Best Musical Theatre Song of All-Time (Pick ONLY One)- Page 5

[GE 2]

Posted: 10/31/18 at 10:24am

Nothing from Hamilton will ever end up on a best all time list in a few years.  

[a-mad]

Posted: 10/31/18 at 10:48am

Picking one is way too hard... but right now it would be neck and neck between:

Being Alive - Company

Wheels of a Dream - Ragtime

[Lot666]

Posted: 10/31/18 at 11:26am

"Overture", The Phantom of the Opera

Updated On: 11/1/18 at 11:26 AM

[Jarethan]

Posted: 10/31/18 at 11:32pm

OlBlueEyes said: "ErinDillyFan said: "Tonight from West Side Story

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyUV3hIL-G0

"

So Lenny finally got a vote. Let’s see. That makes it Sondheim 34 (give or take a dozen)

Bernstein 1

What a travesty that Sondheim did not write the music in addition to the lyrics of West Side Story."

 

I hope that last sentence is a joke.  IMO the score to WSS is the sole reason it remains a classic.  i have to admit that I got tired of WSS at least 30 years ago, although I am sure that I have seen it at least 5 - 6 times since then, more Including the movie.  I have never gotten tired because of the score,which is the main reason I have continued to watch.  I have gotten major tired of he choreography (Jerome Robbins' Broadway sealed the deal), so shoot me; some of the lyrics are really lame, e.g.,16 year old uneducated Maria sings 'it's alarming how charming I feel' (even Sondheim has acknowledged that some of the lyrics are too clever for the characters who are singing them); the book is okay.  It's the score by Leonard Bernstein.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 10/31/18 at 11:37pm

Depends on the day. 

Today it's "Lot's Wife" by Tesori and Kushner. 

[yfs]

Posted: 11/1/18 at 12:08am

The Girls Upstairs. 

[uncageg]

Posted: 11/1/18 at 12:13am

First that comes to my mind is "Johanna (Quartet)" from Sweeney. But that is more a favorite I think.

So I will go with Oklahoma.

Close runners up:

At The Ballet

Being Alive

Sunday

Marry Me A Little

Put On Your Sunday Clothes

 

[thebookofwhizzer]

Posted: 11/1/18 at 8:55am

At the moment, "Marry Me A Little" from Company, of all time, "Let the Sun Shine In” from Hair

Updated On: 11/2/18 at 08:55 AM

[JudyDenmark]

Posted: 11/1/18 at 10:46am

Totally agree with all of the people saying One Day More!

But today I will go with Skid Row (Downtown). It's just so good. 

[GE 2]

Posted: 11/2/18 at 5:34am

Listening to Dear Evan Hansen a lot at the moment...

Loving "Waving through a window" and "For Forever".  They're on repeat.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 11/2/18 at 7:51am

“One” - A Chorus Line. Combined with Michael Bennett’s iconic choreography...the top hats, the wedge, the human carousel and the perpetual kicks that seem to go on forever as the lights dim is just pure musical theater Heaven.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 11/2/18 at 8:22am

Hello, Dolly! hands down

[OlBlueEyes]

Posted: 11/2/18 at 9:49am

Jarethan said: "OlBlueEyes said: "ErinDillyFan said: "Tonight from West Side Story

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyUV3hIL-G0

"

So Lenny finally got a vote. Let’s see. That makes it Sondheim 34 (give or take a dozen)

Bernstein 1

What a travesty that Sondheim did not write the music in addition to the lyrics of West Side Story."



I hope that last sentence is a joke. IMO the score to WSS is the sole reason it remains a classic. i have to admit that I gottired of WSS at least 30 years ago, although I amsure that I have seen it at least 5 - 6 times since then, more Includingthe movie. I have never gotten tired because of the score,which is the main reason I have continued to watch. I have gotten major tired ofhe choreography (Jerome Robbins'Broadway sealed the deal),soshoot me; some of the lyrics are really lame, e.g.,16 year old uneducated Maria sings 'it's alarming how charming I feel'(even Sondheim has acknowledged that some of the lyrics are too clever for the characters who are singing them); the book is okay. It's the score by Leonard Bernstein."

 

[GlindatheGood22]

Posted: 11/2/18 at 9:55am

Lately I've been on an Old Man River kick, so that's my vote. Easily one of the most important American songs ever written.

Updated On: 11/2/18 at 09:55 AM

[OlBlueEyes]

Posted: 11/2/18 at 12:38pm

So Lenny finally got a vote. Let’s see. That makes it

Sondheim 34 (give or take a dozen)
Bernstein 1

What a travesty that Sondheim did not write the music in addition to the lyrics of West Side Story."

I hope that last sentence is a joke. IMO the score to WSS is the sole reason it remains a classic. i have to admit that I gottired of WSS at least 30 years ago, although I amsure that I have seen it at least 5 - 6 times since then, more Includingthe movie. I have never gotten tired because of the score,which is the main reason I have continued to watch. I have gotten major tired ofhe choreography (Jerome Robbins'Broadway sealed the deal),soshoot me; some of the lyrics are really lame, e.g.,16 year old uneducated Maria sings 'it's alarming how charming I feel'(even Sondheim has acknowledged that some of the lyrics are too clever for the characters who are singing them); the book is okay. It's the score by Leonard Bernstein."

Yes, that was an attempt at sarcasm. Sondheim writes good show tunes; Bernstein was a musical genius. I only wish he had written a few more musicals. 

Sondheim lacked the ability to write many of the songs of West Side Story, such as "America" and "Tonight." He probably would have thought the song too sentimental, anyway. Ditto for most of the songs of Candide from the Overture. (But don't let Sondheim sell himself short on the lyrics. Lyrics for "America" and "Gee, Officer Krupke" and many others were very worthy of him.)

Just surprised that about a third would choose "Being Alive" as the best Broadway song ever written. "Being Alive" Who outside of the theater community even know the song. Who records or performs it other than Patti Lupone and Bernadette Peters and those doing all Sondheim albums or concerts.

Almost like a lot of the usually independent posters here jumped on the "Being Alive" band wagon instead of taking the slight risk of picking their own best.

Anyway, the question was really unanswerable.

[ScottyDoesn'tKnow2]

Posted: 11/2/18 at 1:27pm

This isn't my favorite Theatre song of all time but I am in love with the lyrics and form of "Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered".  

After one whole quart of brandy
Like a daisy I awake
With no Bromo Seltzer handy
I don't even shake
Men are not a new sensation;
I've done pretty well, I think
But this half-pint imitation
Put me on the blink

[REFRAIN]
I'm wild again
Beguiled again
A simpering, whimpering child again
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered am I

Couldn't sleep
And wouldn't sleep
Until I could sleep where I shouldn't sleep
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered am I

[Bridge]
Lost my heart but what of it?
My mistake, I agree
He's a laugh, but I love it
Because the laugh's on me

[Chorus]
A pill he is
But still he is
All mine and I'll keep him until he is
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered
Like me

Seen a lot
I mean I lot
But now I'm like sweet seventeen a lot
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered am I

I'll sing to him
Each spring to him
And worship the trousers that cling to him
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered am I

[Bridge]
When he talks he is seeking
Words to get off his chest
Horizontally speaking
He's at his very best

[Chorus]
Vexed again
Perplexed again
Thank God I can be over-sexed again
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered am I

This makes me think maybe we should have a dedicated to celebrating, discussing, and comparing/contrasting the works of Rodgers/Hart and Rodgers/Hammerstein.

[usher2]

Posted: 11/2/18 at 1:58pm

Some Enchanted Evening from South Pacific

[broadwaysfguy]

Posted: 11/2/18 at 4:45pm

im so obsessed with amazing individual broadway songs i created at top 100 playlist
then a top 500 playlist
then a top 1000 playlist
then a top 2000 songs spreadsheet

and at the very top number one slot,

it always goes to

“Bring Him Home” from Les Miserables

pure
simple
heartfelt
passionate
love
sacrifice
mortality
faith
it has it all

the perfect high tenor song...

alfie boies 25th anniversary live version brings tears
every time and i was lucky enough to see him do it
live