Awesomely bad Broadway songs

[gertiecummings]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 5:55pm

Have you guys seen the countdowns on VH1 of "Awesomely Bad _______ Songs"? Well I think it would be fun to pick some awesomely bad Broadway songs. Songs that don't make sense, have weird lyrics, or just make you go "WTF?" You can still like it, but still think it's weird.

Mine are:
Waltz for Che and Eva (Evita) *edit: Let me explain. While the premise of the song is important to the show and to the characters of Eva and Che, the way it's set up is just so WTF to me.

Generations (Children of Eden) It's actually one of my favorite songs in the show, but it's just weird hearing people sing about the begets.

I'll try to think of more

Updated On: 11/22/06 at 05:55 PM

[shiksa_goddess]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 5:58pm

Most of the songs from Phantom.

[Neverandy]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 6:00pm

The Waltz?
I douldn't disagree more!
It is the big confrontation between two characters who have been at odds for the entire show! I think it is great. They lyrics make sense and are actually kinda funny. I think also that it is wonderful that the characters are dancing with each other and fighting over which one takes the lead, which is kind of the point of the whole piece. Never in a million years would I think that that is a bad song.
ALW has some whoppers but that is not one of them.
That is my humble opinion though. You are more than entitled to yours. I am not flaming you :)

[leefowler]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 6:03pm

What's that song from Lion King called..."The Madness Of King Scar?" I would nominate that.

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 6:07pm

Anything by Andrew Lloyd Webber (Even though I like Cats)
It's A Bird, It's A Plane, It's Superman! is pretty bad to me.
Shock Treatment (if that counts)

[BNN]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 6:10pm

Something Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaad and I Love To Cry at Weddings

[TechEverlasting]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 6:13pm

I think it's most interesting to find something notably bad in an otherwise successful show.

I nominate "Now That I've Seen Her" from Miss Saigon. I like this show and most of the rest of its score. To me that number has always seemed like something from a beginning songwriter's workshop that accidentally made it in to the show.

Updated On: 11/22/06 at 06:13 PM

[B3TA07]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 6:17pm

"I Want More"

[Neverandy]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 6:18pm

Are you judging "now that I've seen her" on the OLC or the updated version on the CSR.
I see what you are getting at but I think the CSR is the stronger version.

[timmetzner]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 6:27pm

How about

"How I Know You"

from Aida

[TechEverlasting]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 6:33pm

"Are you judging "now that I've seen her" on the OLC or the updated version on the CSR."

No, I'm basing my remarks on the RLV (Repeated Live Viewings).

I've seen Miss Saigon at least eight times, including Broadway, national tour and regional productions. This one song has always gotten on my nerves. I still love "I'd Give My Life For You" "Sun and Moon" and "Why God" and "Please", and overall think it is a very well written and structured show.

What is the CSR anyway? Isn't that a crime show on NBC?

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 6:36pm

Anything from Ari - musical of Exodus

[Neverandy]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 6:36pm

The csr is the Complete Symphonic Recording. It is different than the london recording. It basically reflects the changes that went into the show when they openned on Broadway. A lot of lyrics are different and the song Sacred Bird is cut and replaced with a different song.

[Liverpool]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 6:43pm

uh yeah, there's no way The Watlz of Eva and Che should be on a list of awesomely bad songs.

[jasonf]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 6:46pm

"Anything by Andrew Lloyd Webber (Even though I like Cats)"

Ummm - wow. Don't even know what to say to that.

I'd like to nominate my old standby for worst song ever: "This Was a Real Nice Clambake" from Carousel. The melody is OK, I guess, but those lyrics are BRUTALLY bad! "The vittles we 'et were good you bet"? Ugh.

"Remember when we raked them red hot lobsters
Out of the driftwood fire?" - They JUST finished eating and are full - tell me tomorrow night RIGHT after Thanksgiving dinner if you're going to be nostalgic about the smell of the turkey as it just came out of the oven...

Then the topper:
"They sizzled and crackled and sputtered a song
Fittin' for an angels' choir."

Do I even need the commentary on that one???

[Trekkie2]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 7:13pm

Unworthy of Your Love- Assassins
I Should Tell You- Rent
There's A Fine, Fine Line- Ave. Q

These songs are bad mostly because they don't fit in the shows they are in.

[Neverandy]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 7:15pm

I should tell you?
What part?

[Neverandy]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 7:17pm

Nevermind I thought I was posting on the "Most difficult songs" thread. I should tell you is a little hokey.

[Josh Freilich]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 7:18pm

"Count on Me" from the film version of On The town
"As the adding machine once said, you can count on me!"
WHAT?!?!?! I have never heard more overused puns than that on a song, the worst being "As the dough told the pastry cook, I am all you NEED!!!"

"Out for Blood" from Carrie
NEED I SAY MORE?!?!??!

"Motherhood March" from Hello, Dolly!
Bob Merrill was called in to write the song when the show was suffering out of town, and I'm so used to hearing Jerry Herman's score so much that Bob Merrill seems a tiny bit out of place with this song. Although "Elegance" is total perfection, the song is pretty bad (especially due to the fact that Dolly knows absolutely nothing about American history).

"She's a Nut" from On The Twentieth Century
Please, do you REALLY need to remind us 50 more times? AGH!!
(in all, the title is said FORTY-EIGHT TIMES!!! AH-AH-AH-AH-AH, I LOVE IT!)

Updated On: 2/23/09 at 07:18 PM

[Becoz_i_knew_you21]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 7:20pm

Popular from Wicked. Those are possibly the campiest lyrics from a musical.

Light My Candle just because of these two lines.
"I'm illin' --"
"It was pure -- "
Besides that the song is great.

[StephenSondheimWHOO]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 7:21pm

Unworthy of your love?????
Are you kidding thats one of my favorite songs ever!

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 7:22pm

Make Me As You Are and The Crimson Kiss. The lyrics are so goddamn repetetive.

[shiksa_goddess]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 7:31pm

Oh yeah, "Now That I've Seen Her" goes on my list too. Actually, pretty much anything Ellen sings in Miss Saigon, save "I Still Believe."

[Trekkie2]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 7:46pm

SondheimWHOO, Because it just doesn't belong in the show, and it is very different from most of the other pieces Sondheim has written.

[Julian2]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 7:48pm

Lestat