Lyrics With Integrity

[TheColorOfFlame]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 2:06am

Omg that's the dorkiest subject line ever, but here's my point: I adore bare, Wicked, et al, just like every other loyal BroadwayWorld.com member, but does anyone agree that the lyrics to our favorite musicals are more often than not severely lacking? Of course this is just my opinion, but I'd like to see who agrees with me. I mean, I feel like "I've heard it said that people come into our lives/For a reason, bringing something we must learn" is the most mystifyingly unoriginal and stupid couple of lines I've possibly ever heard in the American theatre. And yet I listen to "For Good" constantly, overlooking its flaws in favor of the soaring voices and satisfying chord changes. Clearly JRB and Adam Guettel are the most satisfying lyricists because their words are simple and smart, clean and to the point, but Schwartz mangles grammar and cliche and oh God, I love Zanna Don't! to death but literally every song contains the word "love" seventy-eight times! Does anybody agree with me? Are we all just settling on what we have, or am I alone in my perfectionistic (not a word) listening habits? I'm a new poster and thank you for having me.

[Sumofallthings]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 2:08am

Dear God,

Please strike me dead if "I adore bare, Wicked, et al, just like every other loyal BroadwayWorld.com member," becomes the standard.

Love,
Charlie

[Ebonic_Singer]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 2:09am

Haha you just joined today! Welcome from someone who just sorta joined recently! For good lyrics, get SFANW--Jason Robert Brown is a GENIUS.

Wicked does have very unoriginal lyrics. I think Zanna may have been going for the cheesey loveification.

[Ebonic_Singer]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 2:09am

Oh and I second that--there is definately no standard on this board!

[Sumofallthings]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 2:09am

Is your username some kind of kinky fetish?

[etoile]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 2:09am

Daddy, you're home.

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 2:09am

I abhor Wicked's lyrics. Eeew, they shouldn't even be called "lyrics". Let's call them "Boggle word combinations".

Updated On: 8/31/04 at 02:09 AM

[Guido Contini]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 2:13am

I agree whole-heartedly with the lack of creativity issue. One thing I have been wondering about...what was up with the use of all the older "adult contemp" songs in the show "The Boy From Oz"? I mean, "Arthur's Theme" by Christopher Cross and Melissa Manchester's "Don't Cry Out Loud"? Why! WHY!! WHY!!!??!!!

[Sumofallthings]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 2:14am

Arthurs Theme was written by Peter Allen. I don't know if that answers your question at all...

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 2:16am

Lyricists: Noel Coward, Cole Porter, Oscar Hammerstein II, Alan Jay Lerner, Howard Ashman, Stephen Sondheim.

Mr. Schwartz is a little severly maligned for his Wicked work. His stated vision was to create a unique vocabulary for the fantastical (and childhood referential) world that is OZ. To a large extent he succeeded. People who have such enormous problems with the result don't seem to be taking it in the spirit that it was created. Updated On: 8/31/04 at 02:16 AM

[Broadway Matt]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 2:17am

Mediocre or unimpressive lyrics seem to be something traditionally acceptable in musical theatre. It's a genre meant to bring musical storytelling to a wider audience than in opera. It's closer to the mainstream and tied very closely (too closely) to pop music quite often. We're seeing lyrics becoming less and less of a priority in new works and it's evident in shows like Wicked or anything with Wildhorn music. I'd love it if the bar could be raised, but we also shouldn't expect poetry in our showtunes. I definitely think JRB is one of the best out there today, along with the obligatory Sondheim, and my personal favorite William Finn. Also very good is Ricky Ian Gordon.

[Sumofallthings]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 2:17am

DGrant is in this world to insure that those people are found, and set on fire.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 2:18am

"Impossible Dream" - Man of La Mancha

[Guido Contini]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 2:18am

"Arthurs Theme was written by Peter Allen. I don't know if that answers your question at all..."

actually yes...now it does make a bit more sense, what about "don't cry...." was it a peter allen song too?

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 2:27am

Sum - flagration seems a bit severe, but a little flagellation might be in order

[Ebonic_Singer]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 3:07am

Every song in TBFO was either written by Peter Allen or he collaborated on it with someone.

[Guido Contini]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 3:22am

well i'll be damned...and i thought melissa manchester wrote that one herself. now i'm bummed.

[NYBroadwayNY]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 10:41am

"...Dear God, Please strike me dead..."

Dear God,
You heard him! Thanks!

[Guido Contini]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 12:21pm

hehe....

[aspiringguy715]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 12:26pm

I don't think BARE lyrics lack integrity. Listen to "Role of a Lifetime" and then re-think that statement.

[lildogs]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 1:08pm

i'm still fairly new to this, and have never even seen many of the current Broadway shows, i'm more into older shows. i think if many of you will look back at some of the Tony winners of the past, many titles will be new to you. if the test of time holds for the composers today, i think many popular shows today will have a tough time being performed in the future..due to a lack of "integrity"...shows like "Taboo" and "Caroline, or Change" were created with very different purposes. "Taboo" sought to be a big hit, a sensation like "Rent," and failed. "Caroline" sought to be a work of importance and gravity and it succeeded.

that's how i think of "integrity"

[NuggetMonkeys]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 1:18pm

Sum, I missed you so much.
Thanks for posting again~
-d.b.j-

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 1:36pm

I actually really enjoy BARE's lyrics. They use a lot of imagery and extended metaphor. Lines like:

We climbed an escape grown from seeds that you planted
You slew all my giants ignoring your own
And now that they haunt you
I'm left with my courage, alone.

are quite beautiful. The show is full of memorable lyrics like that.

[TheColorOfFlame]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 2:45pm

My username is from "Carrie" btw

[Marquise]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 2:48pm

lyrics to "Kyle's Mother's A B*tch" get me every time... *choke* *sob*