Politics and Broadway

[Timmer]

Posted: 9/18/08 at 12:40pm

Dont' worry. It's not what you may have thought.

With ths Presidential election coming, I'm looking for everyone's favorite Broadway songs that concern politics, elections, and the like.

Some of mine include:

"Mumbo Jumbo" (Stop the World -- I Want to Get Off)
"Love Is Sweeping the Country" (Of Thee I Sing)
"Piddle, Twiddle, and Resolve" (1776)

What are some of yours?
Updated On: 9/18/08 at 12:40 PM

[Eris0303]

Posted: 9/18/08 at 12:42pm

"Poltics & Poker" or any number of songs from Fiorello.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 9/18/08 at 1:03pm

"Only For Now" - AVENUE Q

[Timmer]

Posted: 9/18/08 at 1:05pm

Taht's a good one.

The reprise of "Tomorrow" from Annie" includes FDR singing (which probably has Harold Gould turning over in his grave.)

Do you know much about "Mr. President"? I know "This Is a Great Country" (which I like.) Anything else you know of from Irving Berlin's last show?

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 9/18/08 at 1:08pm

I love "The Name's LaGuardia" from Fiorello!

[Timmer]

Posted: 9/18/08 at 1:14pm

Anything else from that show?
Updated On: 9/18/08 at 01:14 PM

[Weez]

Posted: 9/18/08 at 1:23pm

Surely several 'Assassins' songs are political in nature. Ballad of Booth, Ballad of Czolgosz maybe?

[ismellatony]

Posted: 9/18/08 at 1:33pm

Vote from VOTE!

www.votethemusical.com

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 9/18/08 at 1:50pm

"The Ballad of Booth." It explains how Lincoln really skyrocketed in popularity after his assassination.

[heathurr2]

Posted: 9/18/08 at 3:50pm

I agree with the others that said Assassins.
Mm, so good.
I also like 'One Day More' and 'Do Your Hear the People Sing?' from Les Mis.

[bwayfan9]

Posted: 9/18/08 at 4:57pm

the only politics on broadway I have ever seen is the off-topic board

[Spider Woman]

Posted: 9/18/08 at 7:05pm

1776.... Sit Down, John, Sit Down, John... For God's Sake John, Sit Down!!!!!

[Timmer]

Posted: 10/10/08 at 11:48am

Anything from, say, "Mr. President"?

[Menken Fan]

Posted: 10/15/08 at 7:24am

This thread gave me the idea for the current playlist on my radio station. The theme include showtunes directly related to politics, but also related to presidents, the election, change, America, the economy, etc. If anyone has other suggestions, I'll try to add them. Check it out at the link below. Enjoy and vote!

[LotteTBS138]

Posted: 10/15/08 at 11:21am

How about the FIX?
America's Son:
"Economy! Crime! Taxes!"

[Mamie]

Posted: 10/15/08 at 12:24pm

Springtime for Hitler

[Thesbijean]

Posted: 10/15/08 at 12:27pm

A New Argentina from EVITA

[Kitzarina]

Posted: 10/15/08 at 3:05pm

"The Ballad of Booth" from Assassins
"Another National Anthem" from Assassins
"Do You Hear the People Sing" from Les Miserables
"A New Argentina" from Evita
"The Flagmaker: 1775" from Songs for a New World
"Tell Them the Truth" from Reefer Madness
"The Egg" from 1776
"The Night that Goldman Spoke in Union Square" from Ragtime

...pretty much anything from Assassins or 1776. Both utterly brilliant shows that hold special spots in my heart.

[lovelyspotlight]

Posted: 10/15/08 at 5:47pm

bwayfan, I get the humor...but there was a HUGE political emphasis on Broadway following the events of 9/11. If nothing else does, that refutes your indirect claim that Broadway is unaffected by politics.

As related to the current goings-on, I have no idea.

[Neverandy]

Posted: 10/15/08 at 5:52pm

"Cool considerate men" from 1776

[PalJoey]

Posted: 10/15/08 at 5:59pm

The most important political song ever written for Broadway was "Take Care of This House" by Leonard Bernstein and Alan Jay Lerner for the beautiful flop 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Take Care of This House is especially poignant in light of the upcoming presidential election and the past few administrations.

[lovelyspotlight]

Posted: 10/15/08 at 7:34pm

"It's a Privilege to Pee" from Urinetown...although that doesn't necessarily apply to politics of the present in our country (the election, specifically). Hmm...or maybe it does.