Songs to Avoid

[Overthemoon6]

Posted: 2/4/06 at 2:22am

I want to make a list of which songs I should avoid for auditions...because they are overdone, etc.

I was thinking a lot of stuff from "Wicked" is just too popish, and that songs like "On My Own" and "I am Changing" are too overdone. Any suggestions?

[cathywellerstein]

Posted: 2/4/06 at 10:28am

"Much More," "I Can't Say No," "All That Jazz," "If I Were a Bell" "Can't Help Loving That Man of Mine."

**ETA: that list of songs comes from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music website of songs to avoid.**


i think they know what they're talking about. Updated On: 2/4/06 at 10:28 AM

[marincrazy11]

Posted: 2/4/06 at 11:31am

as much as I love it-"Vanilla Ice Cream"

[Overthemoon6]

Posted: 2/4/06 at 12:03pm

"Much More"??? Really? Huh. K thanks.

[Sean Flattery]

Posted: 2/4/06 at 3:02pm

According to a dear casting director friend of mine:

NOTHING from whatever the current hit musicals are (for now that would be Wicked and Rent).

And nothing Rodgers and Hammerstein. FAR too overdone.

[Magical_Ms._Mistoffeles_72]

Posted: 2/4/06 at 8:01pm

"Somewhere Over the Rainbow" I swear, if I hear one more out of tune over dramatic version of that song, I will cry

[dramatothemax]

Posted: 2/4/06 at 9:29pm

Annie. If anyone had the guts to sing that at a college audition...wow.

[Magical_Ms._Mistoffeles_72]

Posted: 2/4/06 at 10:38pm

lol drama

[cathyhyatt]

Posted: 2/4/06 at 10:46pm

I'm singing 'Vanilla Ice Cream' for all of my college auditions. I'm half done with them already. It's a great song for my voice. Honestly I'm so sick of that 'overdone' crap.

What song haven't the auditioneers heard? They are experienced professionals that have seen thousands of auditions. I'm not saying I'd go into an audition and sing 'on my own' or some song from wicked. I do draw the line somewhere. But 'Vanilla Ice Cream' was a great choice for me to show comedic timing and to show how strong my soprano is (man I LOVE that high B hehe).

and 'Much More' is also in my audition reportoire. I'm not using it for my college auditions but I've used it for a lotttt of other auditions before. And again the song and the character fit me. I dunno that's how I decide what songs are right for me...I'm not sure that's too crazy...

[Magical_Ms._Mistoffeles_72]

Posted: 2/4/06 at 10:53pm

I agree that there probably isnt a song that auditioners havent heard in thier lifetimes as auditioners, but there are some songs that just make them groan on the inside Im sure. But if it fits you well and you do it well, all the power to you :)

[Im a Protestor]

Posted: 2/4/06 at 11:00pm

i was at a college audition today where a girl actually sang "memory". it was awful, she had the worst cutting. it was a verse...and then a terribly long interlude and then the end. it was horrid. i felt terrbile for her, because she honestly had no idea how awful that was. the auditioneer just talked to her through the interlude to try to make it less awkward. and she was pretty bad at it too, simply because it was SOO over dramatic and just..well..come one...its memory. it has to be terrible. so yeah...memory. dont do this. because people will laugh at you.

[Magical_Ms._Mistoffeles_72]

Posted: 2/4/06 at 11:10pm

almost anything ALW, as much as I love him <3

[Sean Flattery]

Posted: 2/5/06 at 11:15am

I agree Ms._Mistoffeles, especially phantom.

[Magical_Ms._Mistoffeles_72]

Posted: 2/5/06 at 11:30am

yea, no kidding. Personally I love Phantom, but if I hear one more breathy, stupidly keyed version of "Wishing you Were Somehow here again" I might bite some heads off. Please avoid the title song. I knew a girl who thought she was so good and decided to do "Somehow Here Again" she was an alto!!!!!!!!!!!!! Need I say more?

[Sporti2005]

Posted: 2/6/06 at 1:10am

any jason robert brown.

seriously, i can't say it enough. if i hear one more girl attempt "i'm not afraid of anything" while an accompanist tries to keep up with the crazy stuff JRB writes, i might die.

either of lucy's songs from J&H

[dramatothemax]

Posted: 2/6/06 at 1:41pm

I think Last 5 Years is quickly becoming overdone for women. Great music, but I think it will soon become almost as dreadful to listen to 78 times like On My Own or Think of Me from Phantom of the Opera. death. hahah JRB is just too genius for our own good. haha

[broadwayboy1939]

Posted: 2/6/06 at 1:44pm

Avoid: Nothing from A Chorus Line
Tommorrow from Annie
Send In The Clowns from A Little Night Music
On My Own from Les Miserables
Also avoid all contemporary musicals: Wicked, Rent, Any Jason Robert Brown, etc.

You may also want to avoid any really emotional serious songs like Send In The Clowns, Memory, etc. (Sondheim has alot of those).

[Magical_Ms._Mistoffeles_72]

Posted: 2/6/06 at 9:57pm

I have heard so many versions of take back your mink from guys and dolls that its amazing, I love the song, and the musical is one of my favorites but honestly, the song was made for a trio of females or more plus one featured soloist. If you dont have a posse, dont do the song

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 2/7/06 at 9:38pm

Good thing I haven't been doing the "Old Red Hills of Home" from 'Parade' at my college auditions. .... oh wait... oops! Haha!

It's acutally worked out well so far. I think I've just been lucky and had good accompanists. lol

Today at college auditions, I heard someone sing "Corner of the Sky" from 'Pippin' and "Close Every Door" from "Joseph..." and another person sing "As Long As You're Mine" from 'Wicked' and "Purpose" from 'Avenue Q'. I was just like, "Oy vey!"

Lol.... don't sing any of the above. LOL!

[champzboy]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 4:50pm

haha "Corner of the Sky".

Yeah anyway, when I did "King of the World" for an audition, the player totally messed it up and it ended up being me singing it w/ a few chords played here and there lol I kept going and I got in so I guess the moral is JRB = not a good idea for auditions...but in any case, even with piano mistakes, keep going and stay professional!! Later lovers xoxo

Posted: 2/8/06 at 6:21pm

I don't know why, but I've been to auditions where people sing church songs. And bring the hymnal.

I think it's odd.

[gumbo2]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 11:06pm

Hey, I'll chime in. I pretty much totally agree with you, though I am singing a JRB song that is not ever done (to my knowledge): River Won't Flow, and so far the accompanists at college auditions have been AMAZING, and have played it flawlessly. I'm also singing a really unknown Rodgers and Hammerstein, so I think that is alright as long as its not "I Cain't Say No" or something, and it makes an awesome contrast.

[gumbo2]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 11:06pm

Oh, and no matter what...NEVER sing On The Street Where You Live. I'm surprised no one mentioned that yet. Guh. SOOO overdone. That's all.

[Magical_Ms._Mistoffeles_72]

Posted: 2/9/06 at 9:54pm

haha thats my best friends fave song to sing

[ohhoney_]

Posted: 2/10/06 at 10:21pm

SIXTEEN GOING ON SEVENTEEN
just. don't. sing. it.