American Idol and Broadway Songs

[Lara]

Posted: 8/10/04 at 2:56pm

Hi,I'm Lara. I usually just lurk here, but I have a question for all of you, and need your opinion. I'm planning on auditioning for American Idol. I know that the judges sometimes frown upon Broadway, but I know that Frenchie, for example, sang "And I Am Telling You" from Dreamgirls. I want to sing "Defying Gravity" from Wicked. I was also thinking about "Gimme Gimme" from Millie. Now do you all think these songs are appropriate, or a bad idea? Any other song suggestions Broadway or otherwise would be greatly apperciated. Thanks in advance!

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 8/10/04 at 2:58pm

I would say no, don't sing those. Even though both are difficult and show great belting range, they are extremely "Broadway." Dreamgirls is more R&B/pop, so it translates better to the pop world. There are thousands of songs to choose from - pick a pop song that fits your voice. Updated On: 8/10/04 at 02:58 PM

[NativeNewYorker]

Posted: 8/10/04 at 2:59pm

I always said that if I was on American Idol (since, you know, I have such a great voice) I would do "My Strongest Suit" for Elton John week and "Gimme Gimme" for showtune week. Or I would do "Out Tonight" and the judges would tell me that I sounded great, but that I was going against my sweet, wholesome image and would lose votes for that.

Yeah, I know...I'm on crack.

[KMF_NYC]

Posted: 8/10/04 at 3:00pm

do not do a show tune...you won't get past the producers outside the arena

[M J R]

Posted: 8/10/04 at 3:01pm

Save those in case you actually get on the show and will need them for the particular theme of the week. You should go with a pop song that shows range and something that every other person wouldn't think of to sing.

[CurtainUp]

Posted: 8/10/04 at 3:01pm

Many showtunes aren't known as showtunes, you could pick one of those. (Such as "Luck be a lady"-i Know it's a guys song but just an example.)

[showmethetony]

Posted: 8/10/04 at 3:05pm

i went to a local AI audition in Ohio last year and this guy sang William Finn's "Anytime". He was great but it just didn't fit with everything else that was going on. So what I'm trying to say is he stood out in a bad way, even though he was awesome. Plus Lara, if you've got the pipes to pull off Defying Gravity you should be able to find some belty pop tune to show off your goods...Go get em girl!

[~FloweryFriend~]

Posted: 8/10/04 at 6:10pm

Don't do it.

But I am impressed that you had the guts to even CONSIDER singing 'Defying Gravity' a cappella.

I have known several people that have auditioned for American Idol.
(one of whom actually went to L.A.)
They all said that the people that most of the people that got called back sang songs that are mainstream and well-known, but not currently on the radio.
(They heard a lot of early-90s, and a lot of Motown. This might be partially because they all auditioned in Detriot...)
Doing Broadway will not get you on T.V. unless you're Frenchie.
Or maybe if you're as bad as William Hung.

(Keep in mind, the first two rounds of the competition are not judged by Randy, Paula, and Simon. The only people that get that far are ones that have the potential to be good for television. Hence why obscure songs are not the best way to go.)

If you decide to do something from Broadway, do something that at least has a pop-ish feel to it.

[KMF_NYC]

Posted: 8/10/04 at 6:24pm

Listen to all of this advise and knock their socks off -- I'll be looking for you in Hollywood!

[Born2cthelightsofbway]

Posted: 8/10/04 at 6:45pm

Does American idol have a showtunes week?

[DAME]

Posted: 8/10/04 at 6:59pm

Do not sing any broadway for this. It is not what they are looking for in any way. They are very clear about that.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 8/10/04 at 6:59pm

In my AI songbook, they have If I Were A Rich Man.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/10/04 at 7:27pm

by the way, is it true that American Idol is NOT coming to NY?! How crazy is that? Not fair. Finally when I CAN audition they decide not to do auditions in NY! grrrr!!!!!!!!!

[zoran912]

Posted: 8/10/04 at 7:59pm

I find it particularly crazy that they have a "Fiddler" song in the AI songbook. It doesn't make sense. I would never want to hear that song on AI.

[Born2cthelightsofbway]

Posted: 8/10/04 at 9:00pm

zoran912 - Agreed.

[PJ]

Posted: 8/10/04 at 9:03pm

DO NOT SING "DEFYING GRAVITY." If you're not over the age of 25, this song will sound bad. Excellent, powerful voice or not, do not sing it.

[timote316]

Posted: 8/10/04 at 9:27pm

However impressive Defying Gravity would be, its not a good idea for an AI audition, its too Broadway.

And, no, American Idol hasn't has a showtunes week yet. They do usually have a Movie song week, in which people could do showtunes, like from movie musicals. The Wiz usually gets big air-time lol. They really should have a showtunes week, I think it'd be awesome. Plus, a lot of showtunes showcase voices, which is perfect for AI.

Altho, its probably a good thing, as this board would be buzzing lol. "Hey, so-and-so sang this song from that musical! He'd/She'd be awesome as the character that sang that song, they sang it so perfectly" lol. I can see it now lol...

[kitkatgirl54]

Posted: 8/10/04 at 9:40pm

yeah they were yelling at "scooter girl" from callbacks last season because she was "too broadway." they don't want broadway. nothing more clear than that.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 8/10/04 at 10:16pm

What Broadway songs do you consider to be songs that actually wouldn't be bad for American Idol?

It would be nice if they got all the contestants together to sing "Seasons of Love". Of for Elton John week someone sang something from Aida.

[shesings]

Posted: 8/10/04 at 10:18pm

You're not going to get picked doing a broadway song, unless it is something that is a standard, then you might be able to get away with it. Otherwise they're looking for pop stars, not broadway stars, and they're just not going to pick you. That show is really rigged anyway. I know some people who got really far in it and it is totally shady. Simon/Paula/Randy aren't even there till the 3rd round of auditions. So ALL those people who are TERRIBLE who they bash made it through 3 rounds of auditions JUST so they could make fun of them for better ratings. It's totally crappy. I also had a friend who at his callback they told him that he should dress more "gay" and sing a female song and then he'd make it through. Otherwise they weren't interested b/c it wasn't good tv. Maybe you should forgo the auditions all together and just go to some broadway ones!

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 8/10/04 at 10:21pm

"She bangs! She bangs!"

[musicgal04]

Posted: 8/10/04 at 11:21pm

Even singing "standards" might not get you through. I had a friend audition with an amazing voice, but after singing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow", they told her she was "too Broadway." It's just not the style that they are looking for.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 8/10/04 at 11:24pm

Is this AI songbook available to contestants each week...how did you know a song from Fiddler was in it?

[musicgal04]

Posted: 8/10/04 at 11:26pm

The AI Songbook is vocal selections book sold in music shops. It even gives advice on auditioning, but I don't know why they would put Fiddler in it since they seem so anti-Broadway.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 8/10/04 at 11:27pm

That song probably is put in there to attract all the Broadway people into auditioning, so they can tell them on air they are "too Broadway" and aren't right for the competition.