"Pointless" Songs in Musicals- Page 5

[GovernorSlaton]

Posted: 10/13/04 at 6:24pm

"Children Children" from Bat Boy

Well, it's there because Edgar and Shelley are having trouble starting they're relationship, and they learn how to love each other (in more ways than one ) in that song. Not to mention that it leads into "Inside Your Heart".

[bjivie2]

Posted: 10/13/04 at 6:28pm

Everyone's entitled to their own opinions, but I'm not sure if I'm totally sold on that yet...

[CurtainUp]

Posted: 10/13/04 at 6:37pm

"Anything Goes" sets the tone for the whole show! It's NOT a plot show, it's a fun period piece that's a mix of Porter's song.

[bjivie2]

Posted: 10/13/04 at 6:44pm

Yes, CurtainUp, it's true. Anything Goes isn't a plot show, so I could have put (basically) any of the songs from the show on my list, but the reason I put "Anything Goes" specifically on there was because of the fact that there is no set-up or scene preceeding it. A few people exit and Reno literally just starts singing this random song. I love the song, but it's just there to be a great Act I closer.

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 10/13/04 at 7:01pm

In the "original" ANYTHING GOES (1934), Reno sings song in a spirit of joy that Public Enemy Number One is aboard ship and then goes on to celebrate other famous celebrities of the day. [The original lyrics WOULD be pointless today and so were replaced by more generic ones a long time ago.]

Does it move the plot of show along? Maybe a little. Does ANYTHING GOES have much of a plot at all? (Not really, like most Broadway Musicals of the 1920s and 30s.)

[Liz_Bennet]

Posted: 10/14/04 at 12:53am

I'd have to agree about More I Cannot Wish You.
From Bye Bye Birdie, I never convinced of A Lot of Living To Do's importance. So, the kids have hormones. We get it. I guess this can be seen as another Act II opener. And the Shriner's Ballet? Ummmm?
It's probably unfair to criticize pre-Oklahoma musicals on this point, but I've always thought this about Bill from Show Boat. Wonderful song, though.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 10/14/04 at 4:59am

About "In Old Bavaria" from the Producers...

I don't see that as a completely pointless song in the musical. I think it was a good transition from when Max and Leo decide to pay a visit to Franz Liebkind, and is a good introduction to his character. It shows a bit about his past and how he misses "Bavaria." Is it the best song in the show? No. Does it serve its purpose? Yes.

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 10/14/04 at 10:55am

Liz,

I'm sorry, but I cannot accept your opinion that "Bill" from Showboat is pointless.

When performed properly, "Bill" conveys to audience the degregation of Julie's character and points out that she was not strong emough to survive adversity in life (being kicked off Show Boat because she was in an inter-racial marriage.)

[Sant]

Posted: 10/14/04 at 4:23pm

"Bill" pointless?? Nooooooooo!

That was one of the most emotional scenes in H.Prince's SHOW BOAT! A simple and beautiful song, but it had eventually a double meaning: Julie sung it at first as a cabaret number she was supposed to perform, but eventually -though she still sung about some 'Bill'- she was singing about her real-life husband who abandoned her and who she still loved.

The actress (unfortunately I can't remember her name) performed it so well she got a standing ovation in the middle of the show! There was not a dry eye in the house. Certainly not a pointless number to me.

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 10/14/04 at 7:08pm

bjivie2- i think that wonderful has a very big point, it explains to elphaba, and the audience why the wizard does what he does

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 10/15/04 at 10:32pm

I think "The Book Report" in YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN is FULL of character development--it shows how each indivudal approaches the homework assignment in their own unique way--Lucy counting each way, Linus comparing it to ROBIN HOOD, etc.

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 10/15/04 at 10:42pm

"A Lot Of Livin' To Do" is not the ACT II Opener in BYE BYE BIRDIE. "What Did I Ever See In Him?" is.

[bjivie2]

Posted: 10/16/04 at 4:02am

jonartdesigns - I see what the song was TRYING to do, but I saw it as just an excuse to have Joel Grey sing and dance, which is fine by me. He's one of the greats. But as far as character development goes, it just wasn't my cup of tea.

[leefowler]

Posted: 10/16/04 at 8:42am

"The Rumor" in Fiddler is there for a very good reason: It covers a set change. The original authors wanted to cut it, but they couldn't figure out a way do it. Sometimes songs written for set changes turn out to be very good, by the way. Just look at "There's No Business Like Show Business".

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 10/16/04 at 8:53am

Lee,

How RIGHT you are! :)

Given today's technology, songs to "cover" scene changs are no longer necessary, but they used to be quite common:

"Pavane Dance" in KISS ME, KATE

"Hello, Young Lovers" reprise in THE KING AND I

"On The Street Where You Live" in MY FAIR LADY (so Eliza had enough time to change out of cumbersome Ascot gown to even more cumbersome Ball gown for Ball Scene that closed Act I!) :)