What Musical has the Most 'Stand Alone' Songs??

#1

What Musical has the Most 'Stand Alone' Songs??

Posted: 8/30/04 at 2:33am

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?

#2

re: What Musical has the Most 'Stand Alone' Songs??

Posted: 8/30/04 at 2:40am

Pal Joey. That golden-era musical has like a thousand standards.

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BlueWizard's blog: The Rambling Corner HEDWIG: "The road is my home. In reflecting upon the people whom I have come upon in my travels, I cannot help but think of the people who have come upon me."

Updated On: 8/30/04 at 02:40 AM

#3

re: What Musical has the Most 'Stand Alone' Songs??

Posted: 8/30/04 at 2:44am

COMPANY

#4

re: What Musical has the Most 'Stand Alone' Songs??

Posted: 8/30/04 at 2:44am

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.

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"One no longer loves one's insight enough once one communicates it."

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Updated On: 8/30/04 at 02:44 AM

#5

re: What Musical has the Most 'Stand Alone' Songs??

Posted: 8/30/04 at 2:48am

CATS has quite a few. Memory, to name one. And, uh, Memory...

#6

re: What Musical has the Most 'Stand Alone' Songs??

Posted: 8/30/04 at 3:09am

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

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#7

re: What Musical has the Most 'Stand Alone' Songs??

Posted: 8/30/04 at 12:02pm

I started this laaaaaaaaaaaaaaate last night, so just bumping it back up to see if any of you have thoughts about it. Thanks!

#8

re: What Musical has the Most 'Stand Alone' Songs??

Posted: 8/30/04 at 12:04pm

Honestly I think J&H has the most stand alone songs, thats just me. The least stand alone songs: Rent...

#9

re: What Musical has the Most 'Stand Alone' Songs??

Posted: 8/30/04 at 12:05pm

Um, Mama Mia has quite a few that could work out of context. But then again, maybe not.

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PEACE.

#10

re: What Musical has the Most 'Stand Alone' Songs??

Posted: 8/30/04 at 12:17pm

Songs For A New World

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#11

re: What Musical has the Most 'Stand Alone' Songs??

Posted: 8/30/04 at 12:21pm

Hair esp since a few of the songs were released to mainstream radio stations

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"Judy Garland, Jimmy Dean, You tragedy Queen" ~ Taboo

"Watching a frat boy realize just what he put his d!ck in...ex's getting std's...schadenfruede" ~ Ave Q

"when dangers near, exploit their fear" ~ Reefer Madness the Musical

#12

re: What Musical has the Most 'Stand Alone' Songs??

Posted: 8/30/04 at 12:44pm

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)

#13

re: What Musical has the Most 'Stand Alone' Songs??

Posted: 8/30/04 at 12:45pm

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.

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I sing for myself. I sing when I want, whenever I want to, just for me. I sing for my own pleasure. Do you understand that?

#14

re: What Musical has the Most 'Stand Alone' Songs??

Posted: 8/30/04 at 12:47pm

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.

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#15

re: What Musical has the Most 'Stand Alone' Songs??

Posted: 8/30/04 at 12:49pm

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.

#16

re: What Musical has the Most 'Stand Alone' Songs??

Posted: 8/30/04 at 12:52pm

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.

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Nobody expects the spanish inquisition!

#17

re: What Musical has the Most 'Stand Alone' Songs??

Posted: 8/30/04 at 12:54pm

i agree with songs for a new world.

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"Contentment it seems merely happens, It appears Accompanied by no bravos and no tears" "The world is good you said Enjoy it's highs you said The summer flies you said So make a parade Of every moment Now throw away your hate And focus on what's great instead" ~William Finn

#18

re: What Musical has the Most 'Stand Alone' Songs??

Posted: 8/30/04 at 12:55pm

but songs from a new world... it's almost a concert... or am I wrong?

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Nobody expects the spanish inquisition!

#19

re: What Musical has the Most 'Stand Alone' Songs??

Posted: 8/30/04 at 12:59pm

Richard Rodgers was a genious writing lirycs.

Really? I didn't know he wrote the lyrics.

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PEACE.

#20

re: What Musical has the Most 'Stand Alone' Songs??

Posted: 8/30/04 at 1:00pm

chicago- all but very few numbers
rent- there is a few (what you own, take me or leave me, seasons of love, etc.)

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"Grease," the fourth revival of the season, is the worst show in the history of theater and represents an unparalleled assault on Western civilization and its values. - Michael Reidel

#21

re: What Musical has the Most 'Stand Alone' Songs??

Posted: 8/30/04 at 1:02pm

I meaaaaaaaaaant Lorenze Hart!
just a mistake.

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Nobody expects the spanish inquisition!

#22

re: What Musical has the Most 'Stand Alone' Songs??

Posted: 8/30/04 at 1:33pm

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

#23

re: What Musical has the Most 'Stand Alone' Songs??

Posted: 8/30/04 at 1:34pm

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.

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#24

re: What Musical has the Most 'Stand Alone' Songs??

Posted: 8/30/04 at 1:36pm

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.

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#25

re: What Musical has the Most 'Stand Alone' Songs??

Posted: 8/30/04 at 1:40pm

What I Did For Love
Tomorrow
People
As Long As He Needs Me