren & Dubin- N/A
Jerry Herman- Wherever He Aint
Ashman & Menken- Skid Row
Comden & Green- Pass the Football
Harold Arlen- Pardon Me, Pretty Baby
Lerner & Loewe- On A Clear Day


WHEW. that was HARD

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 2:45pm

Stephen Sondheim: "The Road You Didn't Take", FOLLIES
Cole Porter: "Blow Gabriel Blow", ANYTHING GOES
Stephen Schwartz: "Gifts of Love", THE BAKER'S WIFE
Andrew Lloyd Webber: "Surrender", SUNSET BLVD
Rodgers & Hart: "Falling in Love With Love", THE BOYS FROM SYRACUSE
Rodgers & Hammerstein: "Cockeyed Optimist", SOUTH PACIFIC
Jerome Kern: "Make Believe", SHOW BOAT
George & Ira Gershwin: "Jilted", OF THEE I SING
Irving Berlin: "Washington Square Dance", CALL ME MADAM
Cy Coleman: "You Can Always Count On Me", CITY OF ANGELS
Jules Styne: "Some People", GYPSY
Frank Loesser: "Rosabella", THE MOST HAPPY FELLA
Leonard Bernstein: "A Boy Like That", WEST SIDE STORY
Kander & Ebb: "The Money Tree", THE ACT
Dietz & Schwartz: "Dancing in the Dark", THE BAND WAGON
Warren & Dubin: "A Quarter to Nine", 42ND STREET
Jerry Herman: "Each Tomorrow Morning", DEAR WORLD
Ashman & Menken: "Somewhere That's Green", LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS
Comden & Green: "Our Private World", ON THE 20TH CENTURY
Harold Arlen: "Come Rain or Come Shine", (?)
Lerner & Loewe: "I Could Have Danced All Night", MY FAIR LADY

[jasonf]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 6:35pm

I was thinking about this before - you missed a couple of composers on your original list, best12bars. The ones I thought of, and my choices:

Jason Robert Brown: Someone To Fall Back On
William Finn: The I Love You Song
Adam Guettel: How Glory Goes
Michael John LaChiusa: Danced With a Girl - Marie Christine
Marvin Hamlisch: Nothing
Jones and Schmidt: I Can See It
Maury Yeston: Guido's Song
Boublil/Schoenberg: Bring Him Home
Aherns/Flaherty: Wheels of a Dream
Strouse: Rosie
Jerry Adler: Those Were the Good Old Days

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 6:58pm

Jason Robert Brown: "Do It Alone", PARADE
William Finn: "Holding to the Ground", FALSETTOLAND
Adam Guettel: "Awaiting You", MYTHS AND HYMNS
Michael John LaChiusa: "People Like Us", THE WILD PARTY
Marvin Hamlisch: "Nothing", A CHORUS LINE
Jones and Schmidt: "Metaphor", THE FANTASTICKS
Maury Yeston: "Love Can't Happen", GRAND HOTEL
Boublil/Schoenberg: "I Dreamed a Dream", LES MISERABLES
Aherns/Flaherty: "Back to Before", RAGTIME
Strouse: "Nothing Will Hurt Us Again", RAGS
Jerry Adler: "A Little Brains, A Little Talent", DAMN YANKEES
Updated On: 6/3/06 at 06:58 PM

[Kitzarina]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 8:45pm

This is NOT going to be easy...

Stephen Sondheim - "No One is Alone," Into the Woods
Cole Porter - "You're the Top," Anything Goes
Stephen Schwartz - "On the Willows," Godspell
Andrew Lloyd Webber - "You Must Love Me," Evita
Rodgers & Hart - "I Could Write a Book," Pal Joey
Rodgers & Hammerstein - "Something Good," The Sound of Music
Jerome Kern - "Can't Help Lovin' That Man," Show Boat
George & Ira Gershwin - "Someone to Watch Over Me"
Irving Berlin - "White Christmas," White Christmas
Cy Coleman - "Big Spender," Sweet Charity
Jules Styne - "You Are Woman, I Am Man," Funny Girl
Frank Loesser - "Fugue for Tinhorns," Guys and Dolls
Leonard Bernstein - "Tonight Quintet," West Side Story
Kander & Ebb - "Mein Herr," Cabaret
Dietz & Schwartz - "That's Entertainment," The Band Wagon
Warren & Dubin - "42nd Street," 42nd Street
Jerry Herman - "I Am What I Am," La Cage Aux Folles
Ashman & Menken - "Part of Your World," The Little Mermaid
Comden & Green - "One Hundred Easy Ways," Wonderful Town
Harold Arlen - "Over the Rainbow," The Wizard of Oz
Lerner & Loewe - "If Ever I Would Leave You," Camelot

and

Jason Robert Brown - "All The Wasted Time," Parade
William Finn - "The I Love You Song," The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Adam Guettel - "The Beauty Is," The Light in the Piazza
Michael John LaChiusa - n/a
Marvin Hamlisch - "What I Did For Love," A Chorus Line
Jones and Schmidt - "They Were You," The Fantasticks
Maury Yeston - "The Proposal," Titanic
Boublil and Schoenberg - "On My Own," Les Miserables
Aherns and Flaherty - "Make Them Hear You," Ragtime
Strouse - "Wanting," Rags
Ross and Adler - "Whatever Lola Wants," Damn Yankees

[best12bars]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 9:29pm

I'm glad some of you are having fun with this! It made me stop and think too (even if I did rattle them off fairly quickly, I had been pondering my choices for days now, while listening to Ella's great vocals)... and I agree that if you asked me tomorrow, I would probably have a different song title or two for you.

Erika--I know what you mean about giving the music "the glory" when it comes to songwriting. There are plenty of other worthy "lyricists-only" that I've left out that definitely belonged in that crowd... most glaringly: Johnny Mercer! Although he did occasionally the write music too, he is known primarily for his contribution to America's "Songbook" as a lyricist.

I also know that I left some other highly respected songwriters out. Some, because they're still starting out in my eyes, and I can only assume (and hope) that the best is yet to come from them. And some are new enough (at least to me) on the scene that I've only heard a handful of their songs, and feel strange about picking a best from 2 or 3 numbers. But, hey, why NOT throw these into the mix and ponder their efforts, as well?

So, I'll add my choices in for the annexed bunch, as much as I feel able to make a decision:

Jason Robert Brown: n/a
William Finn: "Sitting Watching Jason Play Baseball," Falsettos
Adam Guettel: "Fable," The Light in the Piazza
Michael John LaChiusa: n/a
Marvin Hamlisch: "I Still Believe In Love," They're Playing Our Song (don't base it on the OBCR though!)
Jones and Schmidt: "I Can See It," The Fantastiks
Maury Yeston: "The Bells of Saint Sebastian," Nine
Boublil/Schoenberg: "I Dreamed a Dream," Les Miz
Aherns/Flaherty: "Ragtime," Ragtime
Strouse: "Tomorrow," Annie
Jerry Adler: "Hey There," Pajama Game

...And Johnny Mercer: "Something's Gotta Give" (he also wrote the music to this one!)

[Fabrizio2]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 9:39pm

Stephen Sondheim- Broadway Baby, Sunday
Cole Porter- Too Darn Hot (sorry)
Stephen Schwartz- Corner of the Sky
Andrew Lloyd Webber- Memory, As If We Never Said Goodbye
Rodgers & Hart-
Rodgers & Hammerstein- I'm Gonna Wash That Man Outta My Hair
Jerome Kern- In Love In Vein
George & Ira Gershwin- Crazy For You
Irving Berlin- They Say that Falling in Love Is Wonderful
Cy Coleman- Big Spender, If My Friends Could See Me Now
Jules Styne- Some People
Frank Loesser- Take Back Your Mink
Leonard Bernstein- Tonight, Maria
Kander & Ebb- Cabaret, Maybe This Time
Dietz & Schwartz-
Warren & Dubin-
Jerry Herman- The Best of Times
Ashman & Menken-
Comden & Green-
Harold Arlen- Blues in the Night
Lerner & Loewe- Little Prince

[best12bars]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 9:46pm

Fabrizio2 --- God bless you for mentioning "Little Prince" by Lerner & Loewe. The movie tanked, but that song still makes me tear up almost every time I hear it. Great choice.

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 11:23pm

The hard part was forcing myself to choose only ONE for each!

Stephen Sondheim: Not a Day Goes By
Cole Porter: Why Can’t You Behave?
Stephen Schwartz: Morning Glow
Andrew Lloyd Webber: The Perfect Year
Rodgers & Hart: I Could Write a Book
Rodgers & Hammerstein: People Will Say We’re in Love
Jerome Kern: Only Make Believe
George & Ira Gershwin: Our Love is Here to Stay
Irving Berlin: White Christmas
Cy Coleman: The Best Is Yet to Come
Jules Styne: You’ll Never Get Away from Me
Frank Loesser: Rosemary
Leonard Bernstein: I Have a Love
Kander & Ebb: Seeing Things
Dietz & Schwartz: A Shine on Your Shoes
Warren & Dubin: I Only Have Eyes for You
Jerry Herman: My Best Girl
Ashman & Menken: Dentist!
Comden & Green: The Party’s Over
Harold Arlen: Over the Rainbow
Lerner & Loewe: Almost Like Being in Love

(PS: My new computer is amazing. Have you ever used iSight? I was making movies and emailing them within 5 minutes!)

Updated On: 6/4/06 at 11:23 PM