Reprises that are better/more well known than the actual song...

[bwayguy22089]

Posted: 4/6/12 at 12:23am

Hey everyone. Can anyone think of a song where the reprise is either more well known or simply a better/longer arrangement than the actual song itself? Perhaps the song "The Color Purple" from the show of the same name. It is first sung by Shug in the beginning of Act Two. It's maybe a minute long song. It is reprised at the end of the show by the entire company for a good four to five minutes. Another example might be the song "The Sound of Music," again from the show of the same name. The song is much more elaborate when it is performed by the children and the Captain than when it is first performed by Maria at the start of the show. Random topic, but I'm curious



Updated On: 4/6/12 at 12:23 AM

[broadwaydevil]

Posted: 4/6/12 at 12:24am

Weird but the first thing that came to my mind was the "He Lives in You (Reprise)." I think it's the best song in the score.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 4/6/12 at 12:40am

IT WAS ALWAYS YOU from CARNIVAL.
It's a comic duet the first time then the magnificent Kaye Ballard kills with the "reprise".
But it's written that way.

[blaxx]

Posted: 4/6/12 at 12:45am

Memory from Cats. It has to be the best example of what you're talking about.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 4/6/12 at 1:05am

There are many versions now, but I remember NOT A DAY GOES BY was originally a "reprise".
It's a thin line with Sondy, because he sneaks threads of songs early on than wipes us out with the full song.

[SondheimFan5]

Posted: 4/6/12 at 1:16am

I'll Cover You from RENT (imho)

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 4/6/12 at 1:22am

Good one Sondheim fan.

I think the best reprises are ones that "turn" the song into something different the second time we hear it. Usually it takes a darker tone like REVIEWING THE SITUATION in OLIVER!
Or if it is followed by a tragic event like AS LONG AS HE NEEDS ME.
It's a lost art, the Reprise.

And Cheno took it another step with I'M NOT THAT GIRL. Updated On: 4/6/12 at 01:22 AM

[jdrye222]

Posted: 4/6/12 at 1:28am

Yeah, my first thought was "I'll Cover You" in RENT, and then I read everyone elses replies. I'm not a fan of RENT in general, but I LOVE that reprise, and I don't care much at all about the song as it is earlier in the show (though the lyrics are beautiful).

Also, I would add, at least in the Stokes/Mazzie revival, the reprise of "So In Love" is just as effective as the first one.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 4/6/12 at 1:38am

Perfect example jdrye, it's built into the show that the reprise of SO IN LOVE, comes when the characters at that point realize they are locked forever in this S&M relationship (like Kate and Petruch) and the song becomes more potent.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 4/6/12 at 1:38am

Mama Who Bore Me

[sephyr]

Posted: 4/6/12 at 1:58am

I was definitely thinking "I'll Cover You (Reprise)" It takes the song to whole new heights. And also "Part of Your World (Reprise)" on the Little Mermaid cast album soars!

[Tag]

Posted: 4/6/12 at 2:00am

Fools Fall in Love - Smokey Joe's Cafe

[gypsy4]

Posted: 4/6/12 at 2:02am

I love the "Good Morning, Baltimore" -Reprise. I guess it's because it's very heartfelt from the character of tracy and I love the little Reed part section at the ending.

Updated On: 4/6/12 at 02:02 AM

[roseaddams]

Posted: 4/6/12 at 2:17am

I think the finale Ballad of Sweeney Todd is so much more thrilling and fascinating than the Ballad as the opening number -- of course, you need to have seen the show to appreciate its impact, but the power and ferocity of that final number trumps the opening in my book. I think it's even more impressive because except for a key change and a few lyric changes the songs are almost identical.

[sing_dance_love]

Posted: 4/6/12 at 3:03am

So, so true. An effective reprise. Many of my favorite moments in shows are reprises that are filled with irony, unexpected emotion and/or deeper meaning.

This is a great thread.

[staunchcharacter]

Posted: 4/6/12 at 3:05am

While not well known ( and lesser quality) show, The reprise of "Take me to Heaven" at the end of act one is more talked about (if at all) than the original in the opening.

[ggersten]

Posted: 4/6/12 at 9:59am

"Lovely" reprise in Forum. of course, its hilarious impact is set up by the earlier version.

Then there's "Let Me Entertain You"... although I guess the first version is really "Let Us Entertain You"

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 4/6/12 at 10:19am

The first time we hear the number it is "May We Entertain You," during Uncle Jocko's Kiddie Show. It then becomes "Let Me Entertain You" for Baby June and Her Newsboys, which is then reprised in Act II for Louise's strip.

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 4/6/12 at 10:33am

Following on with OLIVER! the "It's a Fine Life" reprise, though very short, is an absolutely wonderful little quartet. In high school, I was fortunate to play both Fagin and Sykes on alternating nights, and it was a moment I gleefully anticipated at every performance in both roles.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 4/6/12 at 10:37am

I've always loved when the quartet of "dreamers" reprises "A Bit of Earth" in THE SECRET GARDEN.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 4/6/12 at 10:39am

I've often wondered if "Goodbye Love" from Rent was a reprise in which the first part was cut before seeing the stage. Technically I think it could be considered the 11:00 number, but to me it always felt like it should have been a reprise in which the first strains of it were heard in Act 1.

[michellek45]

Posted: 4/6/12 at 10:56am

"Meditation II" from Shenandoah is a great reprise, even more power than the original (which is pretty impressive considering how great "Meditation I" is). I also like the "Waitin' For the Light To Shine" reprise because it reverses the dark reprise convention. The first time you hear it, the song is pretty sad, but the reprise is powerful and upbeat.

[greensgreens]

Posted: 4/6/12 at 10:57am

I can't believe no one has mentioned "He Whistled At Me" from Starlight Express. The original is cute, but the reprise is fantastic and I love the different orchestration/arrangement from the first time it's sung.

Some people have mentioned other songs where the arrangement changes for dramatic effect for the reprise. What are some other great examples of this? I'll Cover You is an awesome one for this!

[xoffender45]

Posted: 4/6/12 at 11:27am

The one that comes to mind and I'm surprised no one's mentioned is "One" from A Chorus Line"

[pinkyboy]

Posted: 4/6/12 at 2:06pm

Neither of the versions are huge songs, but I always find the reprise of "It's gonna be good" (from Next to Normal) heartbreaking. Don't know why, but it always gives me a lump in my throat!