Worst song ever written for a musical- Page 7

[Kad]

Posted: 6/5/16 at 3:29pm

Scarywarhol said: "Kad said: "I can't say I think any song from Gypsy deserves the mantle of "Worst EVER."

I mean, are we all forgetting that truly terrible Western production number from the second act of Big Fish?  "

I actually worked on that show, and was completely shocked to see the number make it. So embarrassing, it was almost surreal. "

I'm hard pressed to think of another big song in a Broadway score that is so inexplicable and ill-conceived. I felt bad for Bobby Steggert for having to carry that number (he really got the short end of the stick with that show). It just seemed like a sequence that had so much money spent on it that no one wanted to cut it.

 

for the record: I really like much of the score of Whorehouse. As far as musical theatre songs go, they're not very effective- they can largely be popped out of context and totally understood, and even cut from a production to no detriment to the plot. But as songs themselves, I think there's a lot there to like. 

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 6/5/16 at 3:42pm

I kinda feel the same about the Whorehouse score. It's almost like a 1930s style musical filtered through 70's country. The fact that "Bus from Amarillo" was moved around so much is a testament to how non-integrated the score is.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 6/5/16 at 3:57pm

That Big Fish sequence really felt like a fever dream. Which I guess was kind of the point, but it was just impossible to justify. 

[Kad]

Posted: 6/5/16 at 4:43pm

Mr. Nowack said: "I kinda feel the same about the Whorehouse score. It's almost like a 1930s style musical filtered through 70's country. The fact that "Bus from Amarillo" was moved around so much is a testament to how non-integrated the score is."

I didn't know that "Bus" eventually has found its way to be the final number. "Hard Candy Christmas" seems like the best song for that position.

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 6/5/16 at 4:53pm

Believe me Kad it does not work AT ALL.

[JayG 2]

Posted: 6/5/16 at 5:19pm

Ring of Keys. God, it's awful and sung by a kid making it even worse.

[Broadwayhunk]

Posted: 6/5/16 at 5:45pm

"Everything's Ducky" from Nobody Loves an Albatross.

[ANewBrainn]

Posted: 6/6/16 at 5:27pm

I saw a regional production of Mary Poppins and found the song "Playing the Game" a very stupid addition to the score.  I actually think most of the things added to the musical detract from the film's emotional core.

[forgetmenotnyc]

Posted: 6/6/16 at 8:47pm

I think backyyardbarbie's suggestion warrants a 2nd submission - ''Shi-Poo-Pi''

[thebookofwhizzer]

Posted: 10/20/17 at 11:16am

 Serious from Legally Blonde, is one I always skip when I listen to the score.

Also practically anything from the Shrek score, just not a fan. 

[raddersons]

Posted: 10/20/17 at 11:25am

A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do what he's got to. from Bright Star. 

[RndmAnswrs4RndmQstns]

Posted: 10/20/17 at 11:28am

“Donkey Pot Pie” from Shrek fills me with irrational hate. “Forever” is a bit better, but still not great.

[TheSassySam]

Posted: 10/20/17 at 11:44am

Days Gone By from She Loves Me is a big skip for me. 

[mlsheehan]

Posted: 10/20/17 at 2:01pm

raddersons,

I just saw Bright Star for the first time this weekend in LA, and while I deliberately did not read much about the plot when it was on Broadway, I did read about people's dislike for that song.  So, when the character started singing it, I almost laughed (which is not the tone of the song at all).  Maybe people hate the song because the character that sings it is so despicable? But you are probably right, it's just a weak song from a pretty good score (in my opinion).

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 10/20/17 at 2:13pm

raddersons said: "Aman's gotta dowhat aman's gotta dowhat aman's gotta dowhat he'sgot to.from Bright Star."

That song was so infuriatingly dumb.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 10/20/17 at 2:15pm

I'm tempted to say "You're in the Band" from SCHOOL OF ROCK is the worst song from a musical that I've ever heard. 

But there are probably tens of thousands of songs which I've never heard that were written for musicals. 

And as it's the only song I've heard from SCHOOL OF ROCK, it may well be that there are even worse songs in that show alone.  Which might in fact be the case given that it's the number that was chosen to represent and sell the show on the Tony's that year.

[Demitri2]

Posted: 10/20/17 at 3:17pm

Though Jule Styne is my favorite Broadway composer, his "Midas Touch" from BELLS ARE RINGING and "What's New At The Zoo?" from DO RE MI have always made me reach for the "skip" button on the CD remote.

I've always enjoyed Lionel Bart's near perfect score for OLIVER yet find I SHALL SCREAM extremely annoying. Then there's that dog from THE ACT, Kander and Ebb's maudlin "There When I Need Him" (which brought the show to an abrupt halt when I saw it). And lest we not forget Richard Rodgers' meandering cringe worthy "I Do Not Know A Day I Did Not Love You" from TWO BY TWO.   

[MCfan2]

Posted: 10/20/17 at 5:04pm

I Believe My Heart from The Woman in White is pretty awful. I don't know if I'd call it the WORST ever, but it's the one that came to mind first.

[JayG 2]

Posted: 10/20/17 at 6:12pm

title of show -- Take  your pick.

[quizking101]

Posted: 10/20/17 at 6:19pm

“Anybody Have A Map” From DEAR EVAN HANSEN.

This might be one of the worst opening numbers I’ve seen in a musical. The opening song is supposed to give insight into what I’m about to see or inspire some sort of feeling.

This was a bland introduction and I don’t feel like introducing the mother’s first was the best move.

[ntsatheatre]

Posted: 10/20/17 at 6:22pm

Did I miss it? In this entire thread, did no one bring up "Headaches" from In My Life, which I believe was the song that included the timeless lyric "There's a little rumor/ Someone's got a tumor" sung by a Liberace-like angel surrounded by breakdancing pirates?

Truly, there has been no greater musical in this generation. Please give us the revival we both need and deserve.

[Itonlytakesajourney]

Posted: 10/20/17 at 6:42pm

I don't have a lot of songs that I outright hate, but Something Bad is #1. I'm no musician, but the exact same tune and key playing throughout the entire song is irritating. It's like Schwartz was having a hard time thinking up the rest of the score and just decided to compose and write a song in an hour. Dillamond is a horrible character, and the less time I hear his goat noises, the better.

Anything from Footloose and Be More Chill. My favorite thing is when Tumblr kids get angry at anyone who critiques the latter for it's ridiculous story and horrible score. 

Updated On: 10/20/17 at 06:42 PM

[tomwsjr]

Posted: 10/20/17 at 6:43pm

Chow Down - The Lion King 

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 10/20/17 at 7:54pm

I've seen some pretty bad off-off Broadway/amateur productions that were forgettable/that my brain is blocking out to protect me. That or anything misogynistic and offensive to the point that it sours me on the rest of the show (sometimes they overlap). So I guess this is my vote but my real vote is from one of those. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EExKJteG3VY

Far from the worst, but some of the lyrics for Wicked are embarrassing. "I'm Not That Girl?" It's like Stephen Schwartz didn't do a second pass to replace the dumb rhymes he initially thought up. "I wasn't born for the rose and pearl"? What are you talking about, Elphaba? That isn't the worst example from Wicked but the other songs are throwaways and to me, this song should be better than it is for the weight it has in the show.

CATS is tough for me.

It's not my worst but radderson's entry from Bright Star is solid.

[NJ_BroadwayGirl]

Posted: 10/20/17 at 8:43pm

raddersons said: "Aman's gotta dowhat aman's gotta dowhat aman's gotta dowhat he'sgot to.from Bright Star."

Yes! Beat me to it. Awful, just awful.