Help! What are Your Favorite Opening Songs From Musicals?

Not counting the Overture or Runyonland as an opening song, I would vote for Fugue for Tinhorns from Guys and Dolls.

Updated On: 2/10/15 at 12:30 AM

thanks for the correction on oklahoma(its late and that one slipped by the mental goalie as I was making my list) and the other suggestions-

Oh what a beautiful morning IS a great opening song

Forgot Ragtime. Yes that is the only good part of what I feel is a colossal disaster of a show. Would the Carousel Waltz really be considered the opening number for that show?

Well just because it's instrumental. Then again, I suppose the audition is the first song in 42nd street. Carry on.

The show is just great. The movie is terrible, but the movie based on the play is still wonderful and hilarious today. Funny how despite how many wonder (and boy do I mean wonderful) Jerry Herman production numbers we have, most of his opening songs do not fall under the category of big splashy openings.

And yes, Mame is chock full of amazing songs. I particularly like Bosom Buddies and the title song.

I would add:
Tradition: Fiddler on the Roof
It's Your Wedding Day: The Wedding Singer

Fantod, you're right. Carousel Waltz is certainly not an opening song. I thought the thread title was favorite opening number. Usually it's the same thing but not in Carousel's case.

Updated On: 2/10/15 at 01:19 AM

Favorite Openings In Musicals (Instrumental or Vocal)

Wintergreen For President - OF THEE I SING
Carousel Waltz - Carousel (It sets up the story.)
This Time of The Year - FINIAN'S RAINBOW
Fugue For Tinhorns - GUYS & DOLLS
Another Op'nin', Another Show - KISS ME, KATE
Rock Island - THE MUSIC MAN
Comedy Tonight - A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM
Good Morning, Good Day - She Loves Me
I Put My Hand In - Hello, Dolly!
Tradition - FIDDLER ON THE ROOF
Aquarius - HAIR
Walk Him Up The Stairs - PURLIE
Sit Down, John - 1776
Company - COMPANY
The Opening Music and Beautiful Girls - FOLLIES
In The Middle of The Sea We Float - PACIFIC OVERTURES
Sunday in the Park With George - SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE
Prologue:Into The Woods - INTO THE WOODS
Invocation and Instructions To The Audience - THE FROGS
THe Old Red Hills of Home - PARADE
Hold Me, Bat Boy - BATBOY THE MUSICAL
A Year With Frog and Toad - A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD
What Do You Do With A B.A. in English - Avenue Q
Statues and Stories - THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA
In The Heights - IN THE HEIGHTS
Populism Yea Yea - BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON
American Idiot -AMERICAN IDIOT

It's not a musical, but Summertime from the opera PORGY AND BESS.

One I was recently reminded of (because a local production is getting ready to open here) is "Scrap" from THE FULL MONT. It really establishes the characters and sets up the situation.

Among my other favorites:

Ragtime - RAGTIME
The Ballad of Sweeney Todd - SWEENEY TODD
Good Mourning Baltimore - HAIRSPRAY
Aquarius - HAIR
6 months out of Every Year - DAMN YANKEES!

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"Good Mourning Baltimore!
Everyday there's a funereal,
Every night there's a robbery
Every sound is of anarchy!"


I would pay to see the sad version of Hairspray.

Updated On: 2/10/15 at 02:55 AM

"Miracle" from Matilda, specifically the "party" sequences at the beginning and end. The choreography is stunning, the lyrics are sharp, and it's got such a cynical bent. It sweeps me away every time I listen to it and perfectly sets the anarchic, (relatively-)edgy tone of the show.

I really love A Director's list.

I would add:

Twenty Million People - My Favorite Year
All That Jazz - Chicago
Magic to Do - Pippin
The Old Red Hills of Home - Parade

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