OT Your Favorite songs from musicals?

Submitted by Blue boy johnson on
What are your favorite songs from musicals? Right now for me it as the father of an irascible 13 year old girl, "How do you solve a problem like Maria", ranks very high. Would love to get your favorites. I love singing Phantom of the Opera in the car, I fancy myself rather suave , but I get shouted down every time.

Logan88

March 15th, 2010 at 8:24 AM ^

I really hate those Rankin & Bass travesties. Obviously, when they were the ONLY thing LOTR related around I watched them, but, man, what was up with those stupid character models. "Frodo of the Nine Fingers and the Ring of Doom" was a constant refrain sung by the DM of our D&D group when I was in middle school.

M-Wolverine

March 15th, 2010 at 11:26 AM ^

Oh, I have the dvd. It's just for the longest time it wasn't out on disc or tape. All the legal issues. You could find The Hobbit anywhere, but only the Ralph Bakshi version (which always feels incomplete to me). But it finally came out. Funny story that probably no one cares about but me. When I was a kid and video stores were starting to expand, I remember seeing this on tv, and though they occasionally reran The Hobbit, then never showed this again (even though, as I said, I remembered the lyrics distinctly), so we wanted to go and try and rent it. So my mom asked the video clerk for "Lord of the Rings". We came in and put the VHS in, and started playing it, and it started showing wrestling. Apparently he had given her "Lords of the Ring".

M-Wolverine

March 15th, 2010 at 12:15 AM ^

My favorites are Phantom Miss Saigon...but since everyone can name Phantom and Music of the Night, I also like the underrated- Extra plus from Emmy Rossum. But as I've gotten older, Miss Saigon has stayed dearer to my heart- If you've ever had a mother, the last one get to you. ;-) And my fav from Les Miz- Mama Mia is cheesy fun, but I do love one of their songs...but I do prefer the male version of the theatrical adaptation- And if we can count bands turned into plays, how about movies? OK, how many people watch Glee? LOL TMI, I know...

MaizeAndBlueWahoo

March 15th, 2010 at 12:21 PM ^

Only a little bit of a Lea Salonga fan, hm? Fun fact: did you know she's also Jasmine's singing voice in Aladdin? Also, it's true everyone can name Phantom and Music of the Night, but if they don't also name Masquerade, they're missing out. Oh, and every single note ever sung by Emmy Rossum in that whole movie. Especially Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again (the movie does a FANTASTIC job of that scene and then ruins it by having the Phantom and Raoul clumsily hack their swords at each other instead of the fireballs) and Think Of Me.

M-Wolverine

March 15th, 2010 at 6:21 PM ^

But they were the best videos I could find, for the play she originated. I gave another girl some dap too. (But yeah, my bias may have come in with her Eponine). She was Mulan's singing voice too. I love the versatility of Masquerade. This big booming number, but also the music box music. I was just trying to highlight some of the OTHER music, because everyone knows the big two. Only a little bit of an Emmy Rossum fan, eh? Who can blame you. She needs to work more. (And Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again takes a whole added depth after you've lost a parent). And yes, the swordfight practically ruins a movie that was really close to getting it right, but just not quite. Though I am amused by the King of Sparta belting showtunes.

MaizeAndBlueWahoo

March 15th, 2010 at 8:01 PM ^

I am NOT amused by the King of Sparta belting showtunes, because his voice was terrible. On and off at best. Especially since they supposedly could have had Antonio Banderas. Even then the movie would have been quite a bit better if they hadn't "humanized" the Phantom. Part of what makes the musical so great is that the Phantom seems a little bit superhuman. But I give them a huge thumbs-up for the ending. And yes....Emmy Rossum is definitely my celebrity crush. Otherworldly voice + hawtness = WIN. I wish she would do more Broadway or musical movies instead of (sheesh) Dragonball. In fact, I wish she'd play Fantine.

Logan88

March 16th, 2010 at 9:13 AM ^

I realize that they probably chose him for his looks/presence which were a good fit for the Phantom, but, man, his singing was just AWFUL. Also agree on more Emmy Rossum goodness, plz, kthnx. It kind of creeped me out, though, when I discovered that she was still a minor when she appeared in Phantom, because I was seriously hot for her and realized that she wasn't even "legal".

M-Wolverine

March 17th, 2010 at 12:13 AM ^

But I remember when Banderas was supposedly up for the role, and I haven't been that impressed with his voice, when he was "auditioning" or in Evita. I agree about the Phantom. Part of what's cool in the play is that he IS the monster of old movies, but he also is the "romantic lead". I mean, who can really feel any sympathy for Raoul? (I don't think he was even designed to be sympathetic.). And the movie ending was cool, but I'll always have a soft spot in my heart for the last shot in the theatrical production. And of course, who wouldn't agree about Emmy?

Zoltanrules

March 15th, 2010 at 12:30 AM ^

That's what being a protestant is all about, that's why it's the church for me, that's why it's the church for anyone who respects the individual, and the individual's rights to decide for him or her self. When Martin Luther nailed his protest up to the church door in 1517, he may not have realized the full significance of what he was doing. BUT 400 years later thanks to him my dear, I can wear what ever I want to on my John Thomas, and prodo- stantism doesn't stop with a simple condom, oh no, I can wear French Ticklers if I want.

geno

March 15th, 2010 at 1:00 AM ^

West Side Story : Maria , Somewhere . South Pacific : Younger Than Springtime , This Truly Was Mine . JC Superstar : I Don't Know How To Love Him . Hail To The Victors . One more , Some Enchanted Evening , from S. Pacific .

a2bluefan

March 15th, 2010 at 3:04 AM ^

I spend the vast majority of my evening hours music directing musical theater productions. I've done 35+ shows over the last decade. A couple years ago, I had the extraodinary pleasure of music directing Titanic, A New Musical. Maury Yeston's score is as beautiful as anything I've heard in my life. Here is a clip from the 2001 Dutch production that ran for a number of years. It's in Dutch, but you don't really need to speak the language to know what's going on here. In the production I did, this scene/music (and a few others, too!) had me in tears every single night.

Zoltanrules

March 15th, 2010 at 8:15 AM ^

Check out The Encore Theater in Dexter. Like Jeff Daniel's Purple Rose, it is generally surprisingly good. Saw Oklahoma! there recently ( Oh What a beautiful Morning is another show classic to add to the list). The cast include U-M musical theater grad Liz Griffith (Laurey), who redcently made her Carnegie Hall debut; Sarah Litzsinger (Ado Annie), Broadway’s longest-running Belle in “Beauty and the Beast,” and Rusty Mewha (Curly), a local actor who’s previously performed at Performance Network, the Purple Rose Theatre and others. Jesus Christ Superstar is the next production.

Logan88

March 15th, 2010 at 8:39 AM ^

1) Johanna 2) Pretty Women 3) My Friends Phantom (Not sure if these are the actual song titles) 1) Masquerade (sp?) 2) Point of No Return 3) Wishing You Were Here (Christine when going to visit her fathers grave) Btw, Emmy Rossum == WIN! (Gorgeous babe and amazing voice)

JeepinBen

March 15th, 2010 at 9:09 AM ^

If "The Wall" counts, Tommy better count. I love everything about the Who's rock opera - although i can't really watch a few scenes in the movie (Acid Queen after Aretha is done singing, Cousin Kevin, and Fiddle About) but it's musically amazing. Also within the last couple of years one of my friend's (Musical Theater Major) was in the Michigan show of Tommy at the power center and it was great, very professional. Personal Favorites - Pinball Wizard (obviously), Sparks, and I'm Free

bluebyyou

March 15th, 2010 at 9:33 AM ^

Older musicals - Most of the songs from West Side Story Newer- Mama Mia - My wife and I saw this in London with our seats somehow being in the middle of a Swedish tour group. With our kids when they were younger? Lion King

buckley

March 15th, 2010 at 10:18 AM ^

"Oh, What a Beautiful Morning" - Oklahoma. One of the best opening song numbers. "People Will Say We're in Love" - Oklahoma. Fantastic duet. Said already, but everything in Pirates of Penzance is gold. "Stay, Frederic Stay" is another great duet. Ragtime has some great music. "What a Game" is a fun number about baseball.

M-Wolverine

March 15th, 2010 at 12:10 PM ^

For any Musical Theaters fans, the Hey, Mr. Producer! album/concert/video. A tribute to Cameron Macintosh, but it has the best of the stage singing/performing the best songs from the voluminous shows he produced. A small taste- And if you like dance music, or just like weird cross genre combos, or find them funny- With more Emmy...

WolvinLA2

March 15th, 2010 at 8:34 PM ^

Has nobody said RENT yet? I know it's pretty cliche, but that's great music. Also, Footloose is a good musical, my favorite musical song is "I Can't Stand Still." And yes, Phantom is pretty amazing across the board.