Worst Opening Number — Page 4
#77
Posted: 2/26/07 at 8:51pm
Best:
Ragtime
Sweeney Todd
West Side Story
Fiddler on the Roof
Worst:
Mamma Mia!
Ragtime
Sweeney Todd
West Side Story
Fiddler on the Roof
Worst:
Mamma Mia!
#78
Posted: 2/26/07 at 8:56pm
I'm doing FOOTLOOSE now. I love the opening! I think many of the songs are weak when compared to how they were originally performed on the movie's soundtrack, but this one definately sets the mood for the show. You have some high-energy dancing, and then you're quickly thrust into the choir-music style that Ren and his mom have to get accustomed to. In a way, it takes the audience with Ren as he moves from the big city to a small town. We, too must make the transition from the rock music we love, to the church music we might not love, but we don't really have a choice either way.
But I'm playing Rev. Moore. Maybe I'm biased because I really like my intro in the show.
Enough about FOOTLOOSE. My pick for worst opening goes to..."In" from CARRIE. I love the song to death (I love listening to the show, period) but I hate the choreography. It's too much for the singers/dancers to handle at once. You can hear their voices shaking while they try to keep up with the dances. I blame the show's failure on Debbie Allen. None of the dances were right for the scenes they were in, and I won't forgive her for what she did to the prom scene (song "Wotta Night!"). If the sets (or lack of sets) and costumes had been even remotely close to good, her dances still would have kept the show in the "laughable" range of things.
Best: The "Bobby" chant from COMPANY. I haven't seen the current production, but I love it on the cast abum. If you want to be picky, then "Company" is the actual opening number of COMPANY, and it's even more enjoyable than the "Bobby" chant, though I love both. It does a wonderful job of getting the point across that Robert is swarmed by these friends of his, as well as his girlfriends, and (when sung properly) you can tell right away that Robert has gone through this enough times before that he might just be numb to it all by now.
But I'm playing Rev. Moore. Maybe I'm biased because I really like my intro in the show.
Enough about FOOTLOOSE. My pick for worst opening goes to..."In" from CARRIE. I love the song to death (I love listening to the show, period) but I hate the choreography. It's too much for the singers/dancers to handle at once. You can hear their voices shaking while they try to keep up with the dances. I blame the show's failure on Debbie Allen. None of the dances were right for the scenes they were in, and I won't forgive her for what she did to the prom scene (song "Wotta Night!"). If the sets (or lack of sets) and costumes had been even remotely close to good, her dances still would have kept the show in the "laughable" range of things.
Best: The "Bobby" chant from COMPANY. I haven't seen the current production, but I love it on the cast abum. If you want to be picky, then "Company" is the actual opening number of COMPANY, and it's even more enjoyable than the "Bobby" chant, though I love both. It does a wonderful job of getting the point across that Robert is swarmed by these friends of his, as well as his girlfriends, and (when sung properly) you can tell right away that Robert has gone through this enough times before that he might just be numb to it all by now.
-- SDG
#79
Posted: 2/26/07 at 9:28pm
A little off topic but, what about the worst song from the Oscars? Celine Dion singing an incomprehensible song from a beautiful Moricone music.
"I love acting. It is so much more real than life." Oscar Wilde
"After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music." Aldous Huxley
"After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music." Aldous Huxley
#80
Posted: 2/26/07 at 9:49pm
""At The End Of The Day", the opening number in the original Paris version of "Les Miserables". "
Is there an English translation?
Is there an English translation?
#81
Posted: 2/26/07 at 9:50pm
I think Colored Lights from The Rink is pretty weak.
Theatre is a safe place to do the unsafe things that need to be done.
-John Patrick Shanley
#82
Posted: 2/26/07 at 9:59pm
SweeneyPhanatic, I agree that the opening number in FOOTLOOSE is a blast. The show was a flop, but the opening number is its saving grace.
Lizzya, I had to perform it in college and I had a lot of fun with it. Maybe you're in a poor production or perhaps performing just isn't your thing.
Lizzya, I had to perform it in college and I had a lot of fun with it. Maybe you're in a poor production or perhaps performing just isn't your thing.
"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)
Updated On: 2/26/07 at 09:59 PM
#83
"Is there an English translation?"
EDIT: Found it. Check this out
http://mmebahorel.cafemusain.com/translations/ofc.html
Posted: 2/26/07 at 10:35pm
"Is there an English translation?"
EDIT: Found it. Check this out
http://mmebahorel.cafemusain.com/translations/ofc.html
Who can explain it, who can tell you why?
Fools give you reasons, wise men never try
-South Pacific
Updated On: 2/26/07 at 10:35 PM
#84
Posted: 2/27/07 at 2:31am
Best: Ragtime
Sweeney Todd
Worst: That damn chandelier taking 10 minutes to go up at the begining of POTO. In 19 years (or whatever) they couldn't improve that and make it more exciting?
Sweeney Todd
Worst: That damn chandelier taking 10 minutes to go up at the begining of POTO. In 19 years (or whatever) they couldn't improve that and make it more exciting?
I killed the boss, you don't think they're gonna fire me over a thing like that!!!!
#85
Posted: 2/27/07 at 7:47am
ALso check out the TOny performance of Hope I Get it on the TOny Awards in the 70s at that site you know about--basiclaly same tempi as the recording
#86
Posted: 2/27/07 at 8:01am
Can not believe anyone has not said The Sound of Music as the Best *runs for cover*
Especially the film version can never get enough of that opening number! Although the London rivival gets me going every time!!!
Is it just me????
Especially the film version can never get enough of that opening number! Although the London rivival gets me going every time!!!
Is it just me????
Updated On: 2/27/07 at 08:01 AM
#87
Posted: 2/27/07 at 8:06am
It's funny, yet very sad, that so many people on this list just don't seem to "get" the brilliance of Rock Island Line from THE MUSIC MAN. I guess they've never NOT been spoon-fed their culture.
#88
Posted: 2/27/07 at 3:01pm
I absolutely cannot abide the opening number in The Music Man, which is a musical I love. It seems to be very difficult to sing and a lot of people marvel over it, but chugging along on the train really grates on my nerves.
#89
Posted: 2/27/07 at 3:28pm
Rent opens badly. IIRC, the first number or whatever is one of those dumb sung-through answering-machine things (maybe two of them), then the show's title song, which is possibly the worst one in the whole show and sounds like a parody ("Rent, rent rent, reeeeeeent!! Rent, rent, rent, reeeeeeent!"). The show doesn't even begin to take off until "One Song Glory", like 20 minutes in.
#90
Posted: 2/27/07 at 3:30pm
I remeber doing "Rock Island Line" when I did the Music Man. It's really not so difficult (unless people don't have their lines memorized). I really do like the way it sets the stage for Hill, but it's not something I enjoy listening to over and over.
#91
Posted: 2/27/07 at 4:03pm
Pfft. Wannabes, all of this. Arguably the *worst* of all time has to be "We're on the Barbary Coast" from BARBARY COAST, which was a bound-for-Broadway xtravaganza written as a vehicle for John Raitt and which quite properly closed in San Francisco.
Imagine: in the prologue alone, *four* full stage set changes and a working cable car turnaround, as tourists in gorgeous 19th century costumes sing manically for five minutes, "We're on the Barbary/We're on the Barbary/We're on the Barbary Cooooooooooooooooooast!"
My teeth hurt in memory of it.
Imagine: in the prologue alone, *four* full stage set changes and a working cable car turnaround, as tourists in gorgeous 19th century costumes sing manically for five minutes, "We're on the Barbary/We're on the Barbary/We're on the Barbary Cooooooooooooooooooast!"
My teeth hurt in memory of it.
http://docandraider.com
#92
Posted: 2/27/07 at 4:08pm
The opening of The Music Man makes me want to kill myself. The opening of Sweeney Todd is beautiful.
#93
Posted: 3/11/07 at 5:39pm
Wanna Be a Foster, who the HELL do you think you are to say "performing isn't my thing"??!!! You know nothing about me or what I like to do. Go fu** yourself and let me have an opnion. dammit some people on here are such retards.
#94
Posted: 3/11/07 at 5:46pm
Best - Will Rogers
Worst - Wicked
Worst - Wicked
Poster Emeritus
#95
Posted: 3/11/07 at 5:49pm
ahaha. Lzzya9 is my favorite!
"Picture "The View," with the wisecracking, sympathetic sweethearts of that ABC television show replaced by a panel of embittered, suffering or enraged Arab women" -the Times review of Black Eyed
#96
Posted: 3/11/07 at 6:18pm
Lizzya9 strikes again! Such Maturity.
I wouldn't think of Wicked as the worst. I think its OK.
I wouldn't think of Wicked as the worst. I think its OK.
#97
Posted: 3/11/07 at 6:23pm
LOL i luv you 2 caroline
Footloose is growing on me now. we perform in 4 days and it is fun. our lead is incredible. but if I have to sing "on any sunday here we'll be..." once more... = /
best: Beauty & the Beast, The Lion King
worst: Spring Awakening
Footloose is growing on me now. we perform in 4 days and it is fun. our lead is incredible. but if I have to sing "on any sunday here we'll be..." once more... = /
best: Beauty & the Beast, The Lion King
worst: Spring Awakening
#98
Posted: 3/11/07 at 6:25pm
"best: Beauty & the Beast, The Lion King
worst: Spring Awakening"
You haven't even seen Spring Awakening.How can you say its the worst? I don't think you've seen The Lion King either...
worst: Spring Awakening"
You haven't even seen Spring Awakening.How can you say its the worst? I don't think you've seen The Lion King either...
#99
Posted: 3/11/07 at 6:33pm
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
I <3 this thread!
I <3 this thread!
I have several names, one is Julian2. I am also The Opps Girl. But cross me, and I become Bitch Dooku!
#100
Posted: 3/11/07 at 6:35pm
lizzy- you know you haven't even seen Spring Awakening and barely know anything about it. the only reason you don't like it is because you're too obsessed with your disney musicals to realize that sex ACTUALLY exists!
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