Swing Joined: 12/6/15
This has perplexed me for awhile... while I'm a huge fan of classic shows from the fifties through today I haven't been able to find many "showtuney" or "Broadway-like" songs sung by males. Ones that want to make you stand and command a stage and sing and be vivacious!!! Songs like "Don't Rain On My Parade" or "Forget about the boy", "Blow GABRIEL blow" (that can be sung easily out of context) are some good examples, but they're sung in a range that doesn't fit me! Can anyone clue me in on some good ones, possible gems that will help me stand and command attention from the audience and control the stage? Or even shows like this???? (And to be clear, I have NOTHING wrong with a female soloist! Yes queen, but, I have a baritone range and want to work it out realistically!)
Updated On: 8/29/17 at 11:16 PM
Well, if you want to "stand and command a stage" then Sunset Boulevard from Sunset Boulevard is a good choice.
Sit Down, You're Rocking the Boat is very feel-good. It's also very Broadway show tune-y.
Ya Got Trouble is the one that's always on these kind of lists. It's a patter song, and the patter is extremely fast and requires a commanding stage presence. Harold Hill is a commanding role, especially in Ya Got Trouble.
Itonlytakesajourney said: "Sit Down, You're Rocking the Boat is very feel-good. It's also very Broadway show tune-y.
Ya Got Trouble is the one that's always on these kind of lists. It's a patter song, and the patter is extremely fast and requires a commanding stage presence. Harold Hill is a commanding role, especially in Ya Got Trouble."
You didn't think to add It Only Takes A Moment?
haterobics said: "Itonlytakesajourney said: "Sit Down, You're Rocking the Boat is very feel-good. It's also very Broadway show tune-y.
Ya Got Trouble is the one that's always on these kind of lists. It's a patter song, and the patter is extremely fast and requires a commanding stage presence. Harold Hill is a commanding role, especially in Ya Got Trouble."
You didn't think to add It Only Takes A Moment?
Can't believe I forgot that. If only Journey to the Past was sung by a guy
Maybe Put on a Happy Face?
Lucky to Be Me from On the Town
It's Not Where You Start It's Where You Finish
West Side Story's "Something's Coming" - guaranteed to make you stand and command the stage. .
"Corner Of The Sky", Pippin (it's more I want song, but I feel great whenever I listen to it and a male soloist can really sink their teeth into this song)
"Singular Impression" & "Shieksha Goddess", The Last Five Years
"Dancing Through Life", Wicked.
Hairspray male solos are fantastic and goofy too. "Run And Tell That" is a hoot & a half.
You guys do know he's a baritone right?
Broadway Star Joined: 5/5/17
Would "Fight from the Heart" or "Keep on Standing" from Rocky qualify?
Swing Joined: 12/6/15
LOL I am, however I wouldn't mind working with my range. As long as it's a realistic song that I can sing as a guy.
The title track from Bright Star.
The title song from She Loves Me.
What You Own from Rent, even though it's a duet, it still could be applicable.
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/30/15
dereketter said: "This has perplexed me for awhile... while I'm a huge fan of classic shows from the fifties through today I haven't been able to find many "showtuney" or "Broadway-like" songs sung by males. Ones that want to make you stand and command a stage and sing and be vivacious!!! Songs like "Don't Rain On My Parade" or "Forget about the boy", "Blow GABRIEL blow" (that can be sung easily out of context) are some good examples, but they're sung in a range that doesn't fit me! Can anyone clue me in on some good ones, possible gems that will help me stand and command attention from the audience and control the stage? Or even shows like this???? (And to be clear, I have NOTHING wrong with a female soloist! Yes queen, but, I have a baritone range and want to work it out realistically!)
"C'est Moi" from Camelot is an obvious choice. "A New Town is a Blue Town" from The Pajama Game is a little slower but it's a good park and bark. "All I Need in the Girl" from Gypsy is not in a baritone range but it would be a good choice if you could change the key. Not a baritone song but "Did Spring Come To Texas" from Giant would be a showstopper. "More Than One Way" from Skyscraper would be pretty good... maybe cut out the beginning. It's not classic Broadway but I'd also look at "My Manhattan" from Daddy Long Legs and see if you can get it arranged for a baritone. Speaking of "Blow, Gabriel, Blow" what about "Not So Bad To Be Good" from Cabin in the Sky? "There's No Business Like Show Business" from Annie Get Your Gun. You'd need to get it transposed for a baritone but "This Is The Moment" from Jekyll & Hyde. "The Olive Tree" from Kismet.
They're not so much "feel-good" like the examples you named but "Let Me Drown" from The Wild Party and "Everybody's Got the Right" from Assassins if you edit it, and "Grand Knowing You" from She Loves Me could be twists on those kinds of songs. "Don't Let Me Go" from Shrek requires some context and it's not so much a park and bark belt song but it could be fun. The songs from Show Boat are more ballad-y love songs but if you sing them well, they can certainly be impressive. Another great love song is "You Should Be Loved" from Side Show. "Luck Be A Lady" from Guys and Dolls. "I Believe in You" from How to Succeed arranged for a baritone. "You Mustn't Kick It Around" from Pal Joey. "Broadway Baby" from Dames at Sea. "My Defenses Are Down" from Annie Get Your Gun. "I Met A Girl" from Bells Are Ringing.
Hope that helps. :)
Instead of "feel-good", I think you are talking about women belting out their determination to withstand all odds sort of thing. For some reason, it just doesn't have the same qualities when a man tries to sing them, probably because men traditionally have had the upper hand for so long.
Out There from Hunchback is one of my favorites.
Public User said: "Instead of "feel-good", I think you are talking about women belting out their determination to withstand all odds sort of thing. For some reason, it just doesn't have the same qualities when a man tries to sing them, probably because men traditionally have had the upper hand for so long.
"
I think it's because our culture allow women a broader range of emotional expression than is allowed to men, and the same is true of female v. male characters. This has changed somewhat since R&H. See "Dust and Ashes" and "Waving Through a Window" from the same season.
As William Goldman once wrote about movie characters, especially from the 1950s on: men DO while women FEEL. The latter often makes for a bigger song.
Videos