Broadway Star Joined: 7/17/04
Let me define that. Probably not the best wording, but for lack of.....
By 'stand alone', I mean those songs you could rip right out of the musical, perform them somewhere else, and they would be a great song in their own right. I DON'T MEAN solos. There's a difference between solo and stand alone song. (for me)
For instance, if you sang "Bring Him Home" from LM, to people that had never seen LM, they would be asking who "him" is.
But if you sang "Someone Like You" from J&H, I think that song could stand alone and be (is!) a great song.
So what musical has the most of these SA's?
Pal Joey. That golden-era musical has like a thousand standards.
Personally, I usually do not like showtunes sung out of context, especially if the interpretation is very different from what the moment the song is written for characterwise.
Example, 'Cabaret' is a hauntingly beautiful song in context. But I loathe cheesy "Let's sing a happy-happy song" versions of it.
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/16/04
CATS has quite a few. Memory, to name one. And, uh, Memory...
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/10/04
Another Suitcase in Another Hall from Evita
Bring Him Home from Les Miserables (the ultimate anti-war song)
Bring on the Men from Jekyll & Hyde
This is the Moment from Jekyll & Hyde
can't think of anymore right now... but they'll come
Broadway Star Joined: 7/17/04
I started this laaaaaaaaaaaaaaate last night, so just bumping it back up to see if any of you have thoughts about it. Thanks!
Honestly I think J&H has the most stand alone songs, thats just me. The least stand alone songs: Rent...
Um, Mama Mia has quite a few that could work out of context. But then again, maybe not.
Songs For A New World
Hair esp since a few of the songs were released to mainstream radio stations
Broadway Star Joined: 8/10/04
Ive Never Been in Love Before (Guys and Dolls)
Home (The Wiz)
The Music That Makes Me Dance (Funny Girl)
Embrassable You (Girl Crazy/Crazy for You)
Anything Goes (Anything Goes)
SueLeen - I don't think the Mamma Mia songs work out of context. They make no sense without the storyline to tie them together. The same goes with Movin' Out.
Of course. The songs of mamma mia were written SPECIALLY for the show. like we will rock you.
I agree with the one who said pal joey. Richard Rodgers was a genious writing lirycs.
Broadway Star Joined: 7/17/04
I haven't seen Mama Mia, but aren't all the songs from the 70's group ABBA? If so, (and I'd forgotten about Mamma Mia) wouldn't all the songs be stand alones?
Eponine, I too, thought that J&H probably had more than the average musical.
I think CATS has the least. The only song that stands alone is MEMORY.
I was just... making fun about mamma mia. Of course the songs are from ABBA and all has been "stand alones" until mamma mia came.
i agree with songs for a new world.
but songs from a new world... it's almost a concert... or am I wrong?
Richard Rodgers was a genious writing lirycs.
Really? I didn't know he wrote the lyrics.
chicago- all but very few numbers
rent- there is a few (what you own, take me or leave me, seasons of love, etc.)
I meaaaaaaaaaant Lorenze Hart!
just a mistake.
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/20/04
Speaking of Rodgers & Hart, BABES IN ARMS has
MY FUNNY VALENTINE
WHERE OR WHEN
THE LADY IS A TRAMP
I WISH I WERE IN LOVE AGAIN
JOHNNY ONE NOTE
According to my Musical Theatre professor, "Songs for a New World" is not technically a musical.
I think he's on crack.
I vote for that one.
I love BABES IN ARMS. Songs for a new world isn't technically a musical because there is no constant plot (it is more of a cabaret show or whatever). But, I love it to death.
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
What I Did For Love
Tomorrow
People
As Long As He Needs Me
Videos