misspoptart

Hi everyone, there are a few threads on MB about musicals, but I thought it might be nice to make a thread that sort of does an overview of broadway/movie musicals (in no particular order) and links people to youtube vids of what I consider the best/most memorable songs in each. For some musicals I really only have 1 or 2 favorites, but others warrant a listen to the whole soundtrack. Everyone else is welcome to add their own opinions of whatever musical we happen to be on.

I know that musicals are often very cheesy and not exactly casual listening stuff, but that's just fiiiine. I know from browsing the historical "musicals" threads that there are people who love them and that's enough motivation for me.

Note: I want to keep Disney/Animated films out of this list, because that deserves its own thread. So just a forewarning that this thread is not about those.

So, without further ado, I'll list some of the musicals I'd like to mention:

• The Sound of Music
• Hello Dolly
• Little Shop of Horrors
• 42nd Street
• Phantom of the Opera
• The Producers
• The Fiddler on the Roof
• Godspell
• Rent
• Wizard of Oz
• Rocky Horror Picture Show
• Sweeney Todd
• Singing in the Rain
• Hedwig & the Angry Inch
• West Side Story

We can add more to the list as we go. This is just a preview of what's to come.

By the way, I'd like to mention again that I'm not an expert in this topic, I just really really love musicals. So most of the time I'll be gushing about how beautiful or singable whatever song is. That's why I invite experts like yourselves to add some more depth to whatever pathetic excuse for an analysis I've offered!

Stay tuned! xx

misspoptart

Jumping right into it, the first musical I want to talk about is Fiddler on the Roof.

Wikipedia says:

I have to be honest, when I first saw this movie/musical on stage I did not grasp all the themes it deals with. However, I relate to the idea of tradition and maintaining it despite the expectations of the world.




"Tradition!" is a freaking excellent song. As the opening number of the show, it sets up the world they live in with a humorous twist. I always giggle at some of the words in this song, despite the rather rampant sexism (and possible racism).

"If I Were a Rich Man" - inspiring generations of pop stars to come - is just classic. If you haven't heard it, now's your chance:



Who needs real words, anyway?!

The next track I wanna share with you guys is actually a very emotional one for me. Having not experienced much in the way of paternal love, it is very sweet to hear a father sing these kind of words about children. Jealous! Feels!



I love that line - "One season following another, laden with happiness, and tears..." All in all, though, a very moving piece about letting your children go.

This music is kind of niche and weird but these three tracks have been staples on my playlist for years. I'm not even a little embarrassed about it.

Chula Vista

Singing in the Rain?

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on the surface of a gas covered planet going around a nuclear fireball 90 million miles away
and think this to be normal is obviously some indication of how skewed our perspective tends to be.”

Janszoon

I'm not generally a fan of musicals, but I do love Little Shop of Horrors (and I was in it in high school) and Hedwig & the Angry Inch.

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misspoptart

I forgot about Hedwig and the Angry Inch! We should definitely do that one. I somehow don't remember it having any music. That's weird.

Janszoon

That is weird, it has probably the best music I've ever heard in a musical.

__________________
A Night in the Life of the Invisible Man

Time & Place

25 Albums You Should Hear Before the Moon Crashes into the Earth and We All Die

last.fm

misspoptart

Maybe I was just too emotionally moved by the movie. And/or scarred.

Keeping on with weird old musicals, I'd like to talk about 42nd Street. I had the pleasure of acting and singing in this piece of genius in high school, and I think its songs really resonated with me back then. Originally produced in 1933, it has the decadent feel of the depression and all of the sleaze of NYC.

Obligatory wikipedia blurb:
13th, eh? Maybe I should check out entries 1-12! (Chula Vista mentioned Singin' in the Rain - #1 on the list - but sad to say I've never seen it. Like I said, I'm no expert! Maybe I can watch it in the next few weeks.)

Without further ado, here are some of my favorite numbers from 42nd Street.

Where the underworld can meet the elite....
42nd Street!


LOL. SHE IS SO AWKWARD. But I love it. The song has a very edgy feel actually, with the deep horn section there. Kinda pulls you in. The tapping is classy of course, and the vocalist has this childish charm about her, wouldn't you say? Very hard to emulate this style on stage today. Also, still wondering why a lady is spanking a doll baby in this (around 2:22). Hahahah! You can here a more updated version from the 1980s broadway version
here.

Oh, showbusiness not for you? Maybe you'll be coaxed in by the Lullaby of Broadway? Hahaha. I love, "When a broadway baby says goodnight, it's early in the morning..."

This is my favorite version of the song on youtube..



I wonder what Angelo's and Maxi's are. Hehe, so many weird references to 1930s NYC, which was most apparently just as outrageous (if not more) than it is today, eh?

The last song I love is "Quarter to Nine," and in this case, the 2001 recordings are the best in my opinion. I just adore the vocalists here, and the song is so beautiful and sexy. When I was in the show I used to love hearing this number from backstage.



Such a gorgeous duet. Wonderful piece of music! Enjoy. xx

Psy-Fi

I'd like to submit one for your consideration (my all-time favorite) if you have the time...

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She's a Brick House

misspoptart

Noted, Psy-Fi! I've seen West Side Story but it has been some time since I heard anything from the soundtrack. I'll have to spend some time with it but I will happily pick out a selection. =D

misspoptart

Fast-forwarding to something a bit more modern, I'd love to do Rent today. Rent deals with some touchy subjects (LBGT, drug use, AIDS) in a not-so-subtle way and it was pretty innovative for its time (early 90s). Nowadays the issues are more commonplace and openly/widely discussed, but the way the topics are handled in Rent is still pretty relevant and moving.

I have not seen the Broadway version (lamentably). I only have experience with the movie, so I'll post my favorite numbers from that.

Let's start with what I would consider to be the most iconic song of the show, La Vie Boheme. People who have not seen this musical often know this song, just because it's so funny, random, and on-point, not to mention effing catchy! It's supposed to make the characters seems shockingly self-aware but it also has an emotional note at the end. Because I've heard this 1996 recording first, I'm going to post it.



"Do you really want a neighborhood where people piss on your stoop every night?" The song really picks up at 2:33, so skip to there if you're bored.

It's kind of hard to follow the song since so many characters are singing, but I think it's catchy enough to appeal to an audience who hasn't seen the full show.



Take Me or Leave Me is a great great great!! song about being on the verge of a break up, with both parties just at the tipping point. You love each other, right, but you just are SO different that it's starting to bring you both down, or one is jealous and the other isn't, or whatever it is that has driven you to that point. Okay, it's lesbian love, but I think a lot of people can relate to this song actually. I do.

"Cause every night, who's in your bed?! WHO!? Whooo~~~ooo's in your bed?"

"Womeeee~~eeen...what is it about them? Can't live WITH them or WITHOUT theeeee~~eeem!!!"

I really love their voices together. Awesome song about an awesome, dynamic relationship. I'm all about belting this one out when I'm home alone (or in the shower).



Seasons of Love is honestly just a major winner. It is a beautiful, glorious, joyous and sad song all at once. In the context of the film, it's kind of about loss, but out of context, it's positive and inspiring. If you don't like this song honestly, do you have a soul? It's so powerful, and not cheesy at all. That's hard to do in musicals sometimes.

All in all, I can't say I recommend Rent as a film, but it's got a really great soundtrack. If you liked these songs you'd probably like a lot of the others. Check it out!