<p>theateremomma,
Generally speaking, I don’t like to recommend audition songs on CC mostly because I think the song needs to be a good match for the singer and I don’t know your son and it is best if his own voice teacher assesses if the song is a good fit. As well, I honestly don’t wish to post lists of songs I have compiled onto the forum. For example, many are reading here and in this case, many baritone or bass auditionees could opt to use the same ideas. </p>
<p>I can’t tell if you are JUST looking for pre-1965 songs. I’ll assume for the moment that is what you only wanted. I will only list a couple, rather than my whole list. Or focus on a certain MT composer and search songs by that composer.</p>
<p>Pre-1965…</p>
<p>Baritone Ballad:
Do I Love You Because You’re Beautiful from Cinderella
Young and Foolish from Plain and Fancy</p>
<p>Baritone Uptempo:
On A Wonderful Day Like Today from Roar of the Greasepaint, Smell of the Crowd
You Are Never Away from Allegro</p>
<p>Bass Ballad:
She’s My Love from Carnival
I Will Follow You from Milk and Honey</p>
<p>Bass Uptempo:
C’est Moi from Camelot</p>
<p>A good way to search for songs is to find a MT singer of a similar voice type and listen to their recordings. Another way is to listen to recordings of musicals, both traditional/standard and contemporary to find songs that way. Or listen to musical theater songs by particular composers.</p>
<p>Thanks for your response. I agree that the song needs to fit. My son is auditioning for a summer program, not for college admission, so it’s not as crucial. I have looked all over the internet and have a pretty good list of ideas. One needs to be before 1965 and there is no limitation on the other. I read way back on this thread. Most of the post are about female songs. We are using a professional coach to help audition for college but it’s good to hear what other parents have to say. I don’t like to rely on just one person. I have read a lot of posts by you and have found them extremely helpful. Thanks for the input.</p>
<p>I really like “I’d rather be Sailing”. What do you think about the ballads in Shrek if he didn’t use an accent? “When words fail”, Big Bright Beautiful…", “Build me a wall”. “Who I’ll be”? I know they don’t want accents. Is it appropriate to make a it a song without that show element? Remember, this is a summer program, not a college admission.</p>
<p>I’m not familiar with any songs in Shrek and so don’t feel qualified to comment. I’d Rather Be Sailing is a gorgeous song. When my D was in high school, she wrote a musical revue that was produced and that song was in it.</p>
<p>Is it appropriate in an audition to sing a song that normally is sung with an accent and do it without the accent? Would that detract from it knowing how it is usually done?</p>
<p>I can only give an opinion and it is not necessarily “correct.” I probably would pick a different song. Typically, it is not so great to sing with accents at auditions. I know you said he could sing it without the accent but I am not familiar at all with these songs but it could be that the song is odd without the accent. For example, take “I Can’t Say No” that Ado Annie sings in Oklahoma. That song would be very odd to me without the accent. Musical theater singing involves acting a song and anyone who knows that song would find it odd without the accent with it. But for an audition, I would shy away from accents. That is my opinion, but I am not a vocal coach.</p>
<p>I think you are probably right… but I LOVE those songs! You’ve given me a lot to think about! My son’s vocal teacher has done a wonderful job with his technique but she would have him sing something like “Hey, look me over” and he would rather shoot himself! We also plan to use a coach when we actually choose a college audition song. Thanks for your help!</p>
<p>Hey guys, I was wondering if anyone knows of anyone non-overdone comedic monologues from the 1930’s or the 1940’s? I’m auditioning for my highschool play I Remember Mama and that’s what the director requested for the females. So any ideas?</p>
<p>@theatremomma Hey if you don’t mind throwing in my 2 cents here I would say don’t do Shrek not only because of the accent, but also because it is so recent and still on its first national tour. Though the music is so fun. haha I sympathize with you. Being that i am familiar with the music I would say Shrek would be ok to do w/o the accent. Unlike Shrek, Ado Annie’s song relies more on the dialect for rhymes. I hope this helps!</p>
<p>Thanks for the response, breezer. We have decided on “Luck be a Lady” and “Ten Minutes Ago”. Nothing new but he can sing them solidly. He is 16 so I don’t want to get over ambitious and he has done these for years so he knows them very well.</p>
<p>One of my schools (Penn State) requires a song from before 1960. Would “Simple Little Things” from 110 in the Shade be too much of a stretch on that date? The broadway production was put up in 1963. I know they require a date to get everyone to sing a legit song, and this is legit enough I think. What I’m wondering is if they are really sticklers with the date and this will cause me embarrassment and a smack on the forehead later…</p>
<p>Some schools really are sticklers for that sort of thing. Even more important, the character of Lizzie is not an ingenue – and many schools request that you choose a song that is age-appropriate. There are so many wonderful pre-1960 songs for young women; why not pick one that fits your age and the date requirements more precisely. Take a look at songs by Gershwin, Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, Noel Coward, Rodgers & Hart or Hammerstein.</p>
<p>One school I’m auditioning for requires two classical musical theater songs…I have one classical song, along with two contemporaries I’ve been using, but now I need to find a classical song that shows off my belt. Can “Cabaret” be considered part of the classical MT rep? I’m finding it very difficult to find a belty song from classical composers like R&H…</p>
<p>Some classical songs I can think of that have a belt off the top of my head (but is the requirement to be pre-1965??):</p>
<p>These are traditional style with a belt but not all are pre-1965 (some are):</p>
<p>Johnny One Note from Babes in Arms
Nobody Does It Like Me from Seesaw
I Love a Piano from Stop! Look! Listen!
The Other Side of the Tracks from Little Me
Shopping Around from Wish You Were Here
What Did I Have That I Don’t Have from On a Clear Day
I Got the Sun in the Morning from Annie Get Your Gun
I"m Going Back from Bells Are Ringing
Cornet Man from Funny Girl</p>
<p>Kander & Ebb are not considered classical MT composers; you need to look at composers like Rodgers & Hart or Hammerstein, Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, George Gershwin, Jule Styne, Noel Coward – there are many to choose from. Some more songs (and shows) to look at are:</p>
<p>Can’t Say No – Oklahoma
Adelaide’s Lament – Guys & Dolls
Shy – Once Upon a Mattress
Honey Bun or Wonderful Guy – South Pacific
Doin’ What Comes Natur’lly – Annie Get Your Gun
Miss Marmelstein – I Can Get it For You Wholesale
I’ll Show Him – Plain & Fancy
Beautiful Candy – Carnival</p>