Broadway Legend Joined: 6/5/09
"If the score with no klunkers in it exists, I have yet to hear it, I think."
I'd say you need to listen to more scores.
But surely, you, of all people, can't believe that Once has a clunker in it.
Jesus Christ Superstar
Chess
My Fair Lady
I'm with willep on this one - every score has (to some ears at least) at least one mediocre-to-clunk song, past which many a listener will fast-forward.
Updated On: 7/24/12 at 09:56 AM
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
Chess? That has to be a joke right? There are two decent songs and hours of crap.
I think Finian's Rainbow is the closest thing to a score without a clunker. Every single song in that score is absolutely lovely.
Sweeney Todd
The Drowsy Chaperone
Gypsy (if go to get a drink during Goldstone)
I agree with Playbilly about Gypsy. Most people think Little Lamb is the bad apple, but for me, it's definitely Mr Goldstone, which I think is just awful.
I thought Nathan Lane and Faith Prince did a really good job with Sue Me on the Guys and Dolls recording video. It can just be a throwaway song, but they made it into a really nice moment.
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
Bombshell, aside from "Let's Start Tomorrow Tonight"
I would say GYPSY but "Little Lamb" is absolutely atrocious. The only show I can honestly say has no songs that I dislike even in the slightest is LES MISÉRABLES. I absolutely adore the score, there is not 1 song I don't like.
I second ANNIE GET YOUR GUN for first place.
Also:
MY FAIR LADY
THE MUSIC MAN
A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC
CHICAGO
A Chorus Line
Cinderella
Les Miserables
Chicago
Legally Blonde
CHICAGO and WEST SIDE STORY are it for me.
Especially CHICAGO.
Broadway Star Joined: 5/7/13
Ave Q
Pippin
Book of Mormon
In The Heights
Passing Strange
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/2/10
1776, She loves Me, Ms. Saigon, West Side Story, South Pacific, & Ragtime are my personal choices.
Well....... good songs/ clunkers are only personal opinion so no-one can be right or wrong here, but.....
My take is a perfect score has never been written but three that come closest are:
MY FAIR LADY (though I can't wait to get past the endless exposition of "You Did It")
WEST SIDE STORY (though I find "A Boy like That" the clunker), and
A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC (though I view "Perpetual Anticipation" as the low point).
Updated On: 5/28/13 at 11:17 AM
Cabaret and Jesus Christ Superstar, excel for me in this aspect.
Also:
Les Mis
Legally Blonde (I know it seems odd, but I can't think of a single song in the score which I dislike)
Tell me on a Sunday
West Side Story
Updated On: 5/28/13 at 11:33 AM
Understudy Joined: 9/2/10
I have to admit that I love almost every song from the 5 main Rodgers and Hammerstein shows. The only one I can think of that I don't like is "We Kiss in a Shadow." The blending of music and lyrics is unbeatable.
Broadway Star Joined: 4/3/10
Rent, Next to Normal, and some may disagree with me, but Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
I actually like all the songs in Dogfight.
Hello, Dolly! (Though I'd say "Motherhood March" is pretty weak- it's really dependent on staging)
My Fair Lady
Night Music
Little Shop is almost there- if not for the subpar, time-killing "Closed for Renovation" and "Call Back in the Morning".
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/23/11
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/3/06
this thread is just based on opinion.
I thought the score to LEAP OF FAITH, SCANDALOUS, and CHAPLIN were the most brilliant things written in the 21st century.
I must be more critical of these scores because I can think of at least one clunker in most of these... I'm willing to overlook "You Did It" in favor of the glory of the rest of MY FAIR LADY, but that's really the only score that came to mind after lots of thought. GUYS AND DOLLS, maybe, but I'm less forgiving of "Take Back Your Mink." It just irks me, sadly.
^ GUYS AND DOLLS was really close to the top of my list (and I adore "Take Back Your Mink" if for no other line than "to from whence it came".) But I find "Sue Me" sort of atrocious as song-writing, despite the magical performances Nathan and Faith brought to it in '92.
Whoever mentioned FINIAN'S RAINBOW might have hit another winner. Lucky for the older shows that have fewer songs in them, hence fewer chances to hatch a clunker.
Updated On: 5/28/13 at 04:26 PM
Nathan and Faith made such an indelible impact on that song that it sounds like it was written for them. In retrospect, an astonishing feat.
FINIAN'S RAINBOW is an unexpectedly good pick here. Even the "filler" songs are great. I can go with that one.
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