Worst Rhyme Ever- Page 5

[apdarcey]

Posted: 7/4/05 at 10:07pm

i was just wondering how many of you knew that when stephen schwartz was writing his score he stated that he wanted to make the lyrics/rhyming schemes unique and obscure because the musical is set in a magical land called oz, not the modern world united states... i think the fact that there are so many things that you all are saying are absurd to us just gives him more credit that it wasn't just him slacking off, but actually a desired effect that it was different, something you're not used to.

wonderland, that spelling bee comment is completely ridiculous. that is supposed to be a large joke that she comes up with simply because she had already rhymed species and Neitzche's.. and so she tacks on a pop reference (ricci's) because she thinks it's funny because she's 11! i think it creates such a human character. she's not just quoting Neitzche, but she's also a kid who likes to make jokes.

god forbid.

[wonderland]

Posted: 7/4/05 at 10:21pm

So you are arguing that "My Friend the Dictionary" is an impromptu diegesic song in which she consciously knows she is singing? I don't think that's what Finn was going for at all, sorry. And for what it's worth, calm down- I didn't kill your grandmother, I pointed out a poorly-written couplet (or triplet, as it were) in what was my favorite score of the year. I think Finn has written some awful rhymes, but he also wins for some of my favorite imagery ever, in "Infinite Joy" and "I'd Rather Be Sailing," and "I have found life's more dramatic in its way than any Broadway play, Broadway bound" is one of my favorite lyrics of all time. So please, breathe before you post next time.

As for Schwartz, I don't enjoy his lyrics 9 times out of 10, except for The Baker's Wife and certain pieces of Godspell and Pippin. You can excuse Wicked by insisting it was on purpose, but a lot of the weak writing in it sounds like the weak writing in CoE. Was that intentional too?

[apdarcey]

Posted: 7/4/05 at 10:27pm

well i'm glad there's another finn fan. i too love every piece you stated and am wondering if he'll ever finish up the royal family of broadway. god how i want that. i, however, think that olive does know exactly what she is singing and makes the joke because of that.

i'm not going to excuse schwartz's other writing (as i didn't bring it up)... but when it comes to wicked i think it's very a very clever way to make the world of the musical unique. especially when it comes to the words he played with and the rhyming schemes that are deemed bad by members of this board.

[wonderland]

Posted: 7/4/05 at 10:36pm

Hehe... yay for peace. Yes, I adore Finn and eagerly await Royal Family. What I will concede about Wicked is that it was obviously written as a star vehicle for Idina and Kristin, and he did cater to their talents perfectly, but it falls short without those two in the roles (Yes, I've seen it twice, on two lucky lotteries. Kristin made that show happen, and JLT couldn't come close.)
Updated On: 7/4/05 at 10:36 PM

[apdarcey]

Posted: 7/4/05 at 10:37pm

you're right. he wrote the show for kristin, he has said this on a number of times. he didn't care as much about elphaba and idina just got the job by auditioning like a regular person. but he wrote the show for kristin.

[wonderland]

Posted: 7/4/05 at 10:40pm

"...auditioning like a regular person"

Yeah, I wish when I auditioned for shows I could put OBC of Rent and original cast of The Wild Party on my resume. She auditioned, but hardly like a regular person. :)

[apdarcey]

Posted: 7/4/05 at 10:42pm

haha, yes, obviously, but you know what i mean! she auditioned like a regular broadway leading lady. she also was found for rent, in the nyu practice rooms. lots of luck has come her way. sorry though!

[apdarcey]

Posted: 7/4/05 at 10:48pm

wonderland... do you have any idea about the royal family? its progress? i know he put it on hold to finish up spelling bee... but now that that's a hit and he's in the spotlight and we're all ready for it? i love the numbers on the infinte joy cd!

[wonderland]

Posted: 7/4/05 at 10:52pm

I read somewhere (don't ask me... I read a lot) that it was supposed to be open in time for the 2007 Tony season. But don't quote me.

[~FloweryFriend~]

Posted: 7/4/05 at 10:58pm

The weirdest stretch ever created in order to rhyme the word "please".

"Take me to a zoo that's got chimpanzees
Tell me on a Sunday, please"
- "Tell Me on a Sunday", Song and Dance


And now, I submit what I think may be the dumbest thing ever written in musical theatre:

We're not gonna pay
We're not gonna pay
We're not gonna pay
Last year's rent
This year's rent
Next year's rent
Rent, rent, rent, rent, rent,
We're not gonna pay rent
'Cause everything is rent
- "Rent", Rent

(honestly, as much as I love the show, that is complete and utter crap)



Also, although my boyfriend would hate me for saying this, I second the entire score of Spamalot

Updated On: 7/4/05 at 10:58 PM

[Sumofallthings]

Posted: 7/4/05 at 11:44pm

I think Spamalot is exactly what it is supposed to be. Campy and cheap (as far as lyrics are concerned.) Mel Brooks in "The Producers" had

A. A natural talent for musical theatre lyrics (as displayed in his films)

B. A tremendous number of Broadway vets helping him out

C. The sense of humor that truly applies to broad Musical Comedy

Eric Idle didn't have these talents in such abundance.

[TheColorOfFlame]

Posted: 7/6/05 at 8:09pm

"This isn't a funeral, more like a christening.
There's no need to wear black."

-Dracula

[Phantomerik15]

Posted: 7/6/05 at 9:34pm

i dont think this is song is part of a musical. but Hugh Panaro, the current Phantom on bway, sings this "you're already there" song in the CD called: bway's fabulous Phantoms. and this one line in the song sounds kinda stupid:
"and that will be our story,
i cant wait to live our story"