It's very hard to decide. But the ones that come to mind are "If I Were A Rich Man", "What I Did For Love", "Shall We Dance" and "Tomorrow. But there are so many other great ones.
The query is too vague. Best song as a "song". Best song as an expression of "character". Best song to move the plot along? Best song to dance to?
To me: my favorite (not necessarily best) song Is "Something Wonderful" with "Till There Was You" a close second.
Best character song: Soliloquy from Carousel; If I Were A Rich Man from Fiddler; American Dream from Miss Saigon
Best plot song: Battle of Yorktown; A Little Priest/Ballad of Sweeny Todd, The Jet Song
Best Dance Song: (by which I mean it's a song you want to get up and dance to - not one that is defined by the amazing choreography);(also written for the stage) You Can't Stop The Beat; Music and the Mirror,
imeldasturn said: "Jarethan said: "Sutton Ross said: "Soliloquy
Without You
Let It Sing
Go Back Home
Dotty and Caroline"
Could you identify the shows. Most of the somgs are not ringing a bell."
Soliloquy - Carousel
Without You - Rent
Let It Sing - Violet
Go Back Home - The Scottsboro Boys
Dotty and Caroline" - Caroline, or Change"
Thanks. I knew Soliloquy (didn't say that). Naturally, I saw 3 of the 4 other shows (never had any interest in seeing Rent, although I actually kinda liked the Rent movie when I saw it, despite the terrible reviews. So, I saw them all in some format, and didn't remember one of the songs. I guess that is probably because I never purchased the OCRs for those, and missed getting to hear them repeatedly. I don't know why I never purchased The Scottsboro Boys, as I loved the show. I admit to liking Caroline and Violet, but not being impressed by either score on first hearing; lame excuse.
Ol’ Man River will soon be a hundred years old. Show Boat hasn’t been revived in over thirty five years, even though that Hal Prince revival ran for 1000 performances at the Gershwin. Expensive and difficult?
(Gypsy, on the other hand, is revived about every five years or whenever an aging actress wants a Tony nomination with a good shot at winning.)
You don’t hear much about the MGM film, which I guess took too many liberties. The ‘36 film is well respected, but in black and white doesn’t have the spectacle audiences expect. Young theater people are going to grow up not even knowing the show.
There was just a thread here about shooting a new film. For its 100th birthday? But would it make any money?
OlBlueEyes said: "Ol’ Man River will soon be a hundred years old. Show Boat hasn’t been revived in over thirty five years, even though that Hal Prince revival ran for 1000 performances at the Gershwin. Expensive and difficult?
Over twenty five, not thirty five. The Hal Prince's revival ran from 1994 to 1997