Song Duds in Hit Musicals

[TEACHEROFTHEATER]

Posted: 8/29/03 at 1:07pm

I think my least favorite songs in big hit musicals are

Little Lamb from Gypsy

followed by

We'd Like To Thank You Herbert Hoover from Annie

:))

[FrontRow]

Posted: 8/29/03 at 3:09pm

I'm totally with you on LITTLE LAMB (snore). But HERBERT HOOVER has very clever lyrics.

The other songs I always snooze through from a classic is BALI HAI.

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 8/29/03 at 3:12pm

"Pore Jud is Daid" from OKLAHOMA!

I was hoping Barbra would have included it on her last Broadway album.

[Albin]

Posted: 8/29/03 at 3:38pm

"Miss Baltimore Crab" from "Hairspray"
"I Put My Hand In" from "Hello Dolly." The replacement for that number in the film version, "Just Leave Everything To Me" is so much better...

[NativeNewYorker]

Posted: 8/29/03 at 4:20pm

"Your Eyes" from Rent...okay, I can listen to it on the album because, well, Adam's singing it, and Adam can make anything sound great...if it's on stage and you have a good Roger, it's enjoyable, but other than that, it's just a bad song.(When Manley Pope was Roger, I was really wishing HE was the one dying instead of Mimi...)

[Copeman63]

Posted: 8/29/03 at 5:13pm

I really can't stand Mereb's songs in Aida.

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 8/29/03 at 5:16pm

Cooties from Hairspray

I like Mereb's songs from AIDA. He only has one, a reprise, and back up. I think it might just be who is playing Mereb.

[Copeman63]

Posted: 8/29/03 at 5:21pm

Yeah, I just don't like the character much, and the first Mereb could have flown off the stage... It's fine if Mereb likes boys, but his sword fighting was laughable. AND it certainly doesn't help that the script isn't that great either.

[Mattio98]

Posted: 8/29/03 at 5:24pm

"Enchantment Passing Through" from Aida

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 8/29/03 at 7:16pm

i'd agree about "Miss Baltimore Crabs" in HAIRSPAY. They went through several versions of a song for her, and i'd like to evaluate the others someday. It's a tough spot for a song regardless...

"Little Lamb" is very hard to sing if you want a belter to later do "Mama Gets Married" and "Let Me Entertain strip version." What i don't understand is not changing (lowering) the key so a performer can act it better. i know Sondheim, and probably Bernstein, have some theories about "key psychology" for characters/moods (and i do respect them as artists), but the bottom line is that the number would be more entertaining and more indicative of the performer's talent if it was in a range they could be more expressive in. Though beautifully acted, "Lamb" is the lowest musical point in the current GYPSY.

"Hand In" from DOLLY can be very funny (as was the replacement song for the film) if handled correctly. It is just not musically very inventive. There's a lot of songs like that. The landlady's song in MILLIE could fall into that category, but Harriet Harris plays it so well, it still works. Interesting to see what happens on the tour.

i think the appeal to me is seeing what a good director/actor/choreographer/arranger can do with what heretofore was known as a "dud" or a potential "dud." "Baltimore Crabs", however, just seems hopeless to me.

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 8/29/03 at 8:28pm

I think "Cooties" in hairspray is supposed to be bad.

[DavidMegg]

Posted: 8/29/03 at 8:52pm

I'm noticing that most (but not all) of the songs mentioned are songs for the sake of a song... rather, they don't move the plot forward.
Any connection?
While I like Evita, I don't like "On This Night of a Thousand Stars" and I played that part!!!

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/29/03 at 11:20pm

SARAH BROWN EYES from "RAGTIME"

[seabyrd]

Posted: 8/29/03 at 11:32pm

Dont you think a belter can manage a little head voice for that song? Not much of a song, I agree. Louise isnt that much of a singer anyway in my book...........Ive seen three Louises/Gypsies and, frankly, they all were/are forgettable.

[alterego]

Posted: 8/29/03 at 11:40pm

'Something Was Missing' from Annie. When that starts I start looking for flaws in the scenery.

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 8/29/03 at 11:44pm

TxTwoStep - Bernstein did West Side Story with Sondheim, Styne composed Gypsy.

[CourtneyM]

Posted: 8/30/03 at 12:01am

little lamb from gypsy

[Theatreboy33]

Posted: 8/30/03 at 10:03am

"call back in the morning" from Little SHop is a quite sub-par second act opener. its not even included in the OCR.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 8/30/03 at 10:06am

Mr. (yaaawwwwnnn) Celophane.

[Hello Gorgeous]

Posted: 8/30/03 at 10:06am

I agree about "Miss Baltimore Crabs"

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 8/30/03 at 11:56am

i forgot about "Call Back"...the movie version has so far sup-"planted" the stage version that i always forget it's included. Wonder how the revival handles it?

i have just never heard of Styne having a "key psychology" theory like Sondheim or Bernstein. And it's pretty well known that Sondheim wrote some of the melodies for GYPSY, including the semi-medley "Rose's Turn". But thanks for the heads-up. Doesn't LAMB sound like more a Sondheim tune than a Styne? Styne ballads usually have more drive to them...

[Starlight]

Posted: 8/30/03 at 12:03pm

When Mr. Cellophane is done well it can be a great song. I love it!

[skingdom]

Posted: 8/30/03 at 12:05pm

Little Lamb has grown on me.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/30/03 at 12:05pm

Mr. Celephane is is one of the best show stopping numbers....It makes you realize that behind all the "Razzle Dazzle" there is still someone out there. (or not there...)

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 8/30/03 at 12:07pm

i need to see it both acted and sung well...maybe Sarah Uriarte Berry?