Name for the funny song in Act II?

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Name for the funny song in Act II?

Posted: 6/12/18 at 12:57pm

Ever since I saw JCS Superstar again at the Lyric Opera this spring, I've been wondering if there is a term for a song like "Herod's Song". This kind of song usually comes in Act 2. It's often either comic relief, or it serves as an anticlimatic moment, sometimes it gives the villain a song to sing, sometimes it gives the B characters/featured actor a song to song. Sometimes it's sung by the leads. It often differs stylistically from the other songs in the production. Am I categorizing these songs together incorrectly, or is there a motif there?

Here are some examples I'm thinking of:

Herod's Song from Jesus Christ Superstar

Me and My Baby from Chicago

All for the Best from Godspell (in Act I but still)

Shipoopi from The Music Man

Gee, Officer Krupke from West Side Story

Elegance from Hello, Dolly

I'm sure there's more but that's all I could think of right now.

Name for the funny song in Act II?

Posted: 6/12/18 at 1:05pm

“I Know Him” in Hamilton

Name for the funny song in Act II?

Posted: 6/12/18 at 1:08pm

I know what you mean, but I’m not sure all of these songs are examples of the idea you’re talking about. “I Know Him” and “Herod’s Song” most certainly are, but I don’t know if I’d put “Elegance” and even “Shipoopi” in the same boat.

Name for the funny song in Act II?

Posted: 6/12/18 at 1:08pm

“Get Me to the Church on Time” from My Fair Lady

Name for the funny song in Act II?

Posted: 6/12/18 at 1:09pm

Comic relief?

Name for the funny song in Act II?

Posted: 6/12/18 at 1:24pm

Yeah I thought Elegance and Shipoopi were a stretch, but then again, they do have that feel-good, forget-about-the-main-plot for a minute feel to them.

Hi JBroadway, I'm not sure what your comic relief comment means. I'm assuming you know what comic relief means so i'm guessing that you're asking how some or all of those songs are examples of comic relief?

Name for the funny song in Act II?

Posted: 6/12/18 at 1:42pm

I think he was trying to answer the OPs actual question: which isn't about examples of a funny Act II songs, but to see if there is a NAME for it. (Like an I Want Song, or an Eleventh Hour number)

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.

Name for the funny song in Act II?

Posted: 6/12/18 at 1:46pm

Ah yes. Sorry to be unclear. Dramamama is correct - I meant it as an answer to what they might be called. But I failed to notice that the OP already mentioned that they are a kind of comic relief. Still, I figure that is as close as you will get to describing the nature of it in one term, even though it doesn't specify that it's in Act 2

Name for the funny song in Act II?

Posted: 6/12/18 at 1:46pm

Drama I think you’re right lol. Yeah I imagine comic relief is the best name there is for this type of song

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