My friend lost her father and loves Broadway and showtunes. I'd like to make her a CD of comforting showtunes. Can I get some suggestions? Thanks everyone.
"The sexual energy between the mother and son really concerns me!"-random woman behind me at Next to Normal
"I want to meet him after and bang him!"-random woman who exposed her breasts at Rock of Ages, referring to James Carpinello
Oh, and obviously not showtunes, but if your friend is a Patti fan, she does a really beautiful cover of Judy Collins' "My Father" on her Matters of the Heart CD.
When I see the phrase "the ____ estate", I imagine a vast mansion in the country full of monocled men and high-collared women receiving letters about productions across the country and doing spit-takes at whatever they contain.
-Kad
I Love You Song, Spelling Bee Alabanza and/or Everything I Know, In the Heights Rainbow Sleeves, Everyday Rapture Not a Day Goes By, Merrily Light, Next to Normal Not While I'm Around, Sweeney Todd
Edit: Also, if she doesn't already have it get her next to normal in its entirety. Its message of hope in dark times might be something that really helps. I know it has helped me through some tough times as well.
"Art, in itself, is an attempt to bring order out of chaos."-Stephen Sondheim
Anytime I Am There, from Elegies Looking Up, Elegies (really that entire show). How Glory Goes from Floyd Collins (or Audra McDonald does a stunning cover on her album of the same title)
When my brother died, I about played out Petrified from Taboo. It was the only thing that helped me go to sleep. And Anytime (I Am There) from Elegies is a GREAT choice.
"What a mystery this world. One day you love them and the next day you want to kill them a thousand times over." The Masked Bandit in THE FALL
Well, "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again" from Phantom is Christine's song to her dead father... it could be a good inclusion.
Also, though it's old, it's survived longer than anything posted...and "You'll Never Walk Alone" from Carousel is often quite powerful... Maybe not a big "Show-Album" version, but it has been recorded by many artists.
I have always found "Come Down from the Tree" (cut from Once on This Island but can be found on one of the "Lost in Boston" albums, among others) to be a terrific statement of moving forward.
"People have their opinions and that doesn't mean that their opinions are wrong or right. I just take it with a grain of salt because opinions are like as*holes, everyone has one".
-Felicia Finley-
No one is alone was the first thing that came to my mind as well. But I would add I Will Never Leave You from Sideshow, Give Me Love from Everyday Rapture, Another Winter in a Summer Town from Grey Gardens, (& though it's more of a breakup song it still seems fitting) Time Heals Everything from Mack and Mabel. My go to hard times show is Rent. Specifically Seasons of Love, I'll Cover You reprise, and the version of No Day But Today Idina performed for her PBS concert.
"The sexual energy between the mother and son really concerns me!"-random woman behind me at Next to Normal
"I want to meet him after and bang him!"-random woman who exposed her breasts at Rock of Ages, referring to James Carpinello
I always like You'll Never Walk alone which was suggested, Maybe not for a funerals but "There Will Be A Miracle" form "See What I Wanna See" always touches me when I feel in need of an emotional lift.
The best one.... The Human Heart from "Once on this Island" -- one of the best songs around.
"Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion's starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it's always there - fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge - they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I've got a sneaky feeling you'll find that love actually is all around."
Alabanza from In the Heights and Light from Next to Normal are wonderful choices. I would also add For Good from Wicked, Those You've Known from Spring Awakening, Finale B and Seasons of Love from Rent.
"Ýou'll never walk alone" from CAROUSEL (especially Barbra Streisand's version which is on her "Higher Ground" cd, put together with "I believe")
"Life is just a bowl of cherries" - FOSSE (try to get your hands on Nicola Hughes's version. It's gorgeous.)
"Surrender" from SUNSET BOULEVARD. The show version may not be the best choice, but try Sarah Brightman's extended version of the song, it's on her album "Surrender".
"Whistle down the wind" from WHISTLE DOWN THE WIND.