Worst Lyrics in a musical theatre song — Page 2

#26

re: Worst Lyrics in a musical theatre song

Posted: 6/15/07 at 1:22pm

I don't think RENTs lyrics are well written at all.

They're awkward at times, and a lot of them don't scan well with the music.

"He's near, he's so near! We might breathe the same air tonight! Your father's here!" From Miss Saigon.

I can't think of any other lyrics from that show, but I think SO many of them are laughable - and completely undermines the epic seriousness of what's going on.

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Personally, I think I have too much bloom.

#27

re: Worst Lyrics in a musical theatre song

Posted: 6/15/07 at 7:39pm

Hmm, why does Leslie get so many jobs?

#28

re: Worst Lyrics in a musical theatre song

Posted: 6/15/07 at 7:45pm

"I love drugs and everything they do. Don't you?"
"These proofs are a mess, two accents reversed
An electoral district in France incorrectly identified. Inexcusable, Jamie.In fifty years of publication. We’ve only issued one retraction. What about our reputation? Do you know how serious this is, Jamie?" - Bright Lights Big City

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:D

#29

re: Worst Lyrics in a musical theatre song

Posted: 6/15/07 at 7:45pm

LostLeander, I think you're annoying, and the only lyrics I take serious dispute with are the ones in Chris's breakdown, when they switch between third and first person. But when you think about it, those could even be permissible when you take into account the reality of his mental state at that point.

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-Benjamin
--http://www.benjaminadgate.com/

#30

re: Worst Lyrics in a musical theatre song

Posted: 6/15/07 at 9:51pm

Legally Blonde has some of the worst lyrics I've heard in a long time. I don't have any examples at the moment but they just...give me a headache.

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A little swash, a bit of buckle - you'll love it more than bread.

#31

re: Worst Lyrics in a musical theatre song

Posted: 6/15/07 at 10:00pm

Hammerstein isn't infallible but Honey Bun was written to be a cheasy song within the show performed at a Thanksgiving concert to rile up the lonely soldiers--it makes perfect sense. It's like people who complaina bout Promises Promises' Turkey Lurkey TIme lyrics without realizing the song was meant ot be written by the secretaries.

""fit for an angel's choir." "

You've NEVER heard the expression angel's choir before??

E

#32

re: Worst Lyrics in a musical theatre song

Posted: 6/15/07 at 10:34pm

The Clambake Number in Carousel is not a masterpiece like Soliloquy or The Bench Scene, but it fits the hokey characters of the town perfectly. I don't think there's much wrong with it.

#33

re: Worst Lyrics in a musical theatre song

Posted: 6/15/07 at 10:36pm

I've heard of it - but worse than the actual lyrics (I could deal with the angel's choir thing - and yes, of course I've heard of that), is the idea that they're rhapsodizing about being full. Have you ever eaten to the point of being that full? You are NOT reminiscing nostalgically about how good the meal was, no matter HOW good it was, an hour later. It's just ridiculous. I just don't like the song -- they could have done something better. That's all.

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Hi, Shirley Temple Pudding.

#34

re: Worst Lyrics in a musical theatre song

Posted: 6/15/07 at 10:37pm

The Rent NYTW songs that were cut had some pretty awful lyrics.

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One time, Patti LuPone punched me in the face...


It was awesome. - theaterkid1015

#35

re: Worst Lyrics in a musical theatre song

Posted: 6/15/07 at 10:42pm

My 2 All-Time Favorites:

"Freight...is great
Freight...is great
We carry weight,
'Cause we are freight
And freight...is great!"

- Richard Stilgoe

And even better:

"Melody, melody, melody, melody
Sung so melodiously
melody, melody, melody, melody,
My melody de Paris...."

- Maury Yeston

Just doesn't get any better than these!

#36

re: Worst Lyrics in a musical theatre song

Posted: 6/15/07 at 10:45pm

As I cried out, like, in Latin “This is so not life at all"

See, each night it’s, like, fantastic
Tossing, turning without rest
‘Cause my days at the piano
With my teacher and her breasts
And the music’s, like, the one thing
I can’t even get at all
And those breasts!
I mean, God, please, just let those apples fall

It’s like, just kiss some ass, man
Then you can screw ‘em all


Seriously, these were the best lyrics of 2007? This makes Ohmigod, You Guys look like The Ballad of Sweeney Todd.

#37

re: Worst Lyrics in a musical theatre song

Posted: 6/15/07 at 10:56pm

Maybe Sater was trying to capture the way teenagers speak?

I don't know, I'm just trying to throw the guy a bone.

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A little swash, a bit of buckle - you'll love it more than bread.

#38

re: Worst Lyrics in a musical theatre song

Posted: 6/15/07 at 11:09pm

I have a feeling he was, but all those "likes" are just painful to listen to.

I do have to say that he accurately captured the mindset of 90% of teenage males with that last one, though. :P

#39

re: Worst Lyrics in a musical theatre song

Posted: 6/15/07 at 11:09pm

VonTussleGirl, I agree with everything you said. I don't mean to pick on the show, but "please just let those apples fall" is rather lame for such an edgy piece. Plus, blah blah blah blah gets old. Fast.

I would say Oh My God You Guys is worse, but it fits with the whole dumb blonde theme.

I do think the worst lyrics ever though would be all of Sail Me Away from Lestat. It was mind blowing alright!

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"But I can tell you that Raoul, who was so handsome in "The Phantom," is now a drunken wreck."

#40

re: Worst Lyrics in a musical theatre song

Posted: 6/15/07 at 11:12pm

I think all of the lyrics to Totally F*CKed are pretty bad.

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A little swash, a bit of buckle - you'll love it more than bread.

#41

re: Worst Lyrics in a musical theatre song

Posted: 6/15/07 at 11:15pm

To take "Carrie" one step further, may I present the ORIGINAL refrain for "Out For Blood"...entitled "Cracker Jack"

You never know what your nickel buys
When you grab a box o' Cracker Jack
And open up the prize
Is it what you thought?
I bet not!
Remember, go to far and there's no turnin' back
Remember Cracker Jack!
Cra-CKER Jack!

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http://www.youtube.com/huskcharmer

#42

re: Worst Lyrics in a musical theatre song

Posted: 6/15/07 at 11:20pm

I don't know about you, but I saw 'like' in between every phrase I speak without even meaning too. It's a very popular habit teenagers have. I think the lyrics in Spring Awakening are amazing, and while I was rooting for Grey Gardens, Sater deserved his Tony.

#43

re: Worst Lyrics in a musical theatre song

Posted: 6/15/07 at 11:24pm

So much of the Don Black/Christopher Hampton stuff can get annoying in Sunset Boulevard. Like the lyric about the L.A. Gold-Rush that never happened. (The real one was in San Francisco, nowhere near L.A.) or the line about playing golf.

A friend of mine hates the lyrics of Tim Rice's in the "Rainbow" part of Evita
..they need to adore me so Christian Dior me...
..that's what they'll call me so Laura Bacall me, anything goes...
I don't think they're that bad, but he HATES them.

And well, David Spencer is another abysmal lyricist. You seriously wonder how these people get hired.

#44

re: Worst Lyrics in a musical theatre song

Posted: 6/15/07 at 11:35pm

anthonycbaron-
Believe me, you take one look at the lyrics I write, and it won't suprise you why they get hired.

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http://www.youtube.com/huskcharmer

#45

re: Worst Lyrics in a musical theatre song

Posted: 6/15/07 at 11:50pm

I think the Spring Awakening song with the worst lyrics is "My Junk."

Anyway...

"Poor Galinda, forced to reside with someone so disgustingified" - Lucky thing Schwartz was setting a musical in a fantasy land, or else he may have had to find a rhyming word that actually existed!

More Schwartz: "He gives it his all, so why do I sit here, remembering Paul?" and let's not forget "Just a little romance, what else would a woman look for in France?" Something like that. Both are from The Baker's Wife.

"Simon, enough, there's nothing more, don't be a boor" - Ah, Jekyll and Hyde

Basically everything in RENT, to be honest.

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Jimmy, what are you doing here in the middle of the night? It's almost 9 PM!

#46

re: Worst Lyrics in a musical theatre song

Posted: 6/15/07 at 11:57pm

I wouldn't say they're the worst but some of the lyrics from Sunset Blvd are laughable:

"To my people in the dark, still out there in the dark"

"Silent music starts to play"
Silent music, really? I'd love to see how that works out.

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There wouldn't be lights bright enough!

#47

re: Worst Lyrics in a musical theatre song

Posted: 6/16/07 at 12:10am

"And Then There Were None" has some real stinkers, too.

The things that sucks – okay? – for me
A thousand bucks, I’m, like, scott free
And I mean, please…That’s all I need
Get real, Jose!
By now you know the score…

#48

re: Worst Lyrics in a musical theatre song

Posted: 6/16/07 at 12:16am

That lyric makes me cringe, VonTussleGirl.

What about this one?

Something started crazy
Sweet and unknown
Something you keep in a box on the street
Now it's longing for a home

Cringe-worthy!

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A little swash, a bit of buckle - you'll love it more than bread.

#49

re: Worst Lyrics in a musical theatre song

Posted: 6/16/07 at 12:25am

Eh, that line from Sunset Blvd doesn't bug me -- I always took "silent music" to mean "the music they play in silent movies," which would be harder to fit into a lyric.

I have issues with a lot of the lyrics in Wicked and Spring Awakening too, but the WORST lyrics? Back in 1998, I saw a reading of a musical version of Wuthering Heights, and holy crap, those were TERRIBLE lyrics. I remember in the first song, they repeated "Wuthering Heights, Wuthering Heights" over and over, and oh lordy, I almost laughed out loud in the theatre.

And then there's My Life With Albertine. Don't even get me started.

~JJJ

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Dear Ken, I'm in pieces. Why the cold shoulder? Love, Barbie

#50

re: Worst Lyrics in a musical theatre song

Posted: 6/16/07 at 12:27am

I want a mansion with a moat
Around which I will float

I love DRS, but this kills me.

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Tick Tock