Worst song ever written for a musical- Page 5

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 5/30/16 at 11:53pm

trpguyy said: "The one from Finding Neverland where they're all just spouting nursery rhymes. I like the majority of the score, but that song is an embarrassment. 

 

"

I thought Play was the greatest song of that score.

[KCW]

Posted: 5/31/16 at 7:30am

Okay, whoever said any song where a name is repeated copiously is automatically the worst is wrong. Think of Company. Are you saying Being Alive is the worst song in musical theatre? Prologue from Sweeney Todd? The Schuyler Sisters from Hamilton? I am sure thousands would differ. Aditionaly, the Private and Intimate life of the House from NPATGCO1812, while possibly off putting on the cast recording works amazingly as a transition song and works very well on stage. Aditionaly, many of it is purely transcribed from a translation of the Tolstoy original. 

[whatacharacter]

Posted: 5/31/16 at 10:18am

Murder Murder from Jekyll and Hyde, with Facade a close second.

"That's two in the last four days.  This killer has fancy ways

To kill outside St. Paul's requires a lot of balls."

 

"Life is terribly hard when your life's a faca(r?)de."

[nsguy45]

Posted: 5/31/16 at 10:21am

"Shut Up, Gerald" from Woman of the Year.

[aaaaaa15]

Posted: 5/31/16 at 11:03am

KCW said: "Okay, whoever said any song where a name is repeated copiously is automatically the worst is wrong. Think of Company. Are you saying Being Alive is the worst song in musical theatre? Prologue from Sweeney Todd? The Schuyler Sisters from Hamilton? I am sure thousands would differ."

They're talking about the opening song from Hamilton. They have talked before about how wrong it is to repeat the name in the song and that anyone who likes the score is just the youth of today brainwashed by rap music. 

I understand your point about TPAILOTH and do agree it works better in the show than on the cast recording but it's just too ugly for me to get past. 

Updated On: 5/31/16 at 11:03 AM

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 5/31/16 at 11:27am

There's both a musical and dramatic effect to many of the songs listed that have "copious repetition," including "Alexander Hamilton," though. If you want to talk about problematic repetition, listen to a few of the songs from Dear Evan Hansen. To be sure, I enjoyed that show, but there are so many moments when a character sings a line or a phrase and then...repeats it...a bit more slowly...and it...just...drags...

Updated On: 5/31/16 at 11:27 AM

[Sertzo19]

Posted: 5/31/16 at 11:56am

Couldn't agree more with those who singled out "Mr. Goldstone, I Love You." I hate that song. I can never get through it and always skip when I listen to any cast recording of Gypsy. I think the only Rose to have pulled that song off successfully was Bette Midler and I think it's because in general slapstick, crazy humor has always been her thing and the songs works well with her in the TV version. That being said, even when I listen to the TV soundtrack i still skip the stupid song. 

Also surprised that nobody's pointed out A Sentimental Man. Something Bad is definitely a clunker but I love the sinister score that lies beneath the lyrics. I don't think Sentimental Man has any saving grace. 

[JudyDenmark]

Posted: 5/31/16 at 11:57am

"Who's Got the Pain" from Damn Yankees. I know it was put in just to give Gwen Verdon a dance showcase number, but man is it a stupid song.

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 5/31/16 at 7:20pm

whatacharacter said: "Life is terribly hard when your life's a faca(r?)de."

This gave me a very long fit of the giggles. I needed that. Thank you.

[gypsy101]

Posted: 5/31/16 at 7:39pm

BroadwayConcierge said: "If you want to talk about problematic repetition, listen to a few of the songs from Dear Evan Hansen. To be sure, I enjoyed that show, but there are so many moments when a character sings a line or a phrase and then...repeats it...a bit more slowly...and it...just...drags..."

Is there a cast recording? How can I listen to the songs?

aaaaaa15 said: "They're talking about the opening song from Hamilton. They have talked before about how wrong it is to repeat the name in the song and that anyone who likes the score is just the youth of today brainwashed by rap music. 

I understand your point about TPAILOTH and do agree it works better in the show than on the cast recording but it's just too ugly for me to get past."

His name really isn't even repeated THAT many times. Sure they say it, but they usually say some stuff after his name before saying it again.

This was how I felt about Intimate Life and I couldn't get past it for months, but I strongly urge you to try again because the score on the whole is absolutely wonderful (and I think we only hear from those characters one or two more times).

[aaaaaa15]

Posted: 5/31/16 at 8:01pm

Oh, I think you've misunderstood me, I can get past the song to listen to the others (and agree, it is a great score). I just can't get past the ugliness of that particular song to appreciate it for what it is if that makes sense. I also agree with your point on the Hamilton opening, but I don't understand that poster's POV on that score at all.

[MaddieBB12]

Posted: 5/31/16 at 8:01pm

Finding Neverland's "Play" was SO MUCH BETTER in Boston. The butchered it for Broadway and don't get me started on the pop version.

Speaking of "So Much Better"... the Legally Blonde Act I closer is not only my least favorite of the score, but my least favorite act closer EVER.

[gypsy101]

Posted: 5/31/16 at 8:06pm

aaaaaa15 said: "Oh, I think you've misunderstood me, I can get past the song to listen to the others (and agree, it is a great score). I just can't get past the ugliness of that particular song to appreciate it for what it is if that makes sense. I also agree with your point on the Hamilton opening, but I don't understand that poster's POV on that score at all."

Ah I see! I literally could not get past that song, like it was such a killjoy for me that I didn't listen to any of the rest of the show for several months lol 

[non-stop26]

Posted: 5/31/16 at 9:50pm

MaddieBB12 said: "Finding Neverland's "Play" was SO MUCH BETTER in Boston. The butchered it for Broadway and don't get me started on the pop version.

 

"

Finding Neverland was in general WAY better in Boston than Broadway. If the Boston version was the version seen on Broadway, it would have probably lasted longer.

[rcwr]

Posted: 6/1/16 at 1:23am

MaddieBB12 said: "Finding Neverland's "Play" was SO MUCH BETTER in Boston. The butchered it for Broadway and don't get me started on the pop version."

*
Finding Neverland was in general WAY better in Boston than Broadway. If the Boston version was the version seen on Broadway, it would have probably lasted longer.

 

THANK YOU. I saw FN in Cambridge more times than I will ever admit, and "Play" was a fantastic song. Not all the songs were fantastic ("We're All Made of Stars" was boring to me), but I loved the score overall. I was so bummed because I knew I wouldn't be able to see it in NY. Then the OBCR came out and I...wasn't bummed any more.

 

To the thread's question: I find "The Old Gumbie Cat" to be one of the worst.

Updated On: 6/1/16 at 01:23 AM

[KCW]

Posted: 6/1/16 at 7:12am

Maybe this should go on the unpopular opinions thread, but Intimate Life is one of my favorite songs live. It starts the dramatic arc of Nattasha as she perhaps is repulsed by the family (see Nattasha and the Bolkonskys.) And while it clashes, the Bolkonskys clash in their family. Gypsy and aaaaaa5 have you seen the song live? That may change your opinion of the song a little.

[aaaaaa15]

Posted: 6/1/16 at 7:25am

Yes, I'm afraid I just can't get myself to like it. I do like Natasha & Bolkonskys though.

Updated On: 6/1/16 at 07:25 AM

[KCW]

Posted: 6/1/16 at 7:28am

Ahhh. We seem to agree on every other song, but Intimate Life is pushing thd boundary of Malloy's style.

[Adair Haywind]

Posted: 6/1/16 at 10:46am

The one that immediately comes to mind for me is "The Morning Report" from The Lion King. Always detested that number. It's cut from the show now, but it took Julie 13 years to do so!

[icecreambenjamin]

Posted: 6/1/16 at 11:26am

Intimate Life isn't exactly pleasant to listen to, but it's a great moment on stage.  I wouldn't call it one of the worst songs ever written.

"Little Lamb" and "Mr. Goldstone" just aren't as good as the rest of score.  I think they really stand out as low moments in the show.  I like the idea of "Little Lamb", but I don't really enjoy how it was written.  I feel like it could feel less like a song to fill a transition.  "Mr. Goldstone" just shouldn't be in the show or it should be a quick musical moment instead of a 4 minute long song.

I know some people like this song, but "Boom Crunch" is probably the worst Sondheim ever written.  It shows why some people think Sondheim doesn't have the ability to write a melody.  That song is just a mind-numbing patter song that is completely incomprehensible. 

[gypsy101]

Posted: 6/1/16 at 1:42pm

KCW, I haven't seen the show live yet but will be seeing it in previews on Broadway. I don't detest Intimate Life as much as I used to, since I think the entire recording is wonderful. I do suffer through it just a little bit but maybe it will spark when I see it on stage.

icecream, something tells me that Boom Crunch wasn't exactly Sondheim trying to write a beautiful melody. I agree it doesn't have much of one. But he writes stunning melodies when the moment calls for them.

[a-mad]

Posted: 6/1/16 at 1:55pm

Ball of Wax - Ghost

A Sentimental Man - Wicked

Happy Talk - South Pacific (sorry.... not a fan)

Updated On: 6/1/16 at 01:55 PM

[hork]

Posted: 6/1/16 at 2:36pm

Adair Haywind said: "The one that immediately comes to mind for me is "The Morning Report" from The Lion King. Always detested that number. It's cut from the show now, but it took Julie 13 years to do so!


I like that song. In fact, I just heard it for the first time yesterday and was kind of bummed it was cut from the show.

 

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 6/1/16 at 5:26pm

I hate "The Morning Report."  They also included it in one of the anniversary DVD releases of the Lion King.  So now I have to hear it whenever I watch the DVD.

However, with regards to the LK musical, I think that "Chow Down" is worse.  Not sure if it's the worst of any musical, ever, though. 

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 6/1/16 at 6:46pm

I hate both "Another Pyramid" and "Like Father, Like Son" from Aida. On the rare occasion that I do listen to that score the whole way through they both get skipped.