Best Song Written for the Theatre in a Decade? — Page 3

This is turning into a Caroline love thread. :) Gonna Pass Me a Law is great too, but I changed my mind from last night. I think Underwater is the best of that score.

I know it's controversial choice because it's new, but I really think Matilda has one of my favorite scores ever. When I Grow Up is the highlight, but the whole thing is just so note perfect. Everyone who should have a song has one, exactly in the right places, saying exactly the right things in exactly the right way.

Considering other British imports, I do like Billy Elliot but not nearly as much as other people here. The score is hit or miss for me, with the major hit being Shine. I don't think anything in it could be considered to be the best of the decade. Next to Normal's score is in fact far superior and deserved to win.

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Musical Master, thank you! I knew I left a writing team off of that list!

Look, I know it's a hard thing to accept. But the sooner you're able to do that, te happier you'll be.

You have no argument here about that. But the fact remains that another writing team happened to write one musical that surpasses all of those written by the other team.

Well obviously I'm only talking about me. I don't even know you, how could I speak for you?

I was giving my opinion and joking with you at the same time.

While I wouldn't call it the best song, especially in competition with some of the other songs on this list, I think that Dirty Rotten Scoundrels' "Nothing Is Too Wonderful To Be True," especially the "jazz version" with some of the topical jokes taken out that was issued as a bonus track, is a gorgeous ballad, and if it were released in any other era would have been a standard.

"Lot's Wife" - Caroline, or Change
"Fable" - The Light in the Piazza
"Around the World" - Grey Gardens
"Another Winter in a Summer Town" - Grey Gardens
"I'm Here" - The Color Purple
"Just Another Day" - next to normal
"You Don't Know/I Am The One" - next to normal
"So Anyway"
"Light" - next to normal
"Naughty" - Matilda
"When I Grow Up" - Matilda
"Quiet" - Matilda

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I take "best song" to mean a musical composition that remains in your memory after you've seen the show, especially one written in in any of the many kinds of compact forms we have come to think of as a "song."

So not something that necessarily "works outside" the show, but not something that is a musical sequence or recitative. So, if we were discussing Gypsy, the "best song" would not be "Rose's Turn," but more likely "Some People" or "Everything's Coming Up Roses."

Therefore, I'll exclude "Die, Vampire, Die" from [title of show] because that's really a musical sequence, even though I love the number and its message, and I'll pass on Next to Normal. Even though I love the score, I don't think any of the individual numbers make a "best song" list.

As for musicals in the last 10 years, let's start with Wicked, which turns 10 this fall. I would choose "For Good," which I often find myself singing or thinking about in terms of people in my life.

Also turning 10 is Avenue Q, from which I would choose "There's a Fine, Fine Line," which never fails to move me.

I would add "Lot's Wife" from Caroline, or Change and "Another Winter in a Summer Town" from Grey Gardens. Each of those has come back to me many times since seeing those shows. Also, "I Believe" from Book of Mormon, since the combination of a powerful vocal line and surprising and original humor is an important (and much undervalued) component of musical theater.

And I'll add one song written for "the theater" in that it was written for the show-within-the-show on Smash: "Don't Forget Me."

But, Gaveston, you should not find this thread depressing because you haven't seen or listened to the shows. Why not listen to what people who have seen them and listened to them are genuinely enthusiastic about? Maybe their enthusiasm might open a window in your life.

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My pretentious musical snob list:
"Around the World" - Grey Gardens
"Say It Somehow" - The Light in the Piazza
"I Wish I Could Go Back to College" - Avenue Q
"The I Love You Song" - Spelling Bee
"I Believe" - Spring Awakening
"The Bitch of Living" - Spring Awakening

My guilty pleasure list:
"Here I Am" - Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
"It's Your Wedding Day" - The Wedding Singer
"The Life I Never Led" - Sister Act
"Her Voice" - The Little Mermaid
"The Song That Goes Like This" - Spamalot
"Sunday Morning Fever" - Sister Act

So many mentions for the MATILDA score! Minchin deserved that Tony, dang it.

Gosh qolbinau, i forgot about "I'm Here." Excellent choice