Songs with Jewish Themes/References
Songs with Jewish Themes/References
PhebusApollo
Stand-by Joined: 11/30/05
#0Songs with Jewish Themes/References
Posted: 1/12/06 at 7:35pm
So here's the deal:
I recently got around to purchasing the Altar Boyz cast recording, and upon my first listen I immediately fell in love with it. I thought it was catchy, upbeat, and hilarious. I passed it along to a good friend of mine, hoping she'd enjoy it as much as I did. She really doesn't understand my love of musical theatre, but we grew up together, attending a Catholic School from the time we were 5 all the way until we graduated high school, so I thought maybe she'd appreciate the humor and give this recording a chance. You don't have to be a fan of musicals to appreciate the tongue-in-cheek humor of the songs.
Long story short -- she hated it. Not sure why, but she just couldn't get into it. Which is understandable; it's not for everyone. Anyway, she's been studying Judaism recently, and is really fascinated with the rich culture and history of the religion. I was joking around the other day that apparently she didn't appreciate my giving her music that related to Christianity, maybe if I gave her a CD with songs relating to Jewish people she'd give it a chance...Then I thought, hmm...I should do that.
Can anyone suggest any songs that have references to anything related to Judaism?
Off of the top of my head I can only think of Tango: Maureen from RENT, Shiksa Goddess from TL5Y, You Won't Succeed on Broadwy from Spamalot and...um...yeah...drawing a blank.
Any other suggestions would be great.
#1re: Songs with Jewish Themes/References
Posted: 1/12/06 at 7:36pmeverything in Fiddler?
proudly changing my name frequently since 2004
chances are AndyF is posting above or below me...
"THIS is how you dress for the Tony's, get it!? Ok, see you at the after-party..." [YAHM]
chances are AndyF is posting above or below me...
"THIS is how you dress for the Tony's, get it!? Ok, see you at the after-party..." [YAHM]
Stand-by Joined: 12/31/69
#3re: Songs with Jewish Themes/References
Posted: 1/12/06 at 7:41pmFalsettos
"Winning a Tony this year is like winning Best Attendance in third grade: no one will care but the winner and their mom."
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
PhebusApollo
Stand-by Joined: 11/30/05
#4re: Songs with Jewish Themes/References
Posted: 1/12/06 at 7:43pmHaha, can't believe I didn't mention Fiddler...
tagiunagi
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/27/05
#5re: Songs with Jewish Themes/References
Posted: 1/12/06 at 7:50pmJew shows like Rags & Ragtime.
Question: Will Esparza win for The Homecoming?
BobbyBubby: I hope so. If only for the mental health of many people on this board.
gumbo2
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/21/05
#6re: Songs with Jewish Themes/References
Posted: 1/12/06 at 8:00pmtagiunagi beat me to it with Rags. Parade is about Leo Frank who's Jewish.
#7re: Songs with Jewish Themes/References
Posted: 1/12/06 at 8:02pmGREAT BIG STUFF: "Every Day's my Birthday, every night is MY BAR MITZVAH!"
MARGARET: "Clara, stop that. That's illegal." - The Light in the Piazza
"I'm not in Bambi and I'm not blonde!" - Idina Menzel
"I'm not in Bambi and I'm not blonde!" - Idina Menzel
#8re: Songs with Jewish Themes/References
Posted: 1/12/06 at 8:08pmTry the William Finn musicals--Elegies and the Marvin Trilogy.
A little swash, a bit of buckle - you'll love it more than bread.
#9re: Songs with Jewish Themes/References
Posted: 1/12/06 at 8:20pmhah yea the first thing I thought of when reading the thread title was Fiddler
SweetQintheLights
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/12/05
#10re: Songs with Jewish Themes/References
Posted: 1/12/06 at 8:22pm
If you're only looking for a small part of a song to have a 'Jewish phrase' in it, than you can use "Avenue Q"
"The Jews have all the money...."
"How bout a little black dress?"~hannahshule
"I have a penis, not a vagina." ~munkustrap178
#11re: Songs with Jewish Themes/References
Posted: 1/12/06 at 8:30pm
'Be a Catholic' from 'Forbidden Broadway'.
(Sung to the tune of "Be Italian" from NINE)
Once with Fiddler and Bette Midler
You had to be a singing, comic Jew.....
" ...the happiness in the tune convinces me that I'm not afraid."
#12re: Songs with Jewish Themes/References
Posted: 1/12/06 at 8:39pm
Some of the old vaudeville acts, and performers like Sophie Tucker, have songs that include a lot of Yiddish, and other references to Jewish culture of the time frame.
There is always the Jazz Singer.
#13re: Songs with Jewish Themes/References
Posted: 1/12/06 at 8:41pmAnd of course The Producers has Jewish references up the wazoo!
"Winning a Tony this year is like winning Best Attendance in third grade: no one will care but the winner and their mom."
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
#14re: Songs with Jewish Themes/References
Posted: 1/12/06 at 8:42pmLast 5 Years...Shiksa Goddess and others...
If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?
#15re: Songs with Jewish Themes/References
Posted: 1/12/06 at 10:00pman obvious and tragic relation to Judaism would be "Yours, Anne: The Anne Frank Musical." It seems like it'd be weird to put pieces of the diary to music and perform it, but some of it is actually quite gorgeous.
#16re: Songs with Jewish Themes/References
Posted: 1/12/06 at 10:12pm"The Chanukkah Party" from Caroline or Change
#17re: Songs with Jewish Themes/References
Posted: 1/12/06 at 10:44pm"You can't succeed on Broadway...' from Spamalot. That one is well...very Jewish oriented.
#18re: Songs with Jewish Themes/References
Posted: 1/12/06 at 11:47pmIf you're looking for itty bitty refrences, also in RENT, La Vie Boheme, the waiter at the restaurant says "oy, vey", and in Voicemail #3 "...even your father says Mazletov..."
"Life is too important to be taken seriously" - Oscar Wilde
"Boredom makes you do crazy things" - Jenny Holzer
?If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun." - Katherine Hepburn
#19re: Songs with Jewish Themes/References
Posted: 1/13/06 at 6:34am
"Jew shows like Rags & Ragtime. "
sorry, just wondering what exactly qualifies something as a "Jew show"?? maybe rephrase that a little better next time, I don't know to me it seems like everyone else is putting it much nicer and even delicately... sorry not trying to start anything that just kind of stuck out when I read the thread.
also I just had a quick question: why if you guys went to Catholic school together would she more appreciate songs with references to Judaism? just becuase she's studying it at the moment, or was she a Jewish Catholic School student? sorry just didn't really understand and thought it might be easier to find something your friend likes if the situation was clearer, then again I might just be really tired and not getting it lol
"That boy could use some Prozac"
Jon
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/20/04
#20re: Songs with Jewish Themes/References
Posted: 1/13/06 at 7:40am
more Jewish themed musicals:
THE ROTHSCHILDS
MILK AND HONEY
I CAN GET IT FOR YOU WHOLESALE
#21re: Songs with Jewish Themes/References
Posted: 1/13/06 at 7:48am"Meeskite," a very good song from the original production of Cabaret. I don't understand why it wasn't in either Broadway revival.
My avatar = A screencap from Avatar, arguably the greatest animated show of all
jasobres
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/9/05
#22re: Songs with Jewish Themes/References
Posted: 1/13/06 at 8:08amAlmost every song that Fanny Brice performed had a bit of Judaism in it. (Just listen to "Yidl on Your Fidl (Play Some Ragtime)," a song by Irving Berlin that she performed in an affected Yiddish accent).
"Ev'ry-buddy wants ta get into de act!"
- Jimmy Durante
"Breathe from your hoo-hoo."
-Kristin Chenoweth
#23re: Songs with Jewish Themes/References
Posted: 1/13/06 at 8:09amMushnik & Son from Little Shop of Horrors
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I remember days
Or at least I try
But as years go by
They're sort of haze
And the bluest ink
Isn't really sky
And at times I think
I would gladly die
For a day of sky
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
And Starbucks will use the words 'large' and 'small', not pretentious crap like grande and tall.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"You could get away with anything if you call it art and tell people who don't like it that it's cutting edge culture." --vmlinnie
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I remember days
Or at least I try
But as years go by
They're sort of haze
And the bluest ink
Isn't really sky
And at times I think
I would gladly die
For a day of sky
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
And Starbucks will use the words 'large' and 'small', not pretentious crap like grande and tall.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"You could get away with anything if you call it art and tell people who don't like it that it's cutting edge culture." --vmlinnie
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
#24re: Songs with Jewish Themes/References
Posted: 1/13/06 at 8:42am
ISnt their an off broadway musical on right now called Jewtopia?
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