Worst songs from any musical
JKBJenn
everyone really hates from various shows, by various composers. So far
we've heard:
:"A Real Nice Clambake" from Carousel (I was Nettie in the show, and if it
seems bad when you're watching it, you feel ten times cheesier from
the stage, trying to sing it as though you are really sincere!)
:The Happiest House On The Block-"Pipe Dream"
:Gliding Through My Memory-"Flower Drum Song"
:An Ordinary Couple-"Sound Of Music
:Somewhere in a tree--Pacific Overtures (now Sondheimers, don't kill me!)
:What a nice municipal park--Cole Porter's Jubilee (Yes, there are many
reasons why no one ever does this musical!)
Any more votes?
--JKerr
Fred Goldrich
>Inspired by the "Anti-Clambake" wars, I'm curious to know what songs
>everyone really hates from various shows, by various composers. So far
>we've heard:
>:Somewhere in a tree--Pacific Overtures (now Sondheimers, don't kill me!)
It's Some*one* in a Tree; and, though a 'Sondheimer', I will
gladly offer both "That'll Show Him" and "Dirty Old Man" from _Forum_.
-- Fred Goldrich
--
Fred Goldrich
gold...@panix.com
Stephen Vest
reason why it was replaced in the movie. I like Clambake,
but I grew up in Maine. I was in Forum and didn't really mind
singing That'll Show Him, although it is a strange song.
David D Barzilai
> How 'bout "Over the Wall II" from KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN?
>
> Ugh!
>
>
>
Or "Wait" from Sweeny. I did technical for it in Phoenix this summer and
after hearing it around 30 times it defintly get annoying. Maybe its just
the concept of ending a song with the like, "nothing like a nice bowl of
gillies." Or if that isn't bad enough, how about "By the Sea." These two
were the ones the techinical crew alternated hating.
Molina
Jeff Marx
Timothy R. Hulsey
gold...@panix.com writes:
> ... though a 'Sondheimer', I will
> gladly offer both "That'll Show Him" and "Dirty Old Man" from
> _Forum_.
>
> -- Fred Goldrich
I forgot about these two. They _aren't_ very good, are they?
But I'm still holding to "Bobby & Jackie & Jack" as the single
worst Sondheim song.
Thanx,
--
************************
Another ** ** Insert
fancy .sig ** Timothy Hulsey ** pithy quote
file! ** ** here
Timothy R. Hulsey
jkb...@aol.com writes:
> Inspired by the "Anti-Clambake" wars, I'm curious to know what songs
> everyone really hates from various shows, by various composers. So far
> we've heard:
etc.
> Any more votes?
>
> --JKerr
1. "Nobody Throw Those Bull" from _Whoop-Up_, Charlap/Gimbel.
This song is so bad it's absolutely bizarre--it is sung by the
chief of the Rocky Boy Reservation in Montana (& the reservation
actually exists). I have Maurice Chevalier's performance &
it's even stranger than the original.
2. "Chief Rocky Boy," also from _Whoop-Up_. Good God, what
_were_ they thinking? Utterly unlistenable.
3. "Caress Me, Possess Me Perfume," also from _Whoop-Up_. A
paean to sexual harassment. Inane, inane, inane.
4. "Flower Drum Song (A Hundred Million Miracles)," from
_Flower Drum Song_, Rodgers/Hammerstein. Unbelievably
stereotypical. Beyond that, well, the less said, the better.
5. Almost anything from Roger Miller's _Big River_, with the
possible exception of "Muddy Water."
6. "Bobby and Jackie and Jack" from _Merrily We Roll Along_,
Sondheim--quite possibly the single worst Sondheim song.
7. That damnable "Freight is great" number from Andy Lloyd
Webber's _Starlight Express_. Those of you who've seen the
musical know what I'm talking about.
8. "Love Changes Everything" from Webber's _Aspects of Love_.
9. "I Feel Pretty" from _West Side Story_. Only Elton John has
given this number the brutally sardonic treatment it truly
deserves. Sondheim practically disowns this one now, and well
he should. "One Hand, One Heart" is also a guaranteed stomach-
turner for me, though I have friends who, for some inexplicable
reason, seem to like it.
10. "Just One Night" from _Doonesbury_, Swados/Trudeau (yes,
the same Trudeau who draws the strip). The most annoying
Broadway pop ballad ever, bar none, with a melodic line that
may most charitably be described as awkward.
That's my "top ten" for the moment (arranged in no particular
order).
Mellifur
Well, when I made a tape of "Big River", I left out "Guv'ment'. I can't
bear to listen to it. While there are a few songs from "Big River" that
are just plain silly, this song is just too crude and ugly for me, not to
mention not at all melodic. I realize, of course, that all of those
adjectives make it a song suitable for Pap, but that doesn't make me like
the song any better.
(As for "An Ordinary Couple", though, I actually prefer it to "Something
Good". "Couple" has a better melody (to me) and is far less "sweet".)
Hanon
had written. It's one of my favorites too. Why do you dislike it?
Hanon
on this newsgroup...
R. Wilmer
that show and had to sing that number for about 70 performances. I almost
went insane. Indeed, the only song I could still stomach by the
end of the run was ``Mame''---the title tune---a song that I did not
like much at first, but which at least wore well.
I also agree with the posts about Sound of Music. ``Ordinary Couple''
and ``I must have done something'' are pretty abysmal Rogers and
Hammerstein. It occurs to me that the lack of inspiration comes from
the problem that by the time they sing it, the love story is already resolved.
There is really nothing more for Maria and von Trapp to sing to each
other. From here on the show is about the Nazi events and the characters'
reactions to them.
Richard
past eve RIVERRUN adams
"Pearls.)
-- Len ;-)
"No anchovies? You've got the wrong man...
I spell my name,"Danger!"
-The Firesign Theater
...Len Schiff...riverrun@phantom.com....Newmyn's Nose Limitless Theatre..
Juliet A. Youngren
I nominate "Where is Love?" from _Oliver_. (I used to hate "As
Long as He Needs Me" too, but it grew on me.)
J.A.Y.
Jon Conrad
Next (PACIFIC OVERTURES) [I do think Someone in a Tree is sublime
though, but only after seeing it onstage.]
Bobby and Jackie and Jack (MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG) -- I know it's
supposed to be a semi-spoof of topical revue songs, but who cares,
when it's such a wretched song itself?
Epiphany (SWEENEY TODD)
Position and Positioning (THE SLIPPER AND THE ROSE)
There But For You Go I (BRIGADOON) -- I know people who love it, but to
me it's just too overwrought
The Big Black Giant (ME AND JULIET)
Allegro, Come Home (ALLEGRO)
An Ordinary Couple (THE SOUND OF MUSIC)
Eager Beaver (NO STRINGS)
Class (NICK AND NORA)
This tends to be the list of "songs I hate from shows I know well" -- I
have trouble remembering any details from scores I've heard once and
disliked in their entirety.
Jon Alan Conrad
Hanon
``Ordinary Couple''
and ``I must have done something'' are pretty abysmal Rogers and
Hammerstein.
Not to be a stickler, but "I Must Have Done Something" is actually called
"Something Good". It was written for the movie version, and the lyric is
by Rodgers, not Hammerstein.
Erin Blair
Being a Miss Saigon fan, there are some songs that I never liked:
The Heat Is On in Saigon
bui-Doi
Her or Me (Now That I've Seen Her)
Morning of the Dragon
The one Les Mis song that I hated for some reason is "Lovely Ladies"...
Yours, Erin
------------------------------
ebl...@nermal.santarosa.edu
Daniel Aaron Yehuda Brenman
"Music of the Night"
I don't know if the song is actually one of the worst, or just that it's so
cheezy for the situation in which it's performed. But then if I start
saying THAT, I'd probably list all Weber songs.
Eric J. Henwood-Greer
In a previous article, dav...@GAS.UUG.Arizona.EDU (David D Barzilai) says:
>Or "Wait" from Sweeny. I did technical for it in Phoenix this summer and
>after hearing it around 30 times it defintly get annoying. Maybe its just
>the concept of ending a song with the like, "nothing like a nice bowl of
>gillies." Or if that isn't bad enough, how about "By the Sea." These two
>were the ones the techinical crew alternated hating.
This is getting to be too much!! So far all the songs that people have
listed that I've known have been favorites!!!! To top this off "Wait" is
probably in my top 3 songs from Sweeney!!!!! I also love "By the Sea"!!!!!
Eric
--
Sheldon Craig, Jr.
In a previous article, jkb...@aol.com (JKBJenn) says:
>Inspired by the "Anti-Clambake" wars, I'm curious to know what songs
>everyone really hates from various shows, by various composers. So far
>we've heard
>...
>Any more votes?
>
Sure. "Revenge" from Strouse & Adams "It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Superman."
(talk about your American classic...)
In fact, just about _anything_ from Strouse & Adams "It's a Bird, etc.."
SLC
--
Eric J. Henwood-Greer
In a previous article, tr...@darwin.clas.Virginia.EDU (Timothy R. Hulsey) says:
>inia.EDU!murdoch!darwin.clas.Virginia.EDU!trh7g
>From: tr...@darwin.clas.Virginia.EDU (Timothy R. Hulsey)
>Subject: Re: Worst songs from any musical
>Message-ID: <CvHHw...@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU>
>Sender: use...@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU
>Organization: uva
>References: <34574b$n...@panix.com>
>Date: Fri, 2 Sep 1994 04:02:35 GMT
>Lines: 20
>
>Howdy ...
>
>gold...@panix.com writes:
>
>> ... though a 'Sondheimer', I will
>> gladly offer both "That'll Show Him" and "Dirty Old Man" from
>> _Forum_.
>>
>> -- Fred Goldrich
>
>I forgot about these two. They _aren't_ very good, are they?
>But I'm still holding to "Bobby & Jackie & Jack" as the single
>worst Sondheim song.
>
AARRGGHH!! Three more songs I like!! First off, all those songs are
somewhat "pastiche" songs (especially "Bobby & Jackie & Jack), so their
supposed to be a little silly. I know that's not a good excuse, and
that's not why I like them, I think they're all good songs!!! SO THER:)-
Eric
--
John L Miller
>had written. It's one of my favorites too. Why do you dislike it?
>
jump in. I think the song is brilliant. I saw Sondheim analyze it on some
PBS show and it was fascinating. It is this kind of work that places him so
far above other, more commercially popular composers. And I take nothing
away from them or their commercial success. John
John L Miller
>AARRGGHH!! Three more songs I like!! First off, all those songs are
>somewhat "pastiche" songs (especially "Bobby & Jackie & Jack), so their
>supposed to be a little silly. I know that's not a good excuse, and
>that's not why I like them, I think they're all good songs!!! SO THER:)-
>Eric
>--
noticed a trend in some of the postings in this thread, and that is how
annoying some songs were after listening while working or performing in 90
performances. That is not a valid way to assess any work. I have grown to
hate some songs when I had to sit on stage and listen to them for six months
of 8 a week too. Songs that I once loved. But I cannot give a fair
assessment of them any longer - I have to recuse myself. It seems to me the
goal of this thread was for the worst show tunes to finally determine the
very worst of all time - on the merit of the song, not from other
circumstances that made it a horrendous memory. Eric, I think you are right,
most of the surprises on peoples' lists have been novelty songs which can
get dreaery when the novelty is gone or if the listener doesn't get the
joke. I just had a long road trip so brought lots of tapes including
_Merrily_. I was reimpressed with "Bobby &Jackie &Jack". It is a great
number aptly reflecting a certain period in our history. Thank God
_Follies_ hasn't appeared. But then, I don't think SS has written one lame
thing. John
PS My confession - those numbers of the Countess and Max were always my
favorites and I miss them in the film. I don't find many who share this
fondness.
Heidi Howard
(no flaming please-I really like Anything But Lonely and Love Changes
Everything, but Hero is just terrible.)
you may know what you need ** hho...@cap.gwu.edu
but to get what you want ** OR
better see that you ** penn...@aol.com
keep what you have **
Timothy R. Hulsey
"Something Good" is one of my favorite songs from the film,
although it would never work on stage--too intimate, perhaps.
Julie Andrews gives a marvelous interpretation, IMHO.
Now "Edelweiss" is a completely different matter--if only
Plummer could sing ...
JKBJenn
writes:
>(As for "An Ordinary Couple", though, I actually prefer it to "Something
>Good". "Couple" has a better melody (to me) and is far less "sweet".)
Actually, my only really huge problem with "Something Good" is its context
and opening lines. There are Julie Andrews and a devastatingly handsome
young Christopher Plummer (sure was a difference from seeing him as a
Klingon in ST VI!!) about to start making out in the grape arbor, and all
of a sudden she starts singing about her wicked childhood. Cracks me up
every time--boy, she sure knows how to spoil a mood!
--JKerr
Timothy R. Hulsey
Just heard: A new musical production of Stephen Crane's _Red
Badge of Courage_ is running through Sept. 17 (I think) in
Lynchburg, VA. I reckon that would have a few stinkers in it
for you, if you're interested.
I suppose that for their next project the writers could take on
Crane's _Maggie: A Girl of the Streets_. I suggest the title
_Maggie!_. It'd be kind of like _Oliver_, only more Sondheim-
ish.
"It'll be funny?"
"Yeah. It'll be funny." --_The Player_
Hanon
those of you who have ever heard the cast album to "Ankles Away", any song
from that is equally wretched.
Adam Grosswirth
: How 'bout "Over the Wall II" from KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN?
: Ugh!
How 'bout ALL of KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN? "The Morphine Tango"??? Give
me a break!
Also...
"Closed For Renovations" and "Call Back In The Morning" from LITTLE
SHOP. Cheese alert!!
--
Adam Grosswirth
New York City, NY // Medford, MA
"You gotta have a real taste for maniacs!" -Stephen Sondheim
"Pinky, are you pondering what I'm pondering?"
"I think so Brain, but where are we going to find a
duck and a hose at this hour?"
Chelle C
1) "My White Knight" from *The Music Man"__ I worked backstage on this
show in high school and my brother (who was in the show) and I kept making
fun of this song all the way through. I know the show is supposed to be
kind of corny, but this song goes way too far (oh, and we hated the song
the first time we heard it--we didn't just get sick of it from working on
the show.)
2) "Love Makes Such Fools of Us All" from *Barnum*--Love the show, hate
this song (I always skip over it when I listen to the CD).
I was also never crazy about "Now I Have Everything" from *Fiddler On the
Roof*, but I wouldn't say I really hate it.
Michelle Carpick
che...@aol.com
Timothy R. Hulsey
ab...@lafn.org writes:
>
> Sure. "Revenge" from Strouse & Adams "It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Superman."
> (talk about your American classic...)
>
> In fact, just about _anything_ from Strouse & Adams "It's a Bird, etc.."
>
> SLC
> --
I have a pretty good second-hand story about that musical.
Some friends of mine in Jonesboro, Arkansas, played members of
the Kappa Kappa Kappa sorority in a high school production of
"Its a Bird ... etc. etc. ... It's Superman." But,
unfortunately, the sorority's name had to be changed in
production because--well, because in Arkansas it's just not
cricket to wear sweatshirts with "KKK" prominently displayed on
them. No fooling, folks.
Quinn Thomas McCord
>
> Sure. "Revenge" from Strouse & Adams "It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Superman."
> (talk about your American classic...)
>
> In fact, just about _anything_ from Strouse & Adams "It's a Bird, etc.."
>
-Quinn
David D Barzilai
Sorry, Eric. I know what you mean. I've had my favorites riped on in here
also. I don't actually hate, "Wait." I do however hate the ending. I find
it fairly stoupid. It is, however the type of song that after having to
listen to it for a couple months, you kindof cat wait for it to end. Also
Our Ms. Lovett made it sleightly more miserable (I think I spelled that
as in the show) By the sea was the same. It just becomes a little
annoying after a while. Sorry to offend you.
Dave Barzilai (dav...@gas.uug.arizona.edu)
Eric J. Henwood-Greer
In a previous article, mut...@edge.ercnet.com (John L Miller) says:
>>--
>We need to get together and listen to songs Eric. cause I'm with you. I have
>noticed a trend in some of the postings in this thread, and that is how
>annoying some songs were after listening while working or performing in 90
>performances. That is not a valid way to assess any work. I have grown to
>hate some songs when I had to sit on stage and listen to them for six months
>of 8 a week too. Songs that I once loved. But I cannot give a fair
>assessment of them any longer - I have to recuse myself. It seems to me the
>goal of this thread was for the worst show tunes to finally determine the
>very worst of all time - on the merit of the song, not from other
>circumstances that made it a horrendous memory. Eric, I think you are right,
>most of the surprises on peoples' lists have been novelty songs which can
>get dreaery when the novelty is gone or if the listener doesn't get the
>joke. I just had a long road trip so brought lots of tapes including
>_Merrily_. I was reimpressed with "Bobby &Jackie &Jack". It is a great
>number aptly reflecting a certain period in our history. Thank God
>_Follies_ hasn't appeared. But then, I don't think SS has written one lame
>thing. John
I agree with you about liking everything that SS has written (maybe I'm
just not critical enough).
>PS My confession - those numbers of the Countess and Max were always my
>favorites and I miss them in the film. I don't find many who share this
>fondness.
Mine too!!! I was VERY disapointed when How Can Love Survive?" (probabnly
my favorite of the two) was cut from a recent community theatre
producition of The SOund of Music that I saw!
Maybe we should listen to songs together!
Thanks
Eric >
--
Larry Rosenhein
>> ... though a 'Sondheimer', I will
>> gladly offer both "That'll Show Him" and "Dirty Old Man" from
>> _Forum_.
>>
>> -- Fred Goldrich
That'll Show Him" is pretty much a one-joke song and musically not very
interesting. But about "Dirty Old Man" I can only surmise that the reason
several people are naming this is for reasons of political incorrectness.
But then you'd have much else to dislike in this show and many others
("As Long As He Needs Me" is worse because it isn't comic). It's only a
play; I love the song.
>>I forgot about these two. They _aren't_ very good,
are they?
>But I'm still holding to "Bobby & Jackie & Jack" as the single
>worst Sondheim song.
>
Of course, it isn't supposed to be a "Sondheim song;" it's supposed to
represent something that very young and bright composers might write for a
review and as such I think it works perfectly.
The only way to play this game is to pick choices that outrage: I could
name many but for two, I find "Mame" and "The Impossible Dream" unbearable.
--Larry Rosenhein
Mary Glascock
Footlight Records has it but it's pricey - $20.
Can anyone offer a review? Is it worth the investment?
Mary Glascock
TEDDETT
An oldie but a "goodie" Mysterious Lady" in Peter Pan. What is
that song doing there ? ?
Eric J. Henwood-Greer
In a previous article, tr...@darwin.clas.Virginia.EDU (Timothy R. Hulsey) says:
>Howdy ...
>
>"Something Good" is one of my favorite songs from the film,
>although it would never work on stage--too intimate, perhaps.
>Julie Andrews gives a marvelous interpretation, IMHO.
Agreed. I like that song a hundred times more than the tiring drone
called "An Ordinary Couple". All right, I don't hate it that much, but it
definetly is the worst R&H song I've ever heard! BTW, I though Rodgers
did a very good job with writing both music and lyrics for "Something
Good" and "I have Confidence", though the whole beginning section of the
later is rumored to be not written by Rodgers.
>Now "Edelweiss" is a completely different matter--if only
>Plummer could sing ...
He didn't sing it. (A long with most people in musical fims, for some
stupid reason) he was dubbed.
Thanks
Eric
--
Eric J. Henwood-Greer
In a previous article, che...@aol.com (Chelle C) says:
>Here's my votes:
>
>1) "My White Knight" from *The Music Man"__ I worked backstage on this
>show in high school and my brother (who was in the show) and I kept making
>fun of this song all the way through. I know the show is supposed to be
>kind of corny, but this song goes way too far (oh, and we hated the song
>the first time we heard it--we didn't just get sick of it from working on
>the show.)
I like that song quite a bit! BTW, it's rumored that it was "ghosted" by
Frank Loesser. It's a lot better than the horrible, tuneless, boring (I
can't remember the name, though) song that replaced it in the movie version.
Thanks
Eric
--
Marc Talusan
"Putting it Together" and "Move On" is rather weak IMHO. I also hate
that song where George imitates various animals. I seem to have
thankfully blocked the title from memory.
Marc
24601
> "We Love You, Conrad!" and any form of it in the show Bye Bye Birdie has
> got to be the worst song in American musical history. In fact, I think
> the whole show stinks right out of the water, says one who's done it,
> unfortunately, twice.
>
> Lysander
>
I couldn't agree more. I unfortunately had the experience of performing
in that show, and I cannot count the amount of times I had to sing that
song. I thought it was a really annoying the first time, but after six weeks of
rehearsal, I think my brain shut down. The show does pretty much stink
out the water in my opinion, but when we did it the crowd loved it...go
figure
Timothy R. Hulsey
> That'll Show Him" is pretty much a one-joke song and musically not very
> interesting. But about "Dirty Old Man" I can only surmise that the reason
> several people are naming this is for reasons of political incorrectness.
I think "Dirty Old Man" is also a one-joke song, and the joke
isn't terribly funny (although the line "Abusing me--if he only
would!" always gets a good, cheap laugh).
But for sheer, politically incorrect tawdriness and bawdiness,
you can't beat "Everybody Ought to Have a Maid" from _Forum_--a
hilarious song that gets funnier with each reprise.
> The only way to play this game is to pick choices that outrage: I could
> name many but for two, I find "Mame" and "The Impossible Dream" unbearable.
How about some songs from _Will Rogers Follies_ to add to the
*hit list? The mere thought of "Give a Man Enough Rope" and
"Willmania" almost sends me into a foaming frenzy of disgust.
(Cy Coleman, how _could_ you?)
Also, "Movies Were Movies" from _Mack & Mabel_ is a guaranteed
stomach-turner.
> --Larry Rosenhein
STEVEN DAVID GORE
And while we're on the subject of Bock-Harnick, although I overall like
Fiorello "I shall marry the very next man" is intolerable from a 90's
perspective ("And if he likes me, who cares how frequently he STRIKES me"
!?!?).
Steve in Balto
STEVEN DAVID GORE
Fella? Both the song and the performance on the original cast recording
are saccharine and otherwise disgusting.
Steve in Balto
STEVEN DAVID GORE
Kathy E. Vancko
>Everybody Loves a Hero from Aspects of Love
>(no flaming please-I really like Anything But Lonely and Love Changes
>Everything, but Hero is just terrible.)
I totally agree with you here!
--Kathy
_____________________________________________________________________________
Kathy E. Vancko "You may know what you need,
kev...@psu.edu but to get what you want
better see that you keep what you have."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Konstantinos Lawrence White
the newer London recording with the re-written rap doesn't do much to
redeem it..."CHECK IT OUT, CHECK IT OUT"
* the music is fine, but I FEEL PRETTY is really insipid, (but you're
still the best, Sondheim...)
* Presentationally, the most RUINED song would be Everybody Ought to
Have a Maid...the MOVIE version. That was my favorite song from FORUM and
they really trashed it.
* Speaking of movie musicals, the museum number from ON THE TOWN (the
film) really sticks out like a sore thumb. A true waste of film and of
talent. (tom-toms, tom-toms...I REALLY love Tom-toms...)
* The revised and updated, or rather the IMPORTED and DISTORTED Miss
Saigon lyrics should be thrown into a class of their own. WHY couldn't
they leave the words alone ? They'd already destroyed the
characterizations...
* The synth/pop version of HOSANNA on the ALW Premiere/Encore CD.
I like this song just fine, so why did they have to reorchestrate and ruin
it ? It was lively enough as it was !!!
* Worst songs....? hmmmmmm Any number the narrator from the London ITW
cast had anything to do with... WHATTA voice...
* The Disco Ballad of Sweeney Todd. (and if you haven't heard this,
you're really missing out.)
* I have to agree with a previous poster about Guv'ment from Big River.
It's just Nasty.
* The entire recording of the new B'Way GREASE, especially Greased
Lightning. This show was cast all wrong. I don't have any problems with
the material itself, and in fact, the London recording with D. Gibson is
quite excellent. High energy and proper vocalization. It's a shame that
the Broadway show didn't have the same. I can't believe it's still
running.
* I know I'll think of more...
dean
Tony Anderson
How about the following:
LEGS DIAMOND: Sorry, it all sucks. I couldn't unload this turkey for a
long time!
MY FAVORITE YEAR: "Rookie In The Ring"
CARRIE: "In" (Awful from the first note!)
ToNy
--
Tony Anderson is......... dem...@eskimo.com
"Through the darkness of future past, the mysterious one longs to see,
One bonus round, between two players,
Fire, don't play with me." ...TWIN PEEKS the parody 1992
tha...@netcom8.netcom.com
:
: There was some discussion about the _Lunch_ CD on here recently.
:
: Can anyone offer a review? Is it worth the investment?
:
: Mary Glascock
Judging from the reviews of the local production, I wouldn't
spend it. I wouldn't spend it for almost ANY show. Perhaps
it's a double disk. That would be a decent price for a double.
Thalia
jac...@lcac1.loras.edu
"How to Succeed in Business. . ."
I hate to quote it, but. . .
I'll be there wearing the wifely uniform, waiting to say "Good
evening, dear, I'm pregnant. What's new with you from downtown?" Oh, to
be loved by a man I respect. To bask in the glow of his perfectly
understandable neglect.
Need I say more? Yes, it's horribly dated, but I can hardly imagine
anyone being that pathetic.
Julie in Dubuque
Juliet A. Youngren
The song which replaced "My White Knight" in the movie _Music
Man_ was called "Being in Love", I believe--and a tuneless,
pointless, out-of-character piece of dreck it was, too. I'm
not particularly fond of M.W.K. either, but at least it fits
with Marian's character.
J.A.Y.
Stuart Sechrest
I see that irony makes no impression on you.
The lyrics of the song are as follows:
New Rochelle . . .
New Rochelle . . .
New Rochelle
That's the place where the mansion will be.
For me and the darling, bright young man
I've picked out to marry me.
He'll do well,
I can tell.
So it isn't a moment too soon
To plan for my life in New Rochelle,
the wife of my darling tycoon.
I'll be so happy to keep his dinner warm,
While he goes onward
And upward.
Happy to keep his dinner warm,
'Til he comes wearily home
From downtown.
I'll be there waiting until his mind is clear,
While he looks through me
Right through me
Waiting to say `Good evening dear,
I'm pregnant. What's new with you
from downtown?''
Oh, to be loved by a man I respect
To bask in the glow
Of his perfectly understandable neglect
Oh to belong in the aura of his frown
Darling, busy frown.
Such heaven wearing my wifely uniform,
While he goes onward
And upward
Happy to keep his dinner warm,
'Til he comes wearily home
From downtown.
This is a one joke song, but contrast it with ``That'll Show Him'' from
``A Funny Thing ...'' that has been criticized in this thread. Sondheim
repeats the joke (ingenue (name?) will punish Miles G. by thinking of
Hero while making love, and therefore be more enthusiastic) over and over.
Loesser sets up joke, springs it twice (on ``pregnant'' and ``neglect'')
then backs off to let us think about it. I think this is a very well
constructed song.
--Stuart Sechrest
Hanon
The worst song ever has got to be "Happy to Keep His Dinner Warm" from
"How to Succeed in Business. . ."
Yes, it's horribly dated, but I can hardly imagine
anyone being that pathetic.
I'm pretty sure this song was supposed to be ironic. It's not like it was
written in Elizabethan times, or something. I'm a little tired of people
who insist on judging old songs by modern social standards, as if we've
advanced so very much from the 50's and 60's. Horribly dated? So what?
Frank Loesser was a genius, one of our very best, and as far as I'm
conserned, there ain't nothing wrong with "...Dinner Warm" that a sense of
humor couldn't cure.
John L Miller
I have a question here: Isn't that particular song *supposed* to be very,
very annoying? It is a bunch of star-struck teenage girls who drive all the
adults around them crazy with their rock star adulation, after all. (I
remember seeing this show in a bus-and-truck that played a night at our
county fair when I was in junior high and I was absolutely blown away. I
wonder what I would think now?!!). I occasionally listen to the OCR and
enjoy it - but that may be Chita and Dick I like. It has always seemed like
a clever respose to the Elvis phenomonen and I have seen "The Telephone
Hour" praised as witty and innovative - to the landmark type degree. Hard to
believe in these days of beasts and pinball wizards. I guess my question
is: Is it fair to hold to critical standards songs that were created to be
"bad" or annoying or reflect the pop culture of a time? If the composer
/lyricist acheived the goals they wanted with the number and it acheives its
desired goals within the context of the show, is it fair to enter that
number in a worst song compilation? Again, isn't the goal of this thread to
gather bad songs that were actulally meant to be good? John
PS - I don't blame you for suffering in the playing of the show, I just
think the audience has the true view. And it beats stuffing inserts for
direct mail, doesn't it? :)
Charles M Seaton
: The entire second act of _Sunday in the Park with George_ except for
: that song where George imitates various animals. I seem to have
: thankfully blocked the title from memory.
Huh - now I can't remember the title either. In any case, it's one
of my favorite Sondheims.
Curiously, although I like the first act of "Sunday" much better on
the OCR, I like the second act much better in performance. (On the
whole, actually, I like SUNDAY better as OCR than in performance,
even though some numbers that are bloody awful on the album - the
act I close, for instance - work quite well on stage).
My least favorite Sondheim song might be "You Are Not Alone" from
"Into the Woods" - I admire the sentiment, but the song is a
preachy bore.
From "A Chorus Line," "The Magic and the Mirror" has always been one
I skip over - sappy, obvious, and it goes on for six or seven
minutes. The new song that replaced it in the ignorable movie was
just as bad. Similarly, "Why, God, Why" from Miss Saigon always makes
me clench my teeth (and is it just me, or are the rymthes in that
song particularly awful)?
-Ennead
(back from a fun vacation in Oregon)
Tony Porter
> BTW, I though Rodgers
> did a very good job with writing both music and lyrics for "Something
> Good" and "I have Confidence", though the whole beginning section of the
> later is rumored to be not written by Rodgers.
>
> Eric
> --
>
The lyrics for "I Have Confidence" were written by one of the writers of
the movie (ie., one who rewrote the book to adapt to the structure of a
movie screenplay). They wanted a song for Julie Andrews to sing as she's
going to the Von Trapp's from the convent. They wrote some dummy lyrics
as a suggestion for the song, Rogers liked them so much, he kept them.
This all comes from the intro on the Silver Anniversary videotape in an
interview with Robert Wise, the director.
Tony
Tony Porter
> The only way to play this game is to pick choices that outrage: I could
> name many but for two, I find "Mame" and "The Impossible Dream" unbearable.
> --Larry Rosenhein
>
I agree on "Mame", in fact, I hate the whole show with the exception of
"Bosom Buddies", but if you look at "Impossible Dream" in the context of
the show, it works and works powerfully! I think the problem most people
have with the show is the fact that it became such a "lounge lizard"
standard, and really, could you stand *any* song if the most popular
version of it were one done by Robert Goulet!!! Puh-lease! However, I
suggest you get a copy of the script for "The Man of La Manch" and read
it. I just did, because I love "Don Quixote" and a produciton of it is
being done here this spring. It is one of the most moving scripts I've
ever read, and I've never seen it done on stage, or seen the movie, for
that matter. Felt the same about "1776," too.
Tony
Mighty Morphin Power Ranger
> me a break!
Personally, I love "Where You Are" from KOSW. And I love "She's a Woman."
ANd I love the title song. I sang that at and audition and brought down
the house. Didn't get the part, but it brought down the house. Said I
was too loud.....hmm......
Brian
Mighty Morphin Power Ranger
it two years ago the cast kept fumbling over the words. I also hate (and
with a passion) "Sing!" from A CHORUS LINE. Why they put that song in
the OCR and left out "And" which is one of my favorites (and portrays my
habit of being nervous often). Another song I would rather die than
listen to is "On My Own" from LES MIZ. I have heard that song so many
times at auditions that I want to puke. Please...OVERKILL!!! IMHO, "On
My Own" should be used for skeet shooting.
==============================================================================
C. Brian Devinney | A CHORUS LINE -- 164 TIMES
cde...@unf6.cis.unf.edu | LES MISERABLES -- 33 TIMES
| CATS -- 14 TIMES
"In the land of the blind, the one-eyed men are kings."
==============================================================================
Louise W Losos
singer not the songs-though the other may apply as well)
Louise W Losos
: The Heat Is On in Saigon
: bui-Doi
: Her or Me (Now That I've Seen Her)
: Morning of the Dragon
You have just named some of my favorite songs from MIss Saigon. I will
say though that Morning of teh Dragon become more palatable after seeing
teh show live, as opposed to on CD.
IMHO Louise
Dylan Bryan-Dolman
>Epiphany (SWEENEY TODD)
Jon! What can you mean? I'm afraid this creates quite a rift
between us.
Personally, I hate "Putting It Together", "She's Lucky She's a
Woman", and especially "The Point of No Return" for its weirdly
out-of-style Latin backbeat and droning non-melody.
Dylan
=dbd=
Matthew Murray
me. That is a wonderful song...one of the best ever. And it works so well
in Man of La Mancha, it is truly unbelievable. It is used many times in that
show, but the most important, meaningful, and powerful reprise is at the very
end. I nearly cried at the end of that play. Wonderful show and wonderful
music throughout. NO BAD SONGS, at least in my opinion.
--Matthew Murray
Matthew Murray
(ugh) By the way, I don't think "Sing" is that bad of a song. It is very
clever and cute. Not the show's best song, but it isn't that bad.
Heck, call me crazy, but I like "One" and "What I Did For Love."
(And all the other ones too...)
--Matthew Murray
Matthew Murray
that well in the OCR but Donna McKechnie's rendition of that song is great.
The problem is that it is basically a dance song, and it doesn't fit without
her dancing to it. Including all that music after she is done singing really
diminishes the song on the OCR, but it is good music.
--Matthew Murray
Pat Kight
to great amusement)...
As a sometimes crew person (makeup, dressing, props, scene shift) for a
host of community theater musicals, I've noticed that it's inevitably the
*worst* song from the show that sticks so firmly in my brain that I wake
up singing it, go to sleep singing it and generally hear it ringing in my
ears all day long. Enough to make a person crazy.
Examples?
"Bianca" from Kiss Me, Kate. Eeee-yew. Sounds like something that should
be sung by birds and chipmunks in a bad Disney cartoon...right down to
the warbling, whistled repeat of the name "Bi-AN-ca" every other line or
so...
"So Long, Farewell," from The Sound of Music. WOULD SOMEBODY SEND THOSE
BLASTED BRATS TO BED ALREADY?
"We Need a Little Christmas" from Mame. This one just seems to go on and
on and onnnnn...
Your Mileage, of course, May Vary...
Pat Kight
Albany (Ore.) Civic Theater
kig...@csos.orst.edu
Ronald DeStefano
the Broadway 'ography, the entire emsemble stands in a line. As the
lights come down, small spots light up the faces of three of four
characters in a seemingly random order and they sing in groups about
their fears, etc. I can't recall exactly if there was one main singer
in that number.
Anyway, I do remember that it was wonderful to hear and was staged
very effectively.
--
Ron DeStefano
dest...@chem.fsu.edu
**Come see _Into the Woods_ on Florida State University Mainstage!***
Show dates: Oct. 17-Oct. 30
David Buckley
> Jeff Marx (jeff...@aol.com) wrote:
> : How 'bout "Over the Wall II" from KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN?
>
> : Ugh!
>
> How 'bout ALL of KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN? "The Morphine Tango"??? Give
> me a break!
Although I have some sympathy with this view, I feel even spiderwoman
can't compete with 'Memory' from Cats, Elaine Paige, original London.
That rendition has the multiple distinctions of:
a) being a horrible song
b) in a horrible arrangement
c) with an insipid vocal performance
(maybe I just don't like EP's voice)
and worst of all:
d) not in any way keeping with the rest of the show.
And to think that prior seeing the mention of Kiss, I'd totally erased
all thoughts of ever having seen that show from my memory...
--
----------------------------------------+------------------------------------
David Buckley of Electric Solutions Ltd | Email: dbuc...@esl.tex.com
Services to the Computing,Electronics |
and Entertainment industries. |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
to...@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu
How about "Mumbo Jombo" from "Stop the World, I Want to Get Off." Musically
uninteresting. Lyrically offensive. Have I missed anything?
--Todd McClary
Tony Porter
I tried to post this yesterday, but I think I goofed. A friend of mine,
my director, says one of his least favorite songs is "Take me to the fair"
from "Camelot". His opinion is that the whole second act of "Camelot" is
excessive and the only reason to stay is to hear Arthur yell "Run, boy!
Run!!" In fact, he has a real problem with Lerner/Loewe musicals in that
they are all too long. We recently did "My Fair Lady" and it ran 3'+.
The poor blue haiirs didn't quite know what to make of this. We
rearranged the intermission to make the first act shorter so they wouldn't
leave at intermission. We took "On the street..." out of the first act
and broke for intermission after the Ascot race. The second act began
with Higgins, et al., leaving for the ball. We inserted "On the
street..." full-version in place of the reprise and continued into "Words,
words, words." This made the first act manageable and the whole evening
rather nice.
We are now doing "Brigadoon" and have cut out several dances and reprises
and have the whole evening under 2'10". It's one of the tightest and most
pleasing stagings of "Brigadoon" I've seen. We have a theatre in the
round setting. If you've never done theatre in the round, I highly
recommend that you try it. I, for one, find proscenium theatres less
involving, from an acting point of view. Even the trite shows come off
much better from an intimate setting. We did "Seven Brides for Seven
Brothers" recently, and for all the bads press I've heard about it, it was
one of the funnest shows around. Of course, we did have a lot of fun in
the staging, etc., but it was a great show.
Sorry for going so far off topic. I ramble a lot ! %^)
Tony
Timothy R. Hulsey
sech...@cairo.eecs.umich.edu writes:
> This is a one joke song, but contrast it with ``That'll Show Him'' from
> ``A Funny Thing ...'' that has been criticized in this thread. Sondheim
> repeats the joke (ingenue (name?) will punish Miles G. by thinking of
> Hero while making love, and therefore be more enthusiastic) over and over.
Ingenue's name is Philia. She has only one talent. Everybody
repeat: "She's loove-leeee ..."
> Loesser sets up joke, springs it twice (on ``pregnant'' and ``neglect'')
> then backs off to let us think about it. I think this is a very well
> constructed song.
However, Loesser's "Cinderella" number in the secretarial pool
(also from HTSIB w/o RT) doesn't play well today.
> --Stuart Sechrest
Thanx,
--
************************
Another ** ** Insert
fancy .sig ** Timothy Hulsey ** pithy quote
file! ** ** here
Marc Talusan
: My least favorite Sondheim song might be "You Are Not Alone" from
: "Into the Woods" - I admire the sentiment, but the song is a
: preachy bore.
I hate it too, not for the same reason though. "No one is alone" is
supposedly an alternative to the "Happy Ever After" ending but I have no
clue as to the relation between the two. I consider it a great leap in
Sondheim logic and a non sequitur besides.
: From "A Chorus Line," "The Magic and the Mirror" has always been one
: I skip over - sappy, obvious, and it goes on for six or seven
: minutes.
I did too until fairly recently. I think I appreciate it a little more
now, though it's still the worst song in the show.
The new song that replaced it in the ignorable movie was
: just as bad. Similarly, "Why, God, Why" from Miss Saigon always makes
: me clench my teeth (and is it just me, or are the rymthes in that
: song particularly awful)?
And I always laugh at the moments when he addresses "Vietnam" directly as
if the country were a person. What's up with that? We seem to have
similar musical tastes Enead.
Marc
Marc Talusan
: I personally cannot stand "Your Fault" from Into the Woods. When we did
: it two years ago the cast kept fumbling over the words.
Hey!!! That's my favorite song from _ITW_. It's *YOUR* fault for not being
good enough to sing it, not the song's fault. ;)
I also hate (and
: with a passion) "Sing!" from A CHORUS LINE.
I like "Sing" a lot. I have problems hitting notes too sometimes and I
completely identify with it.
Marc
Jessica Raine
>Howdy ...
>
>"Something Good" is one of my favorite songs from the film,
>although it would never work on stage--too intimate, perhaps.
>Julie Andrews gives a marvelous interpretation, IMHO.
I like this song. I think "Ordinary Couple" is really boring. Julie
Andrews was *fabulous*--but I would have liked to have seen Mary Martin play
this role.
>Now "Edelweiss" is a completely different matter--if only
>Plummer could sing ...
*Tell* me about it. Theodore Bikel, though, was terrific (I have the
LP of the OCR). (BTW, my dad heard that a tour of *Fiddler On The Roof*
starring Bikel is coming to Boston this October--can anyone confirm or deny
this?) "Edelweiss" is actually something which I've been working on with the
other member of my band. He's a fabulous guitarist, and he came up with some
bluesy-styled variations on the "Edelweiss" chord progressions. And I wrote
a harmony for the vocal line. We open the song singing the words, a cappella,
in harmony, and then switch to the guitar solo. It sounds trippy but neat.
Jessica Raine | st92...@pip.cc.brandeis.edu
"The universe is made of stories, not atoms."--Muriel Rukeyser
"Nothing exists but atoms and the void."--Democritus
Ruth Cross
dest...@freenet1.scri.fsu.edu (Ronald DeStefano) writes:
|> As far as I can remember, "And" is an ensemble number where, in
|> the Broadway 'ography, the entire emsemble stands in a line. As the
|> lights come down, small spots light up the faces of three of four
|> characters in a seemingly random order and they sing in groups about
|> their fears, etc. I can't recall exactly if there was one main singer
|> in that number.
|>
Exactly as you describe, from what I remember. The program lists the
characters involved: Bobby, Val, Richie and Judy.
--
Ruth Cross > Em rio que tem piranhas,
nor...@chevron.com > jacare nada de costas.
>
Kay Cazzo
M Seaton) wrote:
> Similarly, "Why, God, Why" from Miss Saigon always makes
> me clench my teeth (and is it just me, or are the rymthes in that
> song particularly awful)?
They're pretty bad, but not as bad as the sun and moon song. Come
on...rhyming moon with fortune...give me a break!
Timothy R. Hulsey
Hey--speaking of bad songs from _Cats_, how about
"Skimbleshanks the Railway Cat"? That one always gives me
hives--sounds like a bad children's record.
ANS...@yalevm.ycc.yale.edu
st92...@pip.cc.brandeis.edu (Jessica Raine) writes:
>(BTW, my dad heard that a tour of *Fiddler On The Roof*
>starring Bikel is coming to Boston this October--can anyone confirm or deny
>this?)
here in New Haven this autumn.
Charles M Seaton
[quoting me:]
: : My least favorite Sondheim song might be "You Are Not Alone" from
: : "Into the Woods" - I admire the sentiment, but the song is a
: : preachy bore.
: I hate it too, not for the same reason though. "No one is alone"
: is supposedly an alternative to the "Happy Ever After" ending but I
: have no clue as to the relation between the two. I consider it a
: great leap in Sondheim logic and a non sequitur besides.
Hmmn. I think the relation is that "happily ever after" endings
typically asks us to ignore what has happened to the minor
characters in the story - like the poor giantess, who befriended
a young boy and in return was widowed (and robbed blind besides).
"No One is Alone" is meant to contrast this - the point of the
song is: whatever you do has impact on someone else, so be careful.
Unfortunately, what many people take from "No One is Alone" is the
more obvious, and less interesting, moral: take heart, you've got
friends, you're not alone. (Since SO many people read the song this
way, contrary to Sondheim's intent, I tend to think it's a flaw in
the song, not in the audience.)
So I don't think of it as a non sequitor - it just doesn't make its
point well (and is preachy and goes on forever).
[good stuff snipped]
: We seem to have similar musical tastes Enead.
Yup. I also agree with what you said in another thread - "Your
Fault" is a great song, perhaps my favorite in ITW. It is a bitch
to perform, though. =)
Yours,
--Ennead
OS...@murray.fordham.edu
Roof, "Now I have Everything"
J.O. Fordham University
Jennifer Wand
It'll be in Boston sometime soon. I don't remember exactly when, but
there are ads in the Globe for it.
-Jen
--
epo...@ccs.neu.edu
***For BTAS ep guide/2nd season preview/schedule, BATMAN ep guide: email me!***
"Can't be too careful | "Each day got through | "That's what it's all about.
with all those weirdos | means one or two less | Doors and sardines. Getting
around." -Joker, B:TAM | mistakes remain to be | on. Getting off. That's
| made." -CHESS | theatre. That's life." -N.O.
*Back to school tip:Flunk now and avoid the June Rush!*The Great Oz Has Spoken.
Deb Holland
run (from an advertisement in the Boston Globe last Sunday - sorry I don't
remember the exact dates.)
John L Miller
>was too loud.....hmm......
>
>Brian
Paraphrasing Michael Shurtleff, author of _Audition_: you don't want to work
for such a dolt anyway. The whole rehearsal process would be hell, and
probably the run would be also. If you laid your gifts before this dolt
(and brought down the house at an audition yet!) and he felt it was too much
- well, f**k 'im! Its like showing the full extent of rage you can play for
a show calling for rage to be displayed, or the full extent of psychosis you
can externalize in like circumstances and being told you were too big!. It
tends to leave one speechless. And it hurts to see the person chosen who
also displayed his/her much more moderate (but peak of ability) efforts. So
even though you probably think you wanted to to do the show rather than wait
tables or make copies at Kinkos - consider how it might have been and make
those copies with a smile! But I truly *am* sorry your talent and work got
tossed aside. It is always hard to see. John
Jeff Marx
<Pine.3.89.9409031...@helium.gas.uug.arizona.edu>,
dav...@GAS.UUG.Arizona.EDU (David D Barzilai) writes:
>I find it fairly stoupid.
Mighty Morphin Power Ranger
Matt,
"And" is an ensemble song sung by Don, Richie, Judy, Val, and a few others
while Bobby does his schtick. And I do love"One" (the greatest finale
ever!) and I am partial to "What I Did for Love."
Mighty Morphin Power Ranger
Once again I agree. This is a dance song. Originally, the song "Nothing"
was not even in the show but Priscilla Lopez griped that since Cassie
coudl go all the way back to childhood when she did the number that she
should be allowed to as well with "Nothing." Well, at least that's what I
heard...not sure of the whole story behind it...and for the first four
perfomances of ACL, four guys danced behind Cassie during MATM. But, for
some reason they were cut and it became the numbner that it is....
Stefan William Sittig
Stuart Sechrest <sech...@cairo.eecs.umich.edu> wrote:
>In article <Pine.3.07.9409060...@lcac1.loras.edu>, jac...@lcac1.loras.edu writes:
>|> The worst song ever has got to be "Happy to Keep His Dinner Warm" from
>|> "How to Succeed in Business. . ."
>|>
>|> I hate to quote it, but. . .
>|>
>|> I'll be there wearing the wifely uniform, waiting to say "Good
>|> evening, dear, I'm pregnant. What's new with you from downtown?" Oh, to
>|> be loved by a man I respect. To bask in the glow of his perfectly
>|> understandable neglect.
>|>
>|> Need I say more? Yes, it's horribly dated, but I can hardly imagine
>|> anyone being that pathetic.
>|>
>|> Julie in Dubuque
>|>
>|>
>
>I see that irony makes no impression on you.
>
>The lyrics of the song are as follows:
>
>New Rochelle . . .
>New Rochelle . . .
>New Rochelle
>That's the place where the mansion will be.
>For me and the darling, bright young man
Actually, the lyric is "I've picked out FOR MARRYING ME." not "I've picked out to marry me." Hey if we are gonna be picky, then let's be picky! Besides, I was FINCH in a
production of HOW TO SUCCEED... and I agree that it should be seen as a
cartoonish satire of the business world. -Stefan
>I've picked out to marry me.
Stefan William Sittig
Mighty Morphin Power Ranger <cde...@unf6.cis.unf.edu> wrote:
>> How 'bout ALL of KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN? "The Morphine Tango"??? Give
>> me a break!
>
> ANd I love the title song. I sang that at and audition and brought down
>the house. Didn't get the part, but it brought down the house. Said I
>was too loud.....hmm......
>
>
>Brian
>
>
I also find KISS to be quite an interesting show musically. Especially
when performed live. I saw the show with Chita in March, and I LOVED
"The Morphine Tango". Not so much the music, but the whole idea. Some
poor chap rolling around on a hospital bed while these male nurses cart
him around and sing about it. I love when musicals do things like that...
another part I especially liked was when the prisoners took pieces of the
metal bars of the prison and used them as canes for the dance break in
"Where You Are"...brilliant staging in my opinion.
Oh, by the way...Kander and Ebb did quite a bit of research for the
music of KISS. I lived in Latin America for 12 years, and am half-
hispanic...and I can assure you that Kander and Ebb did a fantastic
job, especially in the songs "Where You Are", "Marta", "The Morphine Tango"
and "Gimme Love", of reproducing several Latin American rhythms like
respectively, the samba, the bolero, the tango, and the salsa.
Musically it may not be what YOU like to hear, but it nevertheless is
well done, becuase the Latin influence should definitely be present
in a musical with a book based on an Argentine novel, set in Latin
America, with Latin American characters....
If nothing else, Kander and Ebb manage to capture the spirit and
easy-going attitude of the Latin American culture...mixed with its
tremendous need for salvation from the chaos that is often its
governing body.
-Stefan
Kay Cazzo
Canadians out there, but they did the show at my high school and it has
some of the cheesiest songs I've ever heard!
TapDanc100
Holland) writes:
>It is playing in Boston, at the Wang, starting in early October for a
short
>run (from an advertisement in the Boston Globe last Sunday - sorry I
>don't remember the exact dates.)
Here's the scoop:
Boston 10/4-10/9
Sarasota, FL 10/11 -12
St. Petersburg, FL 10/13-16
St. Paul, MG 10/18-30
San Francisco, CA 11/2-27
Philadelphia, PA11/29 - 12/4
New Haven, CT 16 - 12/18
Is that enough for ya? (It helps to have friends in the show.)
:-)
Davi...@aol.com
from "Camelot". His opinion is that the whole >second act of "Camelot" is
excessive and the only reason to >stay is to hear Arthur yell "Run, boy!
Run!!" In fact, he has a >real problem with Lerner/Loewe musicals in that
>they are all too long.
In most versions, there is an option to remove "Take me to the Fair" It can
be replaced with four lines of dialogue and a quick reprise of "Lusty month
of May" I think the action goes much more quickly this way. When I did the
show, we used every stich of music and dialogue - even the darn Enchantment
Ballet, by the way a pretty stupid song that might go on that worst song list
we're compiling. There is a version where the entire character of Morgan
LeFay is removed from the show once she takes Merlin at the beginning.
Mordred simply lies to everyone and screws everybody up without any help at
all. This also shortens the play by about 15 minutes.
As for your suggestions about shortening My Fair Lady, I think it's a mistake
to end the act anywhere other than where it originally ends. But that's just
me...
David Zack
Dan Swinehart
>: From "A Chorus Line," "The Magic and the Mirror" has always been one
>: I skip over - sappy, obvious, and it goes on for six or seven
>: minutes.
>I did too until fairly recently. I think I appreciate it a little more
>now, though it's still the worst song in the show.
I won't dispute the point, except to point out that "Magic and Mirror" has
a killer orchestral break before the last verse. At least as a performer,
it's one of the highlights of the show (another being a similar break in
"At the Ballet.")
Dan Swinehart
Jessica Raine
>5. Almost anything from Roger Miller's _Big River_, with the
>possible exception of "Muddy Water."
"River In The Rain" is kinda pretty. "When The Sun Goes Down In The
South" is fun. I can't stand listening to individual songs from the show
(xcept "Muddy Water", which I am in love with the synth arrangement for), but
every once in a while I'll listen to the whole album and that's okay.
>6. "Bobby and Jackie and Jack" from _Merrily We Roll Along_,
>Sondheim--quite possibly the single worst Sondheim song.
I hear you. This song *bites*. (And I'm not just saying that 'cos I'm
from Boston.)
>7. That damnable "Freight is great" number from Andy Lloyd
>Webber's _Starlight Express_. Those of you who've seen the
>musical know what I'm talking about.
I think the actual song is all right. It's just the constant
repetitions of "Freight is great" that get on my nerves. I love the voices of
the actors playing Dustin and Greaseball (this is on the recording with Frances
Ruffelle).
>8. "Love Changes Everything" from Webber's _Aspects of Love_.
Nopenopenope. Gotta disagree with you. It's shallow and not terribly
exciting, but it is pretty.
>9. "I Feel Pretty" from _West Side Story_.
Yeh. This summer at the camp where I was a counselor, we did a
revue as the staff show. Being a soprano, I got assigned to sing this song.
I had to go onstage wearing a dress (I ran around all summer in cutoffs and
bandannas and Converse All-Stars, just like my kids), with my hair down (I
usually keep it tightly braided up), dance around a bit, and then sing.
Everyone told me afterwards that it was lovely, but I thought it was right
awful.
Jessica Raine | st92...@pip.cc.brandeis.edu
"Oh boy, Seymour...the things we're gonna do to your mouth."--Little Shop
Ronald DeStefano
everyone is referring to is "The Music and the Mirror."
Doesn't the refrain go "All I ever wanted...was the music...and the
mirror... and the chance...to dance!"? And by the way, I think that,
when performed by a dynamic actress who can dance her patootie off,
this song is one of the effective in the whole show. It gives great
insight into Cassie as the fiery, "born to dance" character that she
is. If the dance break is choreographed as it was in the original
Broadway show, it also reveals a sort of sadness in the character, not
just 100% high-energy cheerleading moves. As a whole, it's one of the
best songs in the show when viewed holistically.
Just my 2 cents. Doesn't really belong under "Worst songs..." but I
just had to see if we were all referring to the same song!!!
--
Ron DeStefano
dest...@chem.fsu.edu
**Come see _Into the Woods_ on Florida State University Mainstage!***
Show dates: Oct. 17-Oct. 30 Ticket sales begin Oct. 10
Evita Amy
OberonSki
Personals. It has got to have the worst lyrics in all musical theater.
Ick!
Sann Ching
: Mighty Morphin Power Ranger <cde...@unf6.cis.unf.edu> wrote:
: >> How 'bout ALL of KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN? "The Morphine Tango"??? Give
: >> me a break!
I love Kiss of the Spider Woman ..I saw it last June with the original;
cast and it was great.. However, I have to admit that I thought _Morphine
Tango_ was stupid, as was all the _Over the Wall_ bits..
As an asian, I find the entire plot line of Miss Saigon irritating...and
if you've heard the Broadway cast recording, you'd know why I hate _Why
God Why ?_ whoever's singig there sucks, he also ruins all the lovely
duets with Lea Salonga.
Sann
Martin Stamp
WITCH in London? A gaggle of red-robed cardinals appear on stage and
start singing "Carnal lust! Carnal lust!" Unfortunately I was too
stunned to remember any more of the song.
Francesca Simon
Heidi Howard
I actually heard a song from that- and thought it was terrible ( I don't
remember what it was, though). Did anyone here ever see Robin Hood - The
Musical, which played in London in 1993-there were some rather odd tunes
there as well (or so I was told) although some of them were rather good.
you may know what you need ** hho...@cap.gwu.edu
but to get what you want ** OR
better see that you ** penn...@aol.com
keep what you have **
Matthew Murray
any other place is ridiculous. I don't remember who posted about the way
they rearranged the show, but I thought the changes they talked about were
deplorable. My Fair Lady is a great musical, and it seemed that they turned
it into just some shadow of what it should have been. I think that in terms
of actual direction and staging, any shows are adaptable, but in terms of
rearranging scenes and putting songs where they don't belong, removing re-
prises, and changing the act division is just horrible. Especially in MY
FAIR LADY (sorry about that). No offense met to the person who posted the
message, but I really think that was poor planning.
Not even having "On the Street Where You Live" in the first act? Come
on!
--Matthew Murray
*Ian J Gordon**
Sann Ching <chi...@merlion.singnet.com.sg> wrote:
>As an asian, I find the entire plot line of Miss Saigon irritating...and
>if you've heard the Broadway cast recording, you'd know why I hate _Why
>God Why ?_ whoever's singig there sucks, he also ruins all the lovely
>duets with Lea Salonga.
I'm surprised to see that it looks like I'm the first to respond to
this, but if *you've* heard the Broadway Cast recording of _Miss
Saigon_ I'd be pretty amazed since it doesn't exist. It was never
recorded (and probably never will be since they would have to have a
major reunion). The Original London Cast Recording is the only one out
there. Simon Bowman sings the part of Chris, and I enjoy his
performance. However, word is that he was MUCH better live, and some
time after the recording was made.
Ian
--
------------------------------------------------------------------
Ian J. Gordon | 101 S. 39th St. Apt. #HL403
EAS: Systems Science Engineering '96 | Philadelphia, PA 19104
WH: Finance '96 | ijgo...@seas.upenn.edu