<p>Good for you - really doing your homework! Like MaryAnna and Eve say, searching is time-consuming but worth it! Another site, musicnotes.com, has a pretty good selection of digital sheet music that you can actually pay to download - and I think it may even allow you to choose the key you want the music in!</p>
<p>Best of luck to you! :)</p>
<p>Thanks! I had a VERY dumb question, but it's one I've been pondering, and everyone seems nice so I thought I might as well get it over with and ask. I know that MOST schools require an up beat song and a ballad. While I know what these sound like, it's hard to get an idea of how to chose songs of these types without having a few well known songs to base my decisions of song selection on. </p>
<p>If that made any sense... </p>
<p>What I'm asking, is if someone could give me a very well known ballad or a very well known up beat song so I could have a better understanding of what lots of colleges are looking for, that would be most helpful.</p>
<p>EDIT: </p>
<p>Also, I have heard that songs in Andrew Lloyd Webber shows should be avoided.. is this true?</p>
<p>Ok, sorry.. another post. Maybe I heard ALW stuff should be avoided because his songs are often overdone? Is this true, or not always?</p>
<p>Hmm..not well-known but an upbeat song would be something like..."Life of the Party" from Lippa's Wild Party, or "Adelaide's Lament" from Guys and Dolls. Upbeat songs usually have you bobbing your head along with the rhythm or up dancing.</p>
<p>A more ballad-y song will probably have more sustained melody lines and just a more smooth, legato-y tone to the song. "Unusual Way" from Nine, "Love to Me" from Piazza.</p>
<p>Having to do with ALW music, MOST of it is overdone, because most auditoners believe Phantom of the Opera is the only piece of literature that Andrew Lloyd Webber has written. Doing Phantom would definitely not be a smart choice, but some of ALW's lesser known works or flops might do well. But ALW in general is something I would avoid.</p>
<p>Brdwybound...</p>
<p>Examples of upbeat songs (not saying you should pick these but merely answering your query as to what an upbeat song is like as well as a ballad):</p>
<p>I Caint Say No from Oklahoma
Life of the Party from The Wild Party
Broadway Baby from Follies
Forget About the Boy from Millie
Defying Gravity from Wicked
Johnny One Note from Babes in Arms
Show Me from My Fair Lady
I Got the Sun from Annie Get Your Gun
Much More from the Fantastiks
Good Morning Baltimore from Hairspray
Cabaret from Cabaret</p>
<p>Examples of songs that are considered ballads:</p>
<p>Someone Like You from Jekyll and Hyde
So In Love from Kiss Me Kate
Somewhere Over the Rainbow from Wizard of Oz
It Might As Well be Spring from State Fair
Another Suitcase Another Hall from Evita
Disneyland from Smile
A Change in Me from Beauty and the Beast
Unexpected Song from Song and Dance
Someone Else's Story from Chess
Goodnight My Someone from The Music Man
What I did For Love from Chorus Line
Maybe This Time from Cabaret</p>
<p>Again, these are NOT suggestions but I gave you a few in each category hoping you recognize enough of them so that you have a sense of which kinds of songs are considered ballads and which are upbeat. The tempo in an upbeat song is much faster. A ballad is slower. </p>
<p>For the male poster who was asking about doing a song from The Wild Party at college auditions, it is totally fine to sing from a contemporary musical unless the school specifies pre-1960 (some do). I agree with others that the song needs to be appropriate for you. But I can also tell you that my D sang from contemporary musicals at her college auditions successfully (not talking of the pre-1960 songs that were required at some schools). The Wild Party itself is absolutely fine but I'd have to hear that song to see if it is age appropriate or believable. But the musical itself or other contemporary works have lots of good songs. Do not rule out more contemporary songs. In fact, even at schools that require a pre-1960 song, you can make your second song be from a contemporary score (if you want). </p>
<p>Susan</p>
<p>If you download Solero from the internet, you can purchase songs from a wide variety of genres. You get the sheet music in whatever key you want along with the karaoke music! It's pretty cheap, too! This site is unbelievable. My d downloaded My Story Goes On from the musical Baby and used it for an audition song. Yeah, I know; she's a little young for that song but it shows SO MUCH range.</p>
<p>Jalexis, you know I love ya, but... :)</p>
<p>ALW is usually to be avoided at ALL costs. Some schools dictate this and list the shows specifically (cause it really isn't true that they think he "only" wrote POTO.) CCM and UM are two schools that lists shows NOT to do things from on their websites: included are JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR and JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT (also ALW shows). In general, anything from the 80's/early 90's "megamusicals" should be avoided (also includes LES MIZ, MISS SAIGON, JEKYLL AND HYDE - although this was more mid-late 90's and not really a mega-musical, it falls into the pop-contemporary VERY overdone realm) - also, avoid Disney (not as much an issue for a guy as for a girl). Yes, ALW also wrote SONG & DANCE, ASPECTS OF LOVE, and WHISTLE DOWN THE WIND, but many auditors just associate him with cheesy ballads that are badly-written and usually poorly-acted. (Perhaps an unfair criticism, but just a general stereotype in most pro and college auditors' heads.) Are you NOT going to get in to a school simply because you sing this stuff? If you're GREAT, of course not - but like I have said and MaryAnna and Eve have also said, great, astutely-chosen material can make you stand out in a field of equally great girls especially (girls have tougher odds, of course).</p>
<p>Something that I don't think has been discussed before but which is EXTREMELY important...you MUST be straight up with yourself about your vocal abilities and NOT try to sing a song that is beyond them at your current stage of development. That is why many of the "overdone" CONTEMPORARY songs are ESPECIALLY bad choices - not only are they overdone, but IF you are going to sing one, you MUST have the vocal chops to nail it to the wall. Otherwise, the auditors will think you are uninformed about rep AND uninformed - or worse, incorrectly arrogant - about your own abilities!!! Don't shoot the messenger - I just know as a longtime auditor myself (who has sat behind tables in high schools, regional productions, AND NYC) that if you are gonna sing "Gimme Gimme," for example, you'd better TRULY be a "young Sutton" in vocal power. With a song like that, you sing one note that isn't REALLY in YOUR voice, and the auditors will automatically think, "Wow, this kid shouldn't have picked THAT song - what was she thinking?" </p>
<p>All that scary/stern stuff having been said - picking rep can seem like a monumental task, especially because you can feel like you've failed if you don't find amazing stuff in one day or a few days. Picking rep is an ongoing task for actors for all of their young career life. Most of my former students and friends who are WORKING BROADWAY MT actors (and yes, I mean people who are featured on current cast recordings, who are in prestigious first national tours, etc.) still flip out happily when I say, "Oooh, I found a great song I think you might like." NYC actors pay big bucks to go to rep experts and be given material - so don't feel like a "failure" if it takes you a LONG while to discover things you LOVE that fit all other audition criteria (not overdone, right era based on your schools' requirements, etc.)</p>
<p>Ah, thank all of you guys for your help!</p>
<p>is she loves me an ok musical to sing from? for guys, i know ive read that girls should avoid vanilla ice cream...but wasnt sure for guys</p>
<p>Chris, when someone says to avoid Vanilla Ice Cream, it does not mean avoid all songs from that musical. It means that this particular song itself is overdone. So, when you hear of overdone songs, do not eliminate all songs from the musical from where it came. Of course, in a few cases, there are entire musicals that are considered ones to avoid for auditions like Les Mis and Phantom.</p>
<p>PS....I will admit that I do not KNOW the songs from She Loves Me. Ironically, the show my D is currently appearing in, is directed from someone who was in She Loves Me on Broadway and a male lead who is also the producer of her show was also in that Broadway cast.</p>
<p>thanks soozie, you are always so helpful, seriously :)</p>
<p>When a school requests contrasting Musical Theatre Standards, ballad & up tempo, should they always be pre and post 1965 (in other words contrasting in era) as well? I've noticed that some ask for contrasting songs from the "classic musical theater repertoire" and other schools are more specific, requesting one pre and one post 1965. Is it generally OK to do two pre 1965 songs, or should this be avoided at all costs?</p>
<p>Also, is it okay sing a song (without the accent,of course) from a show where the character has a British accent?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>Hey,
Thanks for all the input, particularly to the Professor. I found "Why Should I Wake Up" from Cabaret and it seems like a good possibility. </p>
<pre><code> -Mitch
</code></pre>
<p>Is Hold On (from Secret Garden) an overdone song? I know the whole show is on CCM's do not do list, but I'm not applying there. Because if it's not okay, can someone help me find a belt song for someone who is not the typical ingenue? I only know of other good songs from Once Upon a Mattress (I love Shy and Happily Ever After) so I need some help in that category. </p>
<p>Also, is Green Finch and Linnet Bird considered up-tempo or ballad? It seems like a mix to me, so I wasn't sure...</p>
<p>And finally, is it bad to sing a song from Oklahoma for a school in Oklahoma?</p>
<p>I believe "Hold On" is overdone. Look at "Times Like This" from Lucky Stiff; "Stop and See Me" or "Feeling No Pain," from Weird Romance; "All Things to One Man," from Grind.</p>
<p>I have heard "Green Finch..." classified as both, but if you take it at a "chirp-like" clip (as I believe Sondheim intended), it really feels more uptempo (rather than ballad). BTW, this one is overdone, too.</p>
<p>Bad to glorify the state that houses the school that you want to spend four years at? I don't see any reason why not - unless you are singing "Cain't Say No," which is overdone. What did you hope to sing from the show?</p>
<p>eve</p>
<p>I'm trying this question (revised) again: </p>
<p>Should ballad & up tempo song choices be pre and post 1965 (one of each)? I've noticed that some schools ask for contrasting songs from the "standard musical theater repertoire" and other schools are more specific, requesting one pre and one post 1965. Is it OK to do two pre 1965 songs, or should this be avoided?</p>
<p>Also, would it okay sing a song (without the accent,of course) from a show where the character has a British accent?</p>
<p>I suggest looking for as much contrast as possible in your selections: pre/post 60s, peppy uptempo and lush/serious ballad, power belt and bel canto, comedy and drama, character and straight man, etc. They are looking for emotional and vocal range in these "two selection" auditions, so give them as much as your instrument is capable of "wowing" them with.</p>
<p>I would also be careful in choosing post-60s material. So many kids are bringing in material from "Wicked," "Hairspray" and "...Millie," that I am sick of them already. Think of pre-60s in terms of "classic" musical theatre (strong book musicals, typically); and post-60s in terms of "contemporary" (more pop/rock or operatic ends of the spectrum explored, through-sung and concept musicals, etc.). That already offers a lot of variety in your two choices. </p>
<p>But beware the most current literature out there, as it is overdone.</p>
<p>I think that if you were singing "Loverly" without an accent, that would just be weird and I would be stuck in my head thinking, "Why? What?"</p>
<p>If, on the other hand, you are singing "Hold On" from Secret Garden, and choose not to go with the Welsh dialect (I think it is supposed to be, though it usually is done as Irish...) it is okay. But I wouldn't say the same for Wick's songs from the same musical, because the lyrics are "written in dialect."</p>
<p>Hope this makes sense.</p>
<p>What song in particular? This would help focus my (rambling) advice.</p>
<p>:)</p>
<p>eve</p>
<p>I'm doing Many an New Day from Oklahoma. So Green Finch and Linnet Bird is overdone? (That sucks!) In that case, can you recommend any similar sounding songs? It really showed off my higher range, and I want a song that shows off that g, but goes no higher. And thanks for the belt recommendations. I'll look into those. :)</p>
<p>I suggest you check out a book called "The Broadway Song Companion," which has an extensive list of shows (not all the contemporary but most of the classis lit before mid-1990s). Shows are alphebetized, and it breaks down each song in the show by which character(s) sing it, notes in range (bottom and top), whether it is a moving ballad, character ballad, waltz ballad, march, uptempo, comedic, etc. AND AT THE BACK is an appendix of song titles by voice type (for solos, duets, trios, small groups, etc.). This is a great resource! Start digging through the mezzo section for that classic, top note "G" higher range.</p>
<p>In the meatime, and this is all off the top of my head and based on your unique type (as discussed on another thread), I suggest the following songs (some ballad, some uptempo):</p>
<p>"Hats Make the Woman" from M'lle Modiste</p>
<p>"Drums in My Heart" from Hit the Deck</p>
<p>"I Hate Men" or "I Am Ashamed that Women are So Simple" from Kiss Me Kate [as it is a character from the play within a play, you might get by without being Lilli's age)</p>
<p>"Will You Remember Me" from Knickerbocker Holiday</p>
<p>"Boom Boom" from Little Me</p>
<p>"What Does He Want of Me?" or Dulcinea Reprise" from Man of La Mancha (both go to f)</p>
<p>"Til There Was You" from the Music Man</p>
<p>"The Girl on the Prow" or "Lover Come Back to Me" from The New Moon (Romberg, Hammerstein, et al.)</p>
<p>"Love is Sweeping the Country" from Of Thee I Sing</p>
<p>"Mr. Novack, Will You Please," "Where's My Other Shoe, "or "Dear Friend" from She Loves Me</p>
<p>"Yesterdays" from Roberta</p>
<p>Gotta go make dinner. Hope this is a helpful start.</p>