American Idol and Broadway Songs

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

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

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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.)

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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.

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Does American idol have a showtunes week?

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

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.