Top 10 Hardest Classic Broadway Songs to Sing
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Date: 2023-11-20
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Comments and reviews: 30
Oliver
It seems to me we're doing a lot of comparing apples and oranges here, but nonetheless I'd like to reiterate and endorse two of the suggestions others have made: Kiss Me/Ladies in Their Sensitivities from Sweeney Todd, and Molasses to Rum from 1776. To these I will add a number that I think may be the crown jewel of difficult theatre songs (other than Glitter and Be Gay, anyway): Bargaining from Do I Hear a Waltz? Written as special material for the show's star, Sergio Franchi, the song exploits his ability to switch effortlessly from his tenor voice into a clear, strong falsetto in depicting the interaction between a shop owner and a female customer. Apparently nobody else has this ability, and so nobody else can perform this song. Pity the Child from Chess is also very difficult to sing, but because the show was created as a concept album in 1984, it doesn't qualify as pre-1980's.
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It seems to me we're doing a lot of comparing apples and oranges here, but nonetheless I'd like to reiterate and endorse two of the suggestions others have made: Kiss Me/Ladies in Their Sensitivities from Sweeney Todd, and Molasses to Rum from 1776. To these I will add a number that I think may be the crown jewel of difficult theatre songs (other than Glitter and Be Gay, anyway): Bargaining from Do I Hear a Waltz? Written as special material for the show's star, Sergio Franchi, the song exploits his ability to switch effortlessly from his tenor voice into a clear, strong falsetto in depicting the interaction between a shop owner and a female customer. Apparently nobody else has this ability, and so nobody else can perform this song. Pity the Child from Chess is also very difficult to sing, but because the show was created as a concept album in 1984, it doesn't qualify as pre-1980's.
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David
I can hit the final note of Do-Re-Mi from The Sound of Music (1964, 20th Century Fox, Robert Wise, Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein, II.
I do deeply love many of the songs of stage and screen. I am an aspiring novelist and vocalist. In the latter, however, do I urgently require training.
I have an extraordinarily wide vocal range as a singer. A piano perform- ance major I had known whilst at university had told me that I could sing from the fifth ledger line below the bass clef (double bass) to the D above high C (soprano.
Such music fits my voice well. It genuinely feels physically pleasurable to sing, and especially the songs of cinema and theatre. Thus can you see how I would enjoy performance in such genres.
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I can hit the final note of Do-Re-Mi from The Sound of Music (1964, 20th Century Fox, Robert Wise, Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein, II.
I do deeply love many of the songs of stage and screen. I am an aspiring novelist and vocalist. In the latter, however, do I urgently require training.
I have an extraordinarily wide vocal range as a singer. A piano perform- ance major I had known whilst at university had told me that I could sing from the fifth ledger line below the bass clef (double bass) to the D above high C (soprano.
Such music fits my voice well. It genuinely feels physically pleasurable to sing, and especially the songs of cinema and theatre. Thus can you see how I would enjoy performance in such genres.
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KittyStarlight
I'm going to agree with you that Do-Re-Mi is indeed difficult if you do it the way Julie Andrews did it, the way the movie did it, and the way Broadway does it, but also it can be pretty easily redone and rewritten for beginners and amateurs and also anyone who sings but just doesn't sing like Julie Andrews. As with many of the most classic musical songs, it can actually be done in multiple different ways and only one of them is the particularly difficult way. This is one of the songs that you can learn when you are four or five but you cannot learn to sing it like Julie Andrews when you are four or five. (Unless of course you are incredibly talented at that age. )
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I'm going to agree with you that Do-Re-Mi is indeed difficult if you do it the way Julie Andrews did it, the way the movie did it, and the way Broadway does it, but also it can be pretty easily redone and rewritten for beginners and amateurs and also anyone who sings but just doesn't sing like Julie Andrews. As with many of the most classic musical songs, it can actually be done in multiple different ways and only one of them is the particularly difficult way. This is one of the songs that you can learn when you are four or five but you cannot learn to sing it like Julie Andrews when you are four or five. (Unless of course you are incredibly talented at that age. )
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Jw
This really is an impressive list--BUT if you're gonna be truly inclusive, you've got to consider Russell (the photographers') song Tchaikovsky from Lady In The Dark (which is listed in the Guiness Book Of World Records as having the toughest lyric to sing--ever) or for that matter, Eddie's Whatever Happened To A Saturday Night (Hot Patootie Bless My Soul) From Rocky Horror--another nearly impossible song to get the lyrics right.
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This really is an impressive list--BUT if you're gonna be truly inclusive, you've got to consider Russell (the photographers') song Tchaikovsky from Lady In The Dark (which is listed in the Guiness Book Of World Records as having the toughest lyric to sing--ever) or for that matter, Eddie's Whatever Happened To A Saturday Night (Hot Patootie Bless My Soul) From Rocky Horror--another nearly impossible song to get the lyrics right.
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Anne
LOL anyone who received their M. F. A. in Vocal Performance prior to 2000, Can Sing With Ease about all of the songs mentioned. Only the new crop raised with pro-tools, or any other vocal augmentation computer program, is unable to sing MULTIPLE keys, I mean more than 3 octaves. Back then a singer would be able to transpose sheet music in about a minute, now the kids need to find the app on their phones!
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LOL anyone who received their M. F. A. in Vocal Performance prior to 2000, Can Sing With Ease about all of the songs mentioned. Only the new crop raised with pro-tools, or any other vocal augmentation computer program, is unable to sing MULTIPLE keys, I mean more than 3 octaves. Back then a singer would be able to transpose sheet music in about a minute, now the kids need to find the app on their phones!
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kamicokrolock
I'd probably would have included Sit down you're rocking the boat from Guys and Dolls on the list. It sounds simple enough, but It's actually a fairly technically difficult song to sing due to the Harmonies. The Alto part alone sounds like it's from an entirely different song, and yet when blended make one of the most memorable 11 o'clock numbers to grace broadway.
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I'd probably would have included Sit down you're rocking the boat from Guys and Dolls on the list. It sounds simple enough, but It's actually a fairly technically difficult song to sing due to the Harmonies. The Alto part alone sounds like it's from an entirely different song, and yet when blended make one of the most memorable 11 o'clock numbers to grace broadway.
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Bunny
Natalie Dessay's Glitter and be Gay is AMAZING. You want to talk ridiculous notes. She took a ludicrously difficult song and made it mind bending. (To be fair, I wouldn't have included it, or Summertime on this list. They're not really Broadway. They're more opera. Yeah, there's some middle ground, but calling Porgy and Bess Broadway is kind of like calling Evita opera)
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Natalie Dessay's Glitter and be Gay is AMAZING. You want to talk ridiculous notes. She took a ludicrously difficult song and made it mind bending. (To be fair, I wouldn't have included it, or Summertime on this list. They're not really Broadway. They're more opera. Yeah, there's some middle ground, but calling Porgy and Bess Broadway is kind of like calling Evita opera)
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Victor1930
I would have included something of Higgins' from My Fair Lady, either Ordinary Man or I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face (which I consider to be the male Rose's Turn, even Hymn to Him. So many words flying by so fast, if you stumble on one, you're doomed! Plus extreme swings of tone and mood. Can't argue with any of the choices here, though. Maybe a longer list?
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I would have included something of Higgins' from My Fair Lady, either Ordinary Man or I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face (which I consider to be the male Rose's Turn, even Hymn to Him. So many words flying by so fast, if you stumble on one, you're doomed! Plus extreme swings of tone and mood. Can't argue with any of the choices here, though. Maybe a longer list?
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Susan
Since you used examples from the early to mid 80's, despite your listed time frame ending in 80. I must throw in Both Sides Of The Coin, by, Tony winner, George Rose with newbie Howard McGillian in the OBC of this Tony winning Best Musical.
And. yeah, I don't always agree with you because you real focus on recent Broadway. but I give you a big thumbs up here.
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Since you used examples from the early to mid 80's, despite your listed time frame ending in 80. I must throw in Both Sides Of The Coin, by, Tony winner, George Rose with newbie Howard McGillian in the OBC of this Tony winning Best Musical.
And. yeah, I don't always agree with you because you real focus on recent Broadway. but I give you a big thumbs up here.
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Robinwhiteart
The concert version of Candide with Kristin Chenoweth is totally brilliant and amazing. So are the other cast members of the concert version. Surely Candide qualifies as Number One! Second would be West Side Story. Next Company, a fantastic musical. Can't really beat Stephen Sondheim and Leonard Bernstein, either singularly or in combination.
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The concert version of Candide with Kristin Chenoweth is totally brilliant and amazing. So are the other cast members of the concert version. Surely Candide qualifies as Number One! Second would be West Side Story. Next Company, a fantastic musical. Can't really beat Stephen Sondheim and Leonard Bernstein, either singularly or in combination.
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Bob
I'm not going from Dream Girls wasn't on the list? As I understand it, the film version had to be shot in 3 different days because of the damage done to Jennifer Hudson's throat. I can't imaging what it must have been like for Billie Holliday to do it on stage 8 times a week. I would probably have added the Les Mis quintent too.
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I'm not going from Dream Girls wasn't on the list? As I understand it, the film version had to be shot in 3 different days because of the damage done to Jennifer Hudson's throat. I can't imaging what it must have been like for Billie Holliday to do it on stage 8 times a week. I would probably have added the Les Mis quintent too.
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60sTeen
Back when WSS was rereleased in theaters in 1968-69 my best friend and I became OBSESSED(Senior and Junior in high school.
We knew every part of every song backwards and forwards. One of our favorite things was doing The Quintet, just the two of us.
At parties someone always said, Do that WEST SIDE STORY thing.
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Back when WSS was rereleased in theaters in 1968-69 my best friend and I became OBSESSED(Senior and Junior in high school.
We knew every part of every song backwards and forwards. One of our favorite things was doing The Quintet, just the two of us.
At parties someone always said, Do that WEST SIDE STORY thing.
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Kathi
I know it's not the high brow stuff on this list, but Somewhere that's green from little shop of horrors is a stickler. Long notes and the emotion to maintain, a difficult one. My HS choir sang a lot of these for concerts, and we were darn good. But Music Man, Harold Hill HAD some tuff stuff. Love them all tho, thanks!
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I know it's not the high brow stuff on this list, but Somewhere that's green from little shop of horrors is a stickler. Long notes and the emotion to maintain, a difficult one. My HS choir sang a lot of these for concerts, and we were darn good. But Music Man, Harold Hill HAD some tuff stuff. Love them all tho, thanks!
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William
The most difficult thing about classic Broadway songs is that are performed live! There is no opportunity to do another take or to combine the best of several recordings or do some tweaking with the performance. That is where the breath control, diction, intonation, etc. identify those who really have the chops.
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The most difficult thing about classic Broadway songs is that are performed live! There is no opportunity to do another take or to combine the best of several recordings or do some tweaking with the performance. That is where the breath control, diction, intonation, etc. identify those who really have the chops.
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Raindrop24
I havent heard of most of these musicals, Im not sure if its a me thing or if they simply never were famous or even performed here but I did enjoy the video. But the text that said who was singing is so small that I had to pause the video and carefully read closer to the screen simply because it is so small.
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I havent heard of most of these musicals, Im not sure if its a me thing or if they simply never were famous or even performed here but I did enjoy the video. But the text that said who was singing is so small that I had to pause the video and carefully read closer to the screen simply because it is so small.
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Anthony
Your picks are good, but you have left out a number of songs that are technically much more difficult than some of the picks on your list. I would add certain song from Phantom of the Opera and either one of Meg's songs from Brigadoon. Also, either Reviewing the Situation or Who Will Buy from Oliver.
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Your picks are good, but you have left out a number of songs that are technically much more difficult than some of the picks on your list. I would add certain song from Phantom of the Opera and either one of Meg's songs from Brigadoon. Also, either Reviewing the Situation or Who Will Buy from Oliver.
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Ladydawgfan
How's about Poor Wandering One from Pirates of Penzance? My brother's high school choir did Pirates back in the 80's and luckily had classically trained soprano for the part of Mabel, so she was easily able to carry it off, but it took a lot of extra training with her vocal coaches to do so.
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How's about Poor Wandering One from Pirates of Penzance? My brother's high school choir did Pirates back in the 80's and luckily had classically trained soprano for the part of Mabel, so she was easily able to carry it off, but it took a lot of extra training with her vocal coaches to do so.
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Dave
Tyne Daly was my all time favorite Mama Rose. No one can touch Ian Gillian for Gethsemane. Even though this was better than your normal half assed schlock, you still need to cast a wider net. BatBoy, the musical is a show that has zero easy songs. Zero. You could do an hour on that show alone.
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Tyne Daly was my all time favorite Mama Rose. No one can touch Ian Gillian for Gethsemane. Even though this was better than your normal half assed schlock, you still need to cast a wider net. BatBoy, the musical is a show that has zero easy songs. Zero. You could do an hour on that show alone.
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CallMePolar
A thing a lot of people actually dont know is that the G5 (the scream) in Gethsemane isnt actually written like that in the music. In the original cast a rock singer did it and after that everyone just followed, its still very difficult emotionally tho, but that note is not necessary
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A thing a lot of people actually dont know is that the G5 (the scream) in Gethsemane isnt actually written like that in the music. In the original cast a rock singer did it and after that everyone just followed, its still very difficult emotionally tho, but that note is not necessary
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Catlover
You missed anything you can do I can do better, no good deed, the last midnight, hellfire, children will listen into the woods, the song in musical version of jackel and hide where jackel and hide are auguring with each other and the song is singed by one person and memory cats
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You missed anything you can do I can do better, no good deed, the last midnight, hellfire, children will listen into the woods, the song in musical version of jackel and hide where jackel and hide are auguring with each other and the song is singed by one person and memory cats
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HMFan2010
G&S frequently had a tongue-twister and/or rapid-fire number delivered by a veteran member of the d'Oyly Carte company in their operettas. The Nightmare Song from G&S's 'Iolanthe' is another tour-de-force number that careens along unrelentlessly until the end.
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G&S frequently had a tongue-twister and/or rapid-fire number delivered by a veteran member of the d'Oyly Carte company in their operettas. The Nightmare Song from G&S's 'Iolanthe' is another tour-de-force number that careens along unrelentlessly until the end.
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Becky
Some of these I agree with, some not. Candide is definitely one of the hardest things I have ever sung in, The Threepenny Opera a close second. So many other choices I would have picked over Do-Re-Mi or some of the other choices as being hard.
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Some of these I agree with, some not. Candide is definitely one of the hardest things I have ever sung in, The Threepenny Opera a close second. So many other choices I would have picked over Do-Re-Mi or some of the other choices as being hard.
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Bob
You missed the most infernal of the Gilbert & Sullivan patter songs When You're Lying Awake from Iolanthe. My Name is John Wellington Wells from The Socerer is also fiendishly difficult. Next to these, the Major General's Song is child's play.
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You missed the most infernal of the Gilbert & Sullivan patter songs When You're Lying Awake from Iolanthe. My Name is John Wellington Wells from The Socerer is also fiendishly difficult. Next to these, the Major General's Song is child's play.
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Jordan
My theater class did the pirates of penzance in 8th grade and a girl played the major general and absolutely nailed the song modern major general but it took forever for her to memorize it. Honestly that entire play was incredibly difficult
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My theater class did the pirates of penzance in 8th grade and a girl played the major general and absolutely nailed the song modern major general but it took forever for her to memorize it. Honestly that entire play was incredibly difficult
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vladeckk
Great list! I was waiting for green finch - the thing about that song is not only the amazing difficulty but that Sondheim required the words to be clear to the audience, which isn't so much true for more operatic sopranos.
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Great list! I was waiting for green finch - the thing about that song is not only the amazing difficulty but that Sondheim required the words to be clear to the audience, which isn't so much true for more operatic sopranos.
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Justelle's
Was it just last year the opening of The Tonys award show where James Corden sang or said one long sentence or to me it looked like he did, there's no way I could do that kind of memorizing, I loved it!
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Was it just last year the opening of The Tonys award show where James Corden sang or said one long sentence or to me it looked like he did, there's no way I could do that kind of memorizing, I loved it!
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observer42
There's a great book about the writing and producing of The Music Man that's a delight to read: But He Doesn't Know The Territory: The Story Behind Meredith Willson's The Music Man by Meredith Willson.
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There's a great book about the writing and producing of The Music Man that's a delight to read: But He Doesn't Know The Territory: The Story Behind Meredith Willson's The Music Man by Meredith Willson.
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Dov
Do Rei Me is not so difficult compared to most other songs. The syncopation is pretty regular. The beat and rhythm are very steady. Each 4/4 bar does change from one bar to the next. Not difficult at all
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Do Rei Me is not so difficult compared to most other songs. The syncopation is pretty regular. The beat and rhythm are very steady. Each 4/4 bar does change from one bar to the next. Not difficult at all
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Jack
Ive always liked Old Man River from Showboat. You need to have some serious bass pipes to really give the song its feeling (I dont do it justice. William Warfield did a great job in the 51 film version.
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Ive always liked Old Man River from Showboat. You need to have some serious bass pipes to really give the song its feeling (I dont do it justice. William Warfield did a great job in the 51 film version.
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KittyStarlight
Good heavens, Barbra Streisand has a lot of talent.
We sang People who need people in my singing class one time and we certainly didn't sing it anything like that.
Wow. ___
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Good heavens, Barbra Streisand has a lot of talent.
We sang People who need people in my singing class one time and we certainly didn't sing it anything like that.
Wow. ___
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