#26
Posted: 2/10/15 at 7:31am
Maury Yeston sure knows how to open a show, I'm going to pick the entire opening sequence of Titanic.
Help! What are Your Favorite Opening Songs From Musicals? — Page 2
#27
Posted: 2/10/15 at 7:35am
At this point, definitely Willkommen!
#28
Posted: 2/10/15 at 8:35am
For some reason, my two favourite openings are instrumental: Carousel Waltz and Audition from 42nd Street.
#29
Posted: 2/10/15 at 8:57am
"Life Is," Zorba. Still thrills me to watch the Tony broadcast, and see the great Lorraine Serabian take charge. I saw it from the last row of the Imperial Theater, June 1969, and it's never left me.
"I'm a comedian, but in my spare time, things bother me." Garry Shandling
#30
Posted: 2/10/15 at 9:08am
Magic To Do
Stephanatic
#31
Posted: 2/10/15 at 9:51am
Another Op'nin', Another Show - Kiss Me Kate
Comedy Tonight - A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum
Comedy Tonight - A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum
"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Updated On: 2/10/15 at 09:51 AM
#32
Posted: 2/10/15 at 10:06am
Excluding overtures, "The Old Red Hills of Home" from Parade
#33
Posted: 2/10/15 at 1:12pm
Fantod - "Ragtime" was a "colossel disaster of a show"?!! Wow - could not disagree more. What production did you see - why was it a "disaster"?
#34
Posted: 2/10/15 at 1:16pm
"It's a Typical Day" from Li'l Abner
"All the Livelong Day" from Working
"All the Livelong Day" from Working
#35
Posted: 2/10/15 at 1:23pm
The Kennedy Center production, It was a tonal jumble, over dramatic, and tried to tackle too much. The music seemed to be the same song over and over,
#36
Posted: 2/10/15 at 1:40pm
I would add "Live in Living Color" from "Catch Me If You Can". "I Hope I Get It" from Chorus Line is a great one as well. How about the opening number of "Company"? However, "Circle of Life" is probably the best opening song in the history of musicals.
#37
Posted: 2/10/15 at 2:21pm
I love "Willamania" from The Will Rogers Follies. It has such a great progression/build to it and perfectly sets up the style of the rest of the show.
#38
Posted: 2/10/15 at 3:15pm
I forgot about the opening to "City of Angels". That's pretty great too.
#39
Posted: 2/10/15 at 4:11pm
Fugue for Tinhorns GUYS AND DOLLS
All that Jazz CHICAGO
Aquarius HAIR
Summer, Summer TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA
The Best of All Possible Worlds CANDIDE
I Hope I Get It A CHORUS LINE
Why Can't the English? MY FAIR LADY
Movies Were Movies MACK AND MABEL
Life Is ZORBA
Ooh! My Feet! MOST HAPPY FELLA
Maybe ANNIE
In Three Quarter Time PARDON MY ENGLISH
Walk Him Up the Stairs PURLIE
Half as Big as Life PROMISES, PROMISES
Comedy Tonight FORUM
Good Morning Baltimore HAIRSPRAY
Sit Down, John 1776
The Happy Time THE HAPPY TIME
The Sweetest Sounds NO STRINGS
Was She Prettier than I? HIGH SPIRITS
The Telephone Song BYE BYE BIRDIE
Sands of Time/Rhymes Have I KISMET
Night Song GOLDEN BOY
Ain't it Awful, the Heat? STREET SCENE
Mack the Knife THREEPENNY OPERA
Another Openin' Another Show KISS ME KATE
Summertime PORGY AND BESS
All that Jazz CHICAGO
Aquarius HAIR
Summer, Summer TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA
The Best of All Possible Worlds CANDIDE
I Hope I Get It A CHORUS LINE
Why Can't the English? MY FAIR LADY
Movies Were Movies MACK AND MABEL
Life Is ZORBA
Ooh! My Feet! MOST HAPPY FELLA
Maybe ANNIE
In Three Quarter Time PARDON MY ENGLISH
Walk Him Up the Stairs PURLIE
Half as Big as Life PROMISES, PROMISES
Comedy Tonight FORUM
Good Morning Baltimore HAIRSPRAY
Sit Down, John 1776
The Happy Time THE HAPPY TIME
The Sweetest Sounds NO STRINGS
Was She Prettier than I? HIGH SPIRITS
The Telephone Song BYE BYE BIRDIE
Sands of Time/Rhymes Have I KISMET
Night Song GOLDEN BOY
Ain't it Awful, the Heat? STREET SCENE
Mack the Knife THREEPENNY OPERA
Another Openin' Another Show KISS ME KATE
Summertime PORGY AND BESS
Updated On: 2/11/15 at 04:11 PM
#40
Posted: 2/10/15 at 4:36pm
Sunday In the Park With George - SITPWG
#41
Posted: 2/10/15 at 6:13pm
Recently, I was blown away by the opening number of LITTLE DANCER titled "C'est la Ballet". Stroman's staging was top notch. Ahrens and Flaherty composed a really tuneful melody to introduce the two main characters and set up the story. And once again Rebecca Luker's singing was pure heaven (still reflect on her rendition of "There's Music In You" from CINDERELLA). I was never bored with the show. I was sorry it received such a lukewarm reception.
And as mentioned by others, I still get chills whenever I sit through the opening of FOLLIES. It never fails to get me misty eyed (as does the overture to GYPSY).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyOuzoq83T4
And as mentioned by others, I still get chills whenever I sit through the opening of FOLLIES. It never fails to get me misty eyed (as does the overture to GYPSY).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyOuzoq83T4
Updated On: 2/10/15 at 06:13 PM
#42
Posted: 2/10/15 at 7:01pm
Ragtime - RAGTIME
The Old Red Hills of Home - PARADE
Magic to Do - PIPPIN
Happiness - PASSION
I Hope I Get It - A CHORUS LINE
Hello - THE BOOK OF MORMON
Summertime - PORGY & BESS
Tradition - THE FIDDLER ON THE ROOF
Mr. Snow - CAROUSEL
Statues and Stories - THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA
Someone Woke Up - DO I HEAR A WALTZ?
I know I'm forgetting a ton of others!
The Old Red Hills of Home - PARADE
Magic to Do - PIPPIN
Happiness - PASSION
I Hope I Get It - A CHORUS LINE
Hello - THE BOOK OF MORMON
Summertime - PORGY & BESS
Tradition - THE FIDDLER ON THE ROOF
Mr. Snow - CAROUSEL
Statues and Stories - THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA
Someone Woke Up - DO I HEAR A WALTZ?
I know I'm forgetting a ton of others!
Every so often there was a rare moment of perfect balance when I soared above him.
Updated On: 2/10/15 at 07:01 PM
#43
Posted: 2/10/15 at 10:58pm
"Six Months Out of Every Year" from DAMN YANKEES
"Tradition" from FIDDLER ON THE ROOF
"Carousel Waltz" from CAROUSEL
"Audition" from 42nd STREET
"Tradition" from FIDDLER ON THE ROOF
"Carousel Waltz" from CAROUSEL
"Audition" from 42nd STREET
#44
Posted: 2/11/15 at 12:23am
Wow, this is a musically well educated group...awesome contributions, everyone!
Please keep your favorites coming, especially ones not on the big list below!!!
Most Popular openers with this group so far(at least three mentions):
All that Jazz-Chicago (four)
Another Op'nin', Another Show - KISS ME, KATE
Aquarius - HAIR
Carousel Waltz" from CAROUSEL(four)
Comedy Tonight FORUM
Company - COMPANY
Fugue for Tinhorns from Guys and Dolls
I Hope I Get It - A CHORUS LINE
Magic to Do - Pippin(five)
OH WHAT A BEAUTIFUL MORNING from OKLAHOMA
Ragtime - RAGTIME (four)
Summertime porgy and bess(four)
The Old Red Hills of Home" from Parade(four)
Tradition - THE FIDDLER ON THE ROOF(five)
Here's a summary for anyone who wants to build a top opener playlist too:
A Year With Frog and Toad - A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD
Ain't it Awful, the Heat? STREET SCENE
All That Jazz - Chicago
All that Jazz CHICAGO
All That Jazz from Chicago
All that Jazz-Chicago
All the Livelong Day from Working
American Idiot -AMERICAN IDIOT
Another Openin' Another Show KISS ME KATE
Another Op'nin', Another Show - Kiss Me Kate
Another Op'nin', Another Show - KISS ME, KATE
Aquarius - HAIR
Aquarius - HAIR
Aquarius HAIR
Audition from 42nd Street
Audition" from 42nd STREET
Bidin' My Time from Girl Crazy
Call on Dolly from Hello, Dolly
Carousel Waltz
Carousel Waltz - Carousel (It sets up the story.)
Carousel Waltz
Carousel Waltz" from CAROUSEL
C'est la Ballet-Little Dancer
Christopher Street (Wonderful Town)
Circle of Life
Circle of Life
Comedy Tonight - A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum
Comedy Tonight - A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM
Comedy Tonight FORUM
Company - COMPANY
Company- Company
COMPANY from COMPANY
Cotton Blossom from Show Boat
Die Moritat Von Mackie Messer from Die Dreigroschenoper
Fugue For Tinhorns - GUYS & DOLLS
Fugue for Tinhorns from Guys and Dolls
Fugue for Tinhorns GUYS AND DOLLS
Good Morning Baltimore HAIRSPRAY
Good Morning, Good Day - She Loves Me
Good Mourning Baltimore - HAIRSPRAY
Half as Big as Life PROMISES, PROMISES
Happiness - PASSION
Hello - THE BOOK OF MORMON
Hello- Book of Mormon
Hold Me, Bat Boy - BATBOY THE MUSICAL
How to Succeed-How to Succeed
I Get a Kick Out of You from Anything Goes
I Hope I Get It - A CHORUS LINE
I Hope I Get It A CHORUS LINE
I Hope I Get It
I Put My Hand In - Hello, Dolly!
In The Heights - IN THE HEIGHTS
In The Middle of The Sea We Float - PACIFIC OVERTURES
In Three Quarter Time PARDON MY ENGLISH
Invocation and Instructions To The Audience - THE FROGS
It's a Typical Day from Li'l Abner
It's Today from Mame
It's Your Wedding Day: The Wedding Singer
Just Another Day-Next To Normal
Life Is ZORBA
Life Is- Zorba.
Live in Living Color from "Catch Me If You Can
Mack the Knife THREEPENNY OPERA
Magic to Do - Pippin
Magic to Do - PIPPIN
magic to do pippin
magic to do pippin
MAGIC TO DO from PIPPIN
mamma who bore me spring awakening
Maybe ANNIE
Miracle from Matilda
Movies Were Movies MACK AND MABEL
Mr. Snow - CAROUSEL
Night Song GOLDEN BOY
Oh What a Beautiful Morning from Oklahoma!
Oh What a Beautiful Morning from Oklahoma!
Oh, What a Beautiful Morning-Oklahoma
Ooh! My Feet! MOST HAPPY FELLA
opening follies
opening sequence of Titanic.
opening to "City of Angels"
Populism Yea Yea - BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON
PROLOGUE from INTO THE WOODS
Prologue:Into The Woods - INTO THE WOODS
Ragtime - RAGTIME
Ragtime - RAGTIME
Ragtime - RAGTIME
Ragtime
Rent-Rent
Rock Island - THE MUSIC MAN
Run, Run, Run (Let It Ride!)
Sands of Time/Rhymes have I KISMET
seesaw-seesaw
Sit Down, John - 1776
Sit Down, John 1776
six months out of Every Year - DAMN YANKEES!
Six Months Out of Every Year" from DAMN YANKEES
Some People-Gypsy
Someone Woke Up - DO I HEAR A WALTZ?
Statues and Stories - THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA
Statues and Stories - THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA
Summer, Summer TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA
Summertime - PORGY & BESS
Summertime from Porgy and Bess
Summertime porgy and bess
Summertime PORGY AND BESS
Sunday In the Park With George - SITPWG
Sunday in the Park With George - SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE
That Naughty Show From Gay Paree (The Girl in Pink Tights)
The Ballad of Sweeney Todd - SWEENEY TODD
The Best of All Possible Worlds CANDIDE
The Happy Time THE HAPPY TIME
THe Old Red Hills of Home - PARADE
The Old Red Hills of Home - Parade
The Old Red Hills of Home - PARADE
The Old Red Hills of Home" from Parade
The Opening Music and Beautiful Girls - FOLLIES
The Sound of Music from The Sound of Music
The Sweetest Sounds NO STRINGS
The Telephone Song BYE BYE BIRDIE
The Tour Must Go On (Make a Wish)
There's Music In You from CINDERELLA).
This Time of The Year - FINIAN'S RAINBOW
Tradition - FIDDLER ON THE ROOF
Tradition - THE FIDDLER ON THE ROOF
TRADITION from FIDDLER
Tradition" from FIDDLER ON THE ROOF
Tradition: Fiddler on the Roof
Try to Remember from The Fantasticks
Twenty Million People - My Favorite Year
Walk Him Up The Stairs - PURLIE
Walk Him Up the Stairs PURLIE
Was She Prettier than I? HIGH SPIRITS
We Are What We Are-La Cage
We're On Our Way from Very Good Eddie
What Do You Do With A B.A. in English - Avenue Q
Why Can't the English? MY FAIR LADY
Wilkommen from Cabaret
Wilkommen-Cabaret
Willamania from The Will Rogers Follies
Wintergreen For President - OF THEE I SING
Thanks again...part of the real joy of musicals is discovering or rediscovering fantastic songs that make you feel something special
Please keep your favorites coming, especially ones not on the big list below!!!
Most Popular openers with this group so far(at least three mentions):
All that Jazz-Chicago (four)
Another Op'nin', Another Show - KISS ME, KATE
Aquarius - HAIR
Carousel Waltz" from CAROUSEL(four)
Comedy Tonight FORUM
Company - COMPANY
Fugue for Tinhorns from Guys and Dolls
I Hope I Get It - A CHORUS LINE
Magic to Do - Pippin(five)
OH WHAT A BEAUTIFUL MORNING from OKLAHOMA
Ragtime - RAGTIME (four)
Summertime porgy and bess(four)
The Old Red Hills of Home" from Parade(four)
Tradition - THE FIDDLER ON THE ROOF(five)
Here's a summary for anyone who wants to build a top opener playlist too:
A Year With Frog and Toad - A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD
Ain't it Awful, the Heat? STREET SCENE
All That Jazz - Chicago
All that Jazz CHICAGO
All That Jazz from Chicago
All that Jazz-Chicago
All the Livelong Day from Working
American Idiot -AMERICAN IDIOT
Another Openin' Another Show KISS ME KATE
Another Op'nin', Another Show - Kiss Me Kate
Another Op'nin', Another Show - KISS ME, KATE
Aquarius - HAIR
Aquarius - HAIR
Aquarius HAIR
Audition from 42nd Street
Audition" from 42nd STREET
Bidin' My Time from Girl Crazy
Call on Dolly from Hello, Dolly
Carousel Waltz
Carousel Waltz - Carousel (It sets up the story.)
Carousel Waltz
Carousel Waltz" from CAROUSEL
C'est la Ballet-Little Dancer
Christopher Street (Wonderful Town)
Circle of Life
Circle of Life
Comedy Tonight - A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum
Comedy Tonight - A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM
Comedy Tonight FORUM
Company - COMPANY
Company- Company
COMPANY from COMPANY
Cotton Blossom from Show Boat
Die Moritat Von Mackie Messer from Die Dreigroschenoper
Fugue For Tinhorns - GUYS & DOLLS
Fugue for Tinhorns from Guys and Dolls
Fugue for Tinhorns GUYS AND DOLLS
Good Morning Baltimore HAIRSPRAY
Good Morning, Good Day - She Loves Me
Good Mourning Baltimore - HAIRSPRAY
Half as Big as Life PROMISES, PROMISES
Happiness - PASSION
Hello - THE BOOK OF MORMON
Hello- Book of Mormon
Hold Me, Bat Boy - BATBOY THE MUSICAL
How to Succeed-How to Succeed
I Get a Kick Out of You from Anything Goes
I Hope I Get It - A CHORUS LINE
I Hope I Get It A CHORUS LINE
I Hope I Get It
I Put My Hand In - Hello, Dolly!
In The Heights - IN THE HEIGHTS
In The Middle of The Sea We Float - PACIFIC OVERTURES
In Three Quarter Time PARDON MY ENGLISH
Invocation and Instructions To The Audience - THE FROGS
It's a Typical Day from Li'l Abner
It's Today from Mame
It's Your Wedding Day: The Wedding Singer
Just Another Day-Next To Normal
Life Is ZORBA
Life Is- Zorba.
Live in Living Color from "Catch Me If You Can
Mack the Knife THREEPENNY OPERA
Magic to Do - Pippin
Magic to Do - PIPPIN
magic to do pippin
magic to do pippin
MAGIC TO DO from PIPPIN
mamma who bore me spring awakening
Maybe ANNIE
Miracle from Matilda
Movies Were Movies MACK AND MABEL
Mr. Snow - CAROUSEL
Night Song GOLDEN BOY
Oh What a Beautiful Morning from Oklahoma!
Oh What a Beautiful Morning from Oklahoma!
Oh, What a Beautiful Morning-Oklahoma
Ooh! My Feet! MOST HAPPY FELLA
opening follies
opening sequence of Titanic.
opening to "City of Angels"
Populism Yea Yea - BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON
PROLOGUE from INTO THE WOODS
Prologue:Into The Woods - INTO THE WOODS
Ragtime - RAGTIME
Ragtime - RAGTIME
Ragtime - RAGTIME
Ragtime
Rent-Rent
Rock Island - THE MUSIC MAN
Run, Run, Run (Let It Ride!)
Sands of Time/Rhymes have I KISMET
seesaw-seesaw
Sit Down, John - 1776
Sit Down, John 1776
six months out of Every Year - DAMN YANKEES!
Six Months Out of Every Year" from DAMN YANKEES
Some People-Gypsy
Someone Woke Up - DO I HEAR A WALTZ?
Statues and Stories - THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA
Statues and Stories - THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA
Summer, Summer TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA
Summertime - PORGY & BESS
Summertime from Porgy and Bess
Summertime porgy and bess
Summertime PORGY AND BESS
Sunday In the Park With George - SITPWG
Sunday in the Park With George - SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE
That Naughty Show From Gay Paree (The Girl in Pink Tights)
The Ballad of Sweeney Todd - SWEENEY TODD
The Best of All Possible Worlds CANDIDE
The Happy Time THE HAPPY TIME
THe Old Red Hills of Home - PARADE
The Old Red Hills of Home - Parade
The Old Red Hills of Home - PARADE
The Old Red Hills of Home" from Parade
The Opening Music and Beautiful Girls - FOLLIES
The Sound of Music from The Sound of Music
The Sweetest Sounds NO STRINGS
The Telephone Song BYE BYE BIRDIE
The Tour Must Go On (Make a Wish)
There's Music In You from CINDERELLA).
This Time of The Year - FINIAN'S RAINBOW
Tradition - FIDDLER ON THE ROOF
Tradition - THE FIDDLER ON THE ROOF
TRADITION from FIDDLER
Tradition" from FIDDLER ON THE ROOF
Tradition: Fiddler on the Roof
Try to Remember from The Fantasticks
Twenty Million People - My Favorite Year
Walk Him Up The Stairs - PURLIE
Walk Him Up the Stairs PURLIE
Was She Prettier than I? HIGH SPIRITS
We Are What We Are-La Cage
We're On Our Way from Very Good Eddie
What Do You Do With A B.A. in English - Avenue Q
Why Can't the English? MY FAIR LADY
Wilkommen from Cabaret
Wilkommen-Cabaret
Willamania from The Will Rogers Follies
Wintergreen For President - OF THEE I SING
Thanks again...part of the real joy of musicals is discovering or rediscovering fantastic songs that make you feel something special
Updated On: 2/11/15 at 12:23 AM
#45
Posted: 2/11/15 at 12:27am
LOVE "Another Op'nin Another Show" From Kiss me Kate. I played Bill Calhoun so I didn't get to be in the number, but I sure rocked out and sang from backstage!
#46
Posted: 2/11/15 at 1:30am
Okay- A little late night research and some additions to my favorite opening songs
13/becoming a man- 13 the musical
I whistle a happy tune-the king and I (so excited for new production!)
Heaven on their Minds- Jesus Christ superstar
Two Worlds-Tarzan the Musical
Man of la Mancha-Man of La Mancha
Santa Fe-Newsies
When you're an Addams-Addams Family(like this cast album more with every listen)
Give Them What they Want-dirty rotten scoundrels (amazing song!(
Here Right Now-Ghost
The Last Real Record Store on Earth-High Fidelity(love this song!)
Avenue Q Theme-Avenue Q
13/becoming a man- 13 the musical
I whistle a happy tune-the king and I (so excited for new production!)
Heaven on their Minds- Jesus Christ superstar
Two Worlds-Tarzan the Musical
Man of la Mancha-Man of La Mancha
Santa Fe-Newsies
When you're an Addams-Addams Family(like this cast album more with every listen)
Give Them What they Want-dirty rotten scoundrels (amazing song!(
Here Right Now-Ghost
The Last Real Record Store on Earth-High Fidelity(love this song!)
Avenue Q Theme-Avenue Q
#47
Posted: 2/11/15 at 5:40am
So, at this s point, aren't we just listing opening numbers?
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
#48
Posted: 2/11/15 at 6:19am
The Last Real Record Store on Earth-High Fidelity(love this song!)
Me too!
Me too!
....but the world goes 'round
#49
Posted: 2/11/15 at 4:32pm
Can't quibble with these suggestions. The only one I can add is the first broadway opening number I ever heard, "Waitin' for the Evening Train" from Jennie.
Part of my DNA now I have heard it so many times.
Part of my DNA now I have heard it so many times.
#50
Posted: 2/11/15 at 5:19pm
Some great selections here... I don't know why, but the first thing that popped into my head was "Walk Him Up the Stairs" from PURLIE. Was glad to see someone else singled it out, too... There are just so many great opening numbers; makes me want to fire up the CD player tonight!
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