Contemporary Pop Audition Songs

[ChenoInTraining]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 12:14am

(i've searched and have yet to see a post that resembles this.)

I've noticed that more and more of the newer shows on broadway and off-broadway are requiring contemporary pop/rock audition songs.

I recently was preparing for the mamma mia audition and they wanted a Contemp. Pop Song and I was suddenly stuck for ideas. I'm 100% musical theatre, when it comes to my music. I dont listen to anything other than showtunes or jazz, it's just my personal choice. So finding an audition song was very difficult for me. I cant even remember what i acctually sung, but as I remember I wished I had sung something else. :)

I'm sure there are many others in my particular situation. I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for contemp. pop/rock songs. Whether they be musical theatre songs or straight up pop or rock music. I'm sure my fellow actors that only listen to showtunes would greatly appreciate it as well!

[stage_door76]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 2:49am

Well why don't you play the happy medium and pick songs from contemporary pop-rock MUSICALS?

Thus, the scroes of RENT, Tick, Tick....BOOM, Aida, Lippa's Wild Party etc etc should cut it for you.

If you don't want to expand much of your musical adoration to mainstream genres (which is understandable), then I say you should balance it out. Look to the work of Larson and Lippa for ideas.

- End of thesis -

[pndmnd]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 8:09am

I think the reason to stay away from the pop-rock Musicals, and the works of Larson, Lippa, etc. is that they will be overdone.

I don't really have any suggestions for pop-rock music, though, because it really depends on your voice, style, and the specific show you're auditioning for. I would say try and find a pop radio station and leave it on while you're driving around, and see what artists jump out at you. Then you can look into other works by them. The thing is, though, it's not just about the style of the song. It's also about the style with you sing the song with.

[parker russel]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 8:38am

I'd shy away from Rent, Tick Tick Boom, and The Wild Party (done A LOT). But if they want true pop songs here are some that are pretty rangy and require some level of good singing ability(i'm assuming you're female by the name chenointraining...

anything by Heart (these Dreams, Alone)
I loved an angel (that robbie williams/jessica simpson song)
Lets Hear it for the Boy
River Deep Mountain High
Broken Wing (Martina McBride)
When a Man Loves a Woman
Total Eclipse of the Heart)
Falling (Alicia Keys)
Stevie Wonder stuff can be fun
Jackson 5 stuff (I'll Be There or Ben come to mind)
Eternal Flame
Lets Give Them Something to Talk About (bonnie Raitt)
Everlasting Love (Natalie Cole)
Anything by Cyndi Lauper

-I hope these gave you some good ideas. Not the most contemporary list but some good rangey pop songs

[KelRel]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 8:50am

Parker that song is called Angels by Robbie Williams (I refuse to list Jessica Simpson because she butchered that song!)

I think that Angels is a great song because it can show alot of emotion if that is what you are going for. If I were you I would go to iTunes and listen to some songs via those 30 second clips if the little bit you hear sounds like something you would me interested in buy the song and try it out.

[pndmnd]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 10:52am

I would actually stay away from "Let's Hear it For the Boy". I've heard that one at least once at every audition I've been to lately that calls for that style--and even some that don't, and that's just during the 1/2hour to hour or so that I'm there! I'm not sure if Footloose is really popular for auditions in general, or if it's just that song.

[touchmeinthemorning]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 11:02am

The trick with pop/rock stuff is to do a song that you:
1) aren't going to look weird singing (unless that's the point)
2) love to sing
3) shows off your persona

With pop, too, remember, riffing is optional. American Idol is right when they say "make it your own"...but you dont have to change notes to do that.

[ChenoInTraining]

Posted: 11/13/05 at 12:22pm

THANKS!

[Actinggbugg474]

Posted: 5/8/08 at 3:34pm

I'm bumping this because I didn't want to make a whole new thread.


So, I have an Altar Boyz audition this Saturday and I've been asked to prepare two contemporary pop songs and I need all the suggestions I can get, because I really don't have any clue what to sing. For the record, I'm sort of a Bari-tenor with a pretty strong "G" and sometimes an "A."

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!!

[LePetiteFromage]

Posted: 5/8/08 at 3:44pm

Updated On: 5/8/09 at 03:44 PM

[autopilot2]

Posted: 5/8/08 at 4:58pm

Sorry a short rant here...

If you have no interest or knowledge of that kind of music, why should you get cast over someone who does. There are specific ways of singing and approaching those songs. If you aren't interested, and don't have a passion for that kind of music, don't go for the audition.

As someone on the other side of the audition table, you know the music theatre people as soon as they open their mouths and the twang and vibrato start coming out. Pop and rock doesn't sound like that. It becomes disheartening and annoying after a while. It begins to feel (and for some people it is) like they have chosen to slum in your genre, but won't really take it seriously.

It's like saying "I'm auditioning for an opera, but I really don't like opera, don't like singing like that and haven't listened to it, and don't have any knowledge of the genre. But it seems pretty easy. Can anyone suggest a good aria?"

I appreciate asking for advice, and I'm not cranky at you guys specifically... but it does annoy me a little.

Rant is now off. Have a nice day.

[LePetiteFromage]

Posted: 5/8/08 at 5:01pm

Updated On: 5/8/09 at 05:01 PM

[autopilot2]

Posted: 5/8/08 at 5:04pm

Yeah - fair enough, but there's a constant stream (well trickle) of these threads, and my morning coffee has just kicked in.

Maybe it's some good food for thought...

All good. Move along

[autopilot2]

Posted: 5/8/08 at 5:40pm

And just wanted to add now I'm up and properly awake...

Sorry.

I really didn't mean my reply to sound as cranky as it did. I meant it as something to think about rather than an attack. On re-reading it is definitely reads harsh. I just meant to be clear in my statement.

Please read it in that vein.

Love and mung beans

Sean

[sondheimgeek]

Posted: 5/8/08 at 5:47pm

Well the point of singing a song is so the auditioners can see if you're appropriate for their piece. Just because you don't have any knowledge or interest in a specific genre doesn't mean you shouldn't audition for the show just because you're unfamiliar with a requirement. If I were auditioning for a show, I wouldn't let genre stop me.

[LePetiteFromage]

Posted: 5/8/08 at 5:53pm

Updated On: 5/8/09 at 05:53 PM

[autopilot2]

Posted: 5/8/08 at 6:10pm

@LPF - all good. No offense taken, just didn't want to create any unintended offense.

@ sondheimgeek - Fair enough, but if you honestly have no knowledge or interest in pop and rock, and I'm casting for a pop and rock piece I almost certainly wouldn't cast you and you're just wasting your and the auditioners time...

I guess what I'm trying to say is if you want to be cast in a show that is pop rock- try to have an inkling of what the auditioners are looking for. A poorly selected song and performance does you no favours.

Heck , same goes if you're auditioning for chinese opera. Don't walk in there and sing "Not a Day Goes By"

Sometimes I think when you love a genre too much, (and this is what LPF is getting at I think) you start to think less of other genres of music.

Anecdote... We auditioned and specified "No Music Theatre" as audition songs (cue the emails asking if Rent is OK) .

I had a girl audition with "Murder on the Dance Floor" - an incredibly boring pop song. When I asked her why she picked something so bland and unexpressive she said because it was pop / rock and there were no expressive songs in pop and rock.

O RLY?

She sang great. She looked gorgeous, Did we cast her?

Not with that attitude no.

Your auditioner wants every person walking the room to be "the one". You'll be the one when you have something great and fresh to offer the show. In a professional gig you have to hit the ground running, and it is not your hirer's job to educate you.

And this is again, something to think about rather than an attack.

Cheers

Sean

[sondheimgeek]

Posted: 5/8/08 at 6:15pm

Oh no, I understand what you mean. I'm just saying that a good performer can be versatile, and even if pop/rock is new to them they can study the styles and try to make it their own. I'm sure we could put someone with a musical theatre voice on American Idol, and they could adapt to the new styles that they would need to sing.

Again, if they have little to no education in the genre they should definitely educate themselves. And even if they keep using their "musical theatre voice" but made the song their own, I feel it could work well.

[autopilot2]

Posted: 5/8/08 at 6:22pm

Coolio geek - we're on the same page.

I disagree re American Idol - but I do take your point. A good singer of any genre will adapt. I think there's a bigger TV audience for pop, and the MT specialist would get voted off PDQ.

As an aside - as far as using your "music theatre voice" goes - tip from me -

Vibrato is the key. Use it as a colour, not as an undercoat. Any _obvious_ "technique" gets in the way of communicating with the pop / rock ear. I'm not saying don't have technique - have a knowledge of the style. Be cool about how you use things like vibrato.

**edit** inserted a missing word


Updated On: 5/8/08 at 06:22 PM

[sondheimgeek]

Posted: 5/8/08 at 6:25pm

Oh, of course they'd get voted off right away, I just meant that they should be able to adapt.

Vibrato is the key, I agree. In theatre it is used as a natural technique, but for pop/rock I agree it is there more to color the voice.