Broadway Score With The Most Flawless Lyrics? — Page 2

any votes for RAGTIME? I should bust out the CR just to make sure...but if my memory serves me right...

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If we're talking "flawless" lyrics, I would disqualify Ragtime for "Crime of the Century," "Harry Houdini, Master Escapist" and "What a Game".

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Any votes for Chess? I realize that I'm completely biased because, well, I'm obsessed with the show, but the show has so many very strong lyrics. Perhaps not the "most flawless lyrics," but definitely worth an honorable mention.

Smaxi-
I actually enjoyed Crime of Century and What a Game's lyrics from Ragtime. They bring much needed comedy in a rather serious (although excellent) show.

Chalk another one for Sweeney Todd, A Little Night Music, and Cabaret from me. I love Sondheim, but he's also written his share of clunkers. However, I can't think of anything from Sweeney Todd or ALNM that makes me go "murrr?"

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SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, my favorite Sondheim score, is the closest to flawless I can think of.

You seem to be in the minority, Fabrizo2. Care to say WHY in particular you don't think they fit the "criteria"?

This isn't, after all, a thread for the most clever lyrics (which, clearly, Sondheim would have every right to the upper hand), but the most flawless. That implies the context of the show and the score as a whole, how excellent the lyrical concept itself is, and how well those concepts and ideas are carried out. I think The Last Five Years fits this criteria.

What are these flaws that you seem so certain are there?

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just do not think that the lyrics are as intelligent, witty, smart, etc..

Exactly my point. Flawlessness is not about intelligence, wit, smarts or what have you . . . as you quoted the dictionary yourself, "flawlessness" is about lacking flaws or imperfections -- to take it one step further, lacking flaws or imperfections in the crafting and exectution of the proposed goal.

For a show that is intentionally trite, flawlessness would entail consistantly trite lyrics, probably absurd in nature. Then you have Sondheim, whose scores and lyrics tend to be for shows that are very intellectual, so wit and intelligence are important to consider. But that's just not important for a show like The Last 5 Years. The concept behind TL5Y is realism and when it comes to realism, the lyrics are perfectly crafted and executed.

Flawless.

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Updated On: 5/26/06 at 10:14 PM

there are quite a few that teeter on the edge, but I'd most definitely have to agree with Sweeney.

"Nessa and Confessa- Brilliant!"

I am not a Wicked freak and in no way do I think the lyrics are flawless but I'd like to point out that it's "Nessa I've got something to confess, a reason why..."

1776

COMPANY!