Best Song Written for the Theatre in a Decade?

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Best Song Written for the Theatre in a Decade?

Posted: 9/2/13 at 10:04pm

I know we've discussed to death the best shows of the last ten years, but what about individual songs? I'm talking about 2003 forward. I'd say:

Underwater - Caroline, or Change
Lot's Wife - Caroline, or Change
When I Grow Up - Matilda
Around the World - Grey Gardens
Go Back Home - The Scottsboro Boys
I'm Alive - Next to Normal
At the Glen - Dessa Rose
The Bitch of Living - Spring Awakening

If I had to give it to one above all the others I'd probably go with Lot's Wife. Additions/subtractions?

I know you. I know you. I know you.

Best Song Written for the Theatre in a Decade?

Posted: 9/3/13 at 1:52am

There were obviously no better lyrics written in this decade than "blah blah blah blah, blah blah blah"

EDIT: Apparently I'm mixing up my Spring Awakening songs. In all seriousness, I would have to say that "The Beauty Is" from Light in the Piazza would be at the top of my list. Actually, just about every song from that score would be.

Updated On: 9/3/13 at 01:52 AM

Best Song Written for the Theatre in a Decade?

Posted: 9/3/13 at 2:09am

Solidarity from Billy Elliot. That song and number was one of, if not THE, most powerful things I have seen onstage. The integration and ultimate culmination of Billy learning to dance and the elevating tension of the impending miners' strike was truly breathtaking.

"There’s nothing quite like the power and the passion of Broadway music. "

Best Song Written for the Theatre in a Decade?

Posted: 9/3/13 at 2:18am

"Solidarity from Billy Elliot. That song and number was one of, if not THE, most powerful things I have seen onstage."

I would argue that these choices have to be based on the song alone and must transcend its impact or "power" when staged. It must standalone on its own merits and to me this song doesn't. Perhaps on stage is does but you must remove it from that context, if I'm interpreting the somewhat vague OP.

Just a thought! It ain't worth much.

Best Song Written for the Theatre in a Decade?

Posted: 9/3/13 at 6:30am

For me, it's two songs from Grey Gardens:

Around the World
Another Winter In a Summer Town

And a song that got swallowed up in a ballad-heavy musical that didn't cause a huge stir in the end ... but I think the song itself is deeply moving:

With You - from Ghost

"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."

blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22

Best Song Written for the Theatre in a Decade?

Posted: 9/3/13 at 7:23am

This is the most depressing thread I've ever seen on broadwayworld.

Not because there aren't any fine and memorable songs written for the theatre in the last decade, some of which have been mentioned.

But because there are so damn few of them.

Best Song Written for the Theatre in a Decade?

Posted: 9/3/13 at 7:38am

^ Agreed.

I still contend that BILLY ELLIOTT is the best new musical of the last ten years and very little of it was due to the greatness of its songs (with the possible exception of Grandma's Song).

Here's another vote for ANOTHER WINTER IN A SUMMER TOWN, followed closely by a song from a less heralded score on this site, I'M NOT THAT GIRL.

Updated On: 9/3/13 at 07:38 AM

Best Song Written for the Theatre in a Decade?

Posted: 9/3/13 at 7:47am

What about A Fine, Fine Line or I Wish I Could Go Back To College? The harmonies in the latter are absolutely beautiful.

There's also so much from Next To Normal. So Anyway, Maybe, How Could I Ever Forget?, I Am The One....

Best Song Written for the Theatre in a Decade?

Posted: 9/3/13 at 8:24am

Anyone who's followed me on here will not be surprised to hear me go to bat for "Quiet" from MATILDA or "Work the Wound" from PASSING STRANGE, but those are two of the most outstanding compositions of this decade for me. I'd also add the title song from THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA.

There's a lot of songs from scores I love as a whole (THE BOOK OF MORMON, AVENUE Q, IN THE HEIGHTS, etc) that don't stand out as individual compositions, and that's ok as not every song needs to, but those three I mentioned above stand head and shoulders above the fray for me.

Words don't deserve that kind of malarkey. They're innocent, neutral, precise, standing for this, describing that, meaning the other, so if you look after them you can build bridges across incomprehension and chaos. But when they get their corners knocked off, they're no good anymore…I don't think writers are sacred, but words are. They deserve respect. If you get the right ones in the right order, you can nudge the world a little.

#10

Best Song Written for the Theatre in a Decade?

Posted: 9/3/13 at 8:33am

If I had to pick the best song in In the Heights it'd be Paciencia y Fe, but I don't think it stands up to the other songs I mentioned. I would however include Invisible from Women on the Verge. The score itself is messy but it's a gem of a song.

I know you. I know you. I know you.

#11

Best Song Written for the Theatre in a Decade?

Posted: 9/3/13 at 8:33am

If we're talking Grey Gardens, I would choose Will You.

I'm Alive is a good choice from Next to Normal.

A Fine, Fine Line from Avenue Q is good (I have a soft spot for Special, too).

I Believe from Book of Mormon?

Keys or Come Down Now from Passing Strange?

Run Freedom Run from Urinetown (was that in the past decade?).

I'm sure there are many more... although this list would in no way compare with a list from the Golden Age. They just don't write songs like that anymore.

Coach Bob knew it all along: you've got to get obsessed and stay obsessed. You have to keep passing the open windows. (John Irving, The Hotel New Hampshire)

#12

Best Song Written for the Theatre in a Decade?

Posted: 9/3/13 at 8:41am

With You- GHOST

#13

Best Song Written for the Theatre in a Decade?

Posted: 9/3/13 at 8:43am

I would definitely go with Another Winter In a Summer Town, too.

One song I would add to the list, not because I think it's a perfect song but because I think it's beautiful and fits into its place in the show wonderfully is I Miss the Music from Curtains.

When I see the phrase "the ____ estate", I imagine a vast mansion in the country full of monocled men and high-collared women receiving letters about productions across the country and doing spit-takes at whatever they contain. -Kad

#14

Best Song Written for the Theatre in a Decade?

Posted: 9/3/13 at 9:09am

For pure schmaltz - "Say It Somehow" from Piazza - especially when sung by very attractive half-naked people.

Re: Run Freedom Run - URINETOWN opened on Broadway in 2001. Besides, the song sounds an awful lot like "Gonna Build a Mountain" from STOP THE WORLD...

Updated On: 9/3/13 at 09:09 AM

#15

Best Song Written for the Theatre in a Decade?

Posted: 9/3/13 at 9:11am

"Everybody say Yeah" from Kinky Boots.

So Lauren Bacall me, anything goes! *wink*

#16

Best Song Written for the Theatre in a Decade?

Posted: 9/3/13 at 9:18am

Someone in a Tree2 -- I agree with you about "I'm Not That Girl."

It's one of the best from the past ten years.

"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."

blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22

#17

Best Song Written for the Theatre in a Decade?

Posted: 9/3/13 at 9:36am

"Song of Purple Summer" from SPRING AWAKENING

Much of the rest of the score from SPRING AWAKENING, fwiw.

"For Now" from AVENUE Q.

Much of the score from NATASHA PIERRE AND THE GREAT COMET OF 1812.

"Hello" and "I Believe" and "Salt Lake City" from BOOK OF MORMON.

"If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don't have to worry about the answers." Thomas Pynchon, GRAVITY'S RAINBOW "Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away." Philip K. Dick My blog: http://www.roscoewrites.blogspot.com/

#18

Best Song Written for the Theatre in a Decade?

Posted: 9/3/13 at 9:43am

With You - Ghost

How 'Bout A Dance - Bonnie and Clyde

#19

Best Song Written for the Theatre in a Decade?

Posted: 9/3/13 at 9:56am

"Wanderlust" - February House
"Second Nature"- Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson
"The 'I Love You' Song"- Spelling Bee

"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."

#20

Best Song Written for the Theatre in a Decade?

Posted: 9/3/13 at 10:29am

I'm pretty partial to Come Down Now from Passing Strange, myself, but I think almost all of these are pretty spectacular choices.

I am a firm believer in serendipity- all the random pieces coming together in one wonderful moment, when suddenly you see what their purpose was all along.

#21

Best Song Written for the Theatre in a Decade?

Posted: 9/3/13 at 11:09am

Best12bars: For me, it's two songs from Grey Gardens:

Around the World
Another Winter In a Summer Town"

Couldn't agree more!

Along with those two I would have to add Breathe from In The Heights

Updated On: 9/3/13 at 11:09 AM

#22

Best Song Written for the Theatre in a Decade?

Posted: 9/3/13 at 11:12am

The I Love You Song is a great one.

#23

Best Song Written for the Theatre in a Decade?

Posted: 9/3/13 at 11:18am

"But because there are so damn few of them."

Really? This is the type of thread where you are going to get a gazillion of responses.

I guess it depends on your personal taste.

"We like to snark around here. Sometimes we actually talk about theater...but we try not to let that get in our way." - dramamama611

#24

Best Song Written for the Theatre in a Decade?

Posted: 9/3/13 at 11:20am

~ "Underwater", for me, is one of the best songs ever written in the history of history and if this were an actual award being given out for best song in a decade, I'd put money on that winning.

~ I also think "Around the World" belongs in that same category. With the line "Around the world with stones and shells, the nicest one I lost", that makes me cry every time I hear it...it's perfect.

~ "The I Love You Song", "Those You've Known", "Song Of Purple Summer", "Go Back Home", "Stronger", "I Was Here" also deserve mention.

#25

Best Song Written for the Theatre in a Decade?

Posted: 9/3/13 at 11:23am

Jordan, do you mean I Was Here from The Glorious Ones? Not to split hairs, since the musical premiered in this decade, but the song was written more than ten years ago. (I think)

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