The Oddest Showtune?- Page 2

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/3/07 at 6:54pm

I have to agree about Shipoopie from Music man but also add Fede Fede (or any song for that matter!) from Into The Light.

[Lizzya9]

Posted: 7/3/07 at 7:06pm

basically any song from CATS, and Drowsy Chaperone, too

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 7/3/07 at 7:19pm

How is Maria from WSS odd?

[Weez]

Posted: 7/3/07 at 7:25pm

Maybe bwayluvsong knows the same Maria I do...

Ooh! Bit below the belt! But she has been especially deserving today so I don't care. ^_^

It may be considered unusual in that it's a very beautiful love song that never uses the word "love", but that's the beauty of it, using such wonderful lyrics to express the feeling of being in love without copping out and just saying "yeah, I love her". Gorgeous. :3

I would say 'The Bride's Lament' from Drowsy, but as it's meant to be odd, I don't think it counts. But I've had it in my head all day, dagnabbit!

[Katurian2]

Posted: 7/3/07 at 7:33pm

"Maria" was also wriiten in what some piano players call the "Devil's" style, with almost all of the chords and progressions in 3rds. I think the term came up during the middle agee, thought the exact history is lost to me. Who writes a LOVE song in Devil-style? Only Berstein.....

Updated On: 7/3/07 at 07:33 PM

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 7/3/07 at 7:34pm

Ah, thanks Weez and Katurian. That makes sense.

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/3/07 at 7:35pm

Who writes a LOVE song in Devil-style? Only Berstein.....

- And Sondheim. lol

[Katurian2]

Posted: 7/3/07 at 7:37pm

lol- Too true. Actually, my sister just informed me that the proper term to use for that progression is a "Tritone", and is nitpickingly called "The Devil IN music". Apparently in the middle ages those who sang in the key were ex-communicated from the church....uhoh

[singtopher]

Posted: 7/3/07 at 7:45pm

Love is the work of the Devil

[scott68]

Posted: 7/3/07 at 7:58pm

The first one that came to my mind was "Unworthy of Your Love" from Assassins. Not that the song itself is that odd, but the concept of Squeaky Fromme and John Hinckley singing a pop ballad duet about their obsessive crushes is a bit on the peculiar side.

[Fenchurch]

Posted: 7/3/07 at 8:07pm

Bianca from Kiss me Kate, the oddest, strangest song.

There's nothing odd about Maria, it's inspired and one of the most beautiful songs ever written.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/3/07 at 8:20pm

For sheer unlikeliness to ever become a showtune, I'd suggest "Masters of War" from the unlikeliest of shows: a Dylan jukebox musical.

[i.heart.link]

Posted: 7/3/07 at 8:27pm

why is drowsy chaperone odd?

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 7/3/07 at 8:58pm

Probably because it doesn't use an electric guitar...

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 7/3/07 at 9:18pm

I specifically remember Mary Rodgers (on Broadway: The Golden Age) saying that when Bernstein played Maria for her, she thought it was strange and dissonant, though beautiful. It does use pretty uncommon intervals.

Oh, and Drowsy is about as far from odd as a score could get.

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/3/07 at 9:19pm

Calling DROWSY odd is like saying SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE is normal.

[singingshowgirl]

Posted: 7/3/07 at 10:25pm

not gonna lie. i looked a this thread like 20 times and thought it said OLDEST showtune lol

[jasonf]

Posted: 7/3/07 at 10:29pm

I might have to go with The Butler's Song from "So Long 174th Street"

The song March of the Falsettos is pretty odd...

And then of course there's The Brain Tap from The Brain From Planet X - if that's not odd, I don't know what is!

[kyleorlando]

Posted: 7/3/07 at 10:42pm

OK...

It definitely has to be I'm Small from Dude.

The only song about penis size on Broadway!

Updated On: 7/4/07 at 10:42 PM

[jasonf]

Posted: 7/4/07 at 12:16am

As one of the straight guys on here, I can't believe I'm making this joke, but:

I'm so confused, what's Great Big Stuff about then???

[JonathanGroffislove]

Posted: 7/4/07 at 8:35pm

along came bialy from the producers (those poor old ladies)

[bwaygal1]

Posted: 7/4/07 at 8:58pm

Jerry Likes My Corn is an odd title.
(MLW even commented on it!)

[kyleorlando]

Posted: 7/4/07 at 9:23pm

re: The Oddest Showtune?
Posted On: 7/4/07 at 12:16 AM


As one of the straight guys on here, I can't believe I'm making this joke, but:

I'm so confused, what's Great Big Stuff about then???

It's from Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and it's about stuff... things you can acquire, etc...

[broadway_socialite]

Posted: 7/4/07 at 9:47pm

I second March of the Falsettos. that is a very very VERY oddd song

[Disneyland Magic Man]

Posted: 7/5/07 at 3:16am

I thinks I would have to second The Elephant Song from 70, Girls, 70.

The first time I heard that song I could not stop laughing at how amazingly awkward it was. And when I tried to sing it to people to show them an example of the most random showtune ever written, I couldn't even make it through part of the lyrics before busting up laughing again.

"Where does an elephant go-o-hahahahahahahahahahAHAHAHAHAHAHA" Is pretty much how the conversation went.


Bobby :)


"Mr. Billings! Mr. Billings! WHERE did the elephant go-o-o-o WHERE did the elephant go?!"