Bad Sondheim lyrics?

[Maureen_Johnson]

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

I know with any composer there're cheesy lyrics, but none of the incredible Stephen Sondheims come to mind. What are some?

[All_For_Laura]

Posted: 7/7/06 at 7:40pm

That is because he has none.

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 7/7/06 at 7:44pm

There really aren't any.

Someone is going to post about "I Feel Pretty" any minute though...

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 7/7/06 at 7:44pm

He has stated a few that he wishes he could change...I believe he hates his lyrics from "I Feel Pretty".

[BwayBaby18]

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

Sondheim and bad shouldn't even be written on the same page.... someone delete this thread... just kidding

[ElphieDefiesGravity]

Posted: 7/7/06 at 7:51pm

Wow, Infinite, you're psychic! :-P

[Fiction Writer]

Posted: 7/7/06 at 7:52pm

I like "I Feel Pretty". I sing it when I'm getting all dressed up.

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 7/7/06 at 7:53pm

Well he has mentioned that WSS isn't his fondest memory, it was a mere stepping stone.

Yes, I Feel Pretty is all that comes to mind.

[Flahooley]

Posted: 7/7/06 at 8:03pm

The Raisins/Liaisons rhyme in A LITLLE NIGHT MUSIC has always annoyed me a little.

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 7/7/06 at 8:07pm

I remember he said in an interview with "Time" around his 75th birthday that he hated the lyrics to "Pretty," saying that they were too much like Noel Coward. Personally, I find them hilarious.

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 7/7/06 at 8:07pm

Jesus, i AM psychic

[All_For_Laura]

Posted: 7/7/06 at 8:54pm

He wished he never wrote the score to passion, nonetheless, every single lyric in that score is BRILLIANT!

[Roninjoey]

Posted: 7/7/06 at 11:00pm

Are you getting that from the article that was posted on Broadwayworld on April 1st this year?

As in, it was an April Fools joke and Sondheim didn't write that? :P

I doubt he'd ever go on record saying he wished he hadn't written a score. Especially one as wonderful as Passion, of which I think he is extremely fond.

[jam_man]

Posted: 7/7/06 at 11:09pm

"Bad Sondheim lyrics?"

*GASP* Blasphemy! OFF WITH YE HEAD!!!


In all honesty, the "I Feel Pretty" is all there really is other than the "I have a moo cow, a new cow, a true cow..." from Gypsy, and that really should be cheesy since Rose writes their stuff.

[ThankstoPhantom]

Posted: 7/8/06 at 12:09am

I think his lyrics are better with his own music. I don't get captivated by them as much when he writes lyrics for other composers.

Updated On: 7/9/06 at 12:09 AM

[jasonf]

Posted: 7/8/06 at 12:12am

when he writed?

[LostLeander]

Posted: 7/8/06 at 1:18am

His lyrics for Gypsy, WSS, the song "The Boy From", and others are really quite brilliant, sharp, clever. It's funny, because his lyrics fit into the Golden Age of musicals very well, while his own scores had a very contemporary feel. Much sharper. Probably because he puts a lot more focus on lyrics than almost any other composer. But comes far from short in the melodic area. Brilliance!

Do I Hear a Waltz aren't his best, but I really think that came out of the bad relationship he had with Rodgers. Like in "What Do We Do? We Fly!"
Leona's counterpart lyrics are - "I agree, you're like me. I do too, what about you?"

Unless I'm missing something in performance that justifies their painful simplicity in an otherwise cleverly written song...

But other than that, Do I Hear a Waltz is quickly becoming a favorite.
"Oh moon, ah moon, hey moon"

Brilliant.

Some of the score actually reminds me of Sondheim's music.

Updated On: 7/8/06 at 01:18 AM

[TheEnchantedHunter]

Posted: 7/8/06 at 1:30am

"What made it so right together/
is what made it all wrong"

ugga wugga meatball




Winthrop Paroo
River City, Iowas

[StageManager2]

Posted: 7/8/06 at 2:12am

"Little Lamb" (GYPSY) comes to mind. I can't stand that song, mostly due to the lyrics, which I think are terrible.

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 7/8/06 at 2:24am

I respectfully disagree with your opinion of the Little Lamb lyrics. I think they fully indicate and express Louise's naive, childish character. Ending with "I wonder how old I am" is a revealing yet not startling moment. The lyrics are true to the part.

[achancetofly]

Posted: 7/8/06 at 3:50am

Oh come on, jasonf, look at your keyboard...that was probably a typo. A very easy typo to make, nonetheless.

[ThankstoPhantom]

Posted: 7/9/06 at 10:17pm

Thank you, AChancetoFly. It was indeed a mishap, and I've fixed it.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/10/06 at 12:40am

I know it was intentional, but "Unworthy of Your Love."

[icantbelive]

Posted: 7/10/06 at 10:15am

This just ticks me off

"Swing your razor high Sweeney hear it singing yes!"???????

[best12bars]

Posted: 7/10/06 at 11:31am

From "I'm Not Getting Married Today" in Company:

"Why let me die like Eliza on the ice?"

A clever reference to Eliza's escape in Uncle Tom's Cabin. But it's completely inaccurate (as pointed out on another thread). Eliza doesn't die. God freezes the water and she successfully escapes. Then he thaws it out so everyone chasing her dies.