Good a-cappella showtunes

#1

Good a-cappella showtunes

Posted: 7/4/04 at 11:44pm

Are there any showtunes that are either written as a cappella or just sound good without accompaniment? I'm frequently in a situation where I want to sing a showtune, but want it to sound nice and complete to the listener(s) without the need for instrumentation.

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BlueWizard's blog: The Rambling Corner HEDWIG: "The road is my home. In reflecting upon the people whom I have come upon in my travels, I cannot help but think of the people who have come upon me."

Updated On: 7/4/04 at 11:44 PM

#2

re: Good a-cappella showtunes

Posted: 7/5/04 at 12:18am

'Over the Moon' is almost a-cappella :)

#3

re: Good a-cappella showtunes

Posted: 7/5/04 at 12:54am

As strange as it may seem, I have seen "Betrayed" from The Producers performed acapella to quite high standards. As long as you blow them away with character the music is somewhat forgetable (which may speak to the whole show overall)

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BSoBW2: I punched Sondheim in the face after I saw Wicked and said, "Why couldn't you write like that!?"

#4

re: Good a-cappella showtunes

Posted: 7/5/04 at 12:57am

I've performed Over the Moon from Rent acappella a few times and it seems to go over quite well! 'Course you gotta be performing to an audience willing to moo.

#5

re: Good a-cappella showtunes

Posted: 7/5/04 at 1:06am

Toxic Audio is totally a-capella. It is perfection all around!

#6

re: Good a-cappella showtunes

Posted: 7/5/04 at 2:42am

Miss Saigon has some good ACAP stuff. Not solos though, big group numbers which are sung ACAP!

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"So much of me is made of what I learned from you. You'll be with me like a handprint on my heart."-Wicked

#7

re: Good a-cappella showtunes

Posted: 7/5/04 at 4:19am

i've heard rumors of a great "I Wish I Could Go Back To College" arrangement floating around.

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"The last train out of any station will not be full of nice guys." - Dr. Hunter S. Thompson

"I wash my face, then drink beer, then I weep. Say a prayer and induce insincere self-abuse, till I'm fast asleep"- In Trousers

#8

re: Good a-cappella showtunes

Posted: 7/5/04 at 9:02am

My kids like to use Forbidden Broadway for their chorus finals. And they will do them acappella.
B

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"All I ask of you is one thing: please don't be cynical. I hate cynicism -- it's my least favorite quality and it doesn't lead anywhere. Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard and you're kind, amazing things will happen." Conan O'Brien

#9

re: Good a-cappella showtunes

Posted: 7/5/04 at 9:15am

I would go with Toxic Audio. As LousW said, their entire productions is 3-, 4-, and 5-piece a cappella.

They've got 3 CDs out and their 3rd one, "Chemistry," won the 2003 Contemporary A Cappella Recording Award for best Pop/Rock Album of the Year. You can buy them in the lobby of the John Houseman Theatre (where their show is) or online.

-Sharon-
Orlando FL
You can order Toxic Audio CDs here (special deal if you get all 3)

#10

re: Good a-cappella showtunes

Posted: 7/5/04 at 9:26am

Of course, there are the three barbershop quartet numbers from THE MUSIC MAN: "Sincere", "It's You" and "Lida Rose".

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Praying Decca Broadway will put "Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope" on CD!

#11

re: Good a-cappella showtunes

Posted: 7/5/04 at 11:48am

The acapella part of Run Freedom Run from Urinetown sounds really great.

#12

re: Good a-cappella showtunes

Posted: 7/5/04 at 11:49am

Sitting Becalmed In The Lee of Cuttyhunk from a New Brain sounds alright acapella.

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BSoBW2: I punched Sondheim in the face after I saw Wicked and said, "Why couldn't you write like that!?"

#13

re: Good a-cappella showtunes

Posted: 7/5/04 at 1:55pm

o yeah! i agree with the acapella part of "run freedom run"

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"People asking questions, lost in confusion. Well I tell them there's no problems, only solutions." ~The one and only John Lennon

#14

re: Good a-cappella showtunes

Posted: 7/5/04 at 5:38pm

Hmmm...what about "Jimmy" from Millie? It's not a cappella, but would it make a good one, that is, if Sutton sang it.

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

#15

re: Good a-cappella showtunes

Posted: 7/5/04 at 5:47pm

those were the good old days- damn yankees
luck be a lady- guys and dolls
mark's solo in la vie boheme- rent
betrayed- the producers
run, freedom, run- urinetown
i believe in you- how to succeed

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"Grease," the fourth revival of the season, is the worst show in the history of theater and represents an unparalleled assault on Western civilization and its values. - Michael Reidel

#16

re: Good a-cappella showtunes

Posted: 7/5/04 at 5:50pm

Definitely "Those Were The Good Ol' Days", good suggestion jon!

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BSoBW2: I punched Sondheim in the face after I saw Wicked and said, "Why couldn't you write like that!?"

#17

re: Good a-cappella showtunes

Posted: 7/5/04 at 5:56pm

its one of my favorite songs to sing- particularly the revival extended version

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"Grease," the fourth revival of the season, is the worst show in the history of theater and represents an unparalleled assault on Western civilization and its values. - Michael Reidel

#18

re: Good a-cappella showtunes

Posted: 7/5/04 at 5:58pm

I believe that the extended version you are referring to is the reprise of the song which is actuallly featured in the original score but never recorded on the original cast recording.

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BSoBW2: I punched Sondheim in the face after I saw Wicked and said, "Why couldn't you write like that!?"

#19

re: Good a-cappella showtunes

Posted: 7/5/04 at 9:03pm

haha i haven't heard half of these songs. god i need more cast recordings!

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"People asking questions, lost in confusion. Well I tell them there's no problems, only solutions." ~The one and only John Lennon

#20

re: Good a-cappella showtunes

Posted: 7/5/04 at 9:10pm

"Prepare Ye" (or whatever the actual title is) from Godspell is half a cappella. It works either way.

And Over the Moon is a great song a cappella, especially when you get the people to moo!!!! MOOOOOOOOOOO!

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I have my books and my poetry to protect me...

#21

re: Good a-cappella showtunes

Posted: 7/5/04 at 9:16pm

Long time reader...first time poster...

But sheesh.

No one's even mentioned 'Boho Days' from Tick Tick Boom..?

#22

re: Good a-cappella showtunes

Posted: 7/5/04 at 9:19pm

Love "Over the Moon" from Rent, but does it even count as a "song"? It's more a performance-art piece.

Ok, let me narrow the field: I was really looking for solo songs (or duets can be done as a solo) that can be just sung on a whim and still sound full and complete. So, no barbershop quartets or choruses, because that's essentially harmonic accompaniment - the accompaniment being layers of voice.

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BlueWizard's blog: The Rambling Corner HEDWIG: "The road is my home. In reflecting upon the people whom I have come upon in my travels, I cannot help but think of the people who have come upon me."

#23

re: Good a-cappella showtunes

Posted: 7/5/04 at 9:50pm

i HATE "prepare ye", no offense, i had to sing it for my school production and I have hated it ever since.

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"People asking questions, lost in confusion. Well I tell them there's no problems, only solutions." ~The one and only John Lennon

#24

re: Good a-cappella showtunes

Posted: 7/6/04 at 12:09am

It has no lyrics. Its the same 7 words over and over again.

#25

re: Good a-cappella showtunes

Posted: 7/6/04 at 12:50am

I heard that Boho Days isn't actually in Tick Tick Boom, but it was put on the c.d. because Johnathan Larson is actually singing it as a demo and they wanted to release it.
Brilliant composer but didn't have the best singing voice