Friday, August 2, 2024

Friday 5: 5 Best Broadway Show Title Songs: 2003 - 2008


5 Best Broadway Show Title Songs: 2003-2008

Today, we take a look back at 5 early 20th century musicals that had some terrific title numbers. Why did we like them? What are our favorite lyrics from them? Tell us what you think, too! Did we miss any?

Avenue Q (2003)


This little charmer - Sesame Street for adults - has a perfectly bouncy "theme song." Talk about an ear worm! My favorite part of "Avenue Q" (the song):

COMPANY

Your work real hard

And the pay's real low

And ev'ry hour

Goes oh, so slow

And at the end of the day

There's nowhere to go

But home to Avenue Q!

You live on Avenue Q!

Your friends do too.


As a worker bee myself, I can totally relate. And I think it would be great fun to live on the same block as Princeton, Kate Monster and Christmas Eve!


The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (2005)


Not to be outdone, William Finn came up with a real toe-tapper of a title song for his "adult spelling bee." The King of word salad lyrics, it makes me feel like I really get these kids, and I feel a bit like one myself...

ALL

We concentrate on winning

At the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

We speak so damn convincingly


MS. PERETTI

They're nervous but they're grinning


LOGAINNE, OLIVE

It seems

We're living out our dreams


BOY SPELLERS

Which is a very nice, very nice

Very very very nice


ALL

Very nice, very nice

Very very very nice

Very nice

Beginning


MS. PERETTI

25th Annual


SPELLERS

25th Annual


ALL

Putnam County

Spelling Bee!


The Light in the Piazza (2005)


Not all title numbers have to be catchy, though. This one is simply beautiful.

CLARA

I don't see a miracle shining from the sky

I'm no good at statues and stories

I try


That's not what I think about

That's not what I see

I know what the sunlight can be


The Light, the Light in the Piazza


Tiny sweet

And then it grows

And then it fills the air

Who knows what you call it?

I don't care

Out of somewhere I have something I have never had

And sad is happy

That's all I see


The Light in the Piazza


Legally Blonde (2007)


Here's a show where the title number happens twice - first as an introspective ballad at a crucial turning point in Elle Woods' life, then as an uplifting production number of empowerment. Both are worthy of being on this list.

ELLE - "Legally Blonde"

Chalk it all up to experience

They said I'd fail but I disagreed

Who could say then where my path would lead?

Well, now I know


Back to the sun

Back to the shore

Back to what I was before


Back where I'm known

Back in my own

Very small pond


Laugh with my friends

When I arrive

We'll drop the top and just drive

That's fine with me

Just let me be

Legally Blonde


VIVIENNE - "Legally Blonde Remix"

You proved it to me

Now show everyone what you can do

And you look great in dark blue!


Get back in the game

Back on the case

Take a good look at my face

I'm not a fool

And it's a rule

I do not pose!


But I see a star

You're my new muse

You've got the best freakin' shoes!

And you lit a fuse

So go show them who's

Legally Blonde!


In the Heights (2008)


This is an epic title number that does double duty as an opening number. Like one of the greatest openers of all time, Fiddler on the Roof's "Tradition," it introduces characters, dramatic themes and musical motifs. The way it builds and builds to its thrilling final button gives me goose bumps every time I hear it.

USNAVI

Lights up on Washington Heights, up at the break of day

I wake up and I got this little punk I gotta chase away

Pop the grate at the crack of dawn, sing

While I wipe down the awning

Hey ya'll good morning


COMMUNITY

In the heights

I buy my coffee and I go

Set my sights

On only what I need to know

In the heights

Money is tight

But even so

When the lights go down I blast my radio

No comments:

Post a Comment

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...