Your Favorite Sondheim Gems

[Sumofallthings]

Posted: 10/25/05 at 10:34pm

Besides the standards like "Being Alive" "Last Midnight" "Ladies Who Lunch" "Broadway Baby" etc. what are your favorite Sondheim gems?

My favorite has to be "Everybody Says Don't" from Anyone Can Whistle:

Everybody says don't,
Everybody says don't,
Everybody says don't-
It isn't right,
Don't-it isn't nice!
Everybody says don't,
Everybody says don't,
Everybody says don't walk on the grass,
Don't disturb the peace,
Don't skate on the ice.
Well, I
Say
Do,
I say,
Walk on the grass, it was meant to feel!
I
Say
Sail!
Tilt at the windmill,
And if you fail, you fail.
Everybody says don't,
Everybody says don't,
Everybody says don't get out of line.
When they say that, then
Lady that's a sign:
Nine times out of ten,
Lady, you are doing just fine!

Make just a ripple.
Come on be brave.
This time a ripple,
Next time a wave
Sometimes you have to start small,
Climbing the tiniest wall,
Maybe you're going to fall-
But it is better than not starting at all!
Everybody says no,
Everybody says stop.
Everybody says mustn't rock the boat,
Mustn't touch a thing!
Everybody says don't,
Everybody says wait,
Everybody says can't fight city hall,
Can't upset the cart,
Can't laugh at the king!
Well, I
Say
Try!
I
Say
Laugh at the kings or they'll make you cry.
Lose
Your
Poise!
Fall if you have to,
But lady, make a noise!
Everybody says don't,
Everybody says can't,
Everybody says wait around for miracles,
That's the way the world is made!
I insist on
Miracles, if you do them,
Miracles - nothing to them!
I say don't,
Don't be afraid!

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 10/25/05 at 10:36pm

There is No Other Way- Pacific Overtures


Gives me chills each and every time i hear it

Rain on the Roof

ETC ETC ETC (i could go on for days)

[Sumofallthings]

Posted: 10/25/05 at 10:39pm

Am I allowed to post those lyrics?

[marincrazy11]

Posted: 10/25/05 at 11:05pm

Not A Day Goes By

[jam_man]

Posted: 10/25/05 at 11:15pm

Actually, Sum, I don't think you are - I think we call it the Mary_Ethel rule.

Anyway, I love "Everybody Says Don't" too. "Not a Day Goes By" is one of my favorites, as well. But I'd say my favorite lesser-known Sondheim song (a relative term, of course) would be "There Won't Be Trumpets."

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 10/25/05 at 11:23pm

"Not A Day Goes By" but not in the OBC. And I think the Passion score is soo underrated, "I Read" and "I Wish I Could Forget You" are true gems!

Updated On: 10/25/05 at 11:23 PM

[jam_man]

Posted: 10/25/05 at 11:29pm

'Overrated' or 'underrated?'

[freeadmission]

Posted: 10/25/05 at 11:52pm

"Moments In The Woods"

I think the lyrics are pure brilliance. Especially the "or" and "and" bit. I'm completely obsessed with the song.

[Kringas]

Posted: 10/25/05 at 11:57pm

"Franklin Shepard, Inc"
"Could I Leave You?"
"I Never Do Anything Twice"

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 12:00am

Thanks for the remark, jam_man, I just updated it.

[C is for Company]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 12:17am

"They hung it over the refreshment stand"

lmao. I love nearly every line of dialgoue from all his shows and every note played(except those stupid trumpetson the Sunday recording, cause I dont remember them being so overpowering that they get annoying)

[Color and Light]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 1:00am

Is it just me, or is "How I Saved Roosevelt" from Assassins just so effing fantastic?

[nydirector2]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 1:12am

I've only done three of his shows, and the one I look back on with the most awe out of Sweeney, Company, and Passion...is oddly enough, Passion. The soldier sequances are amazing, especially the earlier ones when they serve as echos of the Letters.

[enjolrasissex]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 1:15am

'No One is Alone'. That song gets me everytime.

[PerforMeg]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 2:06am

Where are the Sweeney Todd songs people???? :)

-"Johanna" is just the most gorgeous song ever-WHEN IT IS SUNG WELL.

-"Unworthy of Your Love"

-"Epiphany"

-"There Won't Be Trumpets"

-"Getting Married Today"

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 2:15am

I think the whole Passion score is probably the best of the Sondheim's late works, just because of its tremendous complexity. I think "Little Things You Do Together" is another gem, and I love "You Could Drive A Person Crazy." He has such wit!

[Urban]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 2:19am

"A Little Priest"
"Unworthy Of Your Love"
"Not A Day Goes By"

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 2:32am

" A weekend in the country"

[fiatlux]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 2:50am

All for You - Saturday Night
Love I Hear - Forum
With So Little To Be Sure Of - ACW
Being Alive - Company
One More Kiss - Follies
Every Day A Little Death - ALNM
There is No Other Way & Someone in a Tree - PO
Ladies In Their Sensitivities/Kiss Me - Sweeney
Not a Day Goes By - MWRA
Beautiful - SITPWG
The Last Midnight - ITTW
Something Just Broke - Assassins
Passion - I Wish I Could Forget You
Bounce - You're the Best thing That Ever Happened....

Take Me to the World, Goodbye For Now and Sooner or Later

Who said he couldn't write memorable melodies?

And it will all be different tomorrow :)

[Kringas]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 3:18am

"Another National Anthem"
"The Ladies Who Lunch"
"Every Day A Little Death"

[marincrazy11]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 9:18am

I'm gonna add Loving You from Passion. I agree with you all. The Passion score is beautiful.

EDIT: also adding Our Time and Good Thing Going from Merrily. Stunning.

Updated On: 10/26/05 at 09:18 AM

[kgee30]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 10:27am

File under "strange but true":

"The Glamorous Life" bonus track from the "Night Music" reissue (it's the film version of the song, sung by Fredrika, not Desiree). There's something so plaintive about the lonely piano line and the sweeping violins throughout; it just breaks my heart.

Also "The Road You Didn't Take" from "Follies." Similarly heartbreaking.

[best12bars]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 10:33am

Every Day a Little Death (Night Music)
The Road You Didn't Take (Follies)
Pretty Lady (Pacific Overtures)
Make It Like It Was (Merrily)
Tic-Toc (sp?) (...okay it's Shire's dance arrangements of the Sondheim melodies, but it's a "gem")
Changing (Sunday in the Park)
Stay With Me (Into the Woods)
Liasons (Night Music)

Updated On: 10/26/05 at 10:33 AM

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 10:37am

There are several gems on the new Sondheim Sings. His "New York Song" from The Clock is amazing.

[uncageg]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 12:09pm

It's Hot Up Here - Sunday in the Park with George
Sunday - Sunday in the Park With George
The Transitions - Merrily We Roll Along
Hello Little Girl - Into the Woods
Children Will Listen - Into the Woods
My Friends & Pretty Women - Sweeney Todd
Something Just Broke - Assassins