Looking for song suggestions (to perform).......UPDATE, KIND OF, LOL!!!

[Minnie_me]

My 13-year old will be a freshman in high school this fall (she'll be 14 in October). She has the lead in the fall musical, and is really excited about that. She's also in select choir, and needs to find a solo to perform at a Cabaret-type show that they put on in October. Since her role in the musical will really showcase her "belting voice", she wants to show off a different side of her voice at the Cabaret.

Many of the girls in the select choir choose pop songs, or (gag) Taylor Swift songs to sing at Cabaret, and it makes you want to hit yourself in the head with a rock.

Some of the girls have chosen songs from musicals, but sometimes those kinds of songs don't often translate well out of context. (especially when the majority of the audience doesn't know the musical)

A few girls have picked off-beat songs like "Taylor the Latte Boy", "Alto's Lament" and "Blue Hair". THOSE songs go over REALLY well! She would consider doing something like those, but they are rather theatrical. It would have to be a really good one.

She would also like to do an acoustic sounding, slowish version of a popular song. (Like Jasmine Thompson does: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwOYTt7Y-Uc)

Okay, so this turned out longer than I wanted it to, sorry!! Any suggestions for songs for her to consider? Links are appreciated!!! TIA!!

 

[HSMndLKfan92]

Is she an alto, mezzo, or soprano?

 

[Minnie_me]

She has a really good range, but prefers alto. She could do mezzo.

 

[RunningGirl]

Sounds a lot like my daughter - good range but more comfortable as an alto and definitely a belter. One of my favorite performances by her was when she did "I Want To Hold Your Hand" - the version from "Across the Universe". It was just awesome!

 

[Teresa Pitman]

I love the "Hallelujah" song by Leonard Cohen. KD Lang did a version of it too.

TP

 

[Minnie_me]

Sounds a lot like my daughter - good range but more comfortable as an alto and definitely a belter. One of my favorite performances by her was when she did "I Want To Hold Your Hand" - the version from "Across the Universe". It was just awesome!

Great suggestion -- this is one of our favorite movies! We are Beatles fans here. Thank you!!

I love the "Hallelujah" song by Leonard Cohen. KD Lang did a version of it too.

Great song, but it's been done a few times in recent years. Thanks!

 

[Luv2Run]

My friend does an acoustic bluesy version of Lorde's "Royals" and Magic's "Rude". They translate well to that type of slower music.

If she's looking for showtunes, I suggest "How Lovely to Be a Woman" from Bye, Bye, Birdie.

Or she could do "Hey, Big Spender" by Peggy Lee. That has sort of a cabaret feel to it.

 

[mnrose]

I heard this song performed by a young lady at my D's musical theater school, and it is beautiful. Simply gorgeous. Although it is from a musical, it translates well without knowing any background. It makes you laugh, and cry.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5Z_BpYCLqU

It's called Stars and the Moon, from Songs for a New Age.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Great suggestion -- this is one of our favorite movies! We are Beatles fans here. Thank you!!

So many good songs to do from The Beatles! I think that is a great option. I love Strawberry Fields and it is a great solo.

 

[PigletsPal2]

My friend does an acoustic bluesy version of Lorde's "Royals" and Magic's "Rude". They translate well to that type of slower music.

If she's looking for showtunes, I suggest "How Lovely to Be a Woman" from Bye, Bye, Birdie.

Or she could do "Hey, Big Spender" by Peggy Lee. That has sort of a cabaret feel to it.

"Love Changes Everything" from Andrew Lloyd Webber's Aspects of Love. It's a good "stand-alone" song; you don't need to know anything about the musical to understand/enjoy the song.

Queen Colleen

 

[Minnie_me]

I heard this song performed by a young lady at my D's musical theater school, and it is beautiful. Simply gorgeous. Although it is from a musical, it translates well without knowing any background. It makes you laugh, and cry.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5Z_BpYCLqU

It's called Stars and the Moon, from Songs for a New Age.

She loved this song so much, but felt that it was too mature for a 13-year old to sing. THANKS for suggesting it. We're tucking it away for another time, perhaps.

 

[deedeetoo]

A bit off topic but..

How does she already know she has the lead in the school play and will be in a certain choir? Did she try out when she was in 8th grade? Our school doesn't start try outs for things like that until after the school year starts. There is no way that an incoming freshman would have any idea what she would be doing.

 

[Minnie_me]

A bit off topic but..

How does she already know she has the lead in the school play and will be in a certain choir? Did she try out when she was in 8th grade? Our school doesn't start try outs for things like that until after the school year starts. There is no way that an incoming freshman would have any idea what she would be doing.

I don't know how it works in other schools, but in our school, the incoming freshmen audition for select choir in June. They need to know if they make it before school starts, so that they can work it into their schedules.

As far as the musical goes, the director usually does a big show in March. However, she is pregnant, due in December, and is taking the rest of the school year off. So she got permission to do a smaller show in November instead, in case her sub is not able to do a musical (this is a rural district, hard to find a decent sub, let alone a long-term sub good enough to pull off a musical on top of regular school duties).

So they had auditions in June, and received scripts and CDs before school got out. School doesn't start till after Labor Day, but they will start rehearsals the last two weeks in August.

So, she absolutely does know exactly what she's doing, even though school hasn't started yet. Thanks for your concern.

 

[mnrose]

She loved this song so much, but felt that it was too mature for a 13-year old to sing. THANKS for suggesting it. We're tucking it away for another time, perhaps.

It was done by a 16 year old at DD's studio and didn't seem at all out of place. I'd never heard it before, and it made me cry all 4 shows I heard her sing it.

 

[Minnie_me]

It was done by a 16 year old at DD's studio and didn't seem at all out of place. I'd never heard it before, and it made me cry all 4 shows I heard her sing it.

It made me teary-eyed as well! A beautiful song! DD is very sensitive and said she doesn't feel comfortable singing songs about "nights of passion" at age 13, lol! I told her that, as an actress, she shouldn't worry about that, but she would rather stick to something more age-appropriate for now.

 

[Deb in IA]

"Homeward Bound" by Marta Keen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VKf_tBSd44



Our son's friend sang this for the vocal solo contest as a freshman and was named "outstanding performer" for the entire center.

And it brought me to tears. It still does.

 

[Deb in IA]

This is Tyler's version (son's friend):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOmZmkjCB5M

 

[deedeetoo]

I don't know how it works in other schools, but in our school, the incoming freshmen audition for select choir in June. They need to know if they make it before school starts, so that they can work it into their schedules.

As far as the musical goes, the director usually does a big show in March. However, she is pregnant, due in December, and is taking the rest of the school year off. So she got permission to do a smaller show in November instead, in case her sub is not able to do a musical (this is a rural district, hard to find a decent sub, let alone a long-term sub good enough to pull off a musical on top of regular school duties).

So they had auditions in June, and received scripts and CDs before school got out. School doesn't start till after Labor Day, but they will start rehearsals the last two weeks in August.

So, she absolutely does know exactly what she's doing, even though school hasn't started yet. Thanks for your concern.

Geez, I was just curious. I wasn't accusing you of making anything up. You posted something that didn't make any sense to me so I asked about it. Your school district obviously works differently than ours. Here incoming freshman don't get their classes until orientation which happens the day before classes start, and freshman aren't eligible to take audition classes like your select choir.

 

[Minnie_me]

Geez, I was just curious. I wasn't accusing you of making anything up. You posted something that didn't make any sense to me so I asked about it. Your school district obviously works differently than ours. Here incoming freshman don't get their classes until orientation which happens the day before classes start, and freshman aren't eligible to take audition classes like your select choir.

Sorry, it's a reflex. The attacks on this board are notorious, and I'm obviously on the defensive. No harm, no foul.

 

[Deb in IA]

So, what did she sing?