Song Duds in Hit Musicals

[TEACHEROFTHEATER]

Song Duds in Hit Musicals#0

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

:))

"MAY YOUR LIFE BE AS BRIGHT AS BROADWAY AT NIGHT"

[FrontRow]

re: Song Duds in Hit Musicals#1

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]

re: re: Song Duds in Hit Musicals#2

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.

"Christ, Bette Davis?!?!"

[Albin]

re: re: re: Song Duds in Hit Musicals#3

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]

re: re: re: re: Song Duds in Hit Musicals#4

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]

re: re: re: re: re: Song Duds in Hit Musicals#5

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

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

If Lincoln were alive today, do you think he'd be pleased with his tunnel?

[BwayTheatre11]

Song Duds in Hit Musicals#6

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.

CCM '10!

[Copeman63]

re: Song Duds in Hit Musicals#7

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.

If Lincoln were alive today, do you think he'd be pleased with his tunnel?

[Mattio98]

re: re: Song Duds in Hit Musicals#8

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

"Enchantment Passing Through" from Aida

[TxTwoStep]

re: re: re: Song Duds in Hit Musicals#9

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.

Will: They don't give out awards for helping people be gay... unless you count the Tonys. "I guarantee that we'll have tough times. I guarantee that at some point one or both of us will want to get out. But I also guarantee that if I don't ask you to be mine, I'll regret it for the rest of my life..."

[ErikJ972]

re: Song Duds in Hit Musicals#10

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

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

[DavidMegg]

re: re: Song Duds in Hit Musicals#11

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]

Song Duds in Hit Musicals#12

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

SARAH BROWN EYES from "RAGTIME"

[seabyrd]

re: re: re: re: Song Duds in Hit Musicals#13

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]

re: re: re: re: re: Song Duds in Hit Musicals#14

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

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

[BroadwayGirl107]

re: re: re: re: re: Song Duds in Hit Musicals#15

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

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

[CourtneyM]

re: re: re: re: re: re: Song Duds in Hit Musicals#16

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

little lamb from gypsy

One should either be a work of art, or wear a work of art-Oscar Wilde

[Theatreboy33]

re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Song Duds in Hit Musicals#17

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]

re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Song Duds in Hit Musicals#18

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

Mr. (yaaawwwwnnn) Celophane.

PEACE.

[Hello Gorgeous]

re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Song Duds in Hit Musicals#19

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

I agree about "Miss Baltimore Crabs"

~*Christa*~ "Don't ya wanna be the life of the party?" Idina Menzel, THE WILD PARTY

[TxTwoStep]

re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Song Duds in Hit Musicals#20

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...

Will: They don't give out awards for helping people be gay... unless you count the Tonys. "I guarantee that we'll have tough times. I guarantee that at some point one or both of us will want to get out. But I also guarantee that if I don't ask you to be mine, I'll regret it for the rest of my life..."

[Starlight]

re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Song Duds in Hit Musicals#21

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

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

"Best to take the moment present as a present for the moment."-ITW, Sondheim

[skingdom]

re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Song Duds in Hit Musicals#22

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

Little Lamb has grown on me.

[Unknown User]

Song Duds in Hit Musicals#23

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]

re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Song Duds in Hit Musicals#24

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

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

Will: They don't give out awards for helping people be gay... unless you count the Tonys. "I guarantee that we'll have tough times. I guarantee that at some point one or both of us will want to get out. But I also guarantee that if I don't ask you to be mine, I'll regret it for the rest of my life..."