Optimistic Showtunes
Optimistic Showtunes
#1Optimistic Showtunes
Posted: 6/28/17 at 6:46pm
I am putting together a playlist for a friend moving to NYC of showtunes dripping of optimism. I thought I would ask, you, the experts what are some of your favorites. The more obscure the better.
Right now the ones I could think of are:
"Now's The Time" from Hallelujah, Baby!
"The World Must Be Bigger Than an Avenue" from Irene
"A Cockeyed Optimist" from South Pacific
"Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" from Spamalot
Thank you!
broadwaysfguy
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/27/14
#4Optimistic Showtunes
Posted: 6/28/17 at 7:30pm
maybe this time cabaret
my shot hamilton
watch what happens newsies
Step one kinky boots
Our time merrily we roll along
A whole new world alladin
you cant stop the beat hairspray
dont stop beleivin rock of ages
we're gonna be allright do i hear a waltz
Here right now ghost
to Life! Fiddler on the roof
raise your voice Sister act
King of new york Newsies
#5Optimistic Showtunes
Posted: 6/28/17 at 7:52pm
Surprised that none of you mentioned the ultimate anthem of optimism (at least in my opinion):
"Tomorrow" - Annie
10086Sundays
Broadway Star Joined: 5/5/17
#6Optimistic Showtunes
Posted: 6/28/17 at 8:22pm
Maybe more inspirational and optimistic, but some of my favorites:
"Finale B" - Rent
"Tomorrow is a Latter Day" - The Book of Mormon
"This is the Moment" - Jekyll & Hyde
"Leap of Faith" - Leap of Faith
"Seeing You" Groundhog Day
#7Optimistic Showtunes
Posted: 6/28/17 at 8:23pm
Mame: Open a New Window
The King & I: I Whistle a Happy Tune
Jekyll & Hyde: A New Life (true, Lucy is murdered immediately after but still a good song.) :p
Cat Guy
Leading Actor Joined: 3/17/17
#8Optimistic Showtunes
Posted: 6/28/17 at 8:54pm
"Tap Your Troubles Away from "Mack and Mabel"
Updated On: 6/28/17 at 08:54 PM
#9Optimistic Showtunes
Posted: 6/28/17 at 8:58pm
Make Our Garden Grow - Candide
Brand New World - Rags
Look for a Sky of Blue - Little Mary Sunshine
Brotherhood of Man - How to Succeed
Before the Parade Passes By - Dolly
With You on My Arm - La Cage
I Ain't Down Yet - Molly Brown
Look to the Rainbow - Finian's Rainbow
Tap Your Troubles Away, Look What Happened to Mabel - Mack & Mabel
You Gotta Have Heart - Damn Yankees
This list could go on forever, couldn't it?
#10Optimistic Showtunes
Posted: 6/28/17 at 9:33pm
It's a bit iffier within the context of the show itself, but "You Will Be Found" from DEAR EVAN HANSEN is definitely quite optimistic.
"I'm Here" from THE COLOR PURPLE, as does "Raise You Up/Just Be" from KINKY BOOTS (Hell, that show is a plethora of feel-good songs)
"The Money Song" from AVENUE Q also definitely is a good example, along with "Purpose" and "Fantasies Come True".
EDIT: And how could I forget "Morning Glow" from PIPPIN? Obviously the hope isn't sustained through Act 2, but taken by itself it's almost ridiculously optimistic.
#12Optimistic Showtunes
Posted: 6/28/17 at 10:34pm
"It's Not Where You Start, It's Where You Finish" from Seesaw.
#15Optimistic Showtunes
Posted: 6/28/17 at 10:53pm
I would start by looking at the entire Jerry Herman songbook. Mame, Dear World, The Grand Tour, Mack & Mabel, La Cage aux Folles are chock full of Herman optimism.
Updated On: 6/29/17 at 10:53 PM
#16Optimistic Showtunes
Posted: 6/28/17 at 11:42pm
*So Much Better or Positive from Legally Blonde.
*Journey to the Past from Anastasia.
*Nobody from Bandstand.
*Seize The Day from Newsies.
*Give It Up from Lysistrata Jones
*It's All Happening or I've Got You or Cross The Line from Bring It On.
*Once Upon A Time from Brooklyn.
*Change It or Sun Like The Sun from 9 to 5.
"Anybody that goes to the theater, I think we’re all misfits, so we ended up on stage or in the audience.” --- Patti LuPone.
Updated On: 6/28/17 at 11:42 PM
BroadwayRox3588
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/5/16
#17Optimistic Showtunes
Posted: 6/29/17 at 2:31am
"Here's My Plan" from The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
#18Optimistic Showtunes
Posted: 6/29/17 at 11:34am
Thank you everybody for the suggestions!
Coincidentally, right after posting this, I saw Pass Over at Steppenwolf (such a good show I hope to see it come to NYC), they were ironically playing about half of the songs mentioned on this board before the show started.
rodrigo_ca
Stand-by Joined: 12/12/15
#21Optimistic Showtunes
Posted: 6/29/17 at 6:35pm
I would definitely say "Good Morning, Baltimore" is a tune oozing optimism but I don't know if it fits the narrative of moving to NY since it's about a different city, but hey! It's the first song that popped in my head when I saw the thread title.
#22Optimistic Showtunes
Posted: 6/29/17 at 6:45pm
Wheels of a Dream - Ragtime
It's Today - Mame
Somewhere - West Side Story
Somewhere That's Green - Little Shop
The opening to "Songs For a New World"
It's Gonna Be Good - Next To Normal
Sal Tlay Ka Siti - Book of Mormon
"I'm an American, Damnit!!! And if it's three things I don't believe in, it's quitting and math."
#23Optimistic Showtunes
Posted: 6/29/17 at 7:44pm
hork said: ""I'm the Greatest Star" - Funny Girl"
You don't get more optimistic than that.
For another Jule Styne song, this time of deranged optimism, how about "Everything's coming Up Roses".
