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

[Minnie_me]

LOL, the Cabaret isn't until October. She's trying to prepare something *now*, because she will be busy with schoolwork and the musical when it all actually rolls around.

Still deciding..............she's looked at everything that was suggested, and can't seem to drag herself away from songs from musicals. Right now, she's upstairs singing, "I Speak Six Languages", so who knows?!?!

 

[Gumbo4x4]

STYX - Crystal Ball

 

[Luv Bunnies]

Does your DD have a voice teacher? DS's voice teacher always has tons of recommendations for songs she wants him to learn and perform. She could also ask the music director for the show she's in for ideas.

 

[Minnie_me]

Does your DD have a voice teacher? DS's voice teacher always has tons of recommendations for songs she wants him to learn and perform. She could also ask the music director for the show she's in for ideas.

She does, but the voice teacher's suggestions are "too old-fashioned" for DD. She had suggestions from musicals that we have never heard of ("Irene", for one), and she doesn't know any popular music at all.

The music director wants the kids to come up with their own songs. She will only veto if she feels the song is inappropriate in some way, or if it's been done in the last 5 years.

 

[ashley0139]

If you like that Songs for a New WORLD song, look at "I'm Not Afraid of Anything". Beautiful song. I prefer it to Stars and Moon actually. I really like "Live Out Loud" from A Little Princess but it's a bit theatrical. She should look at the musical 13. Perfect for her age, obviously, and there are a couple good ones, specifically "What It Means to Be a Friend" and "Lamest Place in the World". They're less theatrical and a little more "pop-y." "Come to Your Senses" from tick, tick... BOOM is a great song although might be a little mature for her. "I Speak Six Languages" would be really cute for her. She could do "Quiet" from Matilda the Musical.

Just some to throw out there.

 

[Minnie_me]

If you like that Songs for a New WORLD song, look at "I'm Not Afraid of Anything". Beautiful song. I prefer it to Stars and Moon actually. I really like "Live Out Loud" from A Little Princess but it's a bit theatrical. She should look at the musical 13. Perfect for her age, obviously, and there are a couple good ones, specifically "What It Means to Be a Friend" and "Lamest Place in the World". They're less theatrical and a little more "pop-y." "Come to Your Senses" from tick, tick... BOOM is a great song although might be a little mature for her. "I Speak Six Languages" would be really cute for her. She could do "Quiet" from Matilda the Musical.

Just some to throw out there.

Thank you! Listening to these tonight.

 

[elphaba91]

There are actually a lot of songs like Taylor the Latte Boy (including Taylor's Rebuttal, which I just discovered, so thank you for that!). If you watch a video of Taylor on YouTube then you should find it leads to a lot of other songs. These are some of my favourites that I just discovered:

• The Understudy (I love this song! She would have to belt though...but she would also get to do an Elphaba AAHH at the end!)
• The Girl in 14G (this does involve a bit of opera...or at least imitating opera)
• I Could Be Jewish For You
• Darryl is a Boy (and he lives in my closet)
• Musical Theatre Boys (I think this is meant to be a duet, but it could work as a solo)
• Female Audition Song/Do Not Sing List (they're basically the same concept but different medleys)
• Starbucks

If she wants to do a musical theatre song but is worried both about the audience not knowing the context or doing something that is too overdone (but actually known), then she could think about doing a well known song normally sung by a male. So instead of doing On My Own or I Dreamed a Dream, she could sing Empty Chairs at Empty Tables or Bring Him Home. I went to a concert on Monday night with this concept and it works really well. Unfortunately the females singing male songs isn't as funny as vice versa (e.g. the male cast of Les Mis doing a Dreamgirls medley or the Witch's Father from Wicked doing All That Jazz).

Another option would be a song from a jukebox musical. That way the audience would know the song, but she would secretly know she was singing a song from a musical. Rock of Ages, Jersey Boys, Mamma Mia, Beautiful, etc. all have good options!

For acoustic covers, you should be able to find some good ones by looking on YouTube. Sara Bareilles does some good ones - you could check out her version of Single Ladies or Chandelier for starters.

Let us know what she chooses!

 

[Minnie_me]

There are actually a lot of songs like Taylor the Latte Boy (including Taylor's Rebuttal, which I just discovered, so thank you for that!). If you watch a video of Taylor on YouTube then you should find it leads to a lot of other songs. These are some of my favourites that I just discovered:

• The Understudy (I love this song! She would have to belt though...but she would also get to do an Elphaba AAHH at the end!)
• The Girl in 14G (this does involve a bit of opera...or at least imitating opera)
• I Could Be Jewish For You
• Darryl is a Boy (and he lives in my closet)
• Musical Theatre Boys (I think this is meant to be a duet, but it could work as a solo)
• Female Audition Song/Do Not Sing List (they're basically the same concept but different medleys)
• Starbucks

If she wants to do a musical theatre song but is worried both about the audience not knowing the context or doing something that is too overdone (but actually known), then she could think about doing a well known song normally sung by a male. So instead of doing On My Own or I Dreamed a Dream, she could sing Empty Chairs at Empty Tables or Bring Him Home. I went to a concert on Monday night with this concept and it works really well. Unfortunately the females singing male songs isn't as funny as vice versa (e.g. the male cast of Les Mis doing a Dreamgirls medley or the Witch's Father from Wicked doing All That Jazz).

Another option would be a song from a jukebox musical. That way the audience would know the song, but she would secretly know she was singing a song from a musical. Rock of Ages, Jersey Boys, Mamma Mia, Beautiful, etc. all have good options!

For acoustic covers, you should be able to find some good ones by looking on YouTube. Sara Bareilles does some good ones - you could check out her version of Single Ladies or Chandelier for starters.

Let us know what she chooses!

Wow -- great suggestions!!! She is on YouTube right now, giving them all a listen. Love the Sarah Bareilles covers (of absolutely anything, lol!).

Thank you!

My friend's daughter sang The Girl in 14G last year, and it was hilarious! My DD isn't so great at opera, lol!

 

[pooh6890]

My niece sang the Beyoncé version of "Listen" from Dreamgirls and the audience went crazy...it's a bit older song and people haven't been bombarded with it in a while. It's a belt song too.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

I'm confused. Shouldn't the choir director pick the songs for a select choir show? Even the solos? Is this like a talent show instead or something?

 

[Luv Bunnies]

She does, but the voice teacher's suggestions are "too old-fashioned" for DD. She had suggestions from musicals that we have never heard of ("Irene", for one), and she doesn't know any popular music at all.

The music director wants the kids to come up with their own songs. She will only veto if she feels the song is inappropriate in some way, or if it's been done in the last 5 years.

Interesting. Too bad the voice teacher couldn't come up with something for her. DS's voice teacher has him build his repertoire based on what skills she wants him to work on. Her goal for him is to be able to walk into an audition for any type of musical and be able to sing in the style of the show. He's been nailing the big ballads, so now she wants him to work on perfecting his rock tone. He also needs to work his upper range since he's a baritone. She's teaching him how to open up and hit the high notes. Basically, any song she has him learn requires a skill that he needs to develop. By the time the song is performance-ready, he's become a better singer overall.

Your DD's voice teacher should be able to recommend songs for her that would not only showcase her voice, but help her develop her technique as well.

Also, don't totally discount the older musicals. DS's theater group just did a variety show based on classic musicals. There was a ton of amazing material and great songs I never knew existed.

 

[drinkme]

Wow -- great suggestions!!! She is on YouTube right now, giving them all a listen. Love the Sarah Bareilles covers (of absolutely anything, lol!). Thank you! My friend's daughter sang The Girl in 14G last year, and it was hilarious! My DD isn't so great at opera, lol!

I personally think Taylor the Latte Boy & Girl in 14g are overdone.

What about Superboy & the Invisible Girl from the musical Next to Normal?

Or something by Jason Robert brown? My dd did a show in 8th grade & she sang I'm a Part of That. Or for something a bit more interesting she could sing Summer in Ohio. Both of those songs are from The Last Five Years.

What musical is your dd doing? Oh, & congrats to her getting the lead as a freshman!!

 

[ashley0139]

I personally think Taylor the Latte Boy & Girl in 14g are overdone. What about Superboy & the Invisible Girl from the musical Next to Normal? Or something by Jason Robert brown? My dd did a show in 8th grade & she sang I'm a Part of That. Or for something a bit more interesting she could sing Summer in Ohio. Both of those songs are from The Last Five Years. What musical is your dd doing? Oh, & congrats to her getting the lead as a freshman!!

These are good suggestions! Also "I can do better than that" from L5Y. Some nice belting moments.

 

[Minnie_me]

I'm confused. Shouldn't the choir director pick the songs for a select choir show? Even the solos? Is this like a talent show instead or something?

At our school, part of the requirements of being in select choir is that EVERYONE has to perform a solo or a duet at this separate performance, called "Cabaret". They need to choose the song, prepare the song, and perform the song in front of an audience. Afterward, they need to watch a video of their performance and complete an evaluation with their director. Choir isn't just choir, like it used to be. There are goals and objectives, tests and quizzes and projects, etc.

The select choir performs as a group (with soloists, sometimes) whenever there is a school choir performance. The director chooses those songs, obviously.

 

[Minnie_me]

Well, DD decided to go in a totally different direction. She's singing "Before It's Over" from Dogfight (a musical). It's a beautiful song, and she sings it just perfectly. But it's not what I would have chosen. Her second choice was from the same musical, called "Pretty Funny". That one made me absolutely SOB, and she didn't want to sing something so sad.

I'll keep you posted, especially if she changes her mind again. She loved a couple of the suggestions from posters, so she has them bookmarked for future performances.

 

[ashley0139]

Well, DD decided to go in a totally different direction. She's singing "Before It's Over" from Dogfight (a musical). It's a beautiful song, and she sings it just perfectly. But it's not what I would have chosen. Her second choice was from the same musical, called "Pretty Funny". That one made me absolutely SOB, and she didn't want to sing something so sad.

I'll keep you posted, especially if she changes her mind again. She loved a couple of the suggestions from posters, so she has them bookmarked for future performances.

Dogfight is a great show. I'm sure she'll be wonderful. I thought of this thread the other day when I listened to a song that would be perfect as well - Never Neverland written by Scott Alan, performed by several people but on the cd performed by Stephanie J. Block. It is not from a musical, but the song is just beautiful and has some really nice belting. Also the Disney tie in.

 

[Minnie_me]

Okay, me again! The first Cabaret concert went great -- she sang "Before It's Over" from Dogfight, as I mentioned above. Killed it, got amazing praise from everyone. Then the musical, and she killed that, too ---- so proud of my baby girl! One of my friends brought her friend along, who is a music teacher at a performing arts school; and he told her that her performance was Broadway quality! WOW!!

So, now a new dilemma. The next Cabaret concert is in February. Their teacher needs their submissions before break, so she can get the music and they can start practicing in January. So we're starting the search all over again.

She recorded about 10 songs last night, and we watched them over and over. We agreed that the best one was "Safer", from First Date (she just adores Krysta Rodriguez --- especially since she just played Wednesday in Addams Family, like Krysta did!). My older daughter listened to her sing it, and she said that NO WAY can she do that song, because it will hurt their father's feelings. We were like, "WHAT!??!!"

So yes, there's a line in the song that says, "Maybe it's all cuz of Dad, his new kids, his new wife...." And yes, their father left us and is now living with a younger woman and her children. But this is just a SONG. And to be fair, the next line is "and why not just blame Mom, who's been nuts my whole life?" And I don't take offense to that!

I really don't want to be a jerk and offend my ex with this song. I would even tell him beforehand, to soften the blow.

So.....opinions??????

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Okay, me again! The first Cabaret concert went great -- she sang "Before It's Over" from Dogfight, as I mentioned above. Killed it, got amazing praise from everyone. Then the musical, and she killed that, too ---- so proud of my baby girl! One of my friends brought her friend along, who is a music teacher at a performing arts school; and he told her that her performance was Broadway quality! WOW!!

So, now a new dilemma. The next Cabaret concert is in February. Their teacher needs their submissions before break, so she can get the music and they can start practicing in January. So we're starting the search all over again.

She recorded about 10 songs last night, and we watched them over and over. We agreed that the best one was "Safer", from First Date (she just adores Krysta Rodriguez --- especially since she just played Wednesday in Addams Family, like Krysta did!). My older daughter listened to her sing it, and she said that NO WAY can she do that song, because it will hurt their father's feelings. We were like, "WHAT!??!!"

So yes, there's a line in the song that says, "Maybe it's all cuz of Dad, his new kids, his new wife...." And yes, their father left us and is now living with a younger woman and her children. But this is just a SONG. And to be fair, the next line is "and why not just blame Mom, who's been nuts my whole life?" And I don't take offense to that!

I really don't want to be a jerk and offend my ex with this song. I would even tell him beforehand, to soften the blow.

So.....opinions??????

Tell older dd that this is a song in a show. He is an adult and understands that it is not about him.