<p>Hi everyone. So I know that there is a lot of controversy on this site about what is an overdone audition song and what isn't (the criteria that make one up). The only set rule I've heard is the five year rule (which I'm sure if that means all shows on broadway, or just the new ones and not the revivals). Well anyway, when do you think it is appropriate use one of these overdone songs. For example, I'm working on "This Nearly Was Mine" from South Pacific right now and I really enjoy singing it and am confident about how I perform it. I'm considering using it for college auditions, but I've heard it may be overdone. So now I'm not sure anymore. I have some time to build my repertoire as I'm a rising junior right now, so it would be nice to hear some tips about audition song selection. Thank you</p>
<p>When you do it very well. When you are comfortable and confident doing it. When it is not explicitly forbidden in the school/company’s audition information.</p>
<p>Definitely agree with mtdog71. However, that particular song is written for a much older character, so it may not be the best choice. Schools generally prefer that you stick closer to your real age range.</p>
<p>I agree with onstage. When choosing a song, try to choose one that is a likely role for your type/age/etc. Remember that you are acting when you are singing and if that role is way out of your type it will be difficult to successfully act the song. </p>
<p>That said, any song done well (even one done often) is fine. Yes, there are pieces that we will see many times over the course of an audition season. But you can’t predict them.</p>
<p>But what if you really can’t choose a song that’s in your age and vocal range. Because I’m a bass/baritone and I really don’t think that there are any good songs in this vocal range for the younger age range. Then again, I don’t know every musical ever written, so there might be a song or two that suits the age and vocal range that I’m looking for. But do you think that the auditors might be a little lenient with the age range rule if they realize that there aren’t many songs that could possible be done with the age and vocal range that I’m looking for?</p>
<p>Is Little Women too current a show to sing a song from?</p>
<p>@Yoshi2: Here are some younger characters (18-25), generally from the “Golden Age,” who are baritone, bass-baritone or bass voice parts (I threw in a few from “newer” shows like “Grease” “The Wiz” etc.). Not all of these roles may have a solo that fits you and some roles have the dreaded “overdone” songs, but I listed these to show that the parts are out there, you just have to do some research. “The New Broadway Song Companion” lists 700+ songs for bass-baritone voice parts:</p>
<p>Billy Bigelow
Sky Masterson
Nathan Detroit
Emcee in Cabaret
Michael in “I Do! I Do!”
Arthur in Camelot
Bobby Child in Crazy for You (Newer show, old songs)
Charley in Where’s Charley
Chip in On the Town
Conrad Birdie
Curly in Oklahoma
Francois Villon in The Vagabond King
Harry in Flora the Red Menace
Huck in Big River
Jamie in The Robber Bridegroom
Joe in Damn Yankees
Kenickie in Grease
Leading Player in Pippin
Marco in Carnival
Matt in Fantasticks
Nick in Funny Girl
Og in Finian’s Rainbow
Ozzie in On the Town
Pierre in Desert Song
Prince Charming in Cinderella
Prince Dauntless in Once Upon a Mattress
Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors
The Lion in the Wiz
Valentine in Babes in Arms</p>
<p>There are many more from modern shows, where male voices are migrating more and more to baritones or bari-tenors. However, schools generally prefer “in-one” ballads from the golden age so that they can hear your legato phrasing.</p>
<p>Yes, it is more difficult to find bass/baritone songs for a young voice. But Broadway musicals have been around for well over one hundred years, and believe me, there are more than one or two songs to choose from! EmsDad’s list is a good place to start. If you have a good music store in your area, or just search the internet, you will also find many compilations of songs for bass/baritone. The material is out there if you care enough to search it out.</p>
<p>Great list, EmsDad! Definitely helpful.</p>
<p>As for Little Women, I’d say you would probably be safe singing things from it as long as you avoid “Astonishing”. 
Definitely look at the websites for the schools you are applying to because many of them often have “Do Not Use” lists, and Little Women may fall into being too contemporary still. It varies from school to school.</p>
<p>You may also find some golden age songs for tenors that may fit your voice if you drop them a third.</p>
<p>As everyone has mentioned, you have some challenges not being a tenor, but there are good songs out there. If you really like “This Nearly was Mine” you might also like Kismet’s “Stranger in Paradise” which is written for a young man. My father was a true baritone and both of these were standards of his as a young man. Also, perhaps Frank Butler’s songs in Annie Get Your Gun could translate younger, especially “Defenses are Down.” I would suggest you thoroughly explore the list above; it should yield you some excellent options. Good luck!</p>
<p>I agree with the idea that the song should be age & sex appropriate. Thanks Emsdad for the list - of course there are many more - generally, just check out musicals before 1970 - there are plenty of Bari tunes. The reason I write is this - I would not transpose a song for my college audition - find a song you can sing, enjoy singing, and is believably appropriate - just a bit a research. Transposing raises a red flag in some people’s minds - show us what you can do - not a compromise because the song is too high.</p>
<p>Amen! Fully agree with mtdog71</p>
<p>Thank you so much emsdad. And mtdog, what if I’m not sure about what the original key of a song is. Because some of the songs that I have worked may have been sung on broadway transposed, so it’s hard to find out if I have the correct version of the song or not. Is is okay to used a transposed song if I really think that I can pull it off? And also, sometimes I tend to get type casted as an older character in school other productions. Is it okay to do a song that is for an older character if I think that I can act it well (I know that nothing replaces actual life experience, but is being able to add a personal touch good enough?)</p>
<p>Type cast. And while that is true in high school, and may (to some extent) happen in college it is still in your best interest to do the song from the show as written. I can’t emphasize enough that the entire casting process is helped when you audition with material that is right for you. Just because you played Tevye in high school does not mean you should audition with “If I were a Rich Man.” You won’t play that role for another 25 years at least. On the other hand, Billy Bigelow is likely a stretch, but if we squint a bit and use our imagination, we can at least see that on the horizon. Understand the difference? Only you can make that decision, and since we don’t know you we can only offer generalities. </p>
<p>Think of it this way. If you bend the character to fit your needs and not the needs of the character - we are not seeing your ability to act. When the time comes to cast a show, it is rare that the producer will suggest a younger man with the wrong range. Why would colleges change that procedure?</p>
<p>Thanks, AlexaMT (and Yoshi, for letting me hijack his thread)
D is working on a duet (Some things are meant to be, I think) from LW, not Astonishing.
Not sure she will even consider using this song for any app purposes, but she loves it! Will definitely check each college web-site as to rules and regs.</p>
<p>Thanks for your opinion kjgc, but how is transposing “bending the character”. If it’s done on broadway andd in professional auditions, then what’s wrong with doing it for a college audition? And to some extent aren’t we all bending the character when we take on a role? For example, when we make decisions about the character, some people may think that those decisions and choices are wrong. But we have make them so that we have something to act (going beyond the words of the script or score and looking into the subtext) and make the character interesting. Now, you probably know more about this then I do, and the above comments weren’t made to challenge your opinion. I just wanted to know the reason behind some of this.</p>
<p>Yoshi2: keep in mind that schools want to see you as you really are. It may be true that you have been cast in older roles in school productions – after all, SOMEONE has to play those roles! But that’s not going to happen in the professional world. You need to learn to present yourself, not an older character. (I see I have cross-posted with kjgc, and totally agree.)</p>
<p>Regarding the keys – it’s true that sometimes it’s difficult to know what the original key is. Many vocal selection books will offer songs in a transposed key, for example, sometimes because it’s an easier key for the piano. I personally think it’s okay to use those – but only if it’s a slight key change. I wouldn’t suggest taking a tenor song and dropping it by a fourth to make it fit your voice – again, I agree with mtdog that this will raise a red flag.</p>
<p>I understand your point about “bending the character”. Yes, transposing the key is sometimes done in some professional situations. You are not in that situation yet, and believe me, it is not likely to happen in college, summer stock, or even smaller theaters. It is time-consuming and costs money to transpose printed material. Much easier for most theaters, where there is a great deal of competition, to simply hire an actor who can sing the part as written. The exception might be a Broadway show or movie where they want to hire a name – like they did with Johnny Depp in Sweeney Todd.</p>
<p>This whole discussion is all about making the right choices. When you go to a college audition, they want to know if you can do that before they admit you to their programs; if you have a habit of making bad choices, it may be difficult for the faculty to work with you. If you go in to the audition with inappropriate material, you are not putting yourself in a favorable light.</p>
<p>Yoshi - you, of course, can do as you please with your song selection. I, and others, are simply suggesting that it is not good to transpose a song at your college audition. It does raise a red flag in many people’s mind - it does actively demonstrate an auctioneer’s shortcoming - it lets the auditors know the person auditioning cannot hit either these low or high notes - this is not a good thing. Yes, songs are transposed for certain performers in certain situations - you’re college audition is not one of those situations. Take it or leave it - it is only advice. To your actual question - this would take a long answer - but the short answer is that composers choose the rhythm, tempo, rises and falls, and yes, the key of their music for a reason - it is part and parcel of the intent and character being created. When these things are changed it is usually for some good reason that makes sense with that particular production. I know that is probably not a great and satisfying explanation - but to answer it completely could takes hours of a face-to-face discussion. Hope all goes well for you!</p>
<p>Yeah, I gues the composers did wright it in a certain key for a reason. Like I would definitely not sing a tenor song transposed down a fourth, that wouldn’t be a good fit. I may choose to use a song that has been transposed slightly, especially if I can’t tell if it is or not. Like in my copy of “This Nearly Was Mine” it’s in C major, but I have heard it done in the key of Eb major (And when Paul Szot sung it in the tony awards, it was in C so that leads me to believe it’s originally in C. But I don’t know. If any of you knew then that would be great.) And would it be okay to use part of a song in its original key (like if I’d be comfortable on the sixteen bar cut) if I could only sing the sixteen bar cut? I have a feeling the answer is no, but I just wanted to check, Thanks.</p>