Best Song Written for the Theatre in a Decade?- Page 5

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 4/9/14 at 11:16am

I'd like to throw in a vote for "There Will Be a Miracle" from See What I Wanna See. I might be in the minority on this, but I found that whole show (and particularly that song) so incredibly moving and I listen to the cast recording all the time. "Rising, Up" from that show is also stunning.

I also love "96,000" and "Blackout" from In the Heights, which I don't think have been mentioned yet, and "Ring of Keys" from Fun Home which of course has been.

And I know the show isn't really loved around here, but I think "What It Means to Be A Friend" from 13 is pretty perfect and captures a really specific emotion that I think most people feel as young teenagers.

[newintown]

Posted: 4/9/14 at 11:20am

"Sibella" and "I've Decided to Marry You" from A Gentleman's Guide
"Naughty" and "When I Grow Up" from Matilda
"Fabulous Baby" from Sister Act
"Joseph Smith American Moses" (more of a musical scene) from Book of Mormon
"That's Not the Way We Do Things" and "Financial Advice" from The Scottsboro Boys
"Vision" from A Catered Affair
"The Five-Fifteen," "Will You?," "Revolutionary Costume," "Jerry Likes My Corn," "Around the World," "Another Winter in a Summer Town" from Grey Gardens
"Show Off," "As We Stumble Along," "I Am Aldolpho," "Bride's Lament" from The Drowsy Chaperone
"I'm Not That Smart" and "I Speak Six Languages" from 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
"Statues and Stories," "The Beauty Is," "Dividing Day," "Fable" from The Light in the Piazza
"Ariadne" from The Frogs

[RachelJean]

Posted: 4/9/14 at 11:58am

I agree with many of the songs already mentioned. I would also like to add "Some Kinda Time" from Dogfight, "The Butterfly" from The Story of My Life, and "The Life That You Wished For" from Chaplin. Updated On: 4/9/14 at 11:58 AM

[darquegk]

Posted: 4/9/14 at 12:17pm

I think because of how inherently campy it is, people write off "Raincoat of Love" from Fun Home, but it's brilliant in its subtle way. The transition from the emotionally-abused child singing the TV theme, to the TV fantasy, to the sudden cutaway to Bruce singing "everything's all right" over and over to himself is oddly chilling.

It reminds me of a tiny, seventies-kitsch Follies.

[promisespromises2]

Posted: 4/9/14 at 12:24pm

This thread made me realize how not in tune I am with music from the past decade. Here's my list based on my small seeing of theatre:

-Progression of Seconds and Years, Better than Before, and Aftershocks in Next to Normal
- Be the Hero, Fight the Dragons, and How it Ends from Big Fish
-Solidarity and Electricty from Billy Elliot
-No Good Deed and Thank Goodness from Wicked
-I Believe from The Book of Mormon
-Not My Fathers Son and Raise You Up/Just Be from Kinky Boots



Updated On: 4/9/14 at 12:24 PM

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 4/9/14 at 3:25pm

If I had to pick only one:

I Hate the Bus - Caroline, or Change

One of the most affecting songs I've ever seen performed on Broadway.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 4/9/14 at 5:17pm

"I think because of how inherently campy it is, people write off "Raincoat of Love" from Fun Home, but it's brilliant in its subtle way."

I love it! I want a longer pop version, please

[ethan231h]

Posted: 4/9/14 at 5:54pm

For now (Avenue Q)

Theres a fine fine line (Avenue Q)

Breathe (In the heights)

Everything I Know (In the heights)

Carnival Del Bario (In the heights)

Starting Over (If/Then)

It's a Sign (If/Then)

Electricity (Billy Elliot)

The Letter (Billy Elliot)

My House (matilda)

Revolting Children (Matilda)

[jnb9872]

Posted: 4/9/14 at 6:52pm

I don't think my shortlist has been threatened ("Quiet" and "Work the Wound" topped my initial response) but "Sonya Alone" from THE GREAT COMET OF 1812 has definitely joined their ranks. What a gorgeous, breathtaking emotion.

I also can't get "One Second and a Million Miles" out of my head, so that counts for something. And I still have to listen to FUN HOME (missed the chance to see it) more to wrap my mind around it fully, but "Ring of Keys", "Raincoat of Love", "Come to the Fun Home" and "Changing My Major" all leapt out at me as some of the most fully-realized musical ideas I've heard in a while and likely candidates to join my shortlist.

[Elfuhbuh]

Posted: 4/9/14 at 10:35pm

I'm a bit late coming in to this, but I have to say the title song from "Rebecca" is one of the most chilling songs I have heard, even if the rest of the show's score was just kind of okay. (To me, anyway.)

[darquegk]

Posted: 4/10/14 at 9:31am

I mentioned this to someone in a private message before, but the mix of musical complexity, cheerful melody, dark lyrical subtext and bright seventies pop sheen on "Raincoat of Love" made me feel like I was hearing the second coming of Jellyfish, my favorite 1990s cult band. When the song was barely two minutes long I was disappointed.

[GlindatheGood22]

Posted: 4/14/14 at 9:26pm

I'd forgotten I started this thread!

I have to mention the entire score of The Great Comet. So perfect. I know No One Else is generally recognized as the gem, but to me it is most definitely Sonya Alone, followed by the finale. I'm so glad I got to see it twice before it closed, and so angry at myself that it took me until the week of the closing.

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 4/15/14 at 8:04am

When I Grow Up, Naughty, Miracle, School Song from Matilda
You Can't Stop the Beat from Hairspray
Defying Gravity from Wicked
Raise You Up from Kinky Boots